Grell Audio has officially made known of its existence with the introduction of the TWS/1. The mere mention of Grell would bring excitement to many enthusiasts, particularly the followers of Sennheiser. And yes, Grell Audio is a new brand founded by Axel Grell following his departure from Sennheiser in December 2018 after spending over 28 years at the German-based audio specialist where he was responsible for the development of the HD 580, HD 800, HD 800 S, HD 820 and the Orpheus HE-1.
The Grell TWS/1 is the brand’s first product. Not many would expect the brand to debut with a TWS product since the bulk of Axel’s credentials revolves around over-ear headphones. Moreover, not many know that his final project at Sennheiser is the IE 80 S BT.
The TWS/1 features 10.1mm high precision custom dynamic matched drivers with a tolerance of +/- 1 dB and Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) coupled with the brand’s patent-pending Noise Annoyance Reduction (NAR) technology. The technology scans the noise spectrum and finetunes the ANC using a psycho-acoustic model to minimise annoyance.
Sporting Qualcomm’s latest QCC5141 Bluetooth Audio SoC, the true wireless earbuds offers Bluetooth 5.2 compatibility with AAC, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive, LHDC and SBC Bluetooth codecs.
“I always try to create the best possible acoustical experience for the money, no matter the price point,” says Axel Grell, founder of Grell Audio. “With our focus on audio, alone, we carefully selected custom dynamic transducers, used the best chipset that is available, and the best sounding codecs.”
The TWS/1 is equipped with an IPX4 splash-resistant rating, ensuring that it won’t be troubled by the odd drop of sweat or rain. In addition, the SoundID companion app creates a personalised sound profile using intelligent algorithms that will adjust over time according to one’s listening habits. The app also features a built-in Advanced Parametric EQ, should one wish to create a custom preset or reset the EQ to a flat state.
On paper, the wireless charging compatible TWS/1 has a playback time of up to 8 hours (6 hours with ANC turned on). The charging case provides over four additional charges, bringing a total playback time per charge of 45 hours (34 hours with ANC turned on).
Seeking to keep the price down for budding audiophiles, the TWS/1 would be sold directly through Grell Audio’s website in Space Grey and is now available for pre-order. In addition, an exclusive version in Black for Drop will go on sale in November. The true wireless earbuds are priced at EUR 189.99 / GBP 199.99 / USD 199.99.
