The other day we took a high-level look at Grain Audio’s history and products. I came away from my interview in possession of two of their initial products. One of those products, the Grain Audio IEHP Wooden In Ear Headphones were out of the box in minutes. I’ve been using the $99 headphones since then.
The headphone packaging is impressive. The main portion is thick plastic, but the cardboard use is recycled board with soy ink used for printing. That makes sense since, as we will see, the wood used in the headphones is harvested from sustainable forests. Inside the box you will find:
- The headphones with an Inline remote and mic
- 4 pairs of eartips
- Documentation and a brand book
- A soft carrying case
The quality packaging is only appropriate considering the quality of the headphones themselves. The TPE jacketed cable ends in a 3.5mm jack. While thin, the cable does feel solid, and the junction between the jack and the cable seems well built. The inline mic and remote don’t stand out the way they do on some headphones. Instead they have the look and feel of something that is part of the cable rather than stuck on it like a growth emerging from a tree’s limb.
The control only works with iOS devices. That will be a bit of a bummer for people using Android and Windows devices, but didn’t bother me in the least. 🙂
The 8mm proprietary loudspeakers, which feature Neodymium magnets and a CCAW voice coils, have housings made from FSC Certified Walnut with hand-applied oil finish. They look fantastic.
As Grain Audio puts it:
Like all of our products, the design of the IEHP is an exercise in purpose and restraint. The silicone strain relief protects the wood housing and is comfortable on the ear and to the touch. The inline mic is simple and intuitive to use. There are no unnecessary flourishes or extraneous details.
As for the wood used in the housings, “There’s a reason it’s used in its solid form on the best acoustic instruments in the world… It just sounds better. It looks great too.”
Grain Audio IEHP Wooden In Ear Headphones Video Look
In recent months, I’ve become enamored of on-ear and over-the-ear headphones with a preference for open-back over-the-ear studio reference headphones. As a result, I find myself using in-ear buds far less often than I have in the past, which means that the Grain Audio IEHP Wooden In Ear Headphones were a bit of a change for me. They didn’t disappoint. As small and light as the headphones are, they sound pretty impressive, and the fit and finish was excellent; I find them comfortable. Of greater significance, my wife Elana — who hates in-ear headphones — finds them to be comfortable to use. In addition, the sound is impressive, and it blows Apple’s lousy offerings away. The audio coming from the headphones is on par with the best in-ear headphones I have used. When combined with their awesome design, I can’t help but be impressed with these. If you are in the market for a pair of in-ear headphones and are a user of iOS devices, then you owe it to yourself to check these out! Learn more and order yours here.
MSRP: $99
What I Like: Made from sustainable wood enclosures; Simple but elegant design; VERY comfortable; Sound excellent; Light-weight design that doesn’t put stress on your ears
What Needs Improvement: Control is for people who use iOS devices; Cable is thin and light and will hopefully hold up over time but that is an unknown
Source: Manufacturer supplied review sample of the Grain Audio IEHP Wooden In Ear Headphones