As you approach the $500 price point for headphones, you hit a lot of headphones with excellent value and great performance for the price, along with some all-time classics, like the Sennheiser HD600. Headphone lovers looking to get a higher level of sound without breaking the bank have three new options in 2026: DUNU Mortise ($429.99), Thieaudio Cypher ($399), and Grell OAE2 ($499.) We’re going to dive in and see what sets each of these apart, and figure out which one is the best for you.
Build and Design
Just from the basic visuals, it’s clear that there are three very different visions on display here. DUNU Mortise’s wood cups and wire suspension evokes more classic headphones, while Thieaudio Cypher has a more industrial look that actually reminds of some high-end electrostatic headphones, while Grell has a unique design all to itself. In terms of perceived quality from the look and feel, they’re all pretty even, but I’d give Cypher a slight edge as elements of the materials just strike me as belonging to more expensive headphones.
In terms of comfort though, DUNU has the edge. While Cypher is generally comfortable, it has one big annoyance for me: the inside of the driver covers touch my ears pretty frequently while listening, which I find irritating. Grell OAE2 is a bit stiffer in the overall construction, and while I don’t find it uncomfortable, the headband extension may not be enough for people with larger heads, and it can create some extra pressure on the top of your head – especially if you’re pushing the extension to its limits.
In terms of the package, all three give you a similar array of cables with a travel case. Grell’s case is probably the best overall in terms of practicality, but Thieaudio went above and beyond with a premium carrying bag that looks and feels like it belongs to a headphone that costs 5x as much as Cypher. Cypher and Mortise also both use standard dual 3.5mm TRS/TS connections for the headphone interface, while Grell uses a single 2.5mm TRRS connection. While it’s nice to have a slimmer wire without the y-split, Grell’s design means that you’ll have a harder time finding aftermarket cables and you probably won’t be able to use anything from your current cable collection (if you have one) with it, and the design can make it hard to get the cable fully plugged in the headphone cup.
For drivers, all three use dynamic drivers, with three different material designs. Mortise uses a carbon fiber diaphragm with an N52 neodymium magnet, Cypher uses a semi-crystalline polymer with an N45 magnet, and OAE2 uses a biocelluose driver (Grell doesn’t disclose the magnet type) along with Grell’s proprietary FSFM system, which uses a baffle to redirect the sound so that it’s coming from multiple angles at once. All three are also generally very efficient, meaning that you use most sources without worrying about how much power your amp has. So what’s the end result for the sound?
Sound
All three of these headphones present a generally balanced sound signature without any notable, significant emphasis to one frequency range or another – so if you’re looking for a basshead headphone or something with very forward treble, you won’t find that here – but there are some pretty clear differences in the smaller aspects of the tuning.
OAE2 is the warmest of the three, with somewhat of a soft v-shape, that has a small bump in the bass and a little extra sparkle and air up top. Mortise has a stronger focus in the midrange, with stronger vocals and a very balanced upper treble. Cypher strikes me as the closest to a neutral tuning. It doesn’t have any dramatic cuts or strong emphasis anywhere in the tuning, and has very nicely extended linear bass.
Listening to some different tracks for a direct comparison, on Pink Floyd’s “Time” OAE2 felt the most spacious and three dimensional, adding solid punch to the bass, and good sparkle up top. Cypher didn’t feel as spacious, but there was also less notable emphasis across the frequency spectrum, except perhaps a little more roll-off in the upper treble for a more relaxed feeling. Mortise had more punch than OAE2, but with less subbass extension, and provided the most natural overall presentation, though it didn’t match OAE2’s imaging.
For "Take Five" by The Dave Brubeck Quartet, OAE2 was the real standout, with a great combo of imaging, detail, and tonal balance that created a very immersive experience. With OAE2, the space felt real, and physical elements, like the bass, hit just right. With Mortise, certain elements sounded more natural than on OAE2, like the piano and saxophone, but the overall balance wasn’t quite there, with the ride cymbal in particular coming off more stridently in the mix. Cypher was the smoothest, but there’s a little detail lost in the relaxed upper end. While it couldn’t match OAE2’s imaging or Mortise’s timbre, the drums were a real standout for Cypher, with the drum solo being a particular highlight.n Mortise, but OAE2 sounded the most cohesive
Cypher seemed to do best on more modern mixes, like Tame Impala’s “Dracula,” where it demonstrated good layering and balance, and had great bass control. The synth texture and vocal presentation also fit very well. OAE2 and Mortise had more punch in the bass, but OAE2 in particular might have had too much bass for some people’s taste. Cypher presented a better soundstage here, and with other more electronic mixes, than on older tracks, though OAE2 still had the widest stage.
The Bottom Line
If you’re looking for something that sounds impactful and exciting, OAE2’s modest bass boost and impressive soundstage is the standout here, but the fit may be an issue if you have a larger head. If you prefer a strong focus on vocals and instrumental timbre, Mortise’s natural delivery demonstrates excellent with a more intimate musical experience with classic rock, jazz, and recordings that prominently feature acoustic instruments. Cypher strikes great balance, with a tuning that’s largely neutral with a more relaxed top end for those looking for a clean, reference delivery with strong detail without the bite at the top that many more reference-tuned headphones have.
