OLLO Audio has released the X2, an open-back reference headphone built specifically for mixing engineers who need to hear small changes in EQ, dynamics and balance with confidence. The OLLO Audio X2 headphones replace the company’s existing X1 as its flagship monitoring model, and they are hand-made in Slovenia rather than mass-produced on an assembly line overseas.
Key takeaways
- ✓OLLO Audio's X2 is an open-back reference headphone built for mixing engineers
- ✓It uses a new 50mm driver with a beryllium-coated PET membrane applied via PVD
- ✓Every unit is individually measured, with calibration data supplied in an open, readable format
- ✓An updated USC plugin lets engineers apply that per-unit calibration data directly
- ✓The X2 is hand-made in Slovenia and builds directly on OLLO's existing X1 model
The pitch behind the X2 is simple enough. A mixing engineer working in single-decibel increments needs a set of headphones that won’t hide or exaggerate those adjustments. OLLO Audio has built its reputation on that idea since the original X1 launched, and the X2 pushes the same philosophy further with a new driver, an updated calibration workflow and refinements to the build.
Table of Contents
What’s new inside the OLLO Audio X2
The headline change is the driver. The X2 uses a 50mm dynamic unit with a neodymium magnet and a beryllium-coated PET membrane, produced through a process called physical vapor deposition, or PVD. The membrane also incorporates polyurethane in its construction, a detail OLLO says contributes to how the diaphragm behaves under stress.
Beryllium is prized in high-end driver design because it is unusually stiff for its weight. According to OLLO, that stiffness lets the new driver move faster and more accurately than a standard membrane, which in turn should translate into cleaner transient response. For an engineer trying to judge the attack of a snare hit or the behaviour of a compressor, that extra speed matters more than raw loudness or bass extension.
OLLO describes the result as a “sonic microscope,” a tool meant to expose rather than flatter whatever is fed into it. The company says the tuning remains neutral and balanced out of the box, continuing the approach it established with the X1 rather than chasing a more consumer-friendly sound signature.
Individual calibration sets the X2 apart
Where many headphone brands measure a single sample and apply that curve across an entire production run, OLLO takes a different approach with the X2. Every individual pair is measured on its own, and buyers receive that specific unit’s calibration data in an open, human-readable format rather than a locked proprietary file.
That data is put to use through OLLO’s updated USC calibration plugin, which applies the per-unit correction curve inside a mixing engineer’s existing workflow. In practice, that means two X2 units sitting side by side, built from the same parts on the same day, can each carry slightly different correction data to account for natural manufacturing variance, then be brought into alignment through software rather than guesswork.
This kind of unit-specific measurement is unusual outside of a handful of specialist studio brands, and it reinforces the X2’s positioning as a working tool rather than a lifestyle product. It also means the headphones are only as useful as the engineer’s willingness to actually load the calibration file, something casual listeners are unlikely to bother with.
How the X2 fits against the X1 and other reference headphones
The X2 is explicitly a successor to the X1 rather than a separate tier in OLLO’s range, inheriting the open-back design and reference tuning while swapping in the new driver and calibration tools. Open-back headphones trade isolation for a more natural, spacious soundstage, which is why they remain the preferred format for critical mixing work despite being unsuitable for tracking in a live room.
| Feature | OLLO Audio X1 | OLLO Audio X2 |
|---|---|---|
| Driver | 50mm dynamic | 50mm dynamic, beryllium-coated PET membrane |
| Build | Hand-made in Slovenia | Hand-made in Slovenia, refined construction |
| Calibration | Individually measured | Individually measured, updated USC plugin |
| Design | Open-back, reference tuning | Open-back, reference tuning |
Other brands chasing a similar studio-reference audience, including models from Beyerdynamic and Audio-Technica, lean on broad-population measurement averages rather than per-unit calibration. Audio-Technica’s own open-back wireless headphones, for instance, take a very different approach by prioritising convenience and battery life over studio-grade measurement data, which highlights how narrow and specialised OLLO’s target audience really is.
What the launch means for mixing engineers
For engineers already invested in the X1, the X2 offers a reason to upgrade without having to relearn a workflow, since the open-back design and neutral tuning philosophy carry over unchanged. The real value lies in whether the beryllium-coated driver delivers the transient clarity OLLO is promising, something that will only become clear once reviewers and working engineers get hands-on time with retail units.
More broadly, the launch is a reminder that studio headphone development hasn’t stalled just because wireless convenience dominates headlines elsewhere in audio. While much of the broader headphone market, including Audio-Technica’s flagship wooden-cup ATH-AWX7000, chases premium materials and lifestyle appeal, OLLO is doubling down on measurement rigour and individual calibration, a niche that matters enormously to the people who actually rely on it for paid work. That split also reflects wider shifts in the premium audio market, where brands increasingly specialise rather than try to serve every listener at once.
Frequently asked questions
What makes the OLLO Audio X2 different from typical studio headphones?
The X2 pairs a new beryllium-coated driver with individual, per-unit calibration data, rather than relying on an average measurement applied across an entire production batch.
Is the OLLO Audio X2 an open-back or closed-back design?
The X2 is an open-back headphone, a design that favours a natural, spacious soundstage for critical mixing work over the isolation offered by closed-back models.
Do buyers need special software to use the X2’s calibration data?
Yes, OLLO provides an updated USC plugin that applies each individual headphone’s measured calibration curve within a mixing engineer’s existing software setup.
Where are the OLLO Audio X2 headphones made?
The X2 is hand-made in Slovenia, continuing the same manufacturing approach OLLO used for the original X1 model.
