What is Graphene?

Graphene is a single atomic layer of carbon in a hexagonal crystal lattice. The six electrons of carbon create a hexagonal honeycomb structure which makes graphene the strongest, yet lightest material known to man.

Graphene has been dubbed “the wonder material” for its potential to improve batteries, computers, space shuttles, medical devices, and even to desalinate water. The researchers who first isolated it won the 2010 Nobel Prize in Physics for their work.

What is the difference between Graphene and GrapheneQ™?

GrapheneQ™ is Ora’s patented loudspeaker membrane material. It has been acoustically optimized by Ora’s chemists and materials scientists for use in the cones of loudspeaker drivers. GrapheneQ™ leverages the exciting mechanical properties of graphene while allowing a self-supporting material that can be formed into loudspeaker cones.

I saw another pair of headphones with graphene in them. Why are the Ora’s special?

The Ora GQ™ headphones use Ora’s patented GrapheneQ™ material. Ora is the only audio company to produce a consumer product that uses high-percentage graphene content membranes (>97% graphene) and the only company to use graphene in a way that measurably improves audio performance.

When I compare the Ora GQ™ headphones to my really nice headphones, the Ora’s sound different. Is that bad?

The Ora headphones use a radically different membrane technology and the sound quality may be surprising. The image width, depth, and clarity you hear is a result of this high-performance membrane. The experience may be more reminiscent of listening to loudspeakers than listening to traditional headphones - even very nice ones. Take care when comparing between headphones that the volumes of the two headphones is matched.

The Ora Headphones require more playback volume than my other headphones.

The playback levels of all headphones are highly influenced by voice coil impedance. Not all headphones use the same coil impedance. The drivers in the Ora headphones use 32Ω coils although many headphones use 16Ω or even 8Ω. Higher impedance coils are more consistent between headphone amplifiers and draw less current but produce less SPL per Volt of input. (Power = Current * Voltage).

Can I use the Ora headphones wired? (without needing the battery to be charged)?

Of course! We included a 3.5 mm headphone jack so you can always enjoy the best possible audio experience. When used wired, the headphones are completely passive, no battery required and no additional electronics in the signal path.

Can I connect wirelessly?

Yes! The headphones are equipped with Qualcomm’s aptX HD and Apple’s AAC for wireless high-resolution listening and for taking phone calls. Cut the cord and experience audio without wires getting in the way. aptX HD provides up to 48kHz, 24-bit resolution – higher than the streaming quality of services such as Spotify, even sufficient for most of the content on high res services such as Tidal.

I don’t see my Ora GQ™ Headphones in my Bluetooth menu.

Make sure the headphones are in pairing mode (LED flashing blue/green). It is possible your headphones are automatically connecting with a previously paired device or some other device in the area. You can enter forced pairing mode on startup by continuing to hold the button for 10 seconds until you hear “pairing” and the LED flashes blue/green.

My headphones put a lot of pressure below my ears and/or on the top of my head.

The sliders are likely extended too far for your head size. Try collapsing the sliders a bit and ensure the ear cups sit high on the ear. The pressure should be evenly distributed around the ear pad. If the fit is too tight, try flexing the headband out a few times to loosen the tension. Don’t worry, if you flex too far, you can always bend them back the other way to achieve a higher tension. See the GQ™-608 product manual for more details on the fit.

I only hear sound from one side during wireless playback

Ora has received a few reports of this problem. The cause of the issue is the switch that is built into the audio jack in the right ear cup. When a cable is inserted, it flips little switches that connect/disconnect the active circuitry. In some cases, it seems these switches are a little stiff directly from the manufacturer. They need to be “exercised” by plugging/unplugging the audio cable into the jack on the right ear cup several times. Try plugging/unplugging ~5-20 times and check the audio. You may need to repeat this a few times but once they settle in, the switches will no longer pose a problem.

Do the Ora Headphones require a “Burn-In” time?

Yes. The suspensions that support the GrapheneQ™ membranes are a bit stiff from the manufacturer since they haven’t needed to move much yet. As they vibrate, the suspensions will stretch out a bit and the drivers may begin to sound a bit louder. In theory, a burn-in time shouldn’t really be necessary since both drivers (Left and Right) should break-in simultaneously. In some cases, due to vibrations during shipping, it’s possible that one driver will wear-in a bit more than the other. If you experience this, Ora recommends pressing the ear pads with the palm of your hand to both soften the pads and to put pressure against the driver to stretch the suspension. It will also help the drivers to settle in if you play loud, bass heavy music for a few minutes to allow the suspension systems in the drivers to stretch out a bit. This is not necessary, however. After a little while of regular listening, the membrane suspension will stretch out naturally and the drivers will settle in. Once settled, the drivers will maintain their performance.

My ear pad fell off. What should I do?

Put it back on. The ear pads are designed to be easily removed and replaced. To put an ear pad back on, place it flush against the baffle at a slight angle and rotate it to fasten it into place. Check the GQ™-608 product manual for more details.

My headphones do not seem to be charging

The Ora GQ™ headphones do not support fast charge on USB-C and are not compatible with smart chargers. The headphones should charge fine over a standard 150 mA USB jack on a computer. Not all USB ports are created equally, however. If you experience issues, try a stand-alone charger that can produce 200 mA or more. Also note that the switches in the audio jack which toggle between active and passive modes can affect the charging. Plug/unplug the audio cable several times while the headphones are connected to a USB-C charger. If problems persist, perform the troubleshooting steps described in the troubleshooting section.

My headphones are dropping the wireless connection

There are many factors that can contribute to drops in wireless connectivity. The higher bandwidth of AAC and aptx HD can have an influence. Wireless distance and any objects in the line-of-sight of the wireless connection may also impact connectivity. The Ora headset should have a decent wireless range so if you experience drop outs, try disconnecting, “forgetting” the Ora headphones, and rebooting both the headphones and the playback device to see if the problem persists. To be certain it is a problem with the headphones and not an issue with Bluetooth as a platform, ensure a direct line-of-sight wireless connection of less than 10 meters.

What should I do if I have problems with my Ora headset?

Ora offers replacements for DOA (dead on arrival) units if reported within the first 30 calendar days after receipt. If you are experiencing any technical issues, contact Ora as soon as possible at support@ora-sound.com.