Focal Elear and Utopia

Discussion in 'Headphones' started by SingSing, Jun 14, 2016.

  1. Azteca

    Azteca Friend

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    I see a good 5dB difference 5-6kHz and many areas with ~3dB variance. These are not insignificant at all.
     
  2. Huxleigh

    Huxleigh Almost "Made"

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    One Elear omelette, please. Mmm... delicious. :p

    This. Being a lazy ponce, I'm having an custom cable made ready for the Elear. The stock 4m is just way too long for my routine use case, I'm afraid.
     
    Last edited: Aug 11, 2016
  3. ibzrg1570

    ibzrg1570 Facebook Friend

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    Here's my "sunny side up" mod.

    [​IMG]
     
  4. SSL

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    Except in this case, channel imbalance and measurement variation could easily account for the differences. The FR is obviously very similar given the same pad.
     
  5. Azteca

    Azteca Friend

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    Maybe it's because he didn't include a comparison of BOTH of them stock, but it's just hard to tell what the difference really is. The Y-axis covers way more than is necessary as well. And yes, I also don't really trust his measurements too much to begin with.
     
  6. Dreyka

    Dreyka Acquaintance

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    Sorry. I meant whether it detached from the yolks like the HD600 does.

    On another point are you able to do a subwoofer test of the HD800 and Elear. I'm wondering whether they differ in max SPL between 20Hz and 100Hz. This seems particularly important for using EQ to bass boost in order to reach the Harman Preference target.

    The Elear/Utopia supposedly have a much higher Xmax so I'm wondering if that means they are able to reach a higher SPL at low frequencies. Their driver is much smaller (40mm) than the HD800 (53mm) though.

    Even if you had perfect channel balance you would have a channel imbalance when wearing them as your head/ear geometry is not symmetrical and the headphone would not be seated in the same place. This is true more for high frequencies than low frequencies though.
     
    Last edited: Aug 11, 2016
  7. Tyll Hertsens

    Tyll Hertsens Grandpappy of the hobby - Special Friend

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  8. Azteca

    Azteca Friend

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  9. Ice-man

    Ice-man Friend

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    Uh oh...pad-gate. Seriously though, I'm sure that there are some driver differences the two headphones. Well, I sure that there should be. :rolleyes:

    That Jason guy on the HF thread is driving me just about bat schiit crazy. Can anyone else see his desperate attempt to sell these cans at all cost. Damn dude, just chill. These headphones are going to sell themselves. Being insanely defensive about them does not give me more confidence to buy them from you. ;)
     
  10. insidious meme

    insidious meme Ambivalent Kumquat

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    He's been given free rein on HF to shill much as he wants. Obviously on Jude'$ good side.
     
  11. velvetx

    velvetx Gear Master West/Vendor Spotlight Moderator

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    Alright you hooligans Lord Tyll has spoken anyone who has a Utopia or is getting a Utopia please PM me if you are interested in the Focal Elear pads. I will try to hunt these down and get something going. That doesn't mean ask me everyday it's going to take time as I am sure focal has enough on their plate trying to launch these.
     
  12. Hands

    Hands Overzealous Auto Flusher - Measurbator

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    For those that have had the Elear and Utopia in their hands, could you confirm if the area directly being the driver and magnet is open on both headphones? Both have the ring, with the Elear having what appears to be mesh and the Focal symbol, and the Utopia having what appears to be a globe-looking sort of grill.
     
  13. RiddleyWalker

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    Those IF measurements of Utopia w/ Elear pads look sooo nice. I'm going to the Chicago meet on Sat and they plan to have both of these headphones there, and hopefully the vendor will let me swap pads. I imagine on an amp with a few ohm's output impedance this would sound right up my alley. Never would actually buy the Utopia for the price but would love to give it a listen.
     
  14. ibzrg1570

    ibzrg1570 Facebook Friend

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    From the "Accessories Supplied" photo on Focal's website it appears to be dual locking TS. The spec sheet here also specifies stereo for the output jack but not for the input jack. You'll probably need a long, narrow jack to get past the locking mechanism.
     
  15. PoochZag

    PoochZag The Shadow knows - Friend

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    Shoot, locking 2.5mm are fairly commonly used, and I've used them before, but I've never seen a locking 3.5mm... This may be stupid and tricky, I wonder if just an extended 3.5mm would work...

    Edit: Seems like switchcraft and random eBay both have locking 3.5mm, indicating that Sony and Sennheiser uses them for...something? Hopefully this will be the same as those

    Edit 2: Shot an email to Focal, asking what they are and if I can buy them. Moon audio is already selling Elear/Utopia cables so it has to be something that can be acquired
     
    Last edited: Aug 11, 2016
  16. gbeast

    gbeast Mighty Moral Power Ranger

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    DMNIT!!!

    STUPID 4K!$$
    Stupid Elear Pads
    Dumb Utopia

    Never wanted something out of my reach more... Ever!!!!

    I will have this headphone. Ill wait till some used ones show up. Time flys.
     
  17. ibzrg1570

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    T50RP has locking 3.5mm too, but these are "self-locking". Sounds proprietary...

    @RiddleyWalker Think you could try plugging in a narrow 3.5mm jack into the earcups for science?
     
  18. Tyll Hertsens

    Tyll Hertsens Grandpappy of the hobby - Special Friend

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    There's and annular detent around the body of the plug; it's not a locking plug, per se. It's a pretty fat plug, you should be able to find one narrow enough. Has to be about 9mm max. I'll clear it all up in the post tomorrow.
     
  19. PoochZag

    PoochZag The Shadow knows - Friend

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    [​IMG]

    Thanks @Tyll Hertsens !
     
  20. Huxleigh

    Huxleigh Almost "Made"

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    Only one thing to do, then. Time to start selling your body. :cool: A rite of passage for all headphone enthusiasts, really.
     

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