Focal Elear and Utopia

You're a bad man. I still don't know if I don't want some more planar plankton or dynamic detail, but I do suspect that the HD800S might be a bit rich for my blood, hrrrmm.

 

Audio Sanctuary will only get them at the end of the month.

I've been chasing them

 

Then we're all saved

 

Kind of figured...pads make or break headphones from my experience modding. Looking forward to what you've discovered.

 

I am getting a couple impressions from people that the Schiit Jotunheim is a very good pairing for getting the mid bass under control also. So far it seems @Marvey 's force powers are spot on...

It would be nice to not have to crack open the Elear. If some pad rolling and using an affordable amp tames this headphone a bit, then I'd call it a win.

 

Any consensus on amping the elear? Effects of output impedance, power needs, etc.? Jodie sounds like a good match, but I'm wondering how sensitive it is to amping in general.

 

Thanks, makes sense (I say without having heard either, haha). What about power requirements? I've read impressions that they scale with gear, but I'm considering chasing after a set of full size cans that can be driven from a dap (sony zx2 in this case) with pretty good (not "teh bestest!!1") results. The focal interests me for what sounds like an emphasis on dynamics. Also, I have focals in the car that I'm happy with (though I'm much less discerning/picky than most folks here, I think).

 

Appreciate it. I'm in a kind of weird in between place with work and life, so I'll be going one way or another in the near future - this helps. Thought andros could work no matter which path my life takes (and it still might), but I think I'm running into aggravating my tinnitus (childhood infections) with IEMs as I seem to have that issue regardless of volume.

I think there's a local focal dealer here. I'll have to see if they have the elear and just give it a listen. I'd love love love to go to canjam ny, but the work situation will probably preclude that as a possibility. I'll still try!

 

Where in Western, NY do you live? I'm not sure how long before I get an Elear, but a mini-meet could happen?

 

Anyone know if the Elear is available online anywhere right now? Only places that come up are crutchfield and moon-audio, and they're both out of stock.

edit: apparently Amazon. https://www.amazon.com/Focal-Elear-Over-Ear-Headphones-Black/dp/B01H2NDPGI

 

https://www.audiogeeks.com/headphon...&sku_id=1001&gclid=CLm8lqWDpM8CFYVahgodz6QEJA

But I know nothing about them...

And that Amazon listing is 3rd party, and I know nothing about them either.

 

True.. but Amazon's usually pretty good about handling bad sellers. Both of the ones with Elear in stock on Amazon have 100% and thousands of ratings. Probably the better bet.

Tempted.

 

Here is a quick stream of consciousness after the first 30 minutes with Elear:

*while the build quality is exceptional compared to anything I've owned much less a first hi end offering from Focal, I'd give it (great build quality) up for some high quality Sennheiser plastic that would shave 80 grams off curb weight. 450+grams (without cable) is LCD heavy territory and this equals a fail for me.

*if you like the way the 650 sounds, it's likely that you'd really like Elear. Super 650 is not very far from the truth

*are they kidding with this cable? After you replace this cable with a shorter balanced one, you can always use the stock cable to: tow your boat even with no trailor, lasso a wild boar to the ground, repel from a tall building etc.

*the SOUND: impressive. Bass is tight and extended and still balanced within the sound signature. Mids are nice.Detailed and natural. Highs are smooth and slightly rolled off. Very easy to listen to. These sound somewhat like what you'd expect from pretty good speakers. I typically know within 10 minutes whether or not I'll like a headphone. I definitely like the sound of these headphones.

*Jot makes a good amp for the Elear. It drives them with authority and livens them up a touch. (using Gungnir Multibit as DAC). I'm between 10-12 with the jot on low gain

*the price seems very fair given the build quality and performance these offer. If they came out with a lighter little brother to the Elear, I'd buy it in a heartbeat.

 

So, if I never had a problem with the weight of the LCD-2, -3, or -X, the Elear should be great? (Please say no.)

 

Nice impressions.

Buffalo area, East Amherst specifically.


cizx, hoping so. I never had any issues with comfort on any audeze can I've owned.

 

I owned lcd2 and 3. Gave them up due to weight and comfort. The Elear is an LCD on a diet, so yeah...it would work fine for you.

As much as I like the bass on the Elear, the 800 classic bass is punchier still and a little less bloom (EQ applied to 800).