Focal Elear and Utopia

Does anyone know how the headband detaches from the Elear cups yet?

 

Doubt it will happen given how Jude pronounces "Elear" ee-lee-arr in both the introductory video and in his video interview with one of Focal's designers who repeatedly pronounces it correctly as ee-leer. Either he's too stubborn to admit he's wrong or maybe he's been spending too much time on SBAF.

 

I will still enjoy them, they're obviously still good ofc. I'm not whining. It's just sad to see that I missed a newer model by probably just some months

 

@Spl4tt yeah, I do agree. Sorry if I seemed a bit harsh. I don't know about others, but the new headband design while looking more practical, looks a bit worse than the fostex style headbands to me.

 

Hello,
Sorry to intrude as I am new here, and by no means at the general level of expertise going on in this forum. But I enjoy very much reading you guys.
My set up is : paganini transport to Geek Pulse dac to ifi ican pro amp with HD800S.
I just wanted to remark that I auditioned the Utopias 2 days ago, in an A/B comparason with the HD800S, with the form intention to go crazy and buy the already "cultlike" Utopias.
Well, BIG disapointment !
Found the Sennheiser more pleasing, more open, more airy, more natural !
I only tested them with classical music, as it's all I listen to.
I recognize the Utopias have more punch and bass, and "energy", but the Sennheisers were just more natural for me. I never realised how important it is to have that feeling of music not coming from your head. It is only now that I understand how great the HD800's are.
My quest for the perfect headphone might just be over now.
Of course, regarding amps and DACs, there is no limit.

 

So from all the posts i've read.. The general consensus is that the Elears are... bad right?

Opinions seem pretty divided but it sounds like there are more negative posts than positive posts regarding the Elears and yet there are some people claiming that the Elears are in line to dethrone the HD 800.

So I guess my question is.. Would you or would you not recommend these headphones?

I actually ended up getting a pair myself to hear for myself and I guess they don't seem as bad as everyone is making them out to be.

Infact I would say they are pretty good but I've never heard the HD 800 since I hear their treble is emphasized and i'm particularly sensitive to treble...

 

^ I love my modded HD800 but I have it up for sale while I'm keeping my Elears (with felt in front of driver and hm5 angled pleather pads). They're close in overall level of awesomeness (in different ways), but the Elear reminds me more of listening to speakers.

 

No, the Elear isn't a bad headphone -- far from it, actually. It's a good headphone that has some technical shortcomings and a tonal balance that won't suit everyone's tastes. I've seen people justifiably point out the Elear's weaknesses, which promotes balanced discussion, but haven't seen anyone call it a "bad" headphone.

The comment about the Elear "dethroning" the HD800 is puzzling to me, too, because they sound very different from one another and don't compete with each other in the same areas.

Try and audition the HD800 if you can -- IMO, not so much a "good" versus "bad" comparison as it is an apples to oranges one.

 

http://www.superbestaudiofriends.or...tream-of-consciousness.2669/page-5#post-74191

 

This sounds like excellent mod ideas for the Elear.
To me it has the resolution, but the sonic image is very unique and not neutral ,
More like a theatre.
Also the whole elevation of the lower frequencies are kind of tuned for bassheads..
So swapping pads is excellent idea.

The Elear interest season seems to have gone its course,
As now the upcoming ZMF cans have peaked my interest. ..

 

Gotta love the hype-train

Hands deserves any credit for those mod ideas.

 

It sounds to me as you have zeroed in on two very "complimentary" headphones. (I've done the same)

 

What's the difference in size between the opening of the elear pads and the hybrid pads?

 

You're quite the visionary haha...so credit for experimenting and measuring first ;D

 

Hope you narrow down the mod as a balanced Elear would be a game changer as it already has the resolution.

 

FYI for fellow Canadians, it looks like somebody is selling their Elear for $1,500 CAD shipped.

http://www.canuckaudiomart.com/details/649306538-focal-elear/