Focal Elear and Utopia

I have the Elear since one month now and I share my impressions with it

+ exceptional dynamics and puch, I understand what tyll heard as this is really new in the hp-world
+ right amount of bass (could be a tiny bit more for my taste but for most ppl it should be enough)
+ crystal clear sound, even clearer than HD800M for my ears

- tonality is completely off, espacially in the mids / upper mids. It is so off, that switching to the elear from a "correct" sounding hp makes my ears cry
- bass is lacking texture and precision, to a level that it is inacceptable for me
- at medium to high volumes it gets shouty and ear piercing. it results in listening fatigue when listening at such volumes, even faster than with HD800M

+- soundstage is ok. not very good and not very bad
+- comfort is ok, I can wear it for hours, but not as comfortable as Ether / HD800

 

Some people changed the earpad and felt benefits in the overall tonality. Have you tried?

 

No. What earpads can you recommend?

 

For anybody who has an Elear, the fact that pads change the sound shouldn't be a huge surprise at all. Even some quick experimenting with moving them forwards and backwards (resting them closer to your face, or further away from your face) shows that the sound signature is easily influenced simply by where the things sit on your head.

 

You can swap out pads for the Utopia or Elear. And yes, it makes them sound different, but it also makes them sound like complete ass. I know there's a lot of talk about swapping the pads between the two headphones, but it doesn't fix anything. Elear pads make the Utopias sound bassy, but ruin the frequency response. The Utopia pads on Elear, you lose the bass and they sound harsh.

 

That's why I was asking

I already read that utopia sounds ass with elear pads but from what I read I guess stock Utopia is too bass shy for my taste and maybe for many others too.

 

May be a bit shy in level, but remarkably clear.

 

I just swapped the stock pads at The Source AV, I haven't tried any others. I don't really have any interest there. Utopia/Elear 1=1 pad swaps are awful sounding.

 

You might be better of with Beats.

 

Hahahahaha! No.

 

The substitute for a slightly bass shy hp is NOT a total gargabe one Elear has right amount of bass, just scared that the utopia has less

 

Well, the Beats Solo2 is on Tyll's wall of fame. Just saying'.

That said, when folks say the Utopia might be a bit bass shy, compared to what? LCDs?

 

And I find LCD's to have just enough bass, but not too much. As with most semi neutral headphones, the Utopia will vary depending on what you're playing, and what you amplify with.

 

Compared to the Elear.
problem: measurements say that Utopia has less bass than Elear -> solution: Elear pads on Utopia -> problem: Users here write Utopia sounds like ass with Elear pads -> solution: skip utopia and buy another hp? or maybe use an EQ

 

Unless you've auditioned both, it's useless to speculate. The elears sound dull and lifeless compared to the utopias. The utopias have very good bass; perfect as far as I'm concerned. There are headphones out there with emphasized (more to the uninitiated) bass, mid or treble. Just because they have more of one thing doesn't make them better.

It appears The Elear pads emphasize bass at the expense of treble. The ass comment is an opinion that what, one guy has? I wonder if using the utopia pads on the Elear gives the Elear life? The headphone to avoid is the Elear in favor of the utopia!

Really, if you have auditioned the utopia then you really don't know what you are talking about. Every person that I know that has listened to them, and compared to all my other headphones, had agreed the utopia is superior. At the meets I've gone to, including the SBAF !canjam, the utopias only competition were various high end electrostats.

 

Tyll and Jude both preferred the Elear pads on the Utopia, and I also agree with that assessment. Stock Utopias are a tad bright and the Elear pads warms them up quite a bit.

 

Yep. Not a fan.