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Focal Elear and Utopia Impressions at Source AV

Discussion in 'Headphones' started by purr1n, Jul 7, 2016.

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  1. KurtSvensson

    KurtSvensson Friend

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    At least us west europeans have people like Jeremey Clarkson to get praise on a more regular basis.
     
    KurtSvensson, Jul 8, 2016
    #101
  2. frenchbat

    frenchbat Almost "Made"

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    The orang utan only praises himself, anything else is a veiled insult. Funny as hell sometimes, but still an insult.
     
    frenchbat, Jul 8, 2016
    #102
  3. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    This is who we have tending our nuclear reactors:
    [​IMG]

    This is the result:
    Three_Mile_Island_accident_sign.jpg
     
    purr1n, Jul 8, 2016
    #103
  4. frenchbat

    frenchbat Almost "Made"

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    Fair enough, Marv', fair enough.
     
    frenchbat, Jul 8, 2016
    #104
  5. Vanheim

    Vanheim Acquaintance

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    Oh god! that made me laugh so hard. This forum is funnier than head-fi too! not that head-fi was actually ever funny...
     
    Vanheim, Jul 8, 2016
    #105
  6. bazelio

    bazelio Friend

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    No, no, no... hopefully someone does. :D

    BTW, thinkin' ZDS might not be so bad a match, really? If it switches to a 20R series resistor (remember reading that somewhere?) in high Z mode, then damping factor might even be a bit higher for the 80R Elear switched to low Z (3R ?) vs Senn switched to high Z?
     
    bazelio, Jul 8, 2016
    #106
  7. OJneg

    OJneg The Most Insufferable

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    Bookmarks added to first post.

    Question to @Marvey: I think people might be wondering how these sound relative to Focal's loudspeaker line. Do you think Focal did a good job representing their house sound here? I know certain other belligerent ones hate Focal speakers. I remember the ones we heard at THE show were bad, but the big compartmentalized ones that Source keeps on in one of their showrooms sounds good to me, value notwithstanding.
     
    OJneg, Jul 8, 2016
    #107
  8. imackler

    imackler Key Lime Pie Infected Aberdeen Wings Spy

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    At least not intentionally.
     
    imackler, Jul 8, 2016
    #108
  9. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    It comes down to setup. The FSP reminded me most of the bigger Focals I've heard at THE SHOW. I'm sure Source AV has done a better job at setting them up in their own their facility. I know people don't like the Focal speakers for various reasons, but let's be honest, the frequency response and timbre of the Focal speakers, even in not optimal conditions, is still a lot better than most headphones.

    Also, I think those Duvalier, Deviante, or Bidet, or what French DAC/amp thingies they used at THE SHOW a few years ago probably contributed to how shitty those big Focals sounded. Darnit, can someone tell me what the name of that manufacturer was?
     
    purr1n, Jul 8, 2016
    #109
  10. Serious

    Serious Inquisitive Frequency Response Plot

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    And probably a whole lot better than the Focal headphones too, right?
    That topic is more of an issue of headphones vs speakers in general and not related to the Focal speakers I guess.
     
    Serious, Jul 8, 2016
    #110
  11. OJneg

    OJneg The Most Insufferable

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    Yes, I've always liked their tonal balance and even response

    Well, I'm really just trying to get to how close these get to a pair of Focal loudspeakers, as a reference point for those that might love or hate the Focal sound.
     
    OJneg, Jul 8, 2016
    #111
  12. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    In general, Focal speakers (home and auto) I have heard tend to have a bit of bass boom and emphasis in the presence region. (It's hard for me to say for certain on their home gear because I've never heard them in a home properly set up.) The Elear is maybe like this with the bass. The Utopia is maybe like this in the upper mids / lower treble.
     
    purr1n, Jul 8, 2016
    #112
  13. drfindley

    drfindley Secretly lives in the Analog Room - Friend

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    I had Focal speakers in my '95 honda civic and I loved them. Mind you that was like 10 years ago and I had to put dynamat in just to them from moving the door more than the driver. Regardless of how my opinion has shifted from that point in time, those Focals still hold some respect to me. These headphones are interesting.
     
    drfindley, Jul 8, 2016
    #113
  14. RiddleyWalker

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    Devialet?
    http://en.devialet.com/#hot-news
     
    RiddleyWalker, Jul 8, 2016
    #114
  15. OJneg

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    I'd agree with above and add that the Focal (speaker) bass performance tends to be on the slower or bloomier side IME. While I wouldn't characterize either of these headphones as having such a character, I do feel there is a slight compression effect here. I felt that the HD800's bass was a bit more dynamic and lively (people who think the HD800 has no bass need to stop listening to their hyper-analytical solid-state abominations)
     
    OJneg, Jul 8, 2016
    #115
  16. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    Come to think of it, the Elear kind of mimics the sound of the intro line of Focal car speakers and the Utopia the higher line of Focal car speakers.

    I run the introductory line of Focal car speakers in the wife's SUV. They are easier to drive, and also they were less peaky, but less technically capable, than the higher line. I felt the introductory Focals were better than most anything else I auditioned at various car audio shops.

    Yeah. Those guys who make that Death Star wireless speaker or whatever. I don't think they are even selling their integrated DAC/amp thingies anymore. Those things sounded nasty.
     
    purr1n, Jul 8, 2016
    #116
  17. Serious

    Serious Inquisitive Frequency Response Plot

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    Sure, I've been sort of interested in the Focal speaker vs Focal headphones familiarity too.
    I meant regarding what Marvey said about the Focal speakers sounding more tonally correct than most headphones - many speakers sound much more tonally correct than headphones (especially when set up properly), not only Focals.
     
    Serious, Jul 8, 2016
    #117
  18. Tyll Hertsens

    Tyll Hertsens Grandpappy of the hobby - Special Friend

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    Tyll Hertsens, Jul 8, 2016
    #118
  19. mtoc

    mtoc SBAF's Resident Shit-Stirrer

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    oh my god, I just check out the BigSound 2015 Amp measurements by Tyll, the measurements of O2 amp is indeed better than 430HA... feeling kinda dizzy right now.
     
    mtoc, Jul 8, 2016
    #119
  20. jowls

    jowls Never shitposts (please) - Friend

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    Seriously, every second post you make here seems to be trying to provoke some sort of reaction. No one cares.

    Marv, OJ and Tyll all excited about a new headphone for slightly different reasons? Elear definitely need a listen...
     
    jowls, Jul 8, 2016
    #120
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