Focal Elear and Utopia

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

  1. Hands

    Hands Overzealous Auto Flusher - Measurbator

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    Oh I just meant the amp they used. Questyle or something?

    Unfortunately, I'm not sure. The Focals can be picked the to point I'd need to hear them on each amp.
     
  2. marcussmj

    marcussmj New

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    Just want to get some general opinion here, especially calling out to those who owns Utopia. How do you guys feel with the introduction of the accessories that comes with the Clear at a lower price? I am a Utopia owner myself and it puzzles me to see Focal doing this, and quite frankly it has made me extremely disappointed that we early adopters of the Utopia are not getting anything.
     
  3. nithhoggr

    nithhoggr Author of the best selling novel Digital Jesus

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    Not a Utopia owner myself, but I wonder if Focal is throwing in so many accessories to justify pricing it higher than the Elear. I mean, it's not like a couple of cables and a case (which would probably add up to less than $300 for aftermarket equivalents) would make much of a difference between a $1.5k headphone and a $4k headphone, but between a $1k headphone and a $1.5k headphone not having to also buy a balanced cable would actually make a big difference.

    Though I have to say, I really like the idea of including cables with both 1/8" and 1/4" jacks. I understand why companies tend to go for 1/8" jacks, even on high-end heapdhones, but I'm always paranoid about the little jacks breaking. Seems like just including two cables gives you the best of both worlds.
     
  4. zonto

    zonto Friend

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    I would like a hard carrying case and balanced 4m cable for the Utopia. I don't mind the new accessories as much as I do Focal undercutting resale value with their recent promotions and stupid warranty practices.
     
  5. marcussmj

    marcussmj New

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    I see. Well, I do feel bummed out and I have reached out to Focal for an answer as to how they would address the early adopters.
     
  6. marcussmj

    marcussmj New

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    Just want to see how people that spent that much are feeling right now. I for one am disappointed about it.
     
  7. Galm

    Galm Still looking for Little Red Riding Hood

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    I agree... I heard the Clear at RMAF. To me it sounded like a “fixed” elear if sounding more like Utopia is the goal. The Elear dip is gone but the detail Utopia has is missing of course. I would say it’s an improvement, but yeah it’s expensive for what it is with the Elears available at 700 with the trade in. (Focal also said they most likely won’t run that again)
     
  8. Senorx12562

    Senorx12562 Case of the mondays

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    Why would they give you anything? They already have your money. If you were happy with your purchase before, why would Clear buyers getting something else make your deal any worse? "I want what he has."
     
  9. AllanMarcus

    AllanMarcus Friend

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    I don't give a shit and I don't feel bad at all. Good for Clear buyers that they get accessories. If Focal decides to includes more accessories with the utopia, great. I got what I got when I got it, and I'm happy. If others get more now, then they will be happy too.

    Too much damn whining, grumble grumble grumble, damn kids on the lawn. Grumble grumble grumble.
     
  10. Boops

    Boops Friend

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    Agreed. If you are going to be an early adopter, don’t whine when the landscape changes *a year later.* If you didn’t like what you were buying, you shouldn’t have bought.
     
  11. nithhoggr

    nithhoggr Author of the best selling novel Digital Jesus

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    I have to agree that the warranty stuff has made me leery of Focal. I'd probably be really interested in the Clear if it wasn't for that...as is, I'd be afraid I'd never be able to resell them.
     
  12. AllanMarcus

    AllanMarcus Friend

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    I think most people get this "warranty stuff" out of perspective. The warranty on focal gear is generally no different than than most other companies' warranty. Very few companies have transferable warranties. (Schiit doesn't, for example) The big issue with focal is that they don't do business directly with the consumer; you have to work through a dealer, the dealer has to verify the warranty, and most dealers don't want to lose their focal authorization, so they are very strict with "original owner". Most business usually just require proof of purchase for warranty work, knowing that original receipts are not often given to second hand buyers. In Focal's case, even having the receipt isn't enough in most cases.

    That said, there are some dealers that will simply accept a receipt as proof of purchase, and not care about the name on the receipt.

    If Focal actually dealt directly with the consumer, they probably would only care about the receipt too. The issue, as I see it, is the outmoded dealer only paradigm.
     
  13. barelyincollege

    barelyincollege Nice Pit Bull

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    What sets Focal apart from other manufacturers is that they don't offer out-of-warranty repairs on headphones, even at the customer's expense; that is, they don't service second-hand headphones at all. EDIT: The Source AV indicated on Head-Fi that OOW service is available, though it can be cost-prohibitive depending on the type of repair.

    The non-transferable warranty isn't an issue by itself, but the lack of replacement parts and no possibility of authorized repair makes a second-hand purchase a risky proposition.
     
    Last edited: Oct 9, 2017
  14. abvolt

    abvolt New

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    I didn't know that kinda scary since I'm on my third pair of Elear's, the first lasted about a week my second pair got me about 9 months, that pair was sent off to Focal North America about 2 weeks ago. I hope this pair lasts, I was also thinking of getting the Clear's but not all sure about Focal any more. I do love the Elear's sq one of my favorite hp's..enjoy
     
  15. Darren G

    Darren G Friend

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    It's really self-defeating to be angered/disappointed when the deal changes later.

    There is also no possible win for companies. Early adopters will argue they are owed because they 'supported' the company. Late adopters will argue they didn't know something new was coming. I suppose a company could try to handle it like a software contract, where you can pay more to stay on an upgrade plan, but realistically that just doesn't work with most hardware.

    Enjoy what you bought when you bought it ;) Besides, odds are Utopia buyers have the cables they need already, and how many cart them around? The case would also end up on the shelf or buried in a box for most of us.
     
  16. AllanMarcus

    AllanMarcus Friend

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    I lugged my utopia all over RMAF for three days in a cloth MrSpeakers bag in my day pack. In the suitcase, it was in the bag, then in a $7 sentey gs1401 case, which fits perfectly. Unfortunately, I think the case is discontinued. Not robust protection, but good enough for a suitcase.

    [​IMG]

    I cannot imagine buying a $150 case for it. But that's just me.
     
  17. Darren G

    Darren G Friend

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    There you go. $7 for a case if really needed. I bought an AudioQuest PERCH headphone stand for my Utopia; just no way I was going to pay $250 for a thing to hang the headphones on (yes it has a Focal logo, but I just don't care, nor does anyone else). Nothing wrong with those who do either, but I learned to take responsibility for what I choose to buy and not grumble, cry, and moan 'life isn't fair' :p
     
  18. Drifterxny

    Drifterxny Friend

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    lol, I've been using a $10 banana stand for the Utopia, been working great for the past yr.
     
  19. dubharmonic

    dubharmonic Friend

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    There’s always money in the banana stand.
     
  20. Vtory

    Vtory Audiophile™

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    @Tyll Hertsens uploaded Clear measurement to IF: https://www.innerfidelity.com/images/FocalClearsnA1BRQE000007.pdf

    Overlapped this on the utopia measurement (not Tyll's review unit, but more representative "brighter" one): https://www.innerfidelity.com/images/FocalUtopiasnA1BEHG003253.pdf

    [​IMG]
    (red and blue lines: utopia sn 3253, inverted colors: clear)

    I don't think clear can replace utopia (particularly in terms of technicalities due to better magnets/material), but it seems that focal is trying to reproduce utopia's tonal balance with elear material. Of course my speculation though.

    P.S. isolation measurement looks very strange. Open back headphones cannot have such isolation pattern for 30-300hz IMO.
     

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