Focal Elear and Utopia

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

  1. Rthomas

    Rthomas Friend

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    Actually I meant $3000 not GBP.
     
  2. Muse Wanderer

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    But then you need to factor in customs and VAT, unless you manage to get it over the pond in a suitcase or something.

    On a sidenote, we really need a free trade EU-US deal, but it looks like the TTIP negotiations have now all but failed. Such a shame for audio enthusiasts.
     
    Last edited: Mar 1, 2017
  3. Rthomas

    Rthomas Friend

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    I would have family bring it over and if it is marked as a gift the warranty will be valid in the UK as well.
     
  4. Gemini

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    Anyone else experiencing a creak on their Elears when shifting the head forward or back? It's coming from around the right yoke. Maybe a drop of oil might help.
    Edit: This mostly happens when I'm leaning forward in my chair staring at the computer screen and then lean back in the chair... creak.

    On the plus side, I love how the cups of the headphones are naturally spread apart. You can set them down on a flat surface and the pads don't smush each other (and flatten in one spot if you leave it like that for a few weeks).
     
    Last edited: Mar 8, 2017
  5. AllanMarcus

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    Others have it, it I don't (yet). If it bothers you, you should contact your dealer. You might need to get it replaced.
     
  6. Gemini

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    Okay, thanks. I guess I can live with it. I don't bop my head around while listening to music.
     
  7. AllanMarcus

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    You might be doing it wrong then! :)
     
  8. BenjaminBore

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    I got to listen to these two today. Very impressed with their technical performance. If you listen to anything with guitars they're a winner. Would take the Utopia over a HD800 in a heartbeat, Elear over HD650 is more complicated. Soundstage is like a HD650 mod but smaller overall. Tonality with Elear pads wasn't horrific, but could be better.

    I had some issue with their mid range. I found it to be a little distant, not recessed. The soundstage was smaller in the centre where the vocals tended to be than the left and right, it was quite odd and I'm finding it putting me off considering them. The Utopia was worse in this regard though a lttle better with Elear pads on. I also found the Elear mid range somewhat hazy, which puts it behind the HD650 in that area. They were only hooked up to some all in one Naim streamer though. Anyone else experience this, or found better amping improved it?

    Utopia is the closest thing to the new Orpheus performance-wise. (Oprheus is pretty f'ing sweet FYI, though has a V-shaped tonality.)

    Cheers
     
    Last edited: Mar 25, 2017
  9. FallingObjects

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    Can confirm, Elears have a bit of a weird mid presence and make string sound like they're stuffed with cotton balls. Swapping to angled HM5 pads, plus running them out of a hybrid tube amp (I don't imagine they'd play nice with something like the Crack due to their fairly low impedance) made them a lot better to my ears.
     
  10. AllanMarcus

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    How are you doing that? How are you attaching the pads to the cups? Pics please.
     
  11. FallingObjects

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    Just double sided tape along the insides. Don't really want to take it apart, the tape I bought was a really cheap brand, and I don't think the pads will stay on if I take them off, but I can do it if I'm not making sense.
     
  12. AllanMarcus

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    Ahh, ok. makes sense. Thanks.
     
  13. Senorx12562

    Senorx12562 Case of the mondays

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    I wanna pay $5k. Makes 'em sound better.
     
  14. AllanMarcus

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    Didn't someone here put MrSpeaker eStat pads on the Utopia? I could have sworn I saw that here. I got some of those pads, but I cannot get them to fit over the cups. Any verbal coaching is appreciated.
     
  15. murphythecat

    murphythecat GRU-powered uniformed trumpkin

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    this ws in the other thread!
    very curious about your situation as ive ordered the mrspeakers pads my self...
    you cannot make them fit?
     
  16. pippenainteasy

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    The easiest way is to slide the top of the earpad rear lip over the top of one earcup, then hold it with one of your fingers. Then stretch the earpads to the bottom, and hold it with another finger, then slide the left and right sides.

    There's a video of Dan Clark showing how he installs pads on his mad dogs (last 30 seconds is the part you want to watch). Basically you want to follow a variant of that procedure, and stretch the lip as much as you need.



    It's a tight stretch, and you can use some kind of tape to keep the earpads on if you find yourself sliding it off by accident (I would use Geffen tape, which doesn't leave any residue).
     
    Last edited: Mar 31, 2017
  17. cskippy

    cskippy Creamy warmpoo

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    I had to stretch the living shit out of the HM5 pads to get them on Hifiman rings. Leather is really pliable and will stretch quite well then return to it's normal state. Grab opposite ends of the pads and stretch them until tight and then give mini pulls or pulses until you get it stretched as far as possible then repeat for the remaining sides.
     
  18. AllanMarcus

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    I got them on the TH900, and I like them there. Lovely soundstage

    I just couldn't get the pads on the utopia. The exterior of the cup is very smooth, so the pads keep slipping off. Someone 3D rings for the cups so we can pad roll! :)

    I anyone has luck with this, please tell your secrecy to success.

    I've payrolls many a headphone, but this one will be a challenge. Tape seems like a possible answer.
     
  19. AllanMarcus

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    That looks incredibly easy compared to the utopia. There is no lip or ring to stretch the pad over. In this case the pad just goes over the very smooth cup. I'll try some major stretching

    Also, I liked dan's co-star in the video
     
  20. pippenainteasy

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    It helps having big hands and long fingers because once you stretch one part over the Utopia cans, you have to hold it down with your fingers. I think my years palming basketballs really helped with installing the Utopia pads :p
     

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