Focal Elear and Utopia

Please search for answers to your questions before asking them: http://www.superbestaudiofriends.or...782/&q=classical&t=post&o=date&c[thread]=2270

 

Elear is good for orchestral pieces if you have it modded and EQ'd, but definitely not stock.

If you're not comfortable or technologically inclined, I definitely agree that a Stax or the HD800(S) will be a much better immediate pairing for classical.

Elear's will work out of pretty much anything that has an aux out though, whereas HD800 is notoriously picky, so it also depends on the rest of your chain. Stax has a narrow margin here simply because of the nature of electrostatics not being compatible with much else, but I think it still manages to be less picky than the HD800.

With time and effort, I'd say Stax > HD800 > Elears for that specific kind of music.

Everything else in terms of ease of usage, Elear > Stax > HD800.

 

them's strong words, and I do not think universally accepted. The Elear, like you said, needs EQ, and even then I think there would be lots of disagreement that it's better than stay, HD800, or many other headphones. Sure, there are many that like the Elear, but there are also many that do not.

 

For example people who like sound stage will probably strongly prefer the HD800, still basically unrivaled. Though I'm assuming Elears is somewhat similar to Utopias.

 

I don't think I spoke clearly there, which is my fault. For that ranking, I meant for ease of usage alone. I'll edit my post to try and make that a bit more evident.

But yeah, for 'type' of sound and listening experience, I definitely wouldn't say Elears come close to being an end-all-be-all headphone.

 

FYI: Focal/Naim UK have just informed me over the phone that modifying the Utopia's cable will invalidate the entire warranty, headphone included. They've no issue with the use of an alternative cable though. I would assume this extends to the Elear too.

Also their online contact forms are bloody useless. No response.

Time to waste some money on an overpriced balanced cable...

 

Cables aren't that hard to make, if you have soldering experience.

 

I bought my Utopia from Meier audio in Germany, an authorised dealer, who confirmed with Focal Germany distributor amd Focal themselves that only the cable warranty is voided before he changed it to balanced ended.

Could these contradictory statements be related to modification of the cable by unauthorised vs authorised individuals?

 

well, when I got my Utopia used, the prior owner had re-terminated the cable. I soldered the 1//4 plug back onto the cable, and returned the whole box. They didn't bat an eye. he had even cut off about 6 inches of the original cable to make an adapter, so the stock cable was 6" short.

Note, you can get "Lemo" connectors from AliExpress for $20/pr. I got some and verified they work.
From Allied, they are $20.08/ea, but the shipping time might be a long time. Markertek might have them in stock, but you have to call them (800-522-2025) as they don't sell them on-line. I got some cheaper ones ($9.21/ea) from AliExpress that seem to work. I happy to make you cable for $30-$50 (my cost), depending on what you want and part cost.

 

EDIT: Consolidated the last three posts into one.

@AllanMarcus Thank you very much for the offer, if I'd seen it a few hours earlier I may have taken you up on it. I've put the order in now and the parts have been ordered for the build. I should receive it in 10 days. I've re-terminated and made adapters for three pairs previously. But don't have time to attempt to make one from scratch. It's a shame, Focal made it super easy to do with the stock cable. I'm pretty sure the CEO commented on how they designed the cable to make it easy for customers to modify, even for 2x 3-pin xlrs.

@Muse Wanderer They were blanket statements. This may be related to Focal having merged with Naim, and Naim handling all Focal business in the UK. Probably having their own policies on such matters. Given the cable's construction and ease of modification, plus the CEO's comments. I expect it's fine elsewhere where Focal handle their own business. Myself and the dealer I purchased from, Nintronics, expected it to be as you described. But neither of us were surprised by the UK branch's idiotic policy.
I've since received additional confirmation from a different member of staff via email, re. voiding the warranty.

If anyone needs to contact Focal/Naim UK use these instead of the online forms:
Email: [email protected] Tel: 0845 660 2680

For those in the same boat the quotes coming back from an ebay seller named redbandmusic are coming in much cheaper than customcans. Direct contact is: [email protected]. It's the cheapest I've found, and I received a discount when ordering a pair of XLR to 6.3/3.5mm adapters along with it. Those Lemos are the bulk of the cost at about £50 for a pair. This is the order I put in:
-3 metre length Van Damme Tour Grade Classic XKE Miniature Starquad
-Lemo connectors for Utopia, black if possible.
-Black male 4-pin Neutrik XLR connector
-43cm length from the tip of the Lemo connectors to the Y junction, to match the stock cable dimensions.
£70.31 Parts
£15.97 Labour and P&P
Total cost - £86.28

 

I'm just getting started with the Utopia but the immediate issues I've had are with it's mid range being too unfocused and veiled. Before I consider pads and damping I tried a couple of things I found helpful that didn't come up in a thread search.

I started with EQ and found a problem area around 300hz, responsible for it's cotton mouthed vocals, which I've adjusted to -5db 3/2Q.

I found better results by swapping the left and right cables and wearing them back to front. This actually focused it's vocals more precisely and clearly, and brought up the very top end of the mids / lower treble in a way EQ could not, lifting the dullness of the vocals. Stage width shrunk a little, and they were also no longer so position dependant.

In the default configuration they really are incredibly position, distance, and angle dependent. After a bit of playing around I found pressing firmly on the rear of the cups, reducing the angle and distance of the drivers, focused and cleared up center image, bringing the vocals more forward and increasing tactility. I'll need to find some pads with a strong angle and orient them this way.

I'd be interested in hearing about people's EQ settings, now that they've been around for awhile.

 

Moon Audio has a great deal on Focal atm. Best I've seen by far.

https://www.moon-audio.com/focal-headphones.html

 

Every focal dealer is doing this deal. Adorama isn't requiring a trade in
https://www.adorama.com/foutopia.html?emailprice=t
Note that adorama is a two year warranty, whereas some of the higher end dealers like Moon and The Source AV offer a five year warranty. While I'm not sure sure, I think you can still negotiate with your local dealer for a lower price. Worth a try.

 

Well, the popularity of the Elear has waned after the initial FOTM surge and the Utopia remains out of reach for most of us.

Well it looks like Focal decided to "fix" the Elear by introducing the Focal Clear open back. No details yet but Jude says it slots in between the Elear and the Utopia. Unfortunately, that probably means that the price will be higher. I'm guessing $1700 to $2000. Too bad, they should have just done the Elear V2 and kept the price the same.



Skip to 1:00 to see it.

 

Let's hope Focal has learnt from Sennheiser's mistake of trying to fill the gap between 650 and 800 with 700.

 

Watch this first and Jude becomes easier to listen to.

 

Anyone got the dirt on the new Focal Clear?

 

We will in five days

 

That's going to be interesting!

 

Utopia was too lean for me and too expensive for that matter. Elear was close to a keeper for me but somewhat heavy and uncomfortable. And the cable was just awful on both.

I have hopes that Clear could be a winner and resolve many of those issues. I'll be watching the press release on this one.