It’s a premium hi-fi headphone to be sure, and it will compete in a market that has seen some great new headphones in recent years. While the Utopia headphones are based on the Utopia speakers, the Elear are based on the Aria range. I can’t think of another speaker manufacturer that has embraced the headphone movement as effectively as Focal. The mechanical design provides remarkably smooth and seamless style due to the solid aluminum yoke. High-fidelity experience. Focal rates their frequency response at 5 to 23,000 hertz. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. The Elear and the Utopia both come supplied with a four metre OFC cable and 6.35mm stereo plug connector. While the Stellia’s 40mm Beryllium dome drive unit is heavily based on that used by the older model, the closed design means that Focal’s engineers have had to rework it considerably. For decades, Focal has made a name for itself with its drivers and speakers. Focal Elegia, the company’s first high-end, closed-back headphone, is a winner. Focal Clear Review – Worth It If You Got It “$$”. Thanks for sharing. "The Sennheiser HD 800 S are better headphones than the Focal Elear, but are also way more expensive. Steph Durwin. Focal’s headphones have been mostly middle market and solid as far as sound is concerned, but nothing in the company’s catalogue prepared us for the arrival of the Utopias. The T1 and HD800 have the “classic hi-fi” tuning where the response was measured “free-field”. Amazon.com. Empire ears Odin fe. The Elear tends toward a very different tuning, similar to the AudioQuest headphones. These audiophile headphones have been conceived for true music lovers, who want to rediscover their tracks with so fine details. Focal says its new headphones have been made to deliver “an audio experience worthy of the company’s high-fidelity loudspeakers”, and feature specially designed components to help them achieve it. They exalt the intimacy of a personal and passionate listening session at home while opening new fields of emotion and feelings. And they don’t just look expensive, they feel it too. The Focal Elear is a world-class design, right up with the best of Audeze, Beyerdynamic, Grado, Hifiman, and Sennheiser’s ’phones. They’re due to be released in September/October for £3250. They have better build quality and feel like more premium open-back headphones. From least to most expensive, we cast our verdict. Thank you for signing up to What Hi-Fi?. All rights reserved. They’re also the world’s first "audiophile headphones” to come with fully open-backed full-range speaker drivers with Beryllium ‘M’-shaped domes, which have been four years in the making. The link bellow is to a website that reviews headphones and TVs. Bath CES 2021. I’m a lucky guy; I’ve heard almost all of the best headphones currently on the market, but I wasn’t expecting something in that league from Focal. Too often high-end products neglect appearances; if you’re spending this sort of money, we think you should get a product th… They’ll be available from September/October this year. Yet, clearly spending $1,000 on a pair of headphones isn't for everyone.Any $1,000 headphone needs to do something really, really well. Here's the Elear - for my purposes, the best sound I've heard, but your mileage may vary according to your treble preferences and which amp you use. There are changes to the surround and motor system aiming to optimise dynamics and detail reso… The new one is the first to be used without a former and also has a monolayer coating to make it even lighter. Amp suggestion for B&W 606 s2 anniversary edition. Great review Dale, exactly what we have come to expect from you. In a direct comparison between the Elear and the T1 (and possibly the HD800), the Elear is night-and-day different. This formidable loudspeaker manufacturer gave its emergent headphone line its best shot in the Focal Utopia, a four-thousand-dollar product that we hailed with a five-star review. Focal Elear. CES 2021 FULL COVERAGE. © Focal says memory foam ear cushions provide high levels of noise isolation and that the headband design has been inspired by the one used on the Utopia and Elear to keep a consistent shape. Focal Elear and Focal Utopia headphones tested, reviewed and rated. Sign up below to get the latest from What Hi-Fi?, plus exclusive special offers, direct to your inbox! Visit our corporate site. The Elear tends toward a very different tuning, similar to the AudioQuest headphones. You will receive a verification email shortly. The T1 and HD800 have the “classic hi-fi” tuning where the response was measured “free-field”. Focal Elegia Review Like other Focal headphones, the Elegia arrives in a snazzy cardboard box with a user manual, a carrying case, and a 1/4” stereo adapter included. Focal Elear Studio Headphone Review. Elear are audiophile open-backed headphones manufactured in France by Focal. While some models go for a workmanlike design, you’ll find nothing of the sort here – even at this price. Again with great thanks to Focal and to Rocky International, Focal's local Japan distributor, for giving me the opportunity to review the Elear for a few days. Ibasso DX220 MAX and zero headphones. Yesterday was my first day to start my review on the Elear, And boy I LOVE THEM!!! The main difference between the two reviews will be the fact that on this occasion I have a Questyle CMA800R headphone amplifier fed by the T+A DAC8 rather than just the excellent … In a few hours time, the Focal Clear will arrive at our doorstep. For now lol. Dec 6, 2016 at 12:17 PM. But on a technical level, much has been re-engineered to account for the different configuration. Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, Inspired by the best technology and acoustic research that went into designing Utopia, our flagship headphones, they offer truly exceptional performance. In summary – the Focal Elear is a great-sounding headphone! On the other hand, the Sennheiser have flatter treble, and they are more lightweight and stable on the head. To fully enjoy your music and amplify yours emotions, discover Arche, a perfect audiophile DAC and amplifier to combine with your hi-fi headphones. Please deactivate your ad blocker in order to see our subscription offer, Sony 2021 TV line-up: models, sizes, specs, everything you need to know, Sony's new Bravia CORE streaming service goes big on IMAX Enhanced movies, Sony Bravia XR TV range brings cognitive intelligence to picture processing. The announcement of a closed-back Focal was turning heads when it was announced at … Focal says that the total harmonic distortion is low: less than 0.3% at 100dB output, measured at 1,000 hertz. There has been a lot of hype about these headphones. For good reason upon reception into the marketplace the Utopia (£4,000) was quickly … Be inspired by the sound of a high-fidelity system with a pair of Elear headphones, for hours of listening pleasure. is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Due to the large impedance spike around 40-50 hz, the power demand could weaken the deep bass somewhat, if your amp isn't up to it. The voice coil within the Utopia headphones has also had a redesign. In mid 2016 the french company released two open-back headphones which would bring their exotic material science to … What Hi-Fi? They should also be comfortable thanks to a lambskin leather headband and ear cushions. It feels like Christmas morning here at Major HiFi. Elear representing a high-end headphone at an attainable price, Utopia representing the very best that Focal’s engineers can deliver The Elear was released as an alternate offering from Focal with a somewhat slightly different signature from the flagship. The Elear meanwhile are also intended for home listening but have an aluminium body, as opposed to the mixture of metal and carbon fibre on the Utopia. They didn't review the Clear, but they did do a full analysis of the Elear. http://www.hifiheadphones.co.uk/community/threads/focal-elear-around-ear-open-back-stereo-headphone-review.4415/. ... By way of Tidal Hi-Fi through the exemplary Hugo TT DAC the track ‘Real Bad News’ always proves to be a sonic rabbit hole that rewards well made equipment with continued visions into just how deep the tunnel can drop. The mechanical design provides remarkably smooth and seamless style due to the solid aluminum yoke. 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L serves up 19-speaker McIntosh sound system. Sensitivity is reasonably high at 104dB for 1mW input at 1,000 hertz. The reason for the Elear’s incredibly fast ascent into the audiophile headphone firmament is clear: we think its easily the best value to be found right now in high-end headphones. Essentially, these are the closed-back version of the Utopias. A very different sound. To a website that reviews headphones and TVs there has been re-engineered to account for the different configuration, a. Has embraced the headphone movement as effectively as Focal 104dB for 1mW input at 1,000 hertz suggestion B! Exalt the intimacy of a personal and passionate listening session at home while opening new fields of emotion feelings! Provides remarkably smooth and seamless style due to the solid aluminum yoke L. 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