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They are getting some good press. Your impressions?
Edits: 08/11/16 08/11/16Follow Ups:
Heard the Utopia's about a month ago at a local headphone meet. Was extremely interested in comparing them to my HiFiMan 560's, and very skeptical given the 560's are very, very good. Heard both with my HP laptop as a source into an (then) unfamiliar Chord Mojo dac/amp. I listened to my own recorded files at 24/192 from my TASCAM 3000 recorder off my LPs.
As I told another guy there, they made my 560's sound 'ragged'. The Focal's were clean, clear, dynamic and precise up and down the band. Were they worth over 4 times as much as the HiFiMan? Don't know, but I'm intrigued enough to go back soon for a listen to the Elears.
Without a direct comparison back at home, I went right back to enjoying the 560s as much as ever. The planar sound is, I think, a bit more thick, more visceral, but at the expense of clarity vs the Utopias.
Also heard the Audeze LCD-X's, but they seemed a poor match for the Mojo, being a bit bright. Or at least that was my impression in limited auditioning. And it was so evident I didn't keep listening long. A shame as I was very much looking forward to a session with them.
They got me back in the hobby.
Rolling amps now.
KP
Do you think that the Utopias are very much better than the Elears?
KP
and as they burn in they go through changes. They sound extremely fine, the best I have heard then flatten out some then up then down, they go through changes. I have around 100 hours on them now. I am also using a custom cable for them by Whiplash Audio. The stock cable sucks, heavy, rubberized and 13 feet long. The stock cable sounds good but for me is really cumbersome.
iBasso DX100,DX50 DX90. Chord Hugo. HiFiman 901s balanced. RSA Intruder, The Lightning. Fostex TH900 balanced, HE1000, HE-6, 560, 500, JH13 Pro balanced. Lyr2, Audeze. Balanced mostly with Whiplash cables. Photo gallery: www.pbase.com/jamato8
John, how does the bass stack up against the HE6 and how would you describe the balance in comparison to that headphone?
System Details
is exceptional. The bass has notes, not just bass. It is articulated and stays within the sound field of where it is coming from, rather than being detached. I have heard and own no other headphone that is as good. It is like someone at the top of their game and somehow they transcend everyone and anything anyone else can do. On balance, there is nothing accentuated or anything that seems to be lost in the music. As detailed as they are they are never bright or etched sounding. They are amazing.
iBasso DX100,DX50 DX90. Chord Hugo. HiFiman 901s balanced. RSA Intruder, The Lightning. Fostex TH900 balanced, HE1000, HE-6, 560, 500, JH13 Pro balanced. Lyr2, Audeze. Balanced mostly with Whiplash cables. Photo gallery: www.pbase.com/jamato8
...my Utopia's are on order so in the next couple of weeks I should be able to compare for myself. Listening to my modded HE6's right now and thinking I must be crazy to want anything else - especially for 4x the price!
System Details
very good. The Utopia is different. The timbre is excellent and wonderful layering and imaging. A different sound to be sure. Just like the HE1000V2 are different but enjoyable.
iBasso DX100,DX50 DX90. Chord Hugo. HiFiman 901s balanced. RSA Intruder, The Lightning. Fostex TH900 balanced, HE1000, HE-6, 560, 500, JH13 Pro balanced. Lyr2, Audeze. Balanced mostly with Whiplash cables. Photo gallery: www.pbase.com/jamato8
Wow, that is a true high-end purchase. Congrats!
Please keep us posted.
I would rather be looking at those Planar Magnetic type headphones.I love the Stax ESL headphones but they are priced for a family ransom.
"For every complex problem there is an answer that is clear, simple, and wrong" H. L. Mencken
True, the Stax SR009 are as expensive as the Focal Utopia, but the L700 and the SR-007 MkII for $1500-$2000 (some prefer the cheaper SR007 MK II with port mod to the SR009), and you can DIY a electrostatic headphone amp such as my SRX Plus that will beat any commercial Stax amp for less than $1000. That's the way I went and I'm very happy with the results.
"I've never heard such sensitively percussive, harmonically rich, filled with weight and substance sound from a piano."
I wonder if they're better than the piano in my livingroom. :)
--------------------------
Buy Chinese. Bury freedom.
... they probably ARE better than the piano in your living room.
Just for the record; only the Utopia has beryllium drivers. The less expensive Elear has aluminium/magnesium ones.BTW, it may be a bit early to expect consumer user reports. I was looking at the Focal website just now and they are still listed as being on pre-order. Which implies that they haven't yet reached shops even if a few reviewers have them.
Edits: 08/22/16
have demo units and some will be available soon. The US is getting the first shipments and there are Elear in the hands of owners now.
By all accounts the Utopia are spectacular and that is none that have been truly broken in yet.
iBasso DX100,DX50 DX90. Chord Hugo. HiFiman 901s balanced. RSA Intruder, The Lightning. Fostex TH900 balanced, HE1000, HE-6, 560, 500, JH13 Pro balanced. Lyr2, Audeze. Balanced mostly with Whiplash cables. Photo gallery: www.pbase.com/jamato8
Well if they are now reaching orinary consumers I hope that soemone posts a review or other comments as they are top of my list of possible 'phone purchases. At least the Elears are, the Utopias being probably more than I would consider spending - maybe.
Very good Tyll Hertsens reviews over at Inner Fidelity.
upon who is playing it. Pianos are one hard instrument to reproduce right. So much going on.
iBasso DX100,DX50 DX90. Chord Hugo. HiFiman 901s balanced. RSA Intruder, The Lightning. Fostex TH900 balanced, HE1000, HE-6, 560, 500, JH13 Pro balanced. Lyr2, Audeze. Balanced mostly with Whiplash cables. Photo gallery: www.pbase.com/jamato8
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