Focal Elear - Impressions Thread
Sep 26, 2016 at 1:38 AM Post #691 of 6,742
There are people that deny global warming too. Just like a cars pistons, a dynamic, electrostat and planar needs time to settle in to its job. It's physics, to deny it is plain silly. Wire does have tuning properties. It also can carry damaging anomalies. So again, it's just a little crazy to say it has no affect on your listening. This is well known in the electronics world. Tubes, Capacitors and resistors can dramatically change product presentation too. If this weren't true, everything would sound exactly the same with the acception of gain and efficiency. No offense to Tyll, possibly your understanding of what he said is taken out of context. I wouldn't know as I don't read his reviews. I did have someone say to me his review was quite similar to mine and Judes.

+1 on this.
I have always been a firm believer in burn-in,especially with tubes,when I had my Stax rig,and invested large sums of money into Siemens,Lorenz,& Mullard tubes,each had their own personality
Cables seem to affect my ears as well,especially ,silver cables.,and I am currently looking into getting a silver cable for my Elears.,definitely will be a bit shorter though.
 
Sep 26, 2016 at 6:19 AM Post #692 of 6,742
Firstly a huge thanks to @PhilW from Audio Sanctuary for managing to get the headphones before their official release (as I was travelling through the UK at the time). Communication was great and service top-notch.
 
Impressions of the headphones, whilst still early days, are very positive. They have an incredible energy that really gets the toes tapping. Detail retrieval is very good; though not quite HD800 levels. I attribute that to the fact that they do not have the delineation, air and separation of the HD800's - so the detail is there, but the more intimate presentation and smaller / more compact soundstage makes the detail less apparent. But, they have a full, meaty solidity that is more palpable and realistic. It is only in comparison to the HD800 that they may come across slightly "congested" but only in comparison - these are more open than almost all other dynamic and orthodynamic headphones I have tried.
 
Bass weight and accuracy is one of the key features of the Elear. Together with the upper range dynamics, music has a visceral feel that I have not experienced before. Mids and highs are articulate and smooth. Again, it is only in comparison to my reference HD800 that they sound a little subdued (e.g., vocals not quite as clear). Having said that, for a lot of music, the Elears are more suitable. 
 
Looking forward to hearing what these do after some burn-in; during which the midrange and soundstage should hopefully open up a little. Ditto on trying them balanced. Using them with my Nuprime DAC-10H SE and hoping to get a balanced cable soon.
 
Over and above the sound, I have to make mention of the incredible build quality - from the presentation box with magnetic covers through to the cable, headband and pads. They are heavy, but comfortable due to the well-padded head band and even distribution. The cable is rock-solid and at about 4m is a breath of fresh air from short and poor quality stock cables that many headphones come with.
 
These are just initial impressions....more to come in a full review in the hopefully not-too-distant future.
 
Sep 26, 2016 at 3:10 PM Post #693 of 6,742
I know. And I completely understand that it's an unfair comparison to stack a portable amp no matter what model it may be, against desktop units that MSRP out the door for $1300 and $2900 respectively.
 
I was just trying to add a counterweight because a couple people specifically asked about "what amp should I buy?" and I wanted to throw another viewpoint out there.
Since the Elear itself probably isn't going to spend much time out and about in the world, a desktop rig may be money better spent.
 
Sep 26, 2016 at 4:20 PM Post #694 of 6,742
I know. And I completely understand that it's an unfair comparison to stack a portable amp no matter what model it may be, against desktop units that MSRP out the door for $1300 and $2900 respectively.

I was just trying to add a counterweight because a couple people specifically asked about "what amp should I buy?" and I wanted to throw another viewpoint out there.
Since the Elear itself probably isn't going to spend much time out and about in the world, a desktop rig may be money better spent.

I can fully understand that an desktop rig will deliver more quality. But even when I'm not planning to go on vacation or an city trip with an Elear, I just can't imagine using it on one place in my home. I want to use it in my office room, in bed, outside of my house watching stars, having a good drink, or in my garden sitting around, and, and, and. So the absolute non portable amp just is no option for me. I see I would have to give up on some quality in sound therefore.
I'm reading here quite for some time, and still didn't figured out, if the amount of lost quality in sq with my portable little QP1R instead of something desktop is still worth it for me to get an focal (the 1k or the 4k version..)
 
Sep 26, 2016 at 4:53 PM Post #695 of 6,742
Regarding Elear cabling. I only run my Elear's balanced and  I'm using this Sony Z7 cable (also uses 3.5mm jacks on the earcups) from Surf Cables: https://www.surfcables.com/products/sony-mdr-z7 (standard wiring, 4-pin balanced).
 
I had to cut off some of the shielding in order for it to fit into the Elear housing, but it fits fine after doing so:
 
 

 
 
It's a pretty good cable for the price although I would not recommend the thick 20awg one they have for ergonomic reasons as it's very stiff and non flexible. Just another option for those looking for a decent cable that's not too expensive. And you can get any type of connector you want for the amp end. It sounds quite good to me for the price. (It's silver plated copper wiring, btw.)
 
Sep 26, 2016 at 5:46 PM Post #696 of 6,742
I can fully understand that an desktop rig will deliver more quality. But even when I'm not planning to go on vacation or an city trip with an Elear, I just can't imagine using it on one place in my home. I want to use it in my office room, in bed, outside of my house watching stars, having a good drink, or in my garden sitting around, and, and, and. So the absolute non portable amp just is no option for me. I see I would have to give up on some quality in sound therefore.
I'm reading here quite for some time, and still didn't figured out, if the amount of lost quality in sq with my portable little QP1R instead of something desktop is still worth it for me to get an focal (the 1k or the 4k version..)

A few night ago,I took my Cayin C5,and the Fiio x3,and sat out o the patio ,thinking I was for a big disappointment,but to my surprise ,it was excellent.
Had a few beer,listened to my portable rig ,and really enjoyed the SQ.
One issue,I made the mistake of leaving the bass boost ON ,,not a good idea,with this combo,the bass,was way too strong,some may like that...I don't..
This is definitely a portable rig,I would not take on the subway,bus,or into Times Square on a Saturday night,but for a relaxing,on the patio,or,just around the house..its perfect-,just don't trip over the dinosaur cable.-LOL
IMHO,its a good quality portable rig.
 
I also,did a short comparison between the C5 & the fiio X-12 amp,both are very similar,but,my ears are telling me,that the C5 eaks out as the winner,both excellent amps
 
Sep 26, 2016 at 6:21 PM Post #697 of 6,742
Thanks for this impressions, I guess there are the ones with great "portable" impressions and the ones with "only really shines with desktop" impressions (and some in between.
Will have to audition. As of now, no shop in the whole country got them. Also considering ether flow, but an shop with this three beauties is nowhere from me..
 
Sep 26, 2016 at 6:24 PM Post #698 of 6,742
 As of now, no shop in the whole country got them. Also considering ether flow, but an shop with this three beauties is nowhere from me..


There's one in stock currently here: http://amzn.to/2dn7jlB
 
Sep 26, 2016 at 9:42 PM Post #704 of 6,742
Nobody mentions dacs. I'd like to know how different dacs interact with the headphones. Thanks!


I used it with a Audio GD C-2 amp and Audio GD DAC 19 DSP. I really liked the synergy with the DAC. Felt like it was very clean yet analog sound (the DAC 19 does a good job of that). To me it sounds like a warmer HD 800. I kind of wish I could have heard it with another amp to see the differences. Over all I really liked it together.
 
Sep 26, 2016 at 9:57 PM Post #705 of 6,742
Hey Elear owners! Would you guys/gals say these are easier to drive than a HD650? If so a lot, a little or about the same? :wink:
 

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