[Makiah S]

I'm pretty sure my answer is correct. They didn't build in a popping sound that is designed to tell you you're driving it too hard. I stand by this statement

Focal did not build in anything that would cause a popping sound.

You right in part, they clearly did build something that would cause the popping sound, what we don't know is what threshold they designed that popping sound around

To quote the Focal Rep

Indeed, for Elear and Utopia, we have made a clear design choice. Our headphones have no level compression - on the contrary of our competitors. This allows our products to work with full performances until the mechanical clipping is activated. Meaning you jump directly from a very low distortion to a sound which could be heard as rattling / cracking noise.

Maybe it's how we interrupt what was said but, when I read over that statement. It sounds like it was a design choice that allow's the product to achieve a low level of distortion until the clipping is activated, those are verbs. I've typically experience clipping as something that scales, as you turn the volume up it becomes more audible,

How ever it seems they designed or made a choice to make a product that upon reaching a certain threshold, activated a mechanical clipping , "Meaning you jump directly from a very low distortion to a sound which could be heard as rattling / cracking noise,"

It's wrong for me to assume that "driving to hard" is the threshold they were thinking of when they designed the Elear, this next statement doesn't really specify

Please mind that if are listening to a song with a neutral mixing (meaning the same amount of low frequencies, medium and treble), if are hearing a noise for example at 25Hz (~108 dB), it means that you are listening ~ 120 dB at 3 kHz which is highly armful for the ears.
To conclude, that’s not a Quality issue! A potential new Elear will be designed like yours and you would also have a cracking sound when you’re listening to music with high volume and a fair amount of bass.

But your statement, as it stands, is in stark contrast to what's been shared with us from Focal

 

[TSAVJason]

You right in part, they clearly did build something that would cause the popping sound, what we don't know is what threshold they designed that popping sound around

To quote the Focal Rep





Maybe it's how we interrupt what was said but, when I read over that statement. It sounds like it was a design choice that allow's the product to achieve a low level of distortion until the clipping is activated, those are verbs. They designed or made a choice to make a product that upon reaching a certain threshold, activated a mechanical clipping , "Meaning you jump directly from a very low distortion to a sound which could be heard as rattling / cracking noise" It's wrong for me to assume that "driving to hard" is the threshold they were thinking of when they designed the Elear, this next statement doesn't really specify



But your statement, as it stands, is in stark contrast to what's been shared with us from Focal

I can appreciate your thoughts. FYI ..that clipping or distorted sound as I understand it to be discribed as popping is just the driver traveling too far as any dynamic driver does on over extension. Suffice it to say ...if you hear that sound, you're at the drivers limit.

 

[Makiah S]

I can appreciate your thoughts. FYI ..that clipping or distorted sound as I understand it to be discribed as pippin is just the driver traveling too far as any dynamic driver does on over extension. Suffice it to say ...if you hear that sound, you're at the drivers limit.

Thank you and I too agree, though I've also understood that if your running at 100% your amp may introduce some audible distortion, that can be heard as popping in place of a low frequencys. I've only experienced this with my HE 4 and out of some very... low powered solid states... an despite it's less than optimal distortion numbers wasn't the sound of my driver reaching it's limit. Though I trust that you a bit more knowledge on the workings of a dynamic driver than I am

I'm just still REALLY impressed the Elear as a dynamic has less distortion than my less than perfect but old an gold Planar HE 4! While it wasn't as linear with bass response it's low distortion was obvious,

 

[TSAVJason]

Thank you and I too agree, though I've also understood that if your running at 100% your amp may introduce some audible distortion, that can be heard as popping in place of a low frequencys. I've only experienced this with my HE 4 and out of some very... low powered solid states... an despite it's less than optimal distortion numbers wasn't the sound of my driver reaching it's limit. Though I trust that you a bit more knowledge on the workings of a dynamic driver than I am

I'm just still REALLY impressed the Elear as a dynamic has less distortion than my less than perfect but old an gold Planar HE 4! While it wasn't as linear with bass response it's low distortion was obvious,

Excellent! I too appreciate the Elear and Utopia although I admit I'm a Utopua owner. To be fair I did purchase a set of Elear for my sons high school graduation ...go figure, his dad is a total car guy and he wanted the Elear not a new Focus RS. I would have been all over the car option.

So let's talk about your amp running out of power. This usually manifests itself as typical distortion (what I called sand in my music as a kid) not so much popping. Popping is typically a sign of a driver regardless of type being pushed to its mechanical limit. I believe this may be what the Focal rep was trying to express.

 

[Makiah S]

Excellent! I too appreciate the Elear and Utopia although I admit I'm a Utopua owner. To be fair I did purchase a set of Elear for my sons high school graduation ...go figure, his dad is a total car guy and he wanted the Elear not a new Focus RS. I would have been all over the car option.

So let's talk about your amp running out of power. This usually manifests itself as typical distortion (what I called sand in my music as a kid) not so much popping. Popping is typically a sign of a driver regardless of type being pushed to its mechanical limit. I believe this may be what the Focal rep was trying to express.

Possibly, the HE 4 isn't easy to drive. Though... I most recently had a "poppy" bass during my iBasso PB2s failure. Something in it defected, the first thing that went was the bass, from missing notes to just popping. I double checked my Op Amps headphones and other working amps, and confirmed the popping bass to be directly related to a defect in the unit... though running low gain maybe wasn't such a good idea with the HE 4.

Still I've experienced amp clipping audibly my self, I notice it most in the bass, it's... well not a LOUD popping sound... but... kinda like a dull muted pop...

still this conversation is neither here nor there! Good pick for a Graduation gift. I'm sure he'll enjoy them for quite a while

 

[wggreen]

looking

 

[TSAVJason]

Possibly, the HE 4 isn't easy to drive. Though... I most recently had a "poppy" bass during my iBasso PB2s failure. Something in it defected, the first thing that went was the bass, from missing notes to just popping. I double checked my Op Amps headphones and other working amps, and confirmed the popping bass to be directly related to a defect in the unit... though running low gain maybe wasn't such a good idea with the HE 4.

Still I've experienced amp clipping audibly my self, I notice it most in the bass, it's... well not a LOUD popping sound... but... kinda like a dull muted pop...

still this conversation is neither here nor there! Good pick for a Graduation gift. I'm sure he'll enjoy them for quite a while

I'd be happy to share thoughts on the topic. Let's do that offline

 

[AverageGuyNC]

I'm using a IFI iCan Pro which puts out plenty of power. I can push a lcd2 or 3, a hd800, several others with it no problem. There are 3 gain levels and I think I had it on the middle one and didn't have to turn it more than half way to get push the Elears.

It's a pop, and I turned the volume down and heard it much less often. But for example, the bass could hit and it will sound fine till the last instant, and as the bass note ends I heard a pop. When the volume is turned up, I usually hear it on nearly every bass note.

It's kinda loud before I hear the noise, but I pump my th900 louder without problem. Oh well, maybe I'll trade them.

 

[waveSounds]

I feel for your ears, man. Drop me your mailing address so I can send them a get well soon card.

 

[makne]

Either your Elears are broken, or you're listening to music insanely loud...

 

[Makiah S]

I'm using a IFI iCan Pro which puts out plenty of power. I can push a lcd2 or 3, a hd800, several others with it no problem. There are 3 gain levels and I think I had it on the middle one and didn't have to turn it more than half way to get push the Elears.

It's a pop, and I turned the volume down and heard it much less often. But for example, the bass could hit and it will sound fine till the last instant, and as the bass note ends I heard a pop. When the volume is turned up, I usually hear it on nearly every bass note.

It's kinda loud before I hear the noise, but I pump my th900 louder without problem. Oh well, maybe I'll trade them.

Huh that's not good, try to get a spl db reading. Or measure the volume your listening at

 

[BunnyNamedCraig]

Either your Elears are broken, or you're listening to music insanely loud...

agreed... With higher end gear (which should have lowest distortion) You are able to play music at a lot higher decibel than usual and have it still sound excellent. So its really easy to get into the music and not realize that they are too loud. Be careful with your ears friends!!

 

[TSAVJason]

agreed... With higher end gear (which should have lowest distortion) You are able to play music at a lot higher decibel than usual and have it still sound excellent. So its really easy to get into the music and not realize that they are too loud. Be careful with your ears friends!!

Very true! You only get one set of ears and they are easy to damage ....good advice Crieg!

 

[waveSounds]

OK chaps, here's a question: how do we tackle cleaning the Elear pads? I'm sitting here on this sweltering, stifling night, sweating profusely and imagine that the microsuede pads must be absorbing a fair amount of, well, me...

 

[happyxix]

How does the soundstage of the elears compared with a DT880 Pro?

From what I read, the bass is much more pronounced and the trebles are much smoother compared to the DT880s. If the soundstage is about as wide (used for music and gaming), then I think I've found my perfect replacement.

Thank you!