Are you the cycling luminary of that name? If so, wow! I have done the more standard of hooking up my T+ to my Hermes. I have not seen the T2 to Arce yet.

I am curious to see whether adding a Hermes DDC with my T+ and using the clock sync and I2S would add any value to my system. Right now my source is a miniDSP SHD because I am using Dirac room correction (this is in my main rig with speakers). The miniDSP is limited to SPDIF 96/24 output...

Trying not to stray too far from the Stellia core topic (still loving mine). A friend of mine lent me some Sennheiser 800 - they have uncanny imaging, but such a strange sound signature. Some things like voice sound pretty good. I find them fine for Youtube listening, but I don't like them...

Board participant @teknorob23 built me some neotech cables (8 cores, 4 copper and 4 silver) which really sound good and are better than stock for comfort and sound. They are a little stiff due to single core silver. If you want flexible and great sound, go for a 4 or 8 core neotech copper...

The Stellias are pretty easy to drive, so you don't really need a heroic setup. You should look at the sound profile that you really like. As mentioned there seems to be some real synergy with the Chord gear. I was happy with my Chord Mojo, but I am getting a lot more drive and resolution out...

Not looking at more close backs since I feel the Stellias are end game, but thinking of what complementary open backs to get. Thinking of Utopia if I could afford it or Hifiman Arya as a similar end game headphone for when I want an open back.

I just wanted to let folks here that I finally got my Drop THX AAA 789 headphone amp which I have paired with my Stellias. I am using a balanced TechnoRob Neotech Copper/Silver cable. I have this paired with an SMSL VMV D1 DAC which is balanced out to the THX AAA 789. The system is super...

I am pretty handy, so I would love to go this route. What were your sources for the cable, the yoke? Also what are the correct plugs for the headphone terminations? I will happily roll my own for a fraction of the cost if you would not mind pointing me in the right direction.

Seems like a lot of people like the Arctics cables on eBay. He makes a custom one for the Stella - 8 core Neotech POCC cable with balanced or normal termination. I will most likely end up going there over time. I too find the stock cables too stiff.

I find the Stellia to have a great balance. I drive it with a Chord Mojo right now (and stock cables). I don't hear any muddy bass - in fact it is very articulate. More so than on my LCD2 which are known for their bass. Highs are not harsh to me either. I get crystalline bells, good shimmer...

So far in an office setting, I don't find my ears getting hot. I probably would not travel with these since I prefer the portability of good IEMs like the Noble Kaiser 10s. Both have great sound quality, but IEMs win for isolation and portability. The Stellias have more slam and detail retrieval...

My new work desktop setup

https://www.hifishark.com/search?q=focal+stellia+headphones You can get them below $2K if you wait

I just joined the Stellia club. I got a used pair and am getting used to them. Trying them on my Mac Book streaming CD Ripped FLACs through a Chord Mojo. So far so good. I will try them out on a THX AA 789 and SMSL VMV D1 soon.

It is the consumer reports of headphone reviews. More concerned with features than quality of sounds.