[jinrawke]

I’m not the one you should thank. Alan & Wayne were the team that hustled to get as many as they could out to customers. Good hustle to the bits

Thanks Alan / Wayne! I did get the tracking information sent to my email fairly quick from Wayne after I had spoken with Alan.

As far as holding back your impressions - any reason why?

 

[TSAVJason]

Thanks Alan / Wayne! I did get the tracking information sent to my email fairly quick from Wayne after I had spoken with Alan.

As far as holding back your impressions - any reason why?

As a dealer it may appear I am making a sales pitch as it has in the past with the Utopia and Elear. This only happened because we were the exclusive launch point for the first 90 days but I prefer not to be headfi-bashed again so I’ve decided to hold back on all impressions until some real people impressions are out there in cyber land. The reality is just like many of you, I am an enthusiast and enjoy sharing what I can with the enthusiast community

 

[emrelights1973]

As a dealer it may appear I am making a sales pitch as it has in the past with the Utopia and Elear. This only happened because we were the exclusive launch point for the first 90 days but I prefer not to be headfi-bashed again so I’ve decided to hold back on all impressions until some real people impressions are out there in cyber land. The reality is just like many of you, I am an enthusiast and enjoy sharing what I can with the enthusiast community

Is there something wrong with your web page?

 

[PeteSTRADAMUS]

Well, my mother is hogging all the playtime. She approved. she said they are amazingly clear.

 

[TSAVJason]

Is there something wrong with your web page?

Hahaha you just caused me to check. If youre asking if we have a “buy now” page, its still being created. Its our goal be be the highest level of customer service and responsiveness so doing the “buy now” thing the way we see it currently being done does not meet our service goals. For now we’d prefer to keep the service and advice with a real preson to help you understand all your options with your purchases. Even our online “buy now” will offer the ability to have a conversation with a product specialist via a messenger type program.

 

[TSAVJason]

So I need to post this. Sorry if it upsets some of you. I’ve received a lot of international inquiries this morning. I do appreciate the support of our company very much. Please be advised there are products like Focal that we cannot ship out of the US territory. Just so you are aware, its nothing personal its that we follow the rules of engagement set forth by the manufacturers

 

[ctaxxxx]

Well, my mother is hogging all the playtime. She approved. she said they are amazingly clear.

I see you also have the Sony MDR-Z1R. Are the Clears a perfect complement? I kind of splurged on copper and silver aftermarket cables to use on both of them (since they share interchangeable connectors and neither came with 2.5mm). Still saving up for the Clear.

 

[PeteSTRADAMUS]

I see you also have the Sony MDR-Z1R. Are the Clears a perfect complement? I kind of splurged on copper and silver aftermarket cables to use on both of them (since they share interchangeable connectors and neither came with 2.5mm). Still saving up for the Clear.

I sold the Sony, they were great, don't get me wrong. But at higher volumes which I listen to they started to be all over the place with the sound signature. The bass was great. They sounded clean, but, I got rid of them for the Focal.

Early impressions.

Look/build/comfort
They look phenomenal, love the build... They feel heavy in hand, once you place them over your head the weight disappears. They are by far the most comfortable cans I had on my head right along with the Utopia.

Accessories
They come with a very nice looking/sturdy case
They come with 3 sweet copper cables.
Love that upgrade from Focal.

Sound
They sound like a junior Utopia. Ultra clear, lots of depth to the sound. The headphones aren't anywhere near burned in, but, it's already a pleasant sound. CLEAR named for a reason... They are super clear. I might not be that processional enough for the correct vocabulary to describe them.
Bass- Is exactly how I want it. Nice and tight and never overpowering the rest of the sound sit.
So far I feel like I need to wait several weeks before I get enough out of them to make the jump to the Utopia, that was my main goal. But, I feel like I'm getting most of what they offer for a lot less. I would easily spend hundreds more for what these bring to the table.

Love them so far.

 

[Dr. Robert]

I sold the Sony, they were great, don't get me wrong. But at higher volumes which I listen to they started to be all over the place with the sound signature. The bass was great. They sounded clean, but, I got rid of them for the Focal.

Early impressions.

Look/build/comfort
They look phenomenal, love the build... They feel heavy in hand, once you place them over your head the weight disappears. They are by far the most comfortable cans I had on my head right along with the Utopia.

Accessories
They come with a very nice looking/sturdy case
They come with 3 sweet copper cables.
Love that upgrade from Focal.

Sound
They sound like a junior Utopia. Ultra clear, lots of depth to the sound. The headphones aren't anywhere near burned in, but, it's already a pleasant sound. CLEAR named for a reason... They are super clear. I might not be that processional enough for the correct vocabulary to describe them.
Bass- Is exactly how I want it. Nice and tight and never overpowering the rest of the sound sit.
So far I feel like I need to wait several weeks before I get enough out of them to make the jump to the Utopia, that was my main goal. But, I feel like I'm getting most of what they offer for a lot less. I would easily spend hundreds more for what these bring to the table.

Love them so far.

You will LOVE the Utopia. Believe me they are AMAZING. Also I will buy the Clear.

 

[PeteSTRADAMUS]

You will LOVE the Utopia. Believe me they are AMAZING. Also I will buy the Clear.

I heard them at Canjam. I wanted them next but I decided on giving the Clear a listen. And so far I'm pretty satisfied. I understand certain aspects aren't comparable. But they are awesome.

 

[Dr. Robert]

I heard them at Canjam. I wanted them next but I decided on giving the Clear a listen. And so far I'm pretty satisfied. I understand certain aspects aren't comparable. But they are awesome.

I have many headphones. Denon 2000 and 7000, Oppo PM-1 and PM-3, AKG K70. Nothing can compare with Utopia. When you put the Utopia in your head, nothing else exist. That's the reason for buying the Clear's, To make it portable with my KANN. Enyoy the Clear

 

[PhilW]

I personally can't see a natural progression to the utopia if you own the clear. I can if you already have an elear but the clear is certainly unlike it's brother and sister in many ways.

 

[Paulo Abreu]

Sound
They sound like a junior Utopia. Ultra clear, lots of depth to the sound. The headphones aren't anywhere near burned in, but, it's already a pleasant sound. CLEAR named for a reason... They are super clear. I might not be that processional enough for the correct vocabulary to describe them.
Bass- Is exactly how I want it. Nice and tight and never overpowering the rest of the sound sit ... Love them so far.

Damned, your vocabulary is good enough and makes me salivate... LOL
I guess I'm receiving mine on Monday, Tuesday the worse scenario. I wonder the amplification (desktop) people are using for these babies? So many options and possible combinations, reviews and opinions, I guess nothing is absolute but I still drop the question, if you wanted to choose among the following manufacturers concerning SQ for a desktop amp to Focal Clear (max 800 Eur, some brands out of equation), which order would be your preference? Looking for dynamics, neutrality, brightness, dark background ... basically all genres of music except metal and classical (love contemporary btw).

Violectric
Schiit
Questyle

DAC is not a must, Violectric DAC expansion boards have bellow average reviews, as pure amps they look great, Schiit seems to have a good price/quality ratio but I really don’t wanna mess with tubes, their solid state offer doesn’t seem to reach Violectric heels. Questyle with their new CMA400i seems a good option too... damned I can't try them all on this tiny island 1000 km distant from everything ...

 

[paul30d]

As a dealer it may appear I am making a sales pitch as it has in the past with the Utopia and Elear. This only happened because we were the exclusive launch point for the first 90 days but I prefer not to be headfi-bashed again so I’ve decided to hold back on all impressions until some real people impressions are out there in cyber land. The reality is just like many of you, I am an enthusiast and enjoy sharing what I can with the enthusiast community

Perhaps you are able to answer one question, now that you have heard both the Clear and Utopia, which I don't think could be interpreted as a sales pitch... Is the Clear likely to kill sales of the Utopia? I always thought the difference in sound between the Elear and Utopia was enough for people to justify going for the Utopia (if it is within their budget). Does the same apply for the Clear vs Utopia, or are the differences less "clear". From the initial comments I have seen on the Clear, it would seem harder to justify the extra cost of the Utopia.

Paul

 

[TSAVJason]

Perhaps you are able to answer one question, now that you have heard both the Clear and Utopia, which I don't think could be interpreted as a sales pitch... Is the Clear likely to kill sales of the Utopia? I always thought the difference in sound between the Elear and Utopia was enough for people to justify going for the Utopia (if it is within their budget). Does the same apply for the Clear vs Utopia, or are the differences less "clear". From the initial comments I have seen on the Clear, it would seem harder to justify the extra cost of the Utopia.

Paul

Thx Paul, Hahaha that is so unfair to ask me

Ok so understand it may seem I’m a little non-commital or vague although I don’t want to be but it’s for 2 reasons. 1) is it may be contrary to other opinions and 2) because of how careful as a sponsor I need to be to comply with the rules of this forum.

Let’s try a scale and a light explanation. Take a scale from 1-100. Just for this reference and no other intimation should be taken. In this scale we assume it’s based on each in its own price range and not being relevant for now. Let’s say the Utopia is at 100. Because the Elear doesn’t suck we’ll call it 70. Using this reference the Clear would be a very strong 90 in my opinion. It would not surprise me in the least if the end game for a multi-headphone user was the Clear/Utopia and for no other reason but they are both different enough that the experience from both has it attributes. It also would’nt surprise me if a person elected to own both the Elear and Utopia, I until I received my sample Clear was a Elear/Utopia owner. For me personally since the Clear fell into my possession somehow ... I think a bird dropped it in my lap. the Utopia/Clear is all I need until Dan Clark of MrSpeakers gets me a copy of that Estat. I believe with those 3 and my CIEMS, I’ll be in great shape for a long while.

If you’d like a less constrained answer I’d suggest you call me or write an email to me. I believe you can get our contact info off our website and that is in our sponsor profile