[noplsestar]

You’ll lose bass response if you use either of those 2 types of pads on the Utopia

I tried elear pads on clear. They give the clear a bass boast. I much prefer clear with stock pads.

Thanks. So maybe I would lose bass by using utopia pads, but what would I gain? The last bit of refinement? Maybe a baby Utopia?

 

[DavidWeinberg]

I am in the unfortunate position of having left my Focal headphone case on a plane (and on my second outing with the Clears). Some lucky passenger on the DC to Norfolk flight is now the proud owner of my case (and my name and contact info were included...)

My local dealer reports a mid April delivery of Focal cases. Any dealers on this thread have the headphone case in stock?

My thanks to @MTMECraig and Mark Mawhinney, both at Music To My Ear. Craig responded promptly and I bought the case for $125. Painful, yes, but $25 less than list price. I received the case within 24 hours so all is well for now. I'll be more careful on my next trip...

 

[TSAVJason]

My thanks to @MTMECraig and Mark Mawhinney, both at Music To My Ear. Craig responded promptly and I bought the case for $125. Painful, yes, but $25 less than list price. I received the case within 24 hours so all is well for now. I'll be more careful on my next trip...

I’ll send them a case so you don’t have to wait if you like.

 

[TSAVJason]

Thanks. So maybe I would lose bass by using utopia pads, but what would I gain? The last bit of refinement? Maybe a baby Utopia?

Hahaha I’d like to say yes but I can’t. It’s just not a good match together really

 

[DavidWeinberg]

I’ll send them a case so you don’t have to wait if you like.

Thanks, but no need. I received the used headphone case from Music to My Ear, so all is well.

 

[TSAVJason]

Thanks, but no need. I received the used headphone case from Music to My Ear, so all is well.

Happy to hear that. Music to My Ear are good people and as such I had no issue helping them get you a case. cheers

 

[franz12]

Just out of curiosity, is there any reason Clear needs to come with a balanced cable? Why don’t they provide just one cable and multiple adapters for different connections like balanced-1/4 and 1/4-8? Do adapters deteriorate sound quality? If anyone knows about this matter, teach me plz.

 

[TSAVJason]

Just out of curiosity, is there any reason Clear needs to come with a balanced cable? Why don’t they provide just one cable and multiple adapters for different connections like balanced-1/4 and 1/4-8? Do adapters deteriorate sound quality? If anyone knows about this matter, teach me plz.

In fact yes, adaptors aren’t the best option. You’d want to think of it as a solution or convenience. It’s always best to have a direct connection as in “end - end” with no breaks between. As a note: This is the premise of WireWorld, to sound like there is no wires, just a direct connection. Hope that helps

 

[franz12]

In fact yes, adaptors aren’t the best option. You’d want to think of it as a solution or convenience. It’s always best to have a direct connection as in “end - end” with no breaks between. As a note: This is the premise of WireWorld, to sound like there is no wires, just a direct connection. Hope that helps

It sounds like when bluetooth, amp, and dac technolgies reach perfection, all cables are destined to be eliminated ultimately (might be possible with in a century.)

 

[TSAVJason]

It sounds like when bluetooth, amp, and dac technolgies reach perfection, all cables are destined to be eliminated ultimately (might be possible with in a century.)

Yeah I know. Eventually my wife and son will know exactly where I am and what I’m doing at any time no matter where I hide (damn technology) Cheers

 

[joseph69]

Just out of curiosity, is there any reason Clear needs to come with a balanced cable? Why don’t they provide just one cable and multiple adapters for different connections like balanced-1/4 and 1/4-8? Do adapters deteriorate sound quality? If anyone knows about this matter, teach me plz.

You can't go SE to balanced, only balanced to SE.

 

[nanaholic]

Just out of curiosity, is there any reason Clear needs to come with a balanced cable? Why don’t they provide just one cable and multiple adapters for different connections like balanced-1/4 and 1/4-8? Do adapters deteriorate sound quality? If anyone knows about this matter, teach me plz.

As already mentioned you can't go single end to balance, only balance to single end. The problem with using a balance connector as the base plug to couple with converters right now is that the most popular desktop connector is the XLR - which if you own the Clear can see - is big and heavy, so adding an adaptor to change that into different size further increases the weight of the entire cable which makes it unpractical. The other popular balance connector is the 2.5mm which is thin and fragile which won't stand up to much physical usage of lots of plugging/unplugging, also it is mainly for DAPs and isn't found much on desktop devices which means you will be doing a lot of plugging/unplugging which guarantees it is going to break. The ideal happy medium should be the new 4.4mm Pentaconn but is still too new to have gain much footage in audiophile equipment.

 

[herrsmith]

It sounds like when bluetooth, amp, and dac technolgies reach perfection, all cables are destined to be eliminated ultimately (might be possible with in a century.)

Only once they make them in a way that harvests power from the air and thus last forever without needing a recharge, like wires.

You can't go SE to balanced, only balanced to SE.

You can totally go single ended to balanced. You just bridge the negative connectors to ground. It's not true, differential balanced, but it's connecting to the headphones in the same way that the single ended connector is.

 

[nanaholic]

You can totally go single ended to balanced. You just bridge the negative connectors to ground.

This creates a short circuit between the negative connectors on the balance circuit, which sufficient to say is a bad idea.

 

[herrsmith]

It ties the grounds of both drivers to the same, single-ended ground that's coming out of the amplifier. I don't understand where there's a short in a circuit.