[Mh996]

Hi ctaxxxx,

I think you are making great points in analyzing these headphones.

If I remember correctly, you like to listen to metal, like me?

Among those headphones you mentioned, I think that the Clear is the one that may please the most people because the resolution, dynamics, etc, of the Utopia is too much for some persons, and because the Utopia, although quite neutral, is a little less neutral than the Clear.

I see several reasons speaking for the Utopia over the Clear in your case:

1. If you listen to metal, the super-speed combined with the dynamics of the Utopia make them so much better than the Clear and the Elegia for listening to the super-fast, complex and aggressive music which is common in the metal genre. Each time it is such a thrilling and delightful experience. The Utopia is the one with the less sub-bass of these three headphones, yet for metal the Utopia has for me without any doubt the bess bass because it is so much faster, which is far more important for me for keeping with the pace metal and all the instruments playing at full speed and impact.

2. Re. a complement to the Elegia, the Clear is closer to the Elegia, I think that the Utopia and the Elegia complement each other better.

3. Also, in general, the Utopia is in several aspects a kind of ultimate headphone worth owning if financially possible.

BTW, I have my computer upscale all my music (e.g. be it CD quality 44kHz-16 bits) to a higher frequency and higher dynamic range before sending to my DAC over USB and it makes a real improvement with the Utopia.

Wishing you all a lot of pleasure with your music and your audio equipment,
bidn

What scaling software are you using?

 

[bidn]

What scaling software are you using?

A utility (madiface) by the manufacturer (RME) of the DAC that comes integrated with the driver of my DAC (RME ADI 2 Pro).

 

[Mh996]

A utility (madiface) by the manufacturer (RME) of the DAC that comes integrated with the driver of my DAC (RME ADI 2 Pro).

Thanks. I don’t suppose you’ve heard any Chord DACs paired w/ your Utopias?

 

[up late]

How do you think Elegia and MDR-Z1R compare, especially in the low end? These two have been on my mind as possible closed back alternatives.

i'll throw in my two cents' worth - i listened to the elegia after comparing the empyrean and utopia, so that may have affected my response to it, but i disliked it. i found its presentation too upfront. treble sounded aggressive and "unnatural" to my ears. i rarely feel the need to take a headphone off within moments of putting it on but that was my reaction to it. i'd much rather listen to the z1r tbh.

 

[Emmanuel Palmer]

I am tired of just having to sit still to listen to music. I want to also go real portable, anybody used the clear with fiio m9? Or better option that plays well with clear. Your suggestions will be appreciated

 

[DavidWeinberg]

I've been using the Clears with the Chord MojoPoly. Sounds wonderful and is very portable (if the Clears can be deemed portable).

 

[bidn]

Thanks. I don’t suppose you’ve heard any Chord DACs paired w/ your Utopias?

Yes, but re. the Hugo 2, I prefer my RME. Dave + Utopia is sonically heavenly and clearly better than my RME but haven't bought the expensive Dave so far because I hate Chord design, especially that the Dave is very unpractical re. stacking, and I have been hoping that a Dave 2 will appear in 2020.
Discussing the Utopia only is off-topic, so I am stopping here.

 

[pbarach]

I am tired of just having to sit still to listen to music. I want to also go real portable, anybody used the clear with fiio m9? Or better option that plays well with clear. Your suggestions will be appreciated

These headphones are too heavy to wear while walking! How portable do you want to get?

 

[CreditingKarma]

These headphones are too heavy to wear while walking! How portable do you want to get?

I really like it paired with the AK sp1000. I also use the ALO CV5 from the line out on the SP1000 when I want a little tube love.

 

[Vampa]

I am tired of just having to sit still to listen to music. I want to also go real portable, anybody used the clear with fiio m9? Or better option that plays well with clear. Your suggestions will be appreciated

Hi. I have both the Clears and the M9. Sound is good but the Clears deserve better, in my opinion. So I use the M9 into a Hugo 2 and this to the Clears as semi-portable (within home) option.

And then I use the M9 with some Iems for commuting, travelling, etc.

 

[Emmanuel Palmer]

Hi. I have both the Clears and the M9. Sound is good but the Clears deserve better, in my opinion. So I use the M9 into a Hugo 2 and this to the Clears as semi-portable (within home) option.

And then I use the M9 with some Iems for commuting, travelling, etc.

Thanks a lot

 

[Emmanuel Palmer]

Tbh I must say that i wish the clears had the headband of the likes of audeze, hifiman and Co as i find myself adjusting them often, it gives me the feeling that it's sliding a bit and everytime i am struggling with adjusting it my wife looks at me and keep asking if everything is OK with me. It looks crazy lol.

 

[Klots]

I went to local shop to listen Sennheiser HD660S, but then I saw Clears and thought i'll give them a listen first. And that was a mistake. They had a perfect sound signature I have always dreamed of, I was just in heaven. I have owned HD800/SDR with Gumby and Mjolnir2 and AFO-s etc, but Clear was my favourite. And yeah, now I want to buy them . Only thing that disturbs me is the non replaceable headband. I just don't get it. 1500usd headphone and you can't replace such a simple thing, which just wears out in time anyway. Now I don't know what to do.

 

[nlwouter]

I went to local shop to listen Sennheiser HD660S, but then I saw Clears and thought i'll give them a listen first. And that was a mistake. They had a perfect sound signature I have always dreamed of, I was just in heaven. I have owned HD800/SDR with Gumby and Mjolnir2 and AFO-s etc, but Clear was my favourite. And yeah, now I want to buy them . Only thing that disturbs me is the non replaceable headband. I just don't get it. 1500usd headphone and you can't replace such a simple thing, which just wears out in time anyway. Now I don't know what to do.

Wait for a sale by a reputable dealer and buy one! After that buy a cover for the headband in the same color (this is what i did: Look up pure wool headband for headphones)

 

[Klots]

Wait for a sale by a reputable dealer and buy one! After that buy a cover for the headband in the same color (this is what i did: Look up pure wool headband for headphones)

I don't like headband covers. I like to look of Clear and I want nothing to add there.
So only option is just to treat them gently and enjoy the sound i guess

Little edit: I got a very good price (at least I think it is very good price) from local shop and latest end of February I will be joining Clear club

Will get them for a home demo this weekend, so I don't think I will sleep very much