[Stillhart]

The 3kUSD sonic difference boiling down to a difference in pad is hard to swallow it seems

 
If you think that, you might want to re-read Jude's posts.  And mine.  The tonality difference is down to the pads.  But the Utopia still sounds better than the Elear, even with the Elear pads.  I just think the Utopia with stock pads sounds better than with Elear pads and that's what he's disagreeing with me about.  This is not a surprise to me as we talk about it all the time.  He's a bass player and loves bass in his headphones.  I like bass, but prefer a more balanced signature.

 

[ubs28]

How much do the Elear pads cost? It seems that the Utopia is the way to go since Elear pads turns the Utopia into a super Elear when needed.

Does the Utopia also come with a balanced cable by the way?

 

[Stillhart]

How much do the Elear pads cost? It seems that the Utopia is the way to go and have some Elear pads to turn it into a super Elear when needed.

Does the Utopia also come with a balanced cable by the way?

 
I asked Jason about this last weekend (as I mentioned before) and he said they're ESTIMATING $100/pair right now.  That could change but it should give you an idea of the ballpark.
 
And no, the Utopia and Elear come with a SE cable only.  Though, they're double-entry so you should be able to re-terminate to balanced if that's your thing.

 

[up late]

deleted

 

[up late]

You mean I'm sulking cause he don't like my baby? Haha, might be! Or perhaps I'm just altruistic enough to wish for him to taste its sweetness as well.  How about your quest to give it a listen, any luck yet? But perhaps we should continue this in the appropriate thread or drop the matter entirely. Sorry for the OT, folks!

no luck with the se-master 1 yet. that could take a while but i live in hope.

 

[XERO1]

 
 
But I agree with Jude.  Putting the Elear pads on the Utopia really makes it clear how good that beryllium driver really is.  The difference isn't something that's going to show up in these graphs.
 

 
Unfortunately, there is no known way to accurately measure the 'intrinsic sound quality' of a headphone (or for that matter, any other audible device), as it is actually perceived by the human ear.  And there probably never will be. 
 
You still have to do it the old-fashioned way.  Which is to listen to it with your own two ears and see how it stacks up to your own unique set of preferences and biases.

 

[gto88]

so, in the next few days, there will be many head-fi'ers with Utopia/Elear on their heads.
I feel the joy for you, please do share your impression and shoot "open box" for youtube.

 

[Audio Addict]

Isn't this thread about the Focal Elear & Utopia? Maybe I'm still green here but I thought the idea was to stay on topic and in this case as it relates to Focal Elear & Utopia and how it sounds and pairs. Just say'n

 
The Utopia and Elear arrived today for our Chicago ChiUniFi meet this Saturday.  I just put the Utopia on while I check Head-Fi, bad idea too much distraction listening.

 

 

[TSAVJason]

I wish you had a store on the east coast so I could quickly hear them first, blindly spending a grand is different than 4. If I don't love them my wife will taunt me about them, like my LCD 3's I don't like, so I'm waiting to hear them first.

Ok so your store is Natural Sound. Jim Lacky is the owner and close friend of mine. If you want to buy from him I'll send him a pair for you to purchase them if it's the Utopia you want. I think he'll have a demo set the last week of this month. If its the Elear, you're just going to have to be patient. That's not going to be easy until mid to end of September.

 

[pkcpga]

Ok so your store is Natural Sound. Jim Lacky is the owner and close friend of mine. If you want to buy from him I'll send him a pair for you to purchase them if it's the Utopia you want. I think he'll have a demo set the last week of this month. Of its the Elear, you're just going to have to be patient. That's not going to be easy until mid to end of September.

Thanks, Jim said he would give me a call when he gets a pair of both. He thought he was receiving the elear by next week since he's been invoiced for them but had no idea on the utopia. I want to pick up one if the two just was hesitant on spending 4K if I didn't hear the difference.

 

[24grant24]

hopefully the pads will be easily available since the utopia pads on the elear seem to largely solve its largest issue, the 4k hole.

 

[TSAVJason]

Thanks, Jim said he would give me a call when he gets a pair of both. He thought he was receiving the elear by next week since he's been invoiced for them but had no idea on the utopia. I want to pick up one if the two just was hesitant on spending 4K if I didn't hear the difference.

Yeah that's a big not going to happen unfortunately. The utopia first and the Elear is going to be much later. But like I said, Jim and I are long time friends so he knows I'll help him if I can

 

[potkettleblack]

Jason - have your opinions changed on the Utopia since this thread started?

Specifically I remember you saying you thought the Utopia did everything better than the Stax 009. With more recent opinions about the small soundstage and it being quite bass light, do you still think there's nothing the 009 do better after you've had more time to listen?

 

[Audio Addict]

The Utopia and Elear arrived today for our Chicago ChiUniFi meet this Saturday.  I just put the Utopia on while I check Head-Fi, bad idea too much distraction listening.  

One special thanks to The Source AV for loaning the Focals for our meet.

 

[Stillhart]

Jason - have your opinions changed on the Utopia since this thread started?

Specifically I remember you saying you thought the Utopia did everything better than the Stax 009. With more recent opinions about the small soundstage and it being quite bass light, do you still think there's nothing the 009 do better after you've had more time to listen?

 
Can you point me at the impressions calling it "quite bass light"?  I'm curious who has heard it and called it that.