[Tekk83]

I live in Chicago and I feel the same way. For such a big city there's no where to try anything high end.

 

[CanadianMaestro]

I live in Chicago and I feel the same way. For such a big city there's no where to try anything high end.

Isn't Music Direct there? Or are they strictly online?

 

[LeMat]

I've owned and auditioned too many to list and have owned my Elears for about 4 months now. I think these things are fantastic! No issues or problems and they sound fantastic. What sold me is the clean crisp punchy sound. I don't have to play them at excessively high volume levels to get tight punchy bass. Great headphones!

Agreed. Have you tried it in balanced mode? The difference is ... striking! They get much more dynamic, with a strong and tight bass. 
What keeps surprising me with these Elear is how good they are in terms of stereo image. I had the HD800S before, IMO they are way better in terms of spacialization. 
Where they are not so good, and that's my only little critic, it's the voices. For some reason they don't sound as real or natural as for example, my old LCD2, 1st gen (LCD2F that I  got afterward wasn't as good). Though on some recordings, voices are excellent but it's more an exception than the norm. 

 

[sanjeewasam]

Agreed. Have you tried it in balanced mode? The difference is ... striking! They get much more dynamic, with a strong and tight bass. 
What keeps surprising me with these Elear is how good they are in terms of stereo image. I had the HD800S before, IMO they are way better in terms of spacialization. 
Where they are not so good, and that's my only little critic, it's the voices. For some reason they don't sound as real or natural as for example, my old LCD2, 1st gen (LCD2F that I  got afterward wasn't as good). Though on some recordings, voices are excellent but it's more an exception than the norm. 

 


Agree. For vocals Elear cannot compete with Mid Centric headphones. Female vocals my preference is AKG K812 and for other vocals HD800 and He560. Hd800 is essentially mid centric headphone. I do not have LCD2 anymore but I can remember LCD2 was a great for vocals but I did not find the resolution good (clarity and details) -LCDs tonnally great for vocals. Elears are good in all other ways - definitely not a mid centric headphone

 

[stacker45]

 
Then do the 300. Will give more satisfaction being a source component.
Never skimp on the Source -- it all starts with the Source.

 
I agree, you can't make chicken soup out of chicken poop!

 

[abvolt]

Now this is a great combo for the Elear's the Woo Audio WA22 with quad Salvania 6BL7's flat ribbed plates + Mullard ECC31's + the mighty 596 rectifier what a super sweet sounding pairing for the Elear's..enjoy
 

 

[frigginloony]

  Now this is a great combo for the Elear's the Woo Audio WA22 with quad Salvania 6BL7's flat ribbed plates + Mullard ECC31's + the mighty 596 rectifier what a super sweet sounding pairing for the Elear's..enjoy
 

Damn   Radio Free Europe.  NICEEE   !!!   throw the switch and hang on   hehehe bet that shed a few kilo's off the old wallet

 

[dannybgoode]

Agreed. Have you tried it in balanced mode? The difference is ... striking! They get much more dynamic, with a strong and tight bass. 
What keeps surprising me with these Elear is how good they are in terms of stereo image. I had the HD800S before, IMO they are way better in terms of spacialization. 
Where they are not so good, and that's my only little critic, it's the voices. For some reason they don't sound as real or natural as for example, my old LCD2, 1st gen (LCD2F that I  got afterward wasn't as good). Though on some recordings, voices are excellent but it's more an exception than the norm. 

 


Agree. For vocals Elear cannot compete with Mid Centric headphones. Female vocals my preference is AKG K812 and for other vocals HD800 and He560. Hd800 is essentially mid centric headphone. I do not have LCD2 anymore but I can remember LCD2 was a great for vocals but I did not find the resolution good (clarity and details) -LCDs tonnally great for vocals. Elears are good in all other ways - definitely not a mid centric headphone

I am not a massive fan of EQ'ing but as others have said a slight (2-3db) raise around 4khz makes the world of difference to the Elear.

I use a parametric plug in on Foobar and have a subtle rise starting from around 2khz to 6khz peaking at 4khz and it gives them a nice sparkle.

 

[sanjeewasam]

I am not a massive fan of EQ'ing but as others have said a slight (2-3db) raise around 4khz makes the world of difference to the Elear.

I use a parametric plug in on Foobar and have a subtle rise starting from around 2khz to 6khz peaking at 4khz and it gives them a nice sparkle.

Yes i have used eq still whatever eq it cannot match headphone designed for mids

 

[ahossam]

I am on my second Elear too, the first one I have to return it because the left driver is dead, my local dealer service is great they sent me the replacement in no time. Now my Elear is working great very happy with the sound, my genre music is not mid centric music, so I'm happy with this purchase.

 

[Rchandra]

You people criticizing the Elear do realize for a $1000 it's pretty amazing right!?

 

[sanjeewasam]

You people criticizing the Elear do realize for a $1000 it's pretty amazing right!?

When I first got it I did not like it but now I do. For me it was not a criticizing but disappointment to know that it is not the perfect one that it was hyped to be (specially Tyll @inner fidelity). If you are willing to look away some issues and EQ then there are other headphone out there for similar or cheaper price. Elear is very good but like most of other headphones not perfect so cannot say "OK now I can live with this and sell everything else"

 

[Light - Man]

 

  Agreed. Have you tried it in balanced mode? The difference is ... striking! They get much more dynamic, with a strong and tight bass. 
What keeps surprising me with these Elear is how good they are in terms of stereo image. I had the HD800S before, IMO they are way better in terms of spacialization. 
Where they are not so good, and that's my only little critic, it's the voices. For some reason they don't sound as real or natural as for example, my old LCD2, 1st gen (LCD2F that I  got afterward wasn't as good). Though on some recordings, voices are excellent but it's more an exception than the norm. 

 


Agree. For vocals Elear cannot compete with Mid Centric headphones. Female vocals my preference is AKG K812 and for other vocals HD800 and He560. Hd800 is essentially mid centric headphone. I do not have LCD2 anymore but I can remember LCD2 was a great for vocals but I did not find the resolution good (clarity and details) -LCDs tonnally great for vocals. Elears are good in all other ways - definitely not a mid centric headphone

 
Can you tell us how the AKG K812 compares to the Elear and which is easier to drive?
 
If you had to sell one of them which would it be? 

 

[sanjeewasam]

   
Can you tell us how the AKG K812 compares to the Elear and which is easier to drive?
 
If you had to sell one of them which would it be? 

K812 and Elear are both easier to drive and out of Mojo both do very well. I do not need to/miss my Violectric DAC (V850) and AMP V281 with Elear or K812 compared to HD800 or Hifiman HE560 or HE6. I think Elear could probably make use of powerful balanced mode of V281 but I did not bother to get a balanced cable yet. My experience is K812 is bit easier.
I would keep Elear if I had to sell one and do bit of EQ for Elear. AKG K812 specially good with female vocals and also acoustic music and has laid back presentation in my own view. (I know there are many people who hate K812 but I do like treble sparkles paired with Mojo (no harshness). I did not like K812 with Burson Conductor with Saber 9018 DAC built in (highs were too harsh)
 
 

 

[Andersson]

Just had a demo and I liked the Elear better than the HD800S to my big surprise. What amp/dac do you recommend to the Elear? I have jotenheim and woo WA7tp in mind.