[TSAVJason]

Hello Mr. Jason,

I am glad that you did something by telling your story from your weekend to us customers. In fact, you got Focal CEO responded to you and hopefully the whole US dealers about the problem and acted very quickly in IMO from your story.

Thank you for let us know the truth. Otherwise, I would be very worried about my Elear coming in July timeframe might have the same problem. Ordered one without hearing first because no dealer here, just based on video( like the look of them HPs over HD800/LCD/Abyss/Speaker/Hifiman) and this site light hearing impression or SQ descriptions which is a very risky investment. However, after reading of the initial problem, I think I deserved to say something about it instead being silenced.

I just hope Focal QC will be a lot better by now.

Again, thank you for your hard work. 

You have nothing to be concerned about. Focal has handled the problem and as they always do, they'll deliver a quality product. In fact I think you'll have pride in ownership. I don't know who your dealer is and it is none of my business. I'll tell you this, be patient, your dealer will experience a delay ...I know you'll enjoy your new Elear!

 

[Audio Addict]

Thanks @TSAVJason for the detail timeline.  
 
I am looking forward to finally hearing them.  
 
One question; any thought on how they might be with older tube amplifiers that were designed for high impedance headphones?  My older tube amps love the Sennheiser products with their 150 ohm and up headphones along with the Byerdynamic's T1 which are 600 ohm.  With the Elear's 80 ohm impedance, I suspect it may not be a good match.  My tube headphone amplifiers don't like any planars nor Grado's.

 

[phase0]

  Ok, I'd like to add a little fact to this thread. The issue with the Elear was reported by Audio Addict on Friday. As soon as he told me the issue I immediately called and reported it to France. Then about an hour later I received a a PM from Grizzly letting me know of his issue. I again immediately reported it to France. On Saturday I received a call from Focal France asking me to get all sold product and unsold product back to them. 2 hours later I received another call from France letting me know they discovered the cause. This was a Saturday, a weekend mind you. Each time I called Focal France, I was speaking with the CEO on his personal cell. On Sunday I received a call from Focal production and was given instructions to be sure the people that had purchased the units were to be treated with the fastest possible service. Of course that isn't a problem because that is our business model. On Monday I was called again and they discussed with me how fast they had plans on taking care of the buyers. Not one day went by without direct communications with Focal Executive Management, mostly the CEO. Today they called and told me how and when things would happen. Everyone that has a unit to be replaced will have their new units next week.I have never seen such rapid response times like this and I've never seen a manufacturer spend so much money to make sure their customers are taken care of.
 
I know that no other dealer has the CEO's cell number and I know that The Source AV is uniquely tied into its manufacturer relationships like no other dealers can be, but Focal stepped up like a serious champion and for sure they have captured every customers attention on their level of commitment. Not one customer complained about the issue after they were told what was going to happen. In fact, I know of 3 customers that are now purchasing Focal Utopia Home Audio speakers because of this proactive response on the headphones.
 
I've never been so proud as I am now for being a Focal Dealer and look forward to getting these customers their Focal headphones so quickly. 

 
Premium brands will live and die by their reputation. If a defect or issue is found I don't know how anyone could expect more than that. Things do happen and unexpected issues come up with tech and manufacturing processes. When they do it's how the company responds to these issues. I'm a bit shocked at how negative some people on this thread are.
 
I just had a driver failure in my Audeze and I'm not running around shouting from the roof tops about how terrible Audeze is. There's a defect, they're under warranty, it's getting fixed and I'll get the headphones back in working order with a new warranty. Compare all this to something like Microsoft X-box which in some generations had 50-70% failure rates with the red ring of death and they did nothing for a very long time to address it and there was a big controversy in the gaming community. I'm sure there's plenty of other examples. GM's ignition switch issues, or Jeep's confusing gearing that is reported to be a defect, actually results in people dying, and the company is judging that dealing with the litigation is cheaper than actually doing the right thing and fixing the issue. But some how here Focal can do no right even though they're trying to move mountains to make things right... SMH.

 

[Audio Addict]

My Norne Audio hypershort adapter came in today and they should work great to let me use the various Audeze terminated cables I have.
 

 

 

[Vigrith]

Bare in mind Elear uses 3.5 not 2.5 like HD700 and the new Hifiman line, I assume you had Trevor make you a custom rendition of the headphone changer? I've spoke to him about it myself and he did say he had one being sent out to a customer (this was a week ago) to be tested and that it should indeed work as it uses the T1 gen 2 terminations.

 

[Audio Addict]

I just grabbed the photo but I order the 3.5mm.

 

[grizzlybeast]

Thanks for sharing that. Hopefully I like the Elear enough to keep it. If so I'll try cables.

 

[Vigrith]

I just grabbed the photo but I order the 3.5mm.

 
Figured so! Just wanted to clarify that in case other people who are maybe not aware of the difference see the picture and read too much into it. 

 

[TSAVJason]

B

Figured so! Just wanted to clarify that in case other people who are maybe not aware of the difference see the picture and read too much into it. 

Be sure the 3.5 is the mini jacket version like the McIntosh so that it isn't too fat to fit the recess.

 

[Audio Addict]

B
Be sure the 3.5 is the mini jacket version like the McIntosh so that it isn't too fat to fit the recess.

 
Here is an actual picture.
 

 

[grizzlybeast]

 

B
Be sure the 3.5 is the mini jacket version like the McIntosh so that it isn't too fat to fit the recess.

 
Here is an actual picture.
 

Me wants! 

 

[Vigrith]

 
Here is an actual picture.

 
Very cool, Trevor's work is always a pleasure to admire.

 

[Dillan]

Subbing to this thread. Might look at some of the new Focal headphones sometime. I think the Elear and Utopia are gorgeous. The Elear seems like it has the sound sig I like from the initial impressions I read. Also looks like a premium spin on the HD650's.
 
Are there independent FR graphs out yet of either one?

 

[Sophonax]

  Are there independent FR graphs out yet of either one?

 
Tyll posted one for the Elear at InnerFidelity earlier today, here.

 

[grizzlybeast]

from innerfidelity
 
top HD650, Bottom Elear,
 
So from this graph I can see that the upper mids, from 2-4khz are a bit tapered or dipped on the Elear. 
 
 
 
Below HD800S for reference