Focal Elear - Impressions Thread

[Audio Addict]

Hahaha ah yeah! Sorry long busy day

 
You should be sure to go home catch supper with the family and head back to the store.  Probably would be refreshed.  Too much work need to take some family time.

 

[koven]

hi all i have two questions
1) is there any update on when elear will be stocked mainstream? last i heard was mid-sept but not sure if it has been pushed back more
2) has anyone tried the elear w/ an OTL amp? im thinking it is not the best pairing w/ my WA2 so debating buying the Jotunheim as a complement, in preparation for the elear

 

[Shwoop]

How do you feel it performs with bass heavy EDM? Are they a "fun" listen? Is the punch and impact there?

How about top 40 Pop music? 

I only spent about 30 minutes with these at a local shop comparing them with Hd800 (not S), lcd2, he560, hd600 and a couple others but the biggest impression of them was that they're a fun headphone. They worked really well with EDM and I enjoyed them a lot more than the Senns which seem sterile in comparison. They have so much more dynamic punch and liveliness that it just seemed like a better fit. The HD800 were comfy beyond belief and so accurate (reminding me of Magnepan 1.7 without a sub) but with EDM they just didn't have the energy. The elear almost seems V shaped in comparison but not in a bad way. I finally broke down and ordered a pair so hopefully soon I'll have more listening time in for a better analysis.

All the reviews that say they're dynamic and without veil are dead on. They remind me of the HD600 without a veil and so much better bass and transient response.

 

[tkddans]

My Elear just came in the mail.
 
TLDR "Too long didn't read" summary: The Elear is clearer than the 650, but not as clear as the 800 S. It is more engaging or louder in the bass than the 800 S, but not as engaging as the 650. The Elear has punchy mids, but not as punchy as the 800 S in my opinion. The treble is clear and present, but not treated musically somehow. I'm not an audio expert, but altogether the Elear so far is good but not great at anything for me. For the $1000 price tag, it technically improves individual aspects and brings the music out more clearly, but the whole experience of a track is less musical than the 650 or the 800. I can't find my groove in the Elear, despite their technical prowess.
 
Qualitatively, the headphones have been considered an "upgraded" version of the Sennheiser HD650 by some members of head-fi - so I will compare the HD650 to the Elear.
 
Quantitatively, in terms of pricing, the Elear is closer to the higher-end market of headphones like the HD800 and HD800 S - so I will compare the HD800 S that I already own to the Elear.
 
Before we begin I want to say one thing: I found nothing instantly enjoyable about the Elear out of the box, prior to measuring and comparing, etc. Only as I listen more am I finding more good things to say about the headphones. I know very little about the specific details other people have noticed about the headphones, so I hope to remain as impartial as possible in my review! I bought these headphones because it has become a favorite for long-time respected headphone reviewer Tyll Hertsen, as seen on his "Wall of Fame" featured on his site, Inner Fidelity (http://www.innerfidelity.com/content/innerfidelitys-wall-fame-full-size-open#ZtG4tTQZiBxQ3oog.97) - while simultaneously being universally acclaimed as a start to a whole new generation of audio technology in headphones. The forums are also going crazy over this headphone with some users even claiming it to be an upgrade from the HD650 that is worth the $600 to $700 price jump.
 
We are all different in how we enjoy audio, however. What will I actually think once I try these headphones for myself?
 
Let's begin the showdown...

---

 
SETUP (source --> headphones)
 
iMac (Apple Music and YouTube videos) --> O2 amp/DAC (in high gain mode for all headphones) --> Headphones
 

---

 
Testing Conditions
 
 
Regarding Pink noise:
Because the source of pink noise in Apple Music came out with a lower average dB than test tracks, I have to avoid using it to base my volume knob on. Instead, a test track was used that came out louder than most other tracks...
 
Test Track:
Test track used: Escape (click for Apple Music link) by Fractal, album Gaia. Measurements begin at 30 seconds into the track, ending after 60 seconds of measure time. 
 
Reason for choosing: With a moderate use of bass, vocals and various instrument sounds that occur across the mid and treble range, this segment provided a loud and various enough test to base general listening volume levels at. I.e. Not much else would get louder than this on an average run.
 
Leq Measurements
Here, the amp volume knob is adjusted until each headphone reaches an L_eq of 80 dB with a test track. "L_eq" is also known as the "Equivalent Continuous Sound Level" (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sound_level_meter#Measurements).
The iPhone app, "SPLnFFT Noise Meter," was used for taking measurements (https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/splnfft-noise-meter/id355396114?mt=8).
 
Note: According to the National Institute on Deafness and other Communication Disorders, "long or repeated exposure to sounds at or above 85 decibels can cause hearing loss" (https://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/noise-induced-hearing-loss). Tracks are therefor prohibited to be measured at or above 85 dB!
 
1) Focal Elear L_eq: 81.0 dB (4.5 ticks clockwise on the amp volume dial; about 10:30 o'clock position)

 
 
2) Sennheiser HD800 S L_eq: 81.5 dB (6 ticks; about 12 o'clock position)



3) Sennheiser HD650 L_eq: 81.5 dB (8 ticks; 2 o'clock position)


 
 

---

 
Listening Impressions
Here, I will go back and forth between my headphones and give you the stream of thoughts that pop up. Here we get EXTREMELY subjective and loose with the language. I will try to give terminology that is familiar when I am able, but keep in mind I am not an audio engineer or expert by any stretch. Hell, most of us are just avid listeners so hopefully I'll make some sense to many of you!
Note: As I performed tests, I had to adjust the volume knob down more or less depending on the track, but the measured knob points gave me a good starting point for each headphone.
 
Escape by Fractal, album Gaia (Genre: Electronic)
1) Elear - Two words, clear thumps. The bass is greater than the 800 S while still having a clear quality to them that the 800 S has. In this sense, it is a preferred take on the bass and lower mids than the HD800 S. The bass is present and a more forward part of the whole experience. It thumps without coming off as muddy. Plus, the different instrumental noises made in this electronic track are distinct - they're separated from each other more clearly than in the 650's. 
 
2) HD800 S - The least thumpy of the three, but objectively the most articulate of them all with the bass. Mids are pronounced where the Elear is not as much. Crystal clear without coming off as harsh to my ears. But...clarity does not equal beauty here. I would still prefer the 650's. Listening to the 800 S, I can see how people consider the Elear an "upgraded" 650, but to me, the 800 S is different in a way that the Elear cannot touch. While the Elear has instrument separation and clarity beyond the 650, it is not as much as the 800 S.
 
3) HD650 - The bass, to my ears, seems louder than in the Elear. The instruments don't seem as separated - in the sense that they don't sound like they have as much clean or silent space between them, no emptiness filling the void, but the coming together of these instruments on the 650 is more musically pleasing to my ears than in the Elears, despite the objectively better clarity in the Elear. I could just need more time with the Elears to acquire a taste for the instrument separation though. There's just something so engaging, however, about the way the music plays together on the 650 with Electronic. It's unique and a goto for Electronic that the Elear is not replacing at all for me.
 
LoveHate Thing (feat. Sam Dew) by Wale, album The Gifted (Hip-Hop/Rap)
1) Elear - I had to listen to the HD800S to realize this observation, but the realism of finger snaps is lost here. The music is nice, the bass and mids are again nice to hear here, but the accuracy might be lost somewhat. The sound is clearer-seeming than experienced in the 650, but the clarity of sound is not necessarily accurately portraying what sound is in real life. I'm hearing the music come in with separation between instruments and each clearly presented, but the musicality just isn't as high here compared to either the accurate pleasingness of the 800 S nor the lush musical ride of the 650.
 
2) HD800 S - Clear and articulate. Enjoyable while also being more realistic than the Elear. I'm beginning to wonder if the Elear is not so much an upgrade of the HD650 as it is a hybrid of the 650 and the 800 S, while not mastering traits of either's specialty qualities.
 
3) HD650 - Not as "clear" as the Elear, but hell is it more musical to my ears. There is a definite lack in objective grading of the instrument separation and each of their own punch brought on due to their independence, but the music just sounds more pleasing meddled in the unique 650 way. I'd go for these headphones over the Elear if I wasn't in the mood for the HD800 S. If I want articulation and clarity, I'll go for the more realistic sounding nicer sounding HD800 S. If I want a velvety easy ride through my music and avoid fatigue, I'd go for the 650. Another example of how the Elear, while objectively better on some measures, is subjectively not as enjoyable for me.
 
The Xith Commandment by Chuck Mangione, album Feels So Good (Jazz)
This song is purely instrumental and none of it synthesized. Guitar strings, drums, cymbals, trumpet...A beautiful way to test all of these in one go.
 
1) Elear - Per usual, the instruments are clear but not...musical? I go back and forth between the 650 and Elear here, trying to find what makes each different and I keep coming back to the Elear for the clarity. But that clarity is only a novelty that wears out. If I did not have the HD 800 S, I would think the Elear was discovering some cool place I hadn't yet found anywhere else in a high end headphone, but the 800 S simply does what the Elear does but better, with the exception of Elear's louder perceived bass. Here is where I am torn (try the track from 3:36 onward): The Elear is very fun with how CLEAR it is compared to the 650's, while not being overbearing on the higher frequencies as the 800/800 S can be for some people; HOWEVER, that clarity is just not QUITE as fun or as EASY to listen to as the 650 for most of the time. THE ELEAR IS NOT AN UPGRADE IN EVERY WAY TO THE 650. The Elear upgrades some aspects some of the time, but not all aspects all of the time as impressed in the community when discussing it compared to the 650.
 
2) HD800 S - The cymbals are great here in a way that the Elear just can't touch. The HD800 S misses something that the Elear provides though, and that is a heft to the bass or lower mid range. Drums don't POP in your ear the way it does in the Elear. The track sounds very different from the 650 or the Elear in a way that is worth listening to in conjunction with the other two headphones.
 
3) HD650 - Unlike the Elear, the 650 plays between the instruments in more fairness, without losing the bass impact as experienced in the 800 S. After a quiet solo of guitar strings, the drums kick in with authority. Very very pleasing track with the 650's compared to the Elear. Jazz seems, for now, a weaker aspect of the Elear.
 
Symphony No. 3 in D Major, Op. 29, "Polish": IV. Scherzo: Allegro Vivo Tchaikovsky, Peter Ilyich, Tchaikovsky 7 Symphonies (cd 3/7) (Romantic/Classical)
This is the stomping ground of HD800 S. Far above the clarity and accuracy and soundstage of the 650, the 800 absolutely shines with feeling engaged with symphony recordings. Elear has a better chance here than most other genres, I think, in excelling the 650 in musicality.
 
1) Elear -  The clarity is instantly appreciated. Comparing the headphones to the 800 S, however, I notice a different portrayal of how instruments just...well...sound. I don't buy that I'm hearing an accurate, real-life, version of these instruments. It's as if the headphones change how instruments sound, and make the new sound very clear. No jaggedness in the highs, no veil, no muddy lows, every sound is present...but the accuracy feels less than perfect.
 
2) HD800 S - This wins in clarity and accuracy as stated. There is no contest honestly. I don't feel like elaborating beyond what has already been said over and over!
 
3) HD650 - Too laid back for the enjoyment that can be found in the tiniest of movements picked up by the individuals in a symphony. You can't quite find the same information here as with the more revealing HD800 S. 
 
Attack on Titan (Anime)
This choice requires some explanation, even if just a short one. This show, as mastered in the english dubbed version by Funimation, has a visceral level of engagement with the soundtrack compared to the Japanese (they rose the dB of the soundtrack relative to the sound of the voiceovers and sound effects since taking it from the Japanese companies who originally produced the show). Plus, I just have such a strong connection to the show after watching it on the English 5.1 mastered version (as opposed to the Japanese 2.1 original), that I know the show intimately and am a VERY strict judge of whether a set of headphones passes my "Titan test." If I feel something in a scene I love, I give approval to the headphones. This show uses a dynamic range of deep mids and bass (huge titans making steps and swiping their bodies around) while juxtaposing higher mids and treble of swords, voices, etc..This show is an audiophile-worthy test for the TV/movie category. 5.1 speakers remain the ideal method of enjoying the show, which means that any headphone that connects close to that experience is achieving something great for me.
 
1) Elear - NO. My standards are too high here. The headphones do better than the 650, but still lack the full clarity and easy control over the loud moments needed to enjoy a well-mastered show like this. The HD800 S simply plays loud moments clearly without jaggedness at all. The Elear, however, has some jaggedness I did not hear during any music testing.
 
2) HD800 S - APPROVED. Lacks bass volume compared to the rest of the range, but has such overwhelming clarity and soundstage that the show hits close when something is meant to hit you. Very loud moments (lightning strikes and otherwise sharp or jarring sounds on the 800) are handled with finesse. They are not jarring, but instead only add, and are crystal clear without jaggedness as heard on other headphones.
 
3) HD650 - NO. Despite my love for these headphones with music, the musicality that comes with the lack of clarity (weird to say that but yea), does not pay off when watching a portrayal of real life characters interacting with sharp sounding effects of swords, exasperated voices, and various special effects that necessarily have to be as clear as possible to get sucked into the world portrayed.
 

---

 
Headphone form factor, aesthetics, and comfort on the head
 
The Elear has a nice snug clamping force expressed through the decently thick ear cups, rather than much at all on your actual ears. The ear cups are thick and firm enough so that the good clamping force goes onto your skull, rather than leave some to press your ears against the inside space. Your ears do touch that inside space more than in the 800 S, but I can see wearing these for hours and not feeling fatigue from wearing the cans. The downside in comfort may only come from the cable which is somehow weightier against the chest than felt from the 650. Depending on where your cable is coming from, it's somewhat of a noticeable thing that puts a slight notch down on the experience compared to cables running on the 650 or 800 S. Not a deal breaker at all though. I only really cared about it after starting this section of my review. When I was listening to my music, the cable wasn't on my mind.
 

---

 
Packaging
 
It's an after-thought. Let's be honest, most audiophiles on this forum don't factor in packaging for their decision to purchase. At least for me, I just want to know for an added bonus to my purchase, not as a deciding point.
 
That being said... The packaging is my favorite packaging from what I have to compare. The 650's come in a simple enough box with a form factored foam material. Simple, gets the job done. The 800 S comes in a velvety feeling lining covering another form factored foam material in a simple box. The Elear comes in a box that tries to go a little fancier by having a magnet that keeps it closed and you open it up using a small flap sticking out the bottom. I'd show with a video but I would rather just say here that the action of opening the case is apparently more about beauty than function. It's cool to open a box that's shut by a magnet and have a discrete looking thing to grip underneath an otherwise simple looking box, but the small thing is too small to grab easily. Despite the box being relatively heavy, the magnet is strong enough that when you grab the little flap and pull it to open, the box itself slides on the surface it is on. For me, function IS beauty. I've always had a deep respect for companies that focus on this simple concept. Apple, for example, never makes a laptop that you need two hands to open. Ever try to flip a laptop open only to discover that you need the other hand to hold the bottom portion of the device down, or otherwise you end up lifting the whole computer when you just want to flip the lid? That happens with the Elear box. As sexy as the box is, it's impractical. Pet peeve...done being shared!
 

---

 
Conclusion (for now, with early impressions only and only with a solid state amp)
 
The Elear is a sexy, comfortable to wear, easy listening experience that comes with a cool (albeit finicky to open) box. There are no glaring downsides to the listening experience. Instruments are clear as day, absolutely separated with no muddling of any two instruments together, with a loud enough bass and lower mid range to be noticed. The downside is that they don't excel enough to be a truly end-game headphone for me. I prefer the HD800 S for classical and mostly all acoustic music. I prefer the HD650 for almost all electronic and Jazz.
The Elear may be a good buy if it's your one and only high quality headphone, but I much prefer having the HD650 and HD800 S pairing and could have gone without the Elear altogether. It does not improve in any one category over one of those two other options. It just does better on average, kinda. Instruments don't sound true to life, in my opinion, as well.
 

---

 
Sorry this turned out to be a review and not an impression!

 

[TMRaven]

EQ your 4khz up by 3db and tell me if the musicality and accuracy of the instruments come back on the Elear.

 

[tkddans]

EQ your 4khz up by 3db and tell me if the musicality and accuracy of the instruments come back on the Elear.

Ok, I've played with the EQ on some of my favorite testing moments on the test tracks.


I also tried a slight variation.



With 3 dB increase at 4K, I get...basically the same headphone on all test tracks. Nothing to utterly change impressions. I ended up preferring this equalizer setting though (though I could spend a whole day fiddling, I'm sure):

 

[gnarlsagan]

@tkddans Great impressions and comparisons. Thanks for putting that together. I noticed however that you didn't mention the 5k peak on the HD800S. While I agree that imo the HD800S has probably the widest most realistic soundstage of any headphone, that 5k peak is a serious no go for me, and a major point putting it behind the Elear imo.

So I'm wondering, do you hear a peak at 5k (it doesn't seem so)? Everyone's HRTF is different, so some are more sensitive to peaks in that region than others.

Also, your eq settings seem odd. I'd think you would have to bump up 4-5k quite a bit more than 3dB to achieve a more similar FR to the HD800S. How does it sound if you go 6dB or more?

 

[TMRaven]

I just suggested a 3db bump at 4khz to alleviate some of the depression in that area that the Elear has. The EQ makes its midrange a little more balanced, closer to HD800/S at around 4-5k. iTunes EQ isn't the most accurate, so it'll be hard to pinpoint the 6k area if he wanted a peak at 6k like the HD800/S.

 

[Cardiiiii]

Anyone try the Elear with a WA7?

 

[siwolfman]

  My Elear just came in the mail.
 
TLDR "Too long didn't read" summary: The Elear is clearer than the 650, but not as clear as the 800 S. It is more engaging or louder in the bass than the 800 S, but not as engaging as the 650. The Elear has punchy mids, but not as punchy as the 800 S in my opinion. The treble is clear and present, but not treated musically somehow. I'm not an audio expert, but altogether the Elear so far is good but not great at anything for me. For the $1000 price tag, it technically improves individual aspects and brings the music out more clearly, but the whole experience of a track is less musical than the 650 or the 800. I can't find my groove in the Elear, despite their technical prowess.
 
Qualitatively, the headphones have been considered an "upgraded" version of the Sennheiser HD650 by some members of head-fi - so I will compare the HD650 to the Elear.
 
Quantitatively, in terms of pricing, the Elear is closer to the higher-end market of headphones like the HD800 and HD800 S - so I will compare the HD800 S that I already own to the Elear.
 
Before we begin I want to say one thing: I found nothing instantly enjoyable about the Elear out of the box, prior to measuring and comparing, etc. Only as I listen more am I finding more good things to say about the headphones. I know very little about the specific details other people have noticed about the headphones, so I hope to remain as impartial as possible in my review! I bought these headphones because it has become a favorite for long-time respected headphone reviewer Tyll Hertsen, as seen on his "Wall of Fame" featured on his site, Inner Fidelity (http://www.innerfidelity.com/content/innerfidelitys-wall-fame-full-size-open#ZtG4tTQZiBxQ3oog.97) - while simultaneously being universally acclaimed as a start to a whole new generation of audio technology in headphones. The forums are also going crazy over this headphone with some users even claiming it to be an upgrade from the HD650 that is worth the $600 to $700 price jump.
 
We are all different in how we enjoy audio, however. What will I actually think once I try these headphones for myself?
 
Let's begin the showdown...

---

 
SETUP (source --> headphones)
 
iMac (Apple Music and YouTube videos) --> O2 amp/DAC (in high gain mode for all headphones) --> Headphones
 

---

 
Testing Conditions
 
 
Regarding Pink noise:
Because the source of pink noise in Apple Music came out with a lower average dB than test tracks, I have to avoid using it to base my volume knob on. Instead, a test track was used that came out louder than most other tracks...
 
Test Track:
Test track used: Escape (click for Apple Music link) by Fractal, album Gaia. Measurements begin at 30 seconds into the track, ending after 60 seconds of measure time. 
 
Reason for choosing: With a moderate use of bass, vocals and various instrument sounds that occur across the mid and treble range, this segment provided a loud and various enough test to base general listening volume levels at. I.e. Not much else would get louder than this on an average run.
 
Leq Measurements
Here, the amp volume knob is adjusted until each headphone reaches an L_eq of 80 dB with a test track. "L_eq" is also known as the "Equivalent Continuous Sound Level" (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sound_level_meter#Measurements).
The iPhone app, "SPLnFFT Noise Meter," was used for taking measurements (https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/splnfft-noise-meter/id355396114?mt=8).
 
Note: According to the National Institute on Deafness and other Communication Disorders, "long or repeated exposure to sounds at or above 85 decibels can cause hearing loss" (https://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/noise-induced-hearing-loss). Tracks are therefor prohibited to be measured at or above 85 dB!
 
1) Focal Elear L_eq: 81.0 dB (4.5 ticks clockwise on the amp volume dial; about 10:30 o'clock position)

 
 
2) Sennheiser HD800 S L_eq: 81.5 dB (6 ticks; about 12 o'clock position)



3) Sennheiser HD650 L_eq: 81.5 dB (8 ticks; 2 o'clock position)


 
 

---

 
Listening Impressions
Here, I will go back and forth between my headphones and give you the stream of thoughts that pop up. Here we get EXTREMELY subjective and loose with the language. I will try to give terminology that is familiar when I am able, but keep in mind I am not an audio engineer or expert by any stretch. Hell, most of us are just avid listeners so hopefully I'll make some sense to many of you!
Note: As I performed tests, I had to adjust the volume knob down more or less depending on the track, but the measured knob points gave me a good starting point for each headphone.
 
Escape by Fractal, album Gaia (Genre: Electronic)
1) Elear - Two words, clear thumps. The bass is greater than the 800 S while still having a clear quality to them that the 800 S has. In this sense, it is a preferred take on the bass and lower mids than the HD800 S. The bass is present and a more forward part of the whole experience. It thumps without coming off as muddy. Plus, the different instrumental noises made in this electronic track are distinct - they're separated from each other more clearly than in the 650's. 
 
2) HD800 S - The least thumpy of the three, but objectively the most articulate of them all with the bass. Mids are pronounced where the Elear is not as much. Crystal clear without coming off as harsh to my ears. But...clarity does not equal beauty here. I would still prefer the 650's. Listening to the 800 S, I can see how people consider the Elear an "upgraded" 650, but to me, the 800 S is different in a way that the Elear cannot touch. While the Elear has instrument separation and clarity beyond the 650, it is not as much as the 800 S.
 
3) HD650 - The bass, to my ears, seems louder than in the Elear. The instruments don't seem as separated - in the sense that they don't sound like they have as much clean or silent space between them, no emptiness filling the void, but the coming together of these instruments on the 650 is more musically pleasing to my ears than in the Elears, despite the objectively better clarity in the Elear. I could just need more time with the Elears to acquire a taste for the instrument separation though. There's just something so engaging, however, about the way the music plays together on the 650 with Electronic. It's unique and a goto for Electronic that the Elear is not replacing at all for me.
 
LoveHate Thing (feat. Sam Dew) by Wale, album The Gifted (Hip-Hop/Rap)
1) Elear - I had to listen to the HD800S to realize this observation, but the realism of finger snaps is lost here. The music is nice, the bass and mids are again nice to hear here, but the accuracy might be lost somewhat. The sound is clearer-seeming than experienced in the 650, but the clarity of sound is not necessarily accurately portraying what sound is in real life. I'm hearing the music come in with separation between instruments and each clearly presented, but the musicality just isn't as high here compared to either the accurate pleasingness of the 800 S nor the lush musical ride of the 650.
 
2) HD800 S - Clear and articulate. Enjoyable while also being more realistic than the Elear. I'm beginning to wonder if the Elear is not so much an upgrade of the HD650 as it is a hybrid of the 650 and the 800 S, while not mastering traits of either's specialty qualities.
 
3) HD650 - Not as "clear" as the Elear, but hell is it more musical to my ears. There is a definite lack in objective grading of the instrument separation and each of their own punch brought on due to their independence, but the music just sounds more pleasing meddled in the unique 650 way. I'd go for these headphones over the Elear if I wasn't in the mood for the HD800 S. If I want articulation and clarity, I'll go for the more realistic sounding nicer sounding HD800 S. If I want a velvety easy ride through my music and avoid fatigue, I'd go for the 650. Another example of how the Elear, while objectively better on some measures, is subjectively not as enjoyable for me.
 
The Xith Commandment by Chuck Mangione, album Feels So Good (Jazz)
This song is purely instrumental and none of it synthesized. Guitar strings, drums, cymbals, trumpet...A beautiful way to test all of these in one go.
 
1) Elear - Per usual, the instruments are clear but not...musical? I go back and forth between the 650 and Elear here, trying to find what makes each different and I keep coming back to the Elear for the clarity. But that clarity is only a novelty that wears out. If I did not have the HD 800 S, I would think the Elear was discovering some cool place I hadn't yet found anywhere else in a high end headphone, but the 800 S simply does what the Elear does but better, with the exception of Elear's louder perceived bass. Here is where I am torn (try the track from 3:36 onward): The Elear is very fun with how CLEAR it is compared to the 650's, while not being overbearing on the higher frequencies as the 800/800 S can be for some people; HOWEVER, that clarity is just not QUITE as fun or as EASY to listen to as the 650 for most of the time. THE ELEAR IS NOT AN UPGRADE IN EVERY WAY TO THE 650. The Elear upgrades some aspects some of the time, but not all aspects all of the time as impressed in the community when discussing it compared to the 650.
 
2) HD800 S - The cymbals are great here in a way that the Elear just can't touch. The HD800 S misses something that the Elear provides though, and that is a heft to the bass or lower mid range. Drums don't POP in your ear the way it does in the Elear. The track sounds very different from the 650 or the Elear in a way that is worth listening to in conjunction with the other two headphones.
 
3) HD650 - Unlike the Elear, the 650 plays between the instruments in more fairness, without losing the bass impact as experienced in the 800 S. After a quiet solo of guitar strings, the drums kick in with authority. Very very pleasing track with the 650's compared to the Elear. Jazz seems, for now, a weaker aspect of the Elear.
 
Symphony No. 3 in D Major, Op. 29, "Polish": IV. Scherzo: Allegro Vivo Tchaikovsky, Peter Ilyich, Tchaikovsky 7 Symphonies (cd 3/7) (Romantic/Classical)
This is the stomping ground of HD800 S. Far above the clarity and accuracy and soundstage of the 650, the 800 absolutely shines with feeling engaged with symphony recordings. Elear has a better chance here than most other genres, I think, in excelling the 650 in musicality.
 
1) Elear -  The clarity is instantly appreciated. Comparing the headphones to the 800 S, however, I notice a different portrayal of how instruments just...well...sound. I don't buy that I'm hearing an accurate, real-life, version of these instruments. It's as if the headphones change how instruments sound, and make the new sound very clear. No jaggedness in the highs, no veil, no muddy lows, every sound is present...but the accuracy feels less than perfect.
 
2) HD800 S - This wins in clarity and accuracy as stated. There is no contest honestly. I don't feel like elaborating beyond what has already been said over and over!
 
3) HD650 - Too laid back for the enjoyment that can be found in the tiniest of movements picked up by the individuals in a symphony. You can't quite find the same information here as with the more revealing HD800 S. 
 
Attack on Titan (Anime)
This choice requires some explanation, even if just a short one. This show, as mastered in the english dubbed version by Funimation, has a visceral level of engagement with the soundtrack compared to the Japanese (they rose the dB of the soundtrack relative to the sound of the voiceovers and sound effects since taking it from the Japanese companies who originally produced the show). Plus, I just have such a strong connection to the show after watching it on the English 5.1 mastered version (as opposed to the Japanese 2.1 original), that I know the show intimately and am a VERY strict judge of whether a set of headphones passes my "Titan test." If I feel something in a scene I love, I give approval to the headphones. This show uses a dynamic range of deep mids and bass (huge titans making steps and swiping their bodies around) while juxtaposing higher mids and treble of swords, voices, etc..This show is an audiophile-worthy test for the TV/movie category. 5.1 speakers remain the ideal method of enjoying the show, which means that any headphone that connects close to that experience is achieving something great for me.
 
1) Elear - NO. My standards are too high here. The headphones do better than the 650, but still lack the full clarity and easy control over the loud moments needed to enjoy a well-mastered show like this. The HD800 S simply plays loud moments clearly without jaggedness at all. The Elear, however, has some jaggedness I did not hear during any music testing.
 
2) HD800 S - APPROVED. Lacks bass volume compared to the rest of the range, but has such overwhelming clarity and soundstage that the show hits close when something is meant to hit you. Very loud moments (lightning strikes and otherwise sharp or jarring sounds on the 800) are handled with finesse. They are not jarring, but instead only add, and are crystal clear without jaggedness as heard on other headphones.
 
3) HD650 - NO. Despite my love for these headphones with music, the musicality that comes with the lack of clarity (weird to say that but yea), does not pay off when watching a portrayal of real life characters interacting with sharp sounding effects of swords, exasperated voices, and various special effects that necessarily have to be as clear as possible to get sucked into the world portrayed.
 

---

 
Headphone form factor, aesthetics, and comfort on the head
 
The Elear has a nice snug clamping force expressed through the decently thick ear cups, rather than much at all on your actual ears. The ear cups are thick and firm enough so that the good clamping force goes onto your skull, rather than leave some to press your ears against the inside space. Your ears do touch that inside space more than in the 800 S, but I can see wearing these for hours and not feeling fatigue from wearing the cans. The downside in comfort may only come from the cable which is somehow weightier against the chest than felt from the 650. Depending on where your cable is coming from, it's somewhat of a noticeable thing that puts a slight notch down on the experience compared to cables running on the 650 or 800 S. Not a deal breaker at all though. I only really cared about it after starting this section of my review. When I was listening to my music, the cable wasn't on my mind.
 

---

 
Packaging
 
It's an after-thought. Let's be honest, most audiophiles on this forum don't factor in packaging for their decision to purchase. At least for me, I just want to know for an added bonus to my purchase, not as a deciding point.
 
That being said... The packaging is my favorite packaging from what I have to compare. The 650's come in a simple enough box with a form factored foam material. Simple, gets the job done. The 800 S comes in a velvety feeling lining covering another form factored foam material in a simple box. The Elear comes in a box that tries to go a little fancier by having a magnet that keeps it closed and you open it up using a small flap sticking out the bottom. I'd show with a video but I would rather just say here that the action of opening the case is apparently more about beauty than function. It's cool to open a box that's shut by a magnet and have a discrete looking thing to grip underneath an otherwise simple looking box, but the small thing is too small to grab easily. Despite the box being relatively heavy, the magnet is strong enough that when you grab the little flap and pull it to open, the box itself slides on the surface it is on. For me, function IS beauty. I've always had a deep respect for companies that focus on this simple concept. Apple, for example, never makes a laptop that you need two hands to open. Ever try to flip a laptop open only to discover that you need the other hand to hold the bottom portion of the device down, or otherwise you end up lifting the whole computer when you just want to flip the lid? That happens with the Elear box. As sexy as the box is, it's impractical. Pet peeve...done being shared!
 

---

 
Conclusion (for now, with early impressions only and only with a solid state amp)
 
The Elear is a sexy, comfortable to wear, easy listening experience that comes with a cool (albeit finicky to open) box. There are no glaring downsides to the listening experience. Instruments are clear as day, absolutely separated with no muddling of any two instruments together, with a loud enough bass and lower mid range to be noticed. The downside is that they don't excel enough to be a truly end-game headphone for me. I prefer the HD800 S for classical and mostly all acoustic music. I prefer the HD650 for almost all electronic and Jazz.
The Elear may be a good buy if it's your one and only high quality headphone, but I much prefer having the HD650 and HD800 S pairing and could have gone without the Elear altogether. It does not improve in any one category over one of those two other options. It just does better on average, kinda. Instruments don't sound true to life, in my opinion, as well.
 

---

 
Sorry this turned out to be a review and not an impression!

Thank you for the well thought and organized impressions. I just got my Elear and am looking forward to doing some of the same testing, although I have the HD800 and the HD600. 

 

[deutschemark]

Mike Piskor captured my sentiments about Elear's treble fairly eloquently in his recent review.

"The treble and entire top end are the strongest and most positive quality of the entire headphone. Simply stunning at times..."

 

[tkddans]

@tkddans Great impressions and comparisons. Thanks for putting that together. I noticed however that you didn't mention the 5k peak on the HD800S. While I agree that imo the HD800S has probably the widest most realistic soundstage of any headphone, that 5k peak is a serious no go for me, and a major point putting it behind the Elear imo.

So I'm wondering, do you hear a peak at 5k (it doesn't seem so)? Everyone's HRTF is different, so some are more sensitive to peaks in that region than others.

Also, your eq settings seem odd. I'd think you would have to bump up 4-5k quite a bit more than 3dB to achieve a more similar FR to the HD800S. How does it sound if you go 6dB or more?

I like the sound more if I raise that range as you suggest. I probably like it more than the default setting on the Elear for most music. The upper range really popped with clapping in this track's start: Heart Out (click for a link to the iTunes source).
 
Here's the equalizer setting I ended up liking a lot more than the default:


Unfortunately, these headphones are not my only pair. My impression remains thus: If I had to have only one headphone under $1000, I may pick these, but they don't bring me the great joy on any track the way that the HD650 and HD800 S do in their own different ways. The Elear just doesn't do anything better than one headphone that the other won't offer even better anyway. I'm glad I spent $2000 on the 650 and 800 S altogether. 

 

[nordkapp]

Does anyone find the clamping pressure a little uncomfortable after say an hour or so?....?..

 

[deutschemark]

I found the clamping pressure it a little snug at first. It seems to have loosened a bit after 2 weeks. I've recently had 2 hour sessions and no comfort issues.

 

[deutschemark]

I've been playing with some EQ settings and found this one really pleasurable. (I know this is subjective but just wanted to share in case anyone is interested). This is the parametric equalizer on USB Audio Player Pro.