[Earbones]

SO... Got my Stellia yesterday. First impressions follow:

1. They couldn't have splurged a little on packaging and build materials? Kidding. Jesus Christ.

2. These things are detail monsters, but I don't have a headache after several hours. How's that work?

3. Best. Focal. Mids. Ever.

4. Sure, highs are a little rounded off from the Utopia, but that's why I always preferred the Clear to the U. But again, more detail than the Clear, so kind of a lovely middle ground.

5. Bass quantity is identical to the Clear. What's different is that for the first time ever in a Focal, I'm getting grip... Firmly in Audeze LCD-series territory grip. And if the fit isn't perfect... some boominess is present. That said, I've done this rodeo with the Elegia. Some Focals require just the right fit for bass to present as it should. In the case of the Elegia, it would disappear if the fit wasn't right. With the Stellia, it can get boomy. So I played around with the fit, and found the sweet spot... Same bass quantity as the Clear, loads of grip, and zero boominess. Bass detail and articulation is slightly superior to the Clear. Anyone who is getting boom from the Stellia should play around with the fit.

6. At 35 Ohm, Easier to drive than the 55 Ohm Clear... but by a larger margin than the 20 Ohm difference would suggest. Slightly easier to drive than the Elegia, which are also 35 Ohm. The Stellia plays very well with the Sony NW-ZX507. With high gain engaged on the 4.4mm out, I'm listening at between 22 and 35... out of 120 volume. Plenty of head room. Obviously does well with Chord Mojo and Sony PHA-2A as well.

7. I've found all Focal cans benefit tremendously from a balanced set up. But the Stellia even more so.

8. As a bat-eared individual who doesn't need a lot of volume... I have to say, these do really, really well on low volumes. Sometimes a headphone's sound will just kind of dissolve if it's not played loudly enough. Not these. Detail, highs, mids, bass, even soundstage are all fully present at super-low volumes. Zero loss. Kind of amazing.

 

[boxster233]

Looks like they are $160 at Moon Audio. Here’s a link:
https://www.moon-audio.com/focal-st...MI6I3tqd2E6AIVEJSzCh0cMAHZEAQYASABEgIZdvD_BwE

Looks like the price has been fixed and it’s now $320.

 

[donkeywalker]

Looks like the price has been fixed and it’s now $320.

That's as much as an entire HD650 : )

 

[Beagle]

Looks like the price has been fixed and it’s now $320.

So...that's why they refunded my payment after I ordered with nary an explanation.

 

[Gadget67]

So...that's why they refunded my payment after I ordered with nary an explanation.

So...did Moon audio read this thread and then raise the price? Mind you, they are still undercutting Focal!

 

[Ilomaenkimi]

That's as much as an entire HD650 : )

That's understandable, regarding Sennheiser's sounquality.

 

[noplsestar]

For all of you that want the headband to look like new, read these posts by @teknorob23

I work making advertising for car manufacturers and I also shoot classic cars too. There’s one leather care company they all swear by which Is https://www.lttleathercare.com/

I had used their stuff on my car leather and was seriously impressed and so I contacted them when I bought the stellia’s they recommended to products aniline leather guard protector and aniline leather guard cleaner, which is for specifically for use with fine grain leather as used on the stellias. I followed their advice of giving the headband 3 coats of the protector and then clean periodically with the cleaner. I can recommend it 100% for use with the stellias. My head band looks like new. The protector leaves zero marking and stops the leather wicking sweat or grease and retaining any other dirt. I look after my gear but I have a shaved head so this was a big concern as I know none of my gear is forever, I’ll post a pic of my headband tomorrow but my stellias are in my office. These are the products:

im sure they would ship to the US if you drop them a note. It’s not cheap but you only need to use a tiny amount for each application.

Obvs if you don’t mind the staining that’s all good, but based on past history I know that I won’t own the stellia's for ever and it’s worth the investment in the guard to protect their resale value. Focal advises me the headband is not available as a spare and they have to dismantle a finished pair and the part would cost £1200, so £40 feels good value. Bearing in mind mine have been used not far off daily this is what they look like now:

 

[Beagle]

That's understandable, regarding Sennheiser's sounquality.

Your point? That you can get one of the most natural, musical all-purpose headphones for only $320 while another brand's earpads costs the same? I agree. But it's certainly not 'understandable'.

 

[Ilomaenkimi]

Your point? That you can get one of the most natural, musical all-purpose headphones for only $320 while another brand's earpads costs the same? I agree. But it's certainly not 'understandable'.

Nope. That description is for Stellia, not Sennheiser. And i'm joking!
Sennheiser's are not my ears though...therefore, I could not resist the temptation.

 

[donkeywalker]

For all of you that want the headband to look like new, read these posts by @teknorob23

That's understandable, regarding Sennheiser's sounquality.

If I were focal I’d do this for free once in the lifetime of the ownership And during that replacement I’d replace it with a treated leather. Honestly this leather’s ease of stain issue would be considered a serious design flaw in car, furniture, luxury handbag, luxury watch or any business where the look and feel is one of the main reason people bought the product for.

It’s a bit ludicrous that they put a sample leather skin around the headphone to show you the quality then all it takes to discolor it is one greasy finger touch.

The fact that they even quoted a $1200+ number shows their complete lack of empathy and responsibility to their own customers. I hope some focal representative is reading this.

On the other hand I do feel if enough people contact them they might actually do a free recall or replacement of the headband sooner or later.

 

[noplsestar]

If I were focal I’d do this for free once in the lifetime of the ownership And during that replacement I’d replace it with a treated leather. Honestly this leather’s ease of stain issue would be considered a serious design flaw in car, furniture, luxury handbag, luxury watch or any business where the look and feel is one of the main reason people bought the product for.

It’s a bit ludicrous that they put a sample leather skin around the headphone to show you the quality then all it takes to discolor it is one greasy finger touch.

The fact that they even quoted a $1200+ number shows their complete lack of empathy and responsibility to their own customers. I hope some focal representative is reading this.

On the other hand I do feel if enough people contact them they might actually do a free recall or replacement of the headband sooner or later.

Well to be honest, I am one of those who don’t care about the headband. Actually I quite like the darkening of the leather

Nevertheless I think they should inform the buyer to buy a dedicated oil or whatever (or include something for those who care about that).

 

[knivek]

How hard does one have to pull at the pads to take them off?

 

[teknorob23]

If I were focal I’d do this for free once in the lifetime of the ownership And during that replacement I’d replace it with a treated leather. Honestly this leather’s ease of stain issue would be considered a serious design flaw in car, furniture, luxury handbag, luxury watch or any business where the look and feel is one of the main reason people bought the product for.

It’s a bit ludicrous that they put a sample leather skin around the headphone to show you the quality then all it takes to discolor it is one greasy finger touch.

The fact that they even quoted a $1200+ number shows their complete lack of empathy and responsibility to their own customers. I hope some focal representative is reading this.

On the other hand I do feel if enough people contact them they might actually do a free recall or replacement of the headband sooner or later.

I’ve been through a long and protracted process with focal arguing these points, that essentially they are not fit for purpose. They don’t stain in a way that looks like natural ageing and it is a design flaw. The shop i bought them from in UK agreed with me and pursued pretty hard on my behalf. Focal were polite but refused to accept any responsibility or to entertain any notion that this was a design/manufacturing issue. After about 2 months of back and fourth they agreed to an at cost replacement, which apparently meant breaking down a finished pair as it’s not a spare part. This cost nearly £400 which the shop subsidised as a good will gesture.

While this was going on I spoke at length with a leather restoration specialists ltt leathercare who are well respected in both furniture and classic car interior restoration. They couldn’t believe a product which was designed to be in contact with human hair/ skin was not treated as part of the production process as it would be with any other leather product.

Anyway once I had mine back I treated the leather with ltt’s ainline leather guard which is formulated by them for use with delicate full grain leather. It left no stain, didn’t change the colour and proved 100% effective at preventing staining. I used their cleaning product once a month and reapplies the guard. It’s £15 for quite a small bottle but you only need a tiny amount so it would last for years.

This has left me with a bit of a sour taste, not for the stellia’s which I love, but for Focal as brand. Like lots of us on this thread I’ve spent a considerable amount of money, buying utopia, elegia and stellia, but Focal at best seemed not that bothered, so they better keep making excellent headphones because if the competitors catch up they won’t be able rely on any loyalty from me to keep buying there products. As you say all feels very short sighted on their part.

 

[Ilomaenkimi]

I’ve been through a long and protracted process with focal arguing these points, that essentially they are not fit for purpose. They don’t stain in a way that looks like natural ageing and it is a design flaw. The shop i bought them from in UK agreed with me and pursued pretty hard on my behalf. Focal were polite but refused to accept any responsibility or to entertain any notion that this was a design/manufacturing issue. After about 2 months of back and fourth they agreed to an at cost replacement, which apparently meant breaking down a finished pair as it’s not a spare part. This cost nearly £400 which the shop subsidised as a good will gesture.

While this was going on I spoke at length with a leather restoration specialists ltt leathercare who are well respected in both furniture and classic car interior restoration. They couldn’t believe a product which was designed to be in contact with human hair/ skin was not treated as part of the production process as it would be with any other leather product.

Anyway once I had mine back I treated the leather with ltt’s ainline leather guard which is formulated by them for use with delicate full grain leather. It left no stain, didn’t change the colour and proved 100% effective at preventing staining. I used their cleaning product once a month and reapplies the guard. It’s £15 for quite a small bottle but you only need a tiny amount so it would last for years.

This has left me with a bit of bitter taste, not for the stellia’s which I love, but for Focal as brand. Like lots of us on this thread I’ve spent a considerable amount of money, buying utopia, elegia and stellia, but Focal at best seemed not that bothered, so they better keep making excellent headphones because if the competitors catch up they won’t be able rely on any loyalty from me to keep buying there products. As you say all feels very short sighted on their part.

Even if i’m not bothered by my Stellias getting nasty i feel same way to this issue. And Focal’s attitude. It really sucks.
Below some pictures my apple watch band, which is Finnish Elk leather and costs 50euros. It has been everyday contact with my skin...

 

[Beagle]

How hard does one have to pull at the pads to take them off?

Hard enough to get them off.

j/k...lift a bit on each side and you'll see little tabs on the pads that come out of the holes on the frame.