Focal Stellia Review, Measurements, Interview - Head-Fi TV
- Thread starter jude
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FWIW: some pages back I posted pictures of my stellias after one year - no special treatment. The headband has aged with grace and the color is dark brown, but not nasty...
Yes, my "screwed up" band is not really screwed up, it is just very dark and nearly matches the earpads.
noplsestar
Headphoneus Supremus
Great. Looking forward to reading your impressions with the Niimbus US4+!!!
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Not a great looking solution either, but I Ebay purchased this. it has snaps on the underside.
That's sick (in a positive way though)! It reminds me glorious pieces my grandma used to make with wool
Bobdonut123
Head-Fier
For anyone that uses sonarworks for EQ, does anyone know a similar preset that sounds good for the Stellias? I found the Utopia setting to be good, but I just wanted some of yall's thoughts =)
Some notes after 2 days w/ the Stellia:
- They didn't sound weird or funny new out of the box to me, which is usually a very good sign. 24+ hours of burn-in time later, bass is tighter and more lively, and doesn't seem to bleed into the lower mids, so that's good, but most importantly, I'm not feeling all anxious and impatient for some real or imagined burn-in changes to take place.
- Sound isolation is better than the Denon D9200. When I have a box fan running with music playing, it's half as noticeable as compared to the Denon.
- On drive-ability: Compared to the Utopia, to reach the same output volume requires a volume adjustment of -4dB. At least on the DAVE and the Benchmark HPA4 (using an SPL meter). So, a meaningful difference but not a huge one. This speaks to how easily drivable the Utopia is more than anything.
- I'm really glad for the modest amount of porting that these headphones do have. They sound sufficiently "open" and wide that I'm not continually conscious of their closed-back nature while listening, which is my typical reaction to closed-backs. And they haven't left me with a "These are alright for what they are but I'd rather be listening to the Utopia" kind of feeling, which I think is pretty huge.
- Bass is definitely better without glasses. I would almost go so far as to say that if you must wear glasses while wearing headphones, you may want to consider looking elsewhere, it's that important. I sit the arms of my glasses on top of the earcups, which isn't too uncomfortable but not ideal. I end up doing this with most headphones.
- Mostly though, I wanted to gush about how they good sound with the Cayin HA-300 300B tube amp. For the first couple hours, I was listening with the DAVE headphone-out and the Benchmark HPA4, which made for a positive and fun introduction, but it was literally one minute with the HA-300 that made me understand that, yep, for as much as I've liked them, it's time for my D9200s to find a new home.
The "tube effect" with the Stellia on the HA-300 is very strong, probably greater than with any other headphone I've tried on this amp. Compared to reference solid state, there's more space, depth, dynamic contrast, density. And really teases out the treble well (which I think the Stellia kind of needs, so far). Very warm and lush, yet for someone who's usually chasing after detail and neutrality, it totally works for me. The Stellia loses most all "metallicity" that I do notice particularly with the DAVE and also with the Utopia + DAVE (can't lie). And easily the least fatiguing of any headphone/amp combinations I have. Maybe I'm just reacting to hearing an unapologetically colored setup on my own system seriously for the first time, dunno, hehe.
- They didn't sound weird or funny new out of the box to me, which is usually a very good sign. 24+ hours of burn-in time later, bass is tighter and more lively, and doesn't seem to bleed into the lower mids, so that's good, but most importantly, I'm not feeling all anxious and impatient for some real or imagined burn-in changes to take place.
- Sound isolation is better than the Denon D9200. When I have a box fan running with music playing, it's half as noticeable as compared to the Denon.
- On drive-ability: Compared to the Utopia, to reach the same output volume requires a volume adjustment of -4dB. At least on the DAVE and the Benchmark HPA4 (using an SPL meter). So, a meaningful difference but not a huge one. This speaks to how easily drivable the Utopia is more than anything.
- I'm really glad for the modest amount of porting that these headphones do have. They sound sufficiently "open" and wide that I'm not continually conscious of their closed-back nature while listening, which is my typical reaction to closed-backs. And they haven't left me with a "These are alright for what they are but I'd rather be listening to the Utopia" kind of feeling, which I think is pretty huge.
- Bass is definitely better without glasses. I would almost go so far as to say that if you must wear glasses while wearing headphones, you may want to consider looking elsewhere, it's that important. I sit the arms of my glasses on top of the earcups, which isn't too uncomfortable but not ideal. I end up doing this with most headphones.
- Mostly though, I wanted to gush about how they good sound with the Cayin HA-300 300B tube amp. For the first couple hours, I was listening with the DAVE headphone-out and the Benchmark HPA4, which made for a positive and fun introduction, but it was literally one minute with the HA-300 that made me understand that, yep, for as much as I've liked them, it's time for my D9200s to find a new home.
The "tube effect" with the Stellia on the HA-300 is very strong, probably greater than with any other headphone I've tried on this amp. Compared to reference solid state, there's more space, depth, dynamic contrast, density. And really teases out the treble well (which I think the Stellia kind of needs, so far). Very warm and lush, yet for someone who's usually chasing after detail and neutrality, it totally works for me. The Stellia loses most all "metallicity" that I do notice particularly with the DAVE and also with the Utopia + DAVE (can't lie). And easily the least fatiguing of any headphone/amp combinations I have. Maybe I'm just reacting to hearing an unapologetically colored setup on my own system seriously for the first time, dunno, hehe.
I decided to sell Stellia and they up on the classifieds....happy shopping
Was that why for me? If so, I really need cash, my work is seriously marginal at best right now. I am going to miss them so much.
Oh , sorry to hear that!
I wish you the best.
I thought that you didn't like them so that is why I was asking.
I wish you the best.
I thought that you didn't like them so that is why I was asking.
Bobdonut123
Head-Fier
I have changed my mind yet again... I like these more than the Z1Rs. They have really opened up in detail and bass over the past day or so, which I was not expecting at all. Could very well be "brain burn in", but all I know is that I am enjoying the crap out of these- whereas on my Z1Rs I try to "look" for enjoyment. I guess that's the key right there, where I listen to music because I want to instead of analyzing the differences in sounds. I will be selling my Z1Rs really soon if my impressions stay the same. Also, I know alot of you guys don't like EQ, but the sonarworks settings for the utopias make these sound sublime.
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I'm sorry to hear that. I keep my fingers crossed that you'll be able to get them again soon
Parting is such sweet sorrow. Hope things pick up for you and that you are soon reunited...
Not brain burn-in. People would do themselves a wonder of good by searching these threads. Not one person has come on this thread and said they sound good out of the box, that is not the case. Unanimously, everyone says, man these things have gotten better and better.
Barndoor
1000+ Head-Fier
After auditioning a lot of closed backs today I now have a lovely shiny new pair of Stellia to look at!
Came with a faulty cable, so can't listen to them.
Came with a faulty cable, so can't listen to them.
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