[Clemmaster]

For those interested, I’m selling like new Dekoni pads here: https://www.head-fi.org/classifieds/dekoni-limited-editon-stellia-pads.73737/

I personally preferred the stock pads, but I know some people who liked the Dekoni better. YMMV.

 

[longestsprout]

For those interested, I’m selling like new Dekoni pads here: https://www.head-fi.org/classifieds/dekoni-limited-editon-stellia-pads.73737/

I personally preferred the stock pads, but I know some people who liked the Dekoni better. YMMV.

Would jump on them but I'm in the EU alas. 60 is not bad and I'm missing having measurements to work with and these have those. Definitely curious and will try them at some point.

 

[longestsprout]

Anybody else tried the Stellia with the mojo 2? Because at stock without utilizing any dsp that didn't go over well for me. Now after heavy use of APO eq and mojo 2 dsp both it's really good. Might be my most successful eq yet, albeit a bit esoteric since I did it with the inside perforated cp yang pads.

I'm just wondering if I just don't enjoy Stellia's stock tuning and if it's worth it to take the Stellia into consideration when I go up the chain.

Ok. So for whatever reason these sound good now and pair really well. Stock everything, no eq.

So Nevermind! haha.
(Ths hobby is driving me insane)

 

[BogdanUK]

Hello everyone, I plan in the immediate future to get myself a pair of Focal Stellia and use them with my iFi Zen Dac 3 but I would like a recommendation for a good balanced cable as my DAC doesn't have XLR nor I want to use the 3.5mm. I guess I could use the Meze 99 Series balanced cable I currently use on my Meze 99 classic but maybe there is something more suitable and worthy of the Focal Stellia headphones. I have looked into a 4.4 mm male to XLR female adapter from ddHiFi for eg. but I am not sure it will work out great with the stock XLR cable that comes with the headphones. Heard some good words about the Forza AudioWorks Noir Hybrid HPC Pigtail Neutrik XLR Female to TRRRS 4.4mm adapter cable but the price just for that is pretty steep. Thank you

 

[ChristoT]

Hello everyone, I plan in the immediate future to get myself a pair of Focal Stellia and use them with my iFi Zen Dac 3 but I would like a recommendation for a good balanced cable as my DAC doesn't have XLR nor I want to use the 3.5mm. I guess I could use the Meze 99 Series balanced cable I currently use on my Meze 99 classic but maybe there is something more suitable and worthy of the Focal Stellia headphones. I have looked into a 4.4 mm male to XLR female adapter from ddHiFi for eg. but I am not sure it will work out great with the stock XLR cable that comes with the headphones. Thank you

Actually the 3m long xlr cable that comes in the box is pretty good even with adapter on. I dismissed it at first but now I find myself using it often whenever I need to sit a bit aside from the desktop amp. But for on the go use you’re right that you’ll be better off with an upgrade.

 

[botmann]

The Focal cables work well. The issue with them is they're microphonic. As long as the cable is not bumping into anything, you won't hear anything.

I've been using GUCraftsman off of Amazon. The pricing isn't too bad, especially compared to the boutique cable makers. Meze 99 Audio 99 series cable is nice and a good price. The GUCraftsman is more expensive.

 

[gazzington]

I haven't used my stellias for a little while. Really enjoying them out of my sony wm1zm2 this afternoon

 

[WDitters]

Less bite, more slam is what my "Stelliance" are currently bringing to the new Shanling SM1.3 .. Love that sound ...!!

 

[alekc]

I haven't used my stellias for a little while. Really enjoying them out of my sony wm1zm2 this afternoon

@gazzington well I love Stellia synergy with my DAP: A&K 3000T especially in hybrid mode, but in both tube and solid state mode they sound awesome. Some tracks do benefit with DAR enabled on A&K DAP due to Stellias revealing characteristics. I've said it earlier and I will repeat it again: for me Stellias are the best cans out of current whole Focal line and they do beat Utopias 22.

 

[ozz007]

Try this with wavelet

 

[John Buchanan]

Hello everyone, I plan in the immediate future to get myself a pair of Focal Stellia and use them with my iFi Zen Dac 3 but I would like a recommendation for a good balanced cable as my DAC doesn't have XLR nor I want to use the 3.5mm. I guess I could use the Meze 99 Series balanced cable I currently use on my Meze 99 classic but maybe there is something more suitable and worthy of the Focal Stellia headphones. I have looked into a 4.4 mm male to XLR female adapter from ddHiFi for eg. but I am not sure it will work out great with the stock XLR cable that comes with the headphones. Heard some good words about the Forza AudioWorks Noir Hybrid HPC Pigtail Neutrik XLR Female to TRRRS 4.4mm adapter cable but the price just for that is pretty steep. Thank you

Have a look at Arctic Cables - they will build a cable for you that is superbly crafted and can be quite cheap, if you stick to the core copper cables.
Arctic Cables

 

[paramac]

I have had Focal Stellia for a few years now and have had two different experiences.
Firstly the workmanship, it is good but not outstanding. Then my main problem, for some reason the temples and ear pads discolored after a short time, they practically turned black where they rested on the head and ears. When I asked Focal whether they could be replaced, I received a negative answer, which is frustrating and really incomprehensible at such a price. I have now gotten used to it and consider it to be age-related patina, although it is not actually the case.

One of the positive features is certainly the sound and the fact that the headphones harmonize excellently with many sources due to their specifications. Neither mobile nor stationary devices pose any problems, they get the best out of all sources and sound fantastic. The only requirement is that the DACs are of appropriate quality.

So there is a mixed conclusion - in terms of sound I can recommend it without reservation, but in terms of workmanship and especially the service from Focal if problems arise as mentioned above, I would not recommend it.

 

[MarkParity]

I have had Focal Stellia for a few years now and have had two different experiences.
Firstly the workmanship, it is good but not outstanding. Then my main problem, for some reason the temples and ear pads discolored after a short time, they practically turned black where they rested on the head and ears. When I asked Focal whether they could be replaced, I received a negative answer, which is frustrating and really incomprehensible at such a price. I have now gotten used to it and consider it to be age-related patina, although it is not actually the case.

One of the positive features is certainly the sound and the fact that the headphones harmonize excellently with many sources due to their specifications. Neither mobile nor stationary devices pose any problems, they get the best out of all sources and sound fantastic. The only requirement is that the DACs are of appropriate quality.

So there is a mixed conclusion - in terms of sound I can recommend it without reservation, but in terms of workmanship and especially the service from Focal if problems arise as mentioned above, I would not recommend it.

They all do that and Focal don't have a solution to the issue so what did you want them to say? Perhaps a local leather expert could help.

I would imagine that if you had a genuine fault you'd get better support.

 

[paramac]

They all do that and Focal don't have a solution to the issue so what did you want them to say? Perhaps a local leather expert could help.

I would imagine that if you had a genuine fault you'd get better support.

Well, what do you call a real defect? Manufacturers and customers don't always agree on this. I can only report what I see and can't explain what happened. I can only make assumptions and the most likely one for me is that sweat penetrated the leather and discolored it, perhaps the leather wasn't sealed sufficiently.

However, the headphones cost €3000, so I would at least expect better support, regardless of whether it was a material defect or the manufacturer's own fault. When I see other manufacturers where you can replace wearing parts like the headband or ear pads, this doesn't seem to be the case with the Focal headphones due to their design. Also remember that a Focal Utopia costs a lot more, but is designed in the same way as the Stellia.

If I've learned one thing from this, it's two things. Firstly, I will probably never buy another headphone that is any other colour than black and secondly, I can't imagine being a Focal customer again.

 

[Jukka]

They chose a wrong material for the headphones plain and simple. Such a leather is indeed premium but using them in an application where the material is constantly in touch with oils from peoples' skin which is then absorbed into the leather (that causes the discoloration), is plainly a wrong decision. I love my Stellia but how they look now, is pretty bad. Also my plastic parts near the cups cause creaking from time to time that I haven't been able to solve.