Focal Stellia - What do you think?

[Hoegaardener70]

So, I was just poking around the internet looking for the Meze Empyrean, and by chance came to Moon Audio, and saw a note on the Focal Stellia:

https://www.moon-audio.com/focal-st...6j7mTbIjDyTmEqsErUqNtU_yGNtO05b1jILTBsQvif3DQ

So, Focal seems to do a lot right at this moment. Great choice of connectors (3.5mm), great choice of cables, and probably great sound.

But the color. Really folks, did you not learn from B&H P9? Light Brown is just ...... not a good color choice for headphones. But let's see them in real life.

Will my favorite Utopias be dethroned?

 

[Hoegaardener70]

Hi folks from the Elegia Thread, sorry I just saw now that you are already discussing the Stellia.

 

[wje]

Thanks for creating this thread. I think it's a good idea not to clog up the Elegia thread with the talks of the Stellia.

If Focal is moving towards 3.5mm connectors for the Stellia like their other 'phones, I wonder if they'll perform a cut-over in the manufacturing process to make the Utopia also feature the 3.5mm connectors at some point. I have visions of Hifiman when I see the Lemo connectors - harder to get access to the parts, etc. like Hifiman with the SMC connectors. I still have about 70 of those lying around.

Hopefully, there will be a lot of great input from CanJam so we'll have many additional details. Not that I'm willing to jump on the bandwagon so quickly though.

 

[Hoegaardener70]

Thanks for creating this thread. I think it's a good idea not to clog up the Elegia thread with the talks of the Stellia.

If Focal is moving towards 3.5mm connectors for the Stellia like their other 'phones, I wonder if they'll perform a cut-over in the manufacturing process to make the Utopia also feature the 3.5mm connectors at some point.

I doubt this given with the speed that focal moves. If so, there will be an Utopia successor featuring a 3.5mm plug and some improvements on the Utopia design. This would then be the basis for the next lineup (clear successor etc) Would be consequent from their part.

Anyway, let's see what the Stellia offers. I am very happy with my Utopia but closed-backs are definitely better fitting my needs.

 

[franz12]

Looks better than the empyrean to my eyes

 

[Hoegaardener70]

Looks better than the empyrean to my eyes

LOL - Wasn't the Empyrean the "best looking ever" last week? Not for you, I mean, but in the hype fori

 

[wje]

Looks better than the empyrean to my eyes

You like the bling? ​

 

[franz12]

LOL - Wasn't the Empyrean the "best looking ever" last week? Not for you, I mean, but in the hype fori

I never understood that hype lol. I am a person who thinks the utopia looks better than the empyrean in person. Also, I like more modern design such as audezes and mrspeakers.

 

[Hoegaardener70]

I never understood that hype lol. I am a person who thinks the utopia looks better than the empyrean in person. Also, I like more modern design such as audezes and mrspeakers.

I find the Utopia's to be the best looking of my headphones too. Not in a flashy but classy way, I also like the feel of the leather and the red of the driver shining through.
But I am not sure if they hit it with hat brown / mocca color of the Stellia. The picture looks bad, but I heard for real it looks better. Let's see (literally!).

PS: Headphones are for sound, anyway. Otherwise no one, really no one would own that Abyss Phi mess.

 

[wje]

This was just posted:

https://www.head-fi.org/threads/focal-stellia-review-measurements-interview-head-fi-tv.899912/

 

[franz12]

I find the Utopia's to be the best looking of my headphones too. Not in a flashy but classy way, I also like the feel of the leather and the red of the driver shining through.
But I am not sure if they hit it with hat brown / mocca color of the Stellia. The picture looks bad, but I heard for real it looks better. Let's see (literally!).

PS: Headphones are for sound, anyway. Otherwise no one, really no one would own that Abyss Phi mess.

Abyss Phi is girl repellent...

 

[SpeleoFool]

...Will my favorite Utopias be dethroned?

For me, yes. Although it was difficult to admit, it only took a few hours to decide that Focal has improved upon perfection. Both headphones have the same absurd amount of detail, but there are two things that I like better about Stellia:

First, the isolation means I no longer need a perfectly quiet listening environment to enjoy them. Utopia is basically 100% transparent. Stellia's isolation, meanwhile, is very similar to Elegia's, but Stellia sounds even more open.

Second, the BASS. OMG. Stellia's bass is not only wonderfully articulate, but it's present in a way that Utopia doesn't deliver. For bassy electronic music Stellia's low end delivers a uniquely awesome experience. Low, fuzzy basslines are as detailed as Utopia's, but beats hit with a palpable sense of impact. Meanwhile, mids and highs deliver that razor sharp beryllium detail. The juxtaposition of the two is unlike anything I've heard from any other headphone. Tracks like "Playing With Fire (Jitter Remix)" by Juno Reactor are otherworldy on Stellia thanks to the interplay of brain-massaging bass with crisp details.

So, yeah. They're like Utopia, but with better isolation and more prominent and satisfying bass.

 

[Hoegaardener70]

For me, yes. Although it was difficult to admit, it only took a few hours to decide that Focal has improved upon perfection. Both headphones have the same absurd amount of detail, but there are two things that I like better about Stellia:

First, the isolation means I no longer need a perfectly quiet listening environment to enjoy them. Utopia is basically 100% transparent. Stellia's isolation, meanwhile, is very similar to Elegia's, but Stellia sounds even more open.

Second, the BASS. OMG. Stellia's bass is not only wonderfully articulate, but it's present in a way that Utopia doesn't deliver. For bassy electronic music Stellia's low end delivers a uniquely awesome experience. Low, fuzzy basslines are as detailed as Utopia's, but beats hit with a palpable sense of impact. Meanwhile, mids and highs deliver that razor sharp beryllium detail. The juxtaposition of the two is unlike anything I've heard from any other headphone. Tracks like "Playing With Fire (Jitter Remix)" by Juno Reactor are otherworldy on Stellia thanks to the interplay of brain-massaging bass with crisp details.

So, yeah. They're like Utopia, but with better isolation and more prominent and satisfying bass.

Great that you enjoy them. I listened a lot to the Stellia at CanJam and also liked them... but felt the Utopias are not dethroned for me . First of all, the utopia do,look better (but only a bit). second, the soundstage is wider with my setup, and since I have the privilege to own an ifi iCan pro i am able to add bass via the splendid xbass. Saying that, the Stellia are for sure a great set of cans and the best closed cans I ever heard. Enjoy.

 

[Frank I]

bought these and will be reviewing them and comparing next ti Elegia. They are the most open closed phones I have heard.

 

[Andrewteee]

I'm loving the Stellias! I've been enjoying them with a wide range of music as I get to know them, primarily streaming through Tidal and Qobuz. My main music interests are acoustic guitar and space/ambient music, with a smattering of classical piano, techno and black metal.

As far as appearances go, they are a bit "lux" but they are still tasteful and very comfy.

I've been using them with the shorter cable because my main amp - the Rupert Neve RNHP - only accepts RCA connections. Someday I'll look into headphone amps with a 4 pin balanced connection so I can use the longer cable. Since they are easy to drive I've also used them with the Audioquest Dragonfly Red off my iPhone. That configuration allows me to enjoy good music later at night in bed and not disturb the wife. Thankfully, I can now get high-res music from both Tidal and Qobuz on the iPhone, at least through wifi.

I also have the Clear; I've been really impressed with Focal headphones. It's been years since I was serious about headphones but both pairs have really ticked the boxes.