Sure, here's a quote from TSVAJason in the Clear thread:
"I tried the swap long before the MD announcement. The result was a drop in bass. Alan and a few customers at our showrooms tried it yesterday. The impressions I heard were the same as mine. I’ll give it one + from the improved comfort but we also know the pad on the Elex is not as comfortable as the Clear. Tactically it’s a very difference feel. As for sound the Elex is IMO a very anemic Elear. You do get the feeling the mids are lifted but it really is the reduction of bass frequencies you hear. To compare to the Clear would be to say not very much of the same game at all. TSAVAlan may have different thoughts I never asked his impression."
And here's a quote from TSAVAlan in the Clear thread:
"So little impressions, used the stock short Clear cable to the Hugo 2 on the yellow marble volume between all the headphones, Clear and Elear.
So just between the Clear stock to the Elear w/ Clear pads has a quite similar tonal balance. The Clear's are without a doubt bassier than the Elear w/ Clear pads, the Elear combo does kind of roll off pretty quick. The Clears had a sort of fuller sound and was more resolute/detailed but I did just really try it out with just a quick bassy track I like to use to test subbass.
For a little fun I tried the Elear with the left side on a Clear pad and the right side being the stock Elear pads. Kinda interesting just the right side being so bassy in comparison."
And here's a quote from dleblanc from the Elex discussion page:
"Had the chance to try the Elear and Clear, and swapped in the Clear pads and cables on to the Elear; and the choice for the Clear’s was clear, and I must drop out of the Elex."
I questioned him for more details and he said: "Yes the Elear with Clear pads and also the cable (more significant change than anticipated) help open up the width of the elear a bit, and tames down midbass rumble; but the Clear still resolves more, sounds more transparent and has an over all more forward signature. Perhaps more fatguing, but the Clear is incredibly well tuned and I'm selling my HD800 to welcome it home."
Basically, the theme is that Elear+Clear pads helps balance tone (like using EQ) but it isn't going to make it any closer to Utopia in terms of technicalities. When I heard Clear it was very very solid and clearly (no pun intended) a step up from Elear. I liked its tonal balance more than Utopia, but I think Utopia is a significant step up in resolution and staging/imaging abilities.
If I were in your position I would try and find some way to audition TOTL headphones. A long road trip, a short flight, whatever. Or try and get to a headphone meetup. If you absolutely can't do that, I would recommend buying used as you shouldn't lose much money in a re-sell. The problem is that all these TOTL headphones have very specific characteristics that comes down to preference. Most are excellent in many ways, but some will just do something extra special for you depending on what you are drawn to. It would be a shame to drop so much money on a headphone blind brand new and not feel like it is the best fit. Also, if you are considering other headphones in Clear's price range, I can't recommend Auteur enough. I personally consider it a better headphone for the same price, but that is my preference. I already have Auteur and am also planning on eventually getting Clear because I like it so much and it complements well. But if I could only have one it would be Auteur.
