Focal Clear vs Focal Elear vs Focal Utopia
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- čas přidán 26. 08. 2024
- FOCAL UTOPIA: bag.gg/FocalUt
FOCAL CLEAR: bag.gg/FocalClear
FOCAL ELEAR: bag.gg/FocalElear
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The Focal Clear is a new over-ear open-back headphone from Focal made for audiophiles. The Clear bridges the gap perfectly between the Elear and the Utopia, finally giving you an option between their price points. The Clear has all the strengths of the Elear with none of its faults. Gone is the mid-range dip and uncomfortable pads. The Clear has excellent bass extension, clear, detailed mids and highs that truly stand out. The Clear also features perforated memory foam cushions and a lighter design meaning it can be used for extended listening periods with ease!
The Focal Clear features leather and perforated microfiber adjustable headband with ear cup rotation and a one size fits all Aluminum Yoke with 20mm memory foam ear cushions. The Clear from Focal has low impedence (55 Ohms) which means taking it on the go with a high-resolution digital audio player is easier than ever! The Clear also features 3.5mm locking jack sockets and comes with 3 cables (instead of just the one cable provided with the Elear and Utopia). Discover a listening experience similar to that provided by high-fidelity loudspeakers and excellent performance when connected to portable high-resolution audio players.
Highlights
* Handcrafted in France
* Open-back, over-ear
* Full-range “loudspeaker-like” sound
* Easily adjustable to any head size or shape
* Copper voice coil (25.5m x 5.5mm)
* 75 micron thick suspension
* 3.5mm jack socket to 6.35mm jack plug adapter
* Breakup level of 24khz
* High-performance acoustics
* Comfortable and ergonomic
* High-quality materials
Absolutely fantastic review. You're one of the few people who seems to have a reasonable outlook on audio in terms of price and things that make a difference. I really appreciate your humility in recognizing that you might not be able to find differences in DACs and such. I'm looking forward to more audio reviews in the future.
Also I'm constantly impressed by your taste in music (Let Down is my favorite song)
Made it to the end! I can't say I always watch ALL of your videos, due to the length of them, but I can say one thing. Watching your videos makes me happier than most other CZcamsrs🤣. I don't exactly know what it is about you man, but I find you funny and easy to watch. I just feel like your videos are so niche, and I find myself in that; I tried showing my mom one of your vids b/c I thought you were frickin hilarious, and she wasn't having it😂. But that's what I love about your channel, you're super detailed and don't try to shorten your videos by cutting out your funny, unnecessary bits. Keep up the great work man, you've got my respect👏🏻
This is my favorite. #thankyou
on that elear vs clear frequency thingy, elear is known for sucking out 5khz to create a virtually wider width of perception in music. Where in fact it is actually making you listen to non reference sound. But the smoother sound due to high mids sucked out on elear may sound more "realistic" to you where in fact it is not. And it is the reason why it sounded more mushed together and pushed back as the high mid frequency(5-6khz) in mixing a piece is critical for "placing" the position of a instrument in stereo mix. Boost 6khz and you have something more upfront. Cut it and that thing would duck into the background. This is where cheaper gears will fall short and they do vocals actually better as they sacrifice on those "muscial" quality about instruments, but make human voice more audible which majority of people are used to. As human voice occupies a frequency range that is very audible compare to many other instruments. This is the same analogy for video/photo editing dudes like comparing sRGB to Adobe RGB and human eye color perception. You eyes see much more colors than any machine can print on paper or publish on web as the color range is limited more and more, to a point where the center of that triangle is dominated by human voice.
ATH m50 actually has a slight V shape where mids is sucked out so human voice which occupy that range will sound thinner. This enables your ear to automatically notice more details in the treble and bass region.
damn. Yes, what he said.
Watched all the way to the end. You're a great communicator with a good sense of humor. I appreciate how you really grapple with explaining what you're hearing in the most accurate way you can even though you're not familiar with audiophile terminology. Can tell you truly have passion for music. (FYI: that thing you're describing of 2D flat sound vs layered 3D sound is called soundstage depth).
At one point you mention the cables on any of these 3 headphones can be replaced with aftermarket ones. It might be interesting to do another video comparing these headphones with a fairly high end replacement cable.
hey dude, nice review (im surprised myself that i watched it all to the end). Keep it up, really good insight into the products. i was actually in a store today and by chance ended up listening to the Focal Clears. I was actually in the store to buy the Dragonfly Cobalt DAC, but seriously thinking about getting the Clears now and ditching my other headphones. hope you do more headphone reviews, you have a knack for it and keep the viewer interested and entertained.
Great review! I was trying to decide which one I wanted and I was leaning toward the Clears before your video and you pretty much helped me make that choice. I don't normally subscribe to channels but damn, you earned it! Thanks!
Nice you're going down this rabbit hole. Digging it.
I think you did a bang up job here! Thanks.
I actually came to the same conclusion. Only difference I didn't give the Clear as much attention as the Utopia and the Stellia above the Clear.
After extended listening sessions, i've came to the conclusion the Utopia are my number 1. The Stellia, number 2. Now if the Clear, at half the price of the Stellia can bring me 90% of what 1 and 2 are doing? Number 3 at $1500 (still a big price jump for me) may just be my livable headphone conclusion?
Watch from start to finished, and I must say how you review is a lot more interesting than others. Altho the length could be shorten up, but I can see why people would love a lengthy one such as this, overall I enjoyed it and hope you keep it up.
Great review, thanks!. I have been watching reviews for several years and I really liked your freshness and spontaneity and the descriptive manner in which you explain things. I do have the Focal Elear and I really love them. They are the best headphones of the many I have tried since I started this headphone hobby back in 2017. I was really convinced that I should be happy enough with them as my end game but now I feel that you provoked the itch to come back again 😂. Btw, I also love Tom Waits, Radiohead and specially the Doobie Brothers. I have taken notes of the other songs you mentioned you see whether I feel the same as you did with the Elears. Kind regards and keep on with your good work! ❤
Hey Chase, the way you describe music is really interesting and doesent come off as snobby. You've introduced me to several songs and described them in a way that got me interested to listen to them even though they may have not initially been something I would have listened to on my own, but ended up loving them anyway.
I think it could be a pretty cool concept for a sepperate channel if you dig up cool songs in the sea of music out there (that I dont have time to navigate), and bring on different headphones depending on what kind of music you are reviewing and what kind of headphone it is( and link the headphone below(. I would routinely watch a channel like that just to discover cool new music. Just an idea
This was great! Looking at Focal Clear and hd800s and here you are explaining how the Focal‘s sound. Describing sound must be exponentially harder than bags but you did well!
Great presentation, those 38 minutes flew by quite quickly, nice work!
Hey man, really enjoyed the review, watched all of it as well :).
Thought your presentation, fun personality and unashamedly original way of describing the sound was quite a trip. Had me laughing quite a few times there, and have definitely made the choosing between Elear/Clear that much harder, if only because of all the nuance described.
Would look forward to more of these, and yet I hope you've managed to withhold from falling down the hi-fi chasm too much!
When you listened to Utopia... it's over, the other headphones are only anecdotes.
Love it! Please do more headphones reviews!
Great review even better personality. Joined your channel.
I love my Focal Clear even better then my Oppo pm1 and Sennheiser 650 ,but I just can't stop thinking I want those Utopia.
Just waiting for them to go under 3k from a legit dealer .
Thanks for the review
in that price I would choose meze empyrean and stick with Clear
@@soulfulfool lol ended up getting the Utopia at 3k on sale and to say it's worth it at the original price is crazy ,but they would have been.
@@camarykaren I like clarity and vocals that dynamics provide but at the end I enjoy planar sound more, dont take me wrong Im not 1 pair of headphones guy, love to have different types and cant let all of them go some headphones are mine forever :)
@@soulfulfool I couldn't agree more.
Planar sound is different and the reason why I still love my oppo pm1 even with the Utopia around. Meze is on my radar si ce they suppose to sound even better than the Oppo's. Someday ....
Thank you for this video. The way you explained what you heard on each song, has given me an appreciation of what headphones can provide the listener. Looking forward to having the same experience, now that I understand, better, what to listen for.
This is hands down the best headphone review of all time! You're the realist bro! I think you have captivated my attention watching your review as well as the Clear on the rig with tunes. Lol.
Fantastic!
I like your style dude! You talk about specific parts of songs and imo that’s how a proper audio gear review should be done. We need some point of reference. I have the Focal Elex and haven’t heard any other Focals but I’m very impressed with the sound of those. Some people even prefer them over the Clears. I hope you do more audio gear in the future
So I play my music through the Astell and Kern Kann cube and Focal Clear with a Silver dragon v3 cable and its mind blowing the level of quality you never heard in the song. So I try letting a few people just listen without asking for opinion and they automatically say wow that sounds incredible. I'm streaming all 16bit and 24bit music...love it
Tom Hesse do you recommend the clear with the silver dragon V3 cable ???? Does make a huge difference !???????
Awesome videos, watched to the end as I do all your videos. You just cost me £2000 though! lol. Seriously the passion you have for this and all the elements of the sound you described spoke to me and as someone who REALLY enjoys music on all the same levels I think I seriously need to treat myself to a set of headphones on this level.
Focal Clear owner from Brazil just listening to what other people have to say about it!
I love your way of talking about music and gear!
yea I always do that lol just now im waiting for my Clears to come
I have the Clear. Lovely, bright, detailed, good bass, with transparent treble and mids.
I didn't find it transparent at all, but other than that i agree.
@@Terra101 obviously you have something wrong with your ears
@@JeffJacquesmd No u.
@@Terra101 we’ll have to agree to disagree
@@JeffJacquesmd haha boys
Very informative and entertaining review. Well done. I got a lot out of this. Thanks!
Awesome review.
I totally agree with you about the Audio Technica ATH M50X.......Great bass but for me it seems like there is a steady rumbling throughout the entire song and the bass doesn't sound natural. I also have Bowers & Wilkins P7 Great Bass and not quite as heavy sounding as the M50, but you can feel or hear the sound of the air pressure that you would hear in speakers when a bass guitar hits those thumping notes. I don't feel that with the M50. P7 has a better sound stage than the M50 with more clarity. Then I purchased PHONON SMB-02. Great natural bass with incredible clarity.
So now I'm seriously thinking about the FOCAL CLEARS. 4000.00 for the Utopias is way too much money.
if you jumped from m50x to Clear your jaw must have dropped so low, from garbage to class
Thanks for this. Sitting here literally debating upgrading from the Elear's to the Utopia...
It's more of a side-grade tbh. Downgrade in comfort.
Hey Chase, loving everything you do I hope you do a few vlogs soon.
I love focal. I have there floorstanders arias and all. I got the elear and love the warm and dynamic sound and the way its built in quality(tank).
But im thinking of 1 day in purchasing a utopia. Is it worth investing🤔
Not worth it, get the Focal Stellias
Spongebob Schwanzkopf why you make does negative comments ????
@@leomignonneau1765 why the Stella’s vs the utopia
@@conceptcar03 stellias are their best product, hands down. They are closed back though, so educate yourself on what that means if you don’t. If your going for open back the $4300 for the utopias is just crazy, the clears at $990 right now, and sound phenomenal. All about whether you want closed or open l
@@christopherwalker4256 I’ve got the clears and love them so much it makes me want Utopia. I like open back sound more than closed back but am tempted by both stellia and Utopia. Why do you think stellia superior to utopia?
Please do more headphones I like your style of reviewing.. thumbs way up man
you got me there with Doobie Brothers now I have to play that album :) I love oldies and I agree with you they dont make music like that anymore and quality headphones are perfect for that music
Enjoying the comparison, please let us know what the bottle of wine on the shelf over your left shoulder is. I was in the 'silly high end wine biz' for many years and I recognize it but can't quite noodle it through. I'm guessing older bottling of Figeac, or another St. Emilion. Thanks for entertaining review.
Very Likeable dude, very likeable headphones.. But which has the best bass out of the 3? Also, bummer the Clears only come in light grey, to me that makes them look really "soft consumer"..
Probably the best review I have seen on this!
Who knew that audiophile reviews and trogdor mixed together so well
I love this review, it makes me feel great that i ordered the Focal clear, it is SUPER CHEAP right now, gonna be my first headphone
Came for the masterful presentation. Zero interest in the products. Love this dude
Wow man, exceptional review without being too graphy/analytical 👍
Very unique and entertaining way of describing things, funny faces that you pull. Best 😅
Hi Chase ! I suggest you to test the Kennerton Odin and Thror if you can !
Can somebody tell me, whats the name the sunglasses that chase has?
Good to know, that the difference in sound between these headphones is hardly noticeable.
Which is better - Utopia or Stellia?
Always glad to see audiophile content.
Another Fantastic review
Watched all of it, loved it! :)
I always look forward to lunch with Chase. I can't help but watch til the end... and thank you. James Blake - Retrograde... Wow!
Burninate!
@@chasereeves Scroll Buttons! What is up? Deleted. - Strong Bad.
Put a few backpacks in the background for us, the junkies :D
Good video, definitely gave me some information.
Is this still the best option in 2020 or are there any other worthy contenders?
Good question
would love to know your thoughts but 38min? not today.
It would be better if you reviewed the three headphones without knowing the cost of each of them before hand. The perception of price = quality, creates bias. There's already a preconceived notion that each headphone sounds better then the next just because it's more expensive, before you've even put them on your head. It would be interesting as well to do a blind test not knowing which one you are listening to.
I love my elear
You nailed it.
People should make a decision, go for it and be happy with it for the rest of their lifes it instead of keep on comparing!
However I am only human. So I stay true to my wife and (now and then) I have to let go my old toys in order to exchange them for some newer toys. And that's where your video's come in :)
Great review! The Utopias are one of the best headphones EVER, and their second hand price is now ridiculously low. Besides that - please let me know your investment strategy for making out of 4K in 15 years enough to buy a house :)
Listen to Roger Bonner -Inspiration ft. Lokka Vox if you want to hear the best mastered song ever.
Great review and good sense of humor. My grandmother for you.
Review videos don't neeed to be 37 minutes long. This is what is inherently with most CZcams videos.
let the man talk in his channel. Its not the typical review we’re looking for, but the one we deserve.
10:20 Not going to get a human voice up to 10KHz.
not naturally but with plugins in the recording software you can add additional harmonics(auto tune)
You are officially the best reviewer ever
I couldnt make it to end...did he change the earpads around the different models? some say thats only difference between clear/elear
Hah, made it through my dude.
Listen to lycia's -pray as a reference song. And go from there.
I dont feel that you're using the right music to compare these headphones BUT I still respect your opinion since you're using the tracks you know. It's definitely a skill to learn rather than something you just have. Us golden ear folks started just like anyone else except we questioned what the differences were. Once you train you're ear the differences are huge
The review on these headphones should have bene edited and cut in half. Way too much fluff . I don't have the patience to listen to the while thing. Good information however
I gotta say, these backpacks suck.
Ha!
I am going to quote Marv form SBAF here in regard to these headphones:
"The best components to pair with the Utopia are this:
Donald North Stellaris or Eddie Current Studio Junior. Both are SET but have a different sound. DNA is wetter, more bloomy, bassier even - very much a classic SET sound. The EC uses feedback and is less tubey. EC is no longer, but may have a final run of a Studio B (same as Studio Junior but in a Balancing Act Chassis). Personally, I would request the EC in 2A3, unless you really really want a 300B. There was one guy were some miscommunication results in the 2A3 version of the Junior, but in my opinion, he scored.
There are a lot of good solid-state amps, but the only one I can recommend is ECP DSHA 3F with consideration towards the warmer sounding nickel core input transformers. The ECP DSHA 3F plays to the Utopia's strengths, its speed and mid-range transparency.
*_Anything less means you are leaving stuff at the table with regards to Utopia. I tried Utopia from the Magnius today, and really I don't care for it. The idea is that you must give the car a good driver or the driver a good car. You can put me in a Corvette and Alonso in a Camry on a windy racetrack, and Alonso will still outrace me. Don't waste your money on the Utopia if you have modest gear. Consider the Clear, Elear, or Elex._*
Honorable mentions: DNA Starlett (still leaving stuff at the table, but close enough). Schiit Vali (OG and OOP). The Vali leaves the most on the table. But it is a $119 stopgap wait you wait for your amp to be built. Because it is OOP, it leaves some mystique. And also because I am being an asshole.
DAC / source: The DAC and source is your pick. Since the above are True Hi-Fi™ fine amps, it's unlikely that anyone buying them will have poor taste in DACs*. I choose not based on what is "da best", but what offers the best synergy or the sound I want to achieve. There are many DACs betterer than the Schiit Gungnir Multibit above, and I have almost unlimited access to what I can choose, but I chose this because it does what I want."
Jesus ! ........isn't it ?
Should have gotten the focal elex
Great review thoroughly enjoyed your musical presentation approach, (paused presentation and listened to each song). Have you heard Bozzio, Levins, Stevens song Duende, will blow you away. In addition to Al Di Meola's album Elegant Gypsy. Here's a guitar duel with Flamenco guitarist Paco Di Lucia, Mediterranean Sundance czcams.com/video/v35YhhzCrYk/video.html
Keep em coming, Cheers
spot m50x's
F#$k that's a long review . A California freeway of off and on ramps . That said it was very entertaining . I thought is was also very professional long but well laid out . You really nailed it
I'm the sole reason why some sites block comments ( me and me alone ) senior troll .
Mr reeves I have to ask are the Utopia's 3K better that the Elear to you ? Is the price a artificial flagship maker meaning a batshit crazy expensive item that shows that a company is a major player ??
I have my answer I purchased two sets (Utopia and clear) to demo and sent them both back . What you are paying 4 K for is trying to get the cat back into the bag ( cat being overpriced headphones) . It's like expensive cables . In this case you are paying way too much for lighter and supposedly more responsive drivers . Lightweight at the expense of reliability .
Since you mentioned Audeze LCD-4 which is what most serious reviewers describe as disappointing . I think it cause at least 2 reviewers to retire .
The dark side of reviews is the unwillingness to go negative / truth .
For years and years I always heard those foolish/ stupid Audio Technica people claim that the ATH-M50 were as good as 1 K-4 K headphones and in my opinion Focal made that possible .
When I demoed the utopia I was extremely disappointed , Many people asked me what dac or amp did I use ? like that really makes a difference but I used a McIntosh MHA-150 HDVD 800 Jotunheim Woo audio wa5 latest gen wa22 gen 1 wa2 with all western electric tubes . Like you I feel one dac sounds the same as the other and why should it not ? The first response I heard was "you used the wrong dac or amp" , my simple answer to that is then Focal are the wrong headphones for me ,
I wasted 3 years looking for an amp for my LCD-3 only to realize the LCD-3 were overrated . My next headphones have to better my system and not the other way around.
try a dana cable lazuli reference on those Utopias and blow your mind...ask me how I know
How do you know?
I confirm, this cable is great with the Focal Utopia ! Better bass for sure
@@chasereeves I'm fortunate to both...nice review by the way...entertaining
made it to 0:33 when you said the inexpensive one was $1k. If $1k doesn't buy me utopia I am out. Hell it bought me a couple of hours with Utopia in Vegas.
$4000 headphone into a cheap IfI Micro to do a critical review??? uhmmmm, give the headphones the respect they deserve and get a real headphone amp + seperate high end DAC,.
I see true audiophile mind here :)
The elex is better than the clear and it’s cheaper.
Spotted the Zeos fan
@@frosty6845 says the guy with hentai profile picture.
I love the Elex!
The Elex is not "better" than the Clear, yes it is cheaper, and maybe of better value (depends on the person, because the Elex is almost up to par with the Clear), but it is NOT technically better.
Too much rambling, consolidate and make clear a bit more your thoughts. Have structure, it just gets kind of annoying especially with the length. Also, hope that your file sources are of the highest quality, do talk about them, as it would be somewhat pointless to compare these cans if not.