Focal Closed-Back Brothers: Celestee, Elegia, Stellia
Vložit
- čas přidán 8. 09. 2024
- Focal makes some good headphones. No doubt about that. But $3000 for a closed-back? That’s gettin’ right up there isn’t it? Especially when you think that you can pick up a Focal Elegia for $300, or a Celestee for $600 (on the used market). The Stellia is good, but how does it compare to its brethren? Is it that much better?
Here’s some affiliate links to some of the accessories I mentioned in the video:
Stellia: amzn.to/3AAiDTQ
Celestee: apos.audio/pro...
Elegia: adorama.rfvk.net/XxWjoo
Dekoni Sheepskin Pads: amzn.to/3AfM8Zy
Wanna check out some more closed-back headphones? Try this playlist: • Closed Back Headphones
If you’d like to support the channel, please check out my Patreon link below.
Patreon Link: / mrayrit
List of Gear for Sale (for patrons only at this time): docs.google.co...
Look down below for links to all that gear and some other recommendations.
Of course, I always recommend you take a look at the used market, below are some sites that are great for that.
Head-Fi: www.head-fi.org/
HifiGuides: forum.hifiguid...
Reddit: / avexchange
Hifi-shark: www.hifishark....
US AudioMart: www.usaudiomar...
Some of my favorite equipment for various niches (some links are affiliate):
Supre Budget IEM: Moondrop Chu: amzn.to/3mIY93v
Super Budget Headphone: Koss kph40: koss.com/produ...
Need these pads for the kph40 though: www.aliexpress...
Cheap Gaming Headphone: AD700X: amzn.to/3b4ACUS
Super Cheap Closed-Back Gaming: Recon 500: amzn.to/3numqem
Cheap All-Around Headphone: SHP9600: amzn.to/3b6aUiP
Entry Level DAC: Modi 3+: www.schiit.com...
Entry Level Amp: IEMagni: www.schiit.com...
Cayin RU6 R2R: look used
soekris.modhou...
Recommended Solid State: Violectric V280 Final Edition: massdrop.7eer....
Or Schiit Mjolnir Gen :1 (gotta look used)
Tube Amp: Feliks Audio Echo Gen 1 (gotta look used)
Headphone #1: Drop + Sennheiser HD8xx: massdrop.7eer....
Headphone #2: OG Focal Clear:
Headphone #3: OG NIghthawks: (look used)
Closed Back: t60 Argons: www.modhouseau...
Gaming Headphone: HE560v4: adorama.rfvk.net/6bnGoG
Budget Bluetooth Portable DAC/Amp: XCan: amzn.to/3vJG8WA
Higher End Bluetooth Portable: Gryphon: amzn.to/3R214lT
Wired Portable DAC/Amp: Cayin RU6: (I’d look used, lots on the market)
TWS: Sony XM4: amzn.to/3Glr7Py
Cables:
Hart Audio Cables: hartaudiocable...
Worlds Best RCA Interconnects: amzn.to/3pB2Oa7
Worlds Best XLR Interconnects: amzn.to/3vEdwxO
Recording Gear:
Canon M50: amzn.to/3ba7KKJ
Sigma 16mm 1.4: amzn.to/3vF6SaB
Beyerdynamic Fox Mic: amzn.to/3hoQ01v
Canon M100 (overhead): amzn.to/31lZAxT
Canon 22mm 2.0 (overhead): amzn.to/3dowiAO
#elegia #celestee #stellia
Ha your description of Elegia made me laugh! I totally agree. It's like Focal's problem child, sounds like a Focal but gets into trouble, doesn't succeed like its brothers
Stellia is the most beautifully textured headphone I've ever heard. Not as tactile as Utopia, but it beats more expensive headphones for texture. I've never heard anything like it. Wonderful imaging and detail too.
The Celestee has semi-aniline leather that has a treatment, a thin protective top coat added to protect it from wear and staining whereas the Stellia has Full grain leather.
Yes. All Focal headphones from Elear to Utopia use real leather. However different types of leather are used for the various parts.
Love my celestee! the stelia would be dope but 3k hurts 😬
Love your videos dude. You always have the most interesting comparisons. You deserve more views.
Thanks, I appreciate the kind words.
2 years ago, seen your video on the Philips 9600 vs Fidelio x2s now I'm watching your vid on these two I'm interested in for closed back. The winner of these two will go up against the radiance.
yep I bought a Celestee for $500 used but in brand new condition and spend $100 on an ifi go blu. It's a pretty sweet combo for portable use to commute and in the office. If I go upstream for closed back I'd go Vertie closed.
The Stellia is the headphone that helped me discover how I want to listen to music. I ended up trading it for an Empyrean and have no regrets though I occasionally miss it for specific recordings. Ultimately I want to listen to and enjoy a variety of music. My catalogue isn't so curated that I've eliminated anything poorly recorded. The Stellia (to me) will over-expose and shred mediocre and crappy recordings. It made over half my library sound unenjoyable by accentuating things like grain, distortion, and imbalances in the mix. Great dynamics, looks beautiful, it's comfortable, and I haven't heard anything else with its level of control for sustained notes. Maybe a DCA Stealth with its advanced resonance dampening is on the same level, but for a closed-back the Stellia has no issue with perfectly sustaining tones. There are some days I miss it, but that's more rose-colored glasses than actuality. I own a Radiance and prefer it to the Stellia. It's less resolving, more bloomy, a bit more relaxed and easy to listen to. I also feel like the Dekoni LTD pads for the Stellia are a solid improvement over the stock sound. They retain the bass while injecting some air to balance out the thickness of the upper mids. Adds a bit a space to the stage as well.
I demoed empy and stellia at a store. Stellia is the better headphone imo and it aint close ;)
@@falcodarkzz not to me, in terms of ownership I've now owned the Empyrean as long as I owned the Stellia and have 0 regrets. Stellia is a great headphone. The Empyrean is a great headphone. Comes down to what you prefer and value.
Do you dekoni pad the Radiance?
@@Silent_Tentacle I no longer have the Radiance but I last used them with the ZMF closed pads for Focals. I am not a fan of the stock Focal pads. While the leather is great the foam is inconsistent and uneven which leads to channel imbalance and uneven wear. Dekoni Focal pads are.. good but hit or miss in my usage. They're comfortable and work well enough but they don't (imo) help correct the boxy or hollowness I've experienced with closed Focals. The ZMF pads are expensive but were great. I use them on a 109 pro currently as I'm out of the Focal game.
About the best reviews on these headphones 🎧
Thanks
I'll try the Celestee when it's closer to $400. I have an Elegia and still need to work out getting a sufficient clamp. Focal SHOULD have designed their headphones like Beyer Dynamics DT series that give a perfect seal regardless of head size.
$400?? Don't hold your breath waiting for that to happen.
Thanks Much ! MrAyrit
This video style is also good. You do a good job!
I found Elegia to be a very boring listen and sold them after trying them for a few months. Focal should hide them all as I almost didn't try another from their lineup because of the Elegia. Then Drop had a sale in April and I got the Elex for $599. Besides having the goodness of a nice open set of cans, the Elex has much more of a wow factor with detail and dynamics. The Elex will stay in my collection.
I was loaned a t50 Argon while I got a t60 and did mods on the 60 until, IMO it was a very similar mod effect. I swapped the driver baffles and added the Brainwavz fatty angled hybrid pads (the sheepskin Argon pads did not have the same 3D layering effect as they did on the 50's and as the hybrid did on the 60's). The T60 is so unique and is another keeper for me.
My current fav closed back are the DCA Aeon2 Noire. I can't say enough good things about these cans. Great build and style and the sound really brings me into the music. I am selling my LCD2 Classic Closed (which are also very special) to make room for the Noire in my collection.
Fav dynamic, by far, are the, DT177X. They really do everything very well.
Cheers!
I’ve heard so many good things about the Noire. I’m definitely going to keep an eye out for a set.
@@MrAyrit Got mine open box from Amazon for only, $749. They were like new. I pair them with my Gryphon for travel.
@@gdemirjian love those Amazon open-box deals!
I got the Stellea yesterday and I love it so so so much more than my clear MG. I still really want to try the utopia though so I was wondering if you have any idea how it compares to its clothes back brother?
hey, how do you find the soundstage in comparison to the 2 headphones are the Stellia a narrow or some what wide?
@@spikechurchill7478 it’s definitely wide enough.Not the widest headphones on the market but definitely doesn’t sound closed. The best description I could probably give is it’s probably directly in the middle of something with a pretty much no sound stage and the HD800.
I know it’s open vs closed but where would you say these sit relative to the Clear OG and Utopia (to the best of your recollection)?
I would the Stellia is still tighter/faster than the OG Clear. I believe it’s still the better headphone. The Clear is more neutral than the Celestee and probably more detailed. The Utopia… it’s just been too long. None of the others impressed me the way the Utopia did. That headphone was special. I’d love to try one again at some point.
I own the DT 177x Go and I am considering upgrading. I was wondering how would they compare to something like the Noire and the lyric what do you get by going up in the price ladder? Any plans of making a video like that or any opinion? (I am really considering going with the noire)
I've heard tons of good things about the Noire. Haven't had a chance to try it myself, but I've heard enough good to say that it's probably a pretty solid bet. In my experience the Lyric and Stellia have quite a bit more detail than those other mid-term headphones. I did really like the 177x tuning and comfort of the 177x though. So, whether or not you'll like any of those better or see them as an upgrade... t60 Argon is my main closed-back right now. It replaced the 177x for me. I don't regret the move, but I also don't think it was earth-shaking.
@@MrAyrit Nice thank you for the input! I have heard lots of good things about the argons but have never tried them. I really need to go to a canjam to try things lol
Have you tried Cayin RU6 directly with Celeste and Stellia or you think Mojo 1 was better with both Focal. Thanks
I’m sorry, I don’t think I tried them strait out of the RU6. I was concerned about getting the Mojo 2 review done at the time.
JUST get the celestee yesterday i like the dinamics,bass,clarity but soundstage is better on my 580 bucks sonus faber pryma ,i wanted to ask in how long time they take till they get their full postencial i had listen them now 4 hours 1 hour gaming 3 music unfortundly i have a aggresive bulldog puppy that jumps on my laptop or tryes to bitte cables,mouse so im limited can use thew when the beast falls a sleep lol , i was thinking letting them in the wintergarden closed playing overnight so i get 100 hours at begining August .
Only in terms of sound...
Elegia or Sv023? For film soundtracks.
It doesn’t sound like you enjoyed the 023 much, so I guess I’d try the Elegia if I was you.
@@MrAyrit how? That answer was for me?
@@onlyspace9813 Didn't you say you weren't impressed with the 023? I might be mixing you up with someone else.
@@MrAyrit no I dont say that
So its not pleather on the celestee, its actual leather, but chimechaly treated leather, of a less good quality than the stellia that is made of very high quality leather
by the way I have a question, I've ordered the celestee, its gonna be my first experience as an audiophile, and I've ordered the moondrop dawn to go with my phone, do you think this dac will do an enough good job? thanks !
I want to find a focal headphone I like…
What have you tried and what didn’t you like about them?
@@MrAyrit Clear MG mids sounded weird, need a second listen… I sorta liked Celestee, mids again we’re weird, and treble was less quality than MG but tuning was better.
@@HobbyTalk give them a second chance...i have the elegia, celestee and clear mg...for me the clear is high above in terms of sound quality...
@@jonasgmunder7214 I’ll give MG another go one day… I’m open to it