Price-wise, it’s actually in the middle of the Focal open back lineup, between the more expensive Focal Utopia and the lower priced Focal Elear. The earpads are extremely soft. Typical headphones place drivers directly to the sides of your ears. But when I tested them in the store I loved their signature. The Focal Listen is a full-size wireless headphone with quality design. We were really impressed by the all-round performance of the Spirit Pro phones back then, with, perhaps, the only misgiving being the fit. The Elegia delivered the goods on Holly Cole’s “Train Song,” an audiophile favorite for testing bass lines. That cable has a threaded neck capable of accepting the included screw-on 1/4-inch adapter. The full-range speaker driver includes a vent to manage the balance between the bass and the midbass. They’re similar to the Focal Elegia but have a more retro look with a cognac and mocha design and leather ear cups. The Good The Focal Listen Wireless has a sturdy design, fits comfortably and snugly, and sounds excellent for a Bluetooth headphone. Focal’s Utopia headphones are a bleeding-edge statement from a pedigreed loudspeaker manufacturer that has made the most of its speaker-designing experience. I use Focal’s Clear as my everyday reference headphone, and I observed similarities and differences between the two models. In just a few short years, Focal has produced both excellent entry-level and uber high-end models, such as the exquisite $4,000 Utopia. They come with a great hard carrying case and detachable braided cables that include a 1/4" TRS adapter and an XLR cable. Utopia and Elear are made in France and about to hit the market. Again, $1,500 is a lot to ask for any pair of headphones, but an investment worth considering if you want natural-sounding cans that look and sound this good. Future US, Inc. 11 West 42nd Street, 15th Floor, The latter cable is equipped with a remot… Their open design makes them a poor choice for any other use cases as they don’t block any ambient noise and don't have a microphone or wireless technology. When I did get the chance to pull up Spotify in a private setting, hip-hop songs had more oomph to them. This provides some relief when zoning out to playlists for long stretches. The Clear, I felt, was a more outspoken, brutally honest headphone; the Elegia always played the diplomat, tending towards a euphonic musical interpretation. Otherwise, look at other high-profile alternatives like the Sony WH-1000xM3 ($250) that can get the job done for a fraction of the cost, and has lots more features. TechHive |. Beryllium is one of the best-performing headphone driver materials in the world, but it’s extremely expensive. Up Next NAD VISO HP70 Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphone Review The Focal Clear headphones are a benchmark design that is one of the top performing headsets I’ve experienced. You will receive a verification email shortly. spiral cable, which extends to a length of 5 metres, and a 1.2-metre long cable are also included. It screams industrial, yet class, and upholds the refined appearance of top-tier studio speakers. The etched logo in the middle is a sweet finishing touch. Pairing headphones with the right electronics for maximum performance matters. The Elegia’s drivers are shifted towards the front of the ear cup and are angled towards your ears to mimic the way we experience sound through traditional speakers. The lofty $899 asking price delivers an equally lofty and rich musical experience. Focal Elegia, the company’s first high-end, closed-back headphone, is a winner. I’d call them fraternal, not identical twins. The group’s harmonies at the start of the record sound beautiful and crisp; the synthesized vocals have a naturalness to them. These are open back headphones Alex. If that’s the case, then the Focal Clear deserves your full attention. The headphones are stored safely in this hard-shell case, allowing you to take it with you on your travels. The case is the same as the one that comes with Focal’s Clear headphones. My fiancée identified every Jay-Z song I played from about 25 feet away. Given its stellar audio performance, the Focal Utopia is a fairly efficient headphone at 80 Ohms impedance with 104dB sensitivity specs, so any great headphone amp should do it full justice. He's also a passionate audiophile and home theater aficionado. The aluminum yoke has a brushed finish, with beveled screws at the ear cups that make light dance. Copyright © 2021 IDG Communications, Inc. Bass levels on the Clear are carefully balanced as well. Yes. The Elegias certainly look like a premium pair of headphones. Freelance contributor, The headband feels just as comfy with premium leather wrapped around it. Focal knows how to create attractive audio hardware. Focal Listen Wireless Review. After a multi-year hiatus, Dido’s vocals on her newly released track, “Hurricanes” sounded full and oh so right. Even with such a thick barrel, however, the threaded neck allows you to plug in the 3.5mm adapter through many (but perhaps not all) smart devices or high-res digital audio players when they’re in cases. I couldn’t help but pause and notice the hairs on my arms start to rise on the 24-bit/192kHz recording of City of the Sun’s In the Sun and the All the Cities in Between. At the suggested retail pricing of $2,199 for the Naim Mu-So for Bentley and $1,300 for the Focal Radiance for Bentley, these new audio products are truly built and priced for the luxury consumer. The Elegia’s impedance is a mere 35 ohms. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. But if you thought the Elegia had its fair share of compromises, the Clear presents the biggest with its noise isolation struggles. I felt compelled to write a review about these headphones since there were just 9 reviews that averaged to a 4 star rating. With the Fiio X7, I also used the Android Roon app to access files from my music server. This is how you know you got some really good headphones . I can’t think of another speaker manufacturer that has embraced the headphone movement as … TechHive has reviewed two—the Clear and the Elegia —deeming both to be exceptional, though not inexpensive by any means. The Focal Elear are good open-back critical listening headphones. I had no problem plugging the Elegia into the Fiio X7 Mark II’s cases. Too often high-end products neglect appearances; if you’re spending this sort of money, we think you should get a product t… These are not headphones designed to be worn outside, and if worn inside, you’ll want to be in a secluded area to fully enjoy them. Furthermore, you get good value for enjoying your favorite tunes in the comfort of your home. laptops, smartphones, etc. There was a problem. The Elegia’s cable is the same black and white zebra-styled braid as the cable included with the Clear. Focal has just drastically upped its headphone game with two very high-end models. The memory-foam ear pads covered in plush microfiber create a spa-like cocoon. Not too blingy but a certain unmistakable French elegance in fit and finish. Acapellas really soar on these cans. These open-back circumaural headphones combine the brand’s prestigious craftsmanship and proprietary technologies to recreate the dynamic sound of its loudspeakers. Sheer sonic bliss housed in a luxury shell. Orchestral works such as the London Symphony Orchestra’s performance of Haydn’s Symphony No. One of the best things about the Focal headphones we’ve been reviewing is that they have such a great build quality, and the Focal Elegia headphones are no exception to that rule. The micro-knurled polishing, meanwhile, gives off a rainbow-hued sheen like the back of a CD. The result? Today, Focal focuses on more than just top-tier loudspeakers. The stylish, dark gray hard case is a thermoformed construction. The black and silver aluminum and leather accents are breathtaking, with nuances you must see in person to appreciate. This formidable loudspeaker manufacturer gave its emergent headphone line its best shot in the Focal Utopia, a four-thousand-dollar product that we hailed with a five-star review. Focal clear comfort and fit At nearly a pound (15.8 ounces), the Clear is in the same weight class as the Elegia, but far heavier than most noise-cancelling headphones. It might be natural to think of the Elegia as a closed-back version of the Focal Clear. Read our, [ Further reading: The best headphones you can buy ], Rich, lush, musical presentation regardless of genre, Super easy to drive with any smart device, Can't quite match the Focal Clear's sonic clarity. Focal absolutely had to pull out all the stops here, or the entire exercise would have been written off as nothing more than naked profiteering. The Clear has zero noise isolation. Even though the yokes don’t have the same distinctive arch as the Elegia, they still have a thin and solid frame. If only it was longer. French audio brand Focal is known for its super-high-end luxury headphones, with prices to match, and its latest model, the Focal Stellias, are no exception. Focal’s continued foray in high end headphones hits another high note with the Elegia. Focal uses Beryllium in its flagship Utopia headphone, but the manufacturer relies on an aluminum/magnesium alloy for the Elegia. The ultra-strong structure with carbon fiber ensures that the Focal Utopia will last for years on everyday use. However, not every song showed this level of performance. When playing bouncy selections like Notorious B.I.G.’s “Mo Money Mo Problems,” the drums and guitar licks had a striking presence that made vibing along to the record joyous. Focal has been building high-end audio products for decades, and Focal Utopia is a high-end headphone manufactured by Focal. Focal Professional headphones meet the expectations of the most demanding artists and sound engineers: precision and neutrality are the guarantee of a perfect mix. They will your weigh you down during commutes. We steer you to products you'll love and show you how to get the most out of them. To get the full bottom-end oomph this song should produce, however, I had to switch out the Fiio X7’s AM3 amplifier for the AM5 . © Clarity was so spot-on that I felt the vulnerability in Liam Gallagher’s voice on the somberly-crooned hook. “World’s Best Headphone.” This was the proclamation made by the man who gave me my first job doing headphone reviews, my mentor and predecessor at Innerfidelity, Tyll Hertsens.As a young teenager I remember learning a lot from Tyll and Innerfidelity, and the exciting discussions of his reviews and measurements that made their way onto the forums at head-fi and … I chose to use the Focal cabling for this review, one is a 3-foot cable with 3.5 mm plug and ¼" screw on adapter, while the second set is a 10-foot cable using a 4 pin DIN termination arrangement. The barrel on the 3.5mm adapter is big—about three times the size as what you’ll find on some other cables. Focal Utopia Review - True Audiophile Perfection Focal has always been at the top of the game when it came to high-end audio products, but before 2012 I … The earphones have a balanced sound with comfort for long sessions of listening. Buccaneers vs Washington live stream: How to watch NFL playoffs Wild Card game online now, Best cell phone signal boosters in 2021: Improve reception in your home or car, Trump permanently banned on Twitter — here's why, January sales 2021 — the best deals on TVs, fitness trackers and more, Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 looks stunning in this new design, Sound reproduction is stellar on all audio devices, Lack of accessories, controls, and extra features, Noise isolation is practically non-existent. But it’s the slate-gray finish that gives these headphones their charm. This Focal Classic is clearly underrated. I'd rather have one of this than 5 of cheaper headphones. 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