The black Focal logo on the ear cups is etched in a slightly cratered circle. Tom's Guide is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. The lofty $899 asking price delivers an equally lofty and rich musical experience. While the Elegia is capable of offering a similar sonic experience for a lower price, the Clear remains the better-looking and sounding pair of headphones. The look and feel of these headphones is to die for. I’ve always loved the WH-1000xM3’s strong bass performance on mobile devices, but the Clear wasn’t as overpowering on my ears and elevated vocal clarity on the Google Pixel 3 XL. 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. 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. I used a Fiio X7 Mark II and Astell&Kern Kann DAPs for my testing. My take? The Elegias certainly look like a premium pair of headphones. Sheer sonic bliss housed in a luxury shell. Build quality? They’re similar to the Focal Elegia but have a more retro look with a cognac and mocha design and leather ear cups. The only other noticeable difference in design between the Elegia and Clear are the earcups. Specifically, the aluminum yoke and click-adjustable headband are noticeably more snug on the Elegia than on the Clear. The physical beauty of these headphones is complemented by their fit and feel. Focal is known for its high-end equipment, but it obviously has to seriously impress to warrant the price tag of an eye-watering $4,000. The new Naim Mu-so speaker and Focal Radiance headphones will be available in October at selected Focal, Naim and Bentley retailers. The full-range speaker driver includes a vent to manage the balance between the bass and the midbass. This design, which is also common to Focal’s Utopia, Clear, and Elear headphones, creates a solid soundstage that feels less “in my head” and more akin to traditional loudspeakers. Its design will turn heads while offering snug comfort on your head. While some models go for a workmanlike design, you’ll find nothing of the sort here – even at this price. The color pattern is a perfect match; unfortunately, the cable is also thick and stiff compared to other headphone cables I’ve encountered. The Clear has a flatter sound signature that reveals the purest details from the most complex recordings. TechHive has reviewed two—the Clear and the Elegia —deeming both to be exceptional, though not inexpensive by any means. spiral cable, which extends to a length of 5 metres, and a 1.2-metre long cable are also included. We steer you to products you'll love and show you how to get the most out of them. The latter cable is equipped with a remot… Beryllium is one of the best-performing headphone driver materials in the world, but it’s extremely expensive. And they don’t just look expensive, they feel it too. Good examples were Taylor Swift’s “Delicate” and “Look What You Made Me Do” and Lorde’s “Royals,” where bass lines knew their place but weren’t afraid to deliver a swift body blow when called upon. I much prefer headphones featuring this driver orientation. Two vents help this headphone deliver outstanding frequency response, rated from 5Hz to 23kHz. 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. The Utopia is Focal’s third headphone and flagship model priced at $4,000. The screw-on adapter ensures the adapter won’t slide out. 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. Orchestral works such as the London Symphony Orchestra’s performance of Haydn’s Symphony No. The perforated earcups do nothing to block out ambient noise and bleed sound as loudly as some portable speakers. Please refresh the page and try again. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. Separation between frequencies was impressive, but it was better on plantar magnetic drivers; the transition from lows to mids was smoother on the Audeze LCD-3. But if money isn't an issue and you're looking to go big, the Focal Clear are among the best headphones in the premium price range. Raising the headphone volume didn’t fix this issue. The ultra-strong structure with carbon fiber ensures that the Focal Utopia will last for years on everyday use. The Focal Utopia headphones are supposed to be the best of what Focal can offer in a pair of headphones — and it’s an ambitious undertaking. When I did get the chance to pull up Spotify in a private setting, hip-hop songs had more oomph to them. He's also a passionate audiophile and home theater aficionado. After a multi-year hiatus, Dido’s vocals on her newly released track, “Hurricanes” sounded full and oh so right. This is a headphone for the serious audiophile who wants to make a long-term investment in a reference-grade, closed back headphone. By continuing to push the boundaries of acoustical engineering to the limits, Focal’s expertise with great-sounding materials and artful craftsmanship has inspired its product-line of headphones.The French company achieves all of this within the walls of its facilities based in Saint-Étienne, and Burgundy, France. Every time I picked them up, I couldn’t help but stop and admire some new facet. The closed headphones in an ear-enclosing design come with a handy carry box. 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. Even the overdubs (the song apparently has over 180) like the “Galileo” repetitions and Chinese gongs at the end have more transparency to them. Fine expect noise isolation. When I look back on all the dumb things I did as a kid, surely one of the dumbest was pitching rocks and dirt balls at a wasp nest. These characteristics were laid bare on “The Greatest Show” and “From Now On” from the Greatest Showman soundtrack. Freelance contributor, Like the Elegia, these cans employ Focal’s proprietary ‘M’-shape aluminum/magnesium driver. It screams industrial, yet class, and upholds the refined appearance of top-tier studio speakers. You have to be a serious audio head to consider spending $1,500 on a pair of headphones. Its latest offering, the Focal Clear, borrows technology developed for the Utopia and cuts the price by more than half. After I whipped up a batch of Coq au Vin and got out a bottle of vintage Bordeaux, I sat down to listen to some Serge Gainsbourg. Despite its massive frame, the Clear does make for a pleasant wear, as long as you limit listening to a reasonable time frame; I recommend 1 to 2 hours max. You will receive a verification email shortly. Typical headphones place drivers directly to the sides of your ears. I use Focal’s Clear as my everyday reference headphone, and I observed similarities and differences between the two models. 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. Look no further than the intro to Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody” for confirmation. If only it was longer. New York, A second vent, located at the back of the ear cup, picks up the rear wave coming from the center of the motor. Thank you to Focal for giving us this opportunity.. To read up on other FOcal products reviewed on Headfonics click here.. No open back headphones offer noise isolation and if they do you miss out on what makes open back headphones great. I can’t think of another speaker manufacturer that has embraced the headphone movement as effectively as Focal. 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. The Elegia should be both on your short list to audition, and your Christmas list to own. Future US, Inc. 11 West 42nd Street, 15th Floor, The Clear, I felt, was a more outspoken, brutally honest headphone; the Elegia always played the diplomat, tending towards a euphonic musical interpretation. Midbass exhibited excellent dynamic punch without muddying vocals or the midrange. I felt as though the Elegia had a tighter grip, with less shifting when I turned my head or was on the go. The Focal Utopia and Clear headphones are tuned to be used in an open configuration – what Focal calls a low acoustic impedance environment. Note: The Radiance – made in collaboration with high-end automotive manufacturer Bentley – was kindly loaned to Headfonia for this review by Busisoft AV, Focal’s local Australian distributor.Our thanks go out to them as always for their support. High-quality, closed-back headphones like these always help me get lost in the music. The group’s harmonies at the start of the record sound beautiful and crisp; the synthesized vocals have a naturalness to them. laptops, smartphones, etc. At the same time, the recessed vocals and guitar riff diminished its boomy appeal. They are expensive for a reason. The Focal Clear headphones from the front Focal Clear have plenty of padding for ultimate comfort These headphones are kind of large, but comfortable The Focal Clear headphones sitting on a desk These are open-back so you get an amazing soundstage Everything that comes in the box with the Focal Clear headphones Since the Channel Islands amplifier uses a quarter inch headphone jack, I experimented with an adapter to use the longer cable. Elegia is designed, developed, and assembled in France. In today’s review, we put Focal’s flagship over-the-ear headphone, the Utopia, to the test. You can only marvel at its clean, premium aesthetics, which are almost as pristine as the sound profile. Focal Elegia, the company’s first high-end, closed-back headphone, is a winner. These are open back headphones Alex. Not only is the Elegia easy to drive, the headphone will also perform extremely with ordinary smart devices. Copyright © 2021 IDG Communications, Inc. Clarity was so spot-on that I felt the vulnerability in Liam Gallagher’s voice on the somberly-crooned hook. Elegia comes with just with the 3.5mm connection. By the end of this review, you’ll know if the Utopia is the right fit for your setup. Both models use the same micro-fiber material, but the Clear’s earcups have perforations to cool down overheated ears. Visit our corporate site. This includes a 3.5mm aux cable, gold-plated 3.5mm adapter, and a large, durable zippered case with molds on the inside to store everything nicely. This is how you know you got some really good headphones . They are very good for what they do and deliver. The LCD-3 gave me the same feels, although its low end felt tamer. 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. 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. However, not every song showed this level of performance. Focal uses Beryllium in its flagship Utopia headphone, but the manufacturer relies on an aluminum/magnesium alloy for the Elegia. Even though the yokes don’t have the same distinctive arch as the Elegia, they still have a thin and solid frame. I played high-res tracks stored locally on the players. 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. The Clear has a firmer headband than the Elegia, but it doesn’t apply the same unwanted pressure atop the head. The black and silver aluminum and leather accents are breathtaking, with nuances you must see in person to appreciate. Bass levels on the Clear are carefully balanced as well. I had no problem plugging the Elegia into the Fiio X7 Mark II’s cases. Elegia has angled drivers, positioned towards the front of the headphone, that are visible when looking at the ear cup from the side. Here, we’ll help you decide if Focal’s most expensive headphone is worth the flagship price-tag. It was tough listening to music outside due to all of the environmental interference that made its way onto the soundscape; car horns and construction tools sounded like background effects on hip-hop songs. Excellent dynamic punch without muddying vocals or the midrange have been surprised to see our subscription offer very. Voice on the ear cups and headband audio products for decades, and Focal Utopia will for. Boomy appeal them up, I couldn ’ t just look expensive they! A long-term investment in a reference-grade, closed back headphone developed, and upholds the refined of! Thanks to well-padded ear cups is etched in a reference-grade, closed headphone. 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