Focal Headphones Owners & Discussion Thread

[Ccollins]

28 minutes ago, AussieMick said:

Hi All

Does anyone have a Heimdall 2 cable for Utopia they’d be will to sell? 
Cheers

Mick

Happily keeping mine. 

 

i think i’ve seen only one in the classifieds in the last 9 months

[AussieMick]

9 minutes ago, Ccollins said:

Happily keeping mine. 

 

i think i’ve seen only one in the classifieds in the last 9 months

Indeed. And nothing but scammers on head-fi. I found a shop in North America that will ship me one. Brand new in box. They’ve got a few I think. Plenty of Heimdalls lurking out there, but they’re mostly HD800 and Audeze. 
 

I used one on my previous Stellia and loved it. Have you by any chance compared it to anything else, especially Silver Dragon?

[Ccollins]

3 hours ago, AussieMick said:

Indeed. And nothing but scammers on head-fi. I found a shop in North America that will ship me one. Brand new in box. They’ve got a few I think. Plenty of Heimdalls lurking out there, but they’re mostly HD800 and Audeze. 
 

I used one on my previous Stellia and loved it. Have you by any chance compared it to anything else, especially Silver Dragon?

 

I have a norne silver draug and had an arctic cable signum (silver cable) and i prefer the heimdall 2.

 

My preferences and in my set up, I have generally moved away from 100% silver cables. I have found that the silver plated copper cable of the heimdall works well with the utopia bringing the best of what silver and copper are supposed to bring together. 

 

 

What sort of scammers did you find on headfi?

 

[AussieMick]

I posted a WTB and got one guy messaging me from two different usernames, same set of photos, different stories. I asked for more photos and he just pulled something off the web. 

[Ccollins]

35 minutes ago, AussieMick said:

I posted a WTB and got one guy messaging me from two different usernames, same set of photos, different stories. I asked for more photos and he just pulled something off the web. 

Crikey!

 

Was he a new member there? Or one with history/form?

[AussieMick]

5 hours ago, Ccollins said:

Crikey!

 

Was he a new member there? Or one with history/form?

Both accounts said they joined years ago, but there was almost no activity 

[Ccollins]

@AussieMickone thing to add, that you may already be aware of and may be the reason these cables have been discontinued:

 

my heimdall 2 cable had a few splits (2 or 3) appear on one side of the cable sleeving between the headphone connection and the splitter. That has always appeared (potentially) fragile to me. 
 

 Had a friend take a few photos using a telescope/microscope at work to show exactly what was happening. 
 

After contacting the australian importer i subsequently contacted nordost themselves, with those detailed photos, and they were happy to change the cable for a new one so very happy with them in that regard. 
 

if buying second hand i would suggest keep an eye out for that. I could feel the split by lightly running my finger down the sleeving and could actually see a little wire popping out. 
 

cheers

peter t
 

[AussieMick]

1 hour ago, Ccollins said:

@AussieMickone thing to add, that you may already be aware of and may be the reason these cables have been discontinued:

 

my heimdall 2 cable had a few splits (2 or 3) appear on one side of the cable sleeving between the headphone connection and the splitter. That has always appeared (potentially) fragile to me. 
 

 Had a friend take a few photos using a telescope/microscope at work to show exactly what was happening. 
 

After contacting the australian importer i subsequently contacted nordost themselves, with those detailed photos, and they were happy to change the cable for a new one so very happy with them in that regard. 
 

if buying second hand i would suggest keep an eye out for that. I could feel the split by lightly running my finger down the sleeving and could actually see a little wire popping out. 
 

cheers

peter t
 

Hey Peter. That’s a problem they had occasionally with the headphone cable. It seems most early adopters (2014) are still using them so I’m not too concerned. The one I found is brand new at an authorised Nordost dealer. Full warranty. There are plenty new ones around, just mostly HD800 and Audeze. They’ve not been manufactured for two years now. Nordost said they took too much time to terminate. Sad, but that’s how it goes. 
All the best!
Mock

[Ccollins]

Hot prices of focal at addicted to audio

 

utopia 2022 at $3500

Radiance at $700

 

edit - just saw the focal thread that discusses this 

Edited August 25, 2023 by Ccollins

[Volunteer]

The devil on my shoulder just would not leave me in peace once awareness of Addicted to Audio's fire sale of Focal appeared on my radar.

 

A bit of reading and I decided that the sweet-spot for value and my lovely wife's tolerance was with the Celestees. It's my first foray into quality headphones and I have a fair bit to learn.

 

For now I am just making use of the standard 3.5mm cable and running it off my phone (yeah, I know, but it beats BT) or the jack in my Arcam pre-amp. Really enjoying the intimacy of headphone listening and I didn't find the soundstage of the Celestees as narrow as some people have described. Maybe the alternatives are just exceptionally good and just comparatively showing the Celestees up?

 

I'm already thinking about different cables and possibly a headphone amp. Also thinking about a portable DAC to improve the phone experience too. Everyone has to start somewhere, I guess.

 

[Volunteer]

Oh dear.

 

Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear.

 

Mrs Tel and I were chatting about the pricing opportunity for Focal cans and I mentioned that it was a flip of a coin whether to go closed or open back for my first foray.

 

She said why did it need to be one or other and opportunity is knocking right now. She pretty much made me do this:

 

Loving the Celestee experience, they will be accompanying me on forays in the big outside world, no doubt. The Clears are wonderful for home use, although definitely need a few hours for the drivers to become a little more supple.

 

Lastly, I'm indebted forever to my great friend, @Bisguittin for sending me some of his surplus kit (DAC etc) to satisfy my curiosity.

[franky995]

On 11/9/2023 at 6:40 AM, El Tel said:

The devil on my shoulder just would not leave me in peace once awareness of Addicted to Audio's fire sale of Focal appeared on my radar.

 

A bit of reading and I decided that the sweet-spot for value and my lovely wife's tolerance was with the Celestees. It's my first foray into quality headphones and I have a fair bit to learn.

 

For now I am just making use of the standard 3.5mm cable and running it off my phone (yeah, I know, but it beats BT) or the jack in my Arcam pre-amp. Really enjoying the intimacy of headphone listening and I didn't find the soundstage of the Celestees as narrow as some people have described. Maybe the alternatives are just exceptionally good and just comparatively showing the Celestees up?

 

I'm already thinking about different cables and possibly a headphone amp. Also thinking about a portable DAC to improve the phone experience too. Everyone has to start somewhere, I guess.

 

Celeste go well with your Rolex, congrats mate!

[franky995]

PS- i bought Radiance as they go well with my Bentley vehicles. Wife’s a keeper for sure

[Volunteer]

1 minute ago, franky995 said:

PS- i bought Radiance as they go well with my Bentley vehicles. Wife’s a keeper for sure

 

I felt it terribly gauche to buy Bentley branded headphones to go with my Continental GT Mulliner...

[franky995]

Just now, El Tel said:

 

I felt it terribly gauche to buy Bentley branded headphones to go with my Continental GT Mulliner...

I feel your pain.

 

Needs to be a good match. Luckily Bathys are on sale and they go well with my yacht.

[Ccollins]

Not sure why but my wife said she would buy me the stellias and allow me to wear them to bed as long as i was able to grow my hair back again, go to the gym and end up looking like this guy, and learn to speak french. 
 

i’m currently negotiating terms for the overcoat and racing  gloves

 

 

…….Then again maybe i’ll just go back my akg k371, and keep both of our expectations realistic 

Edited September 13, 2023 by Ccollins

[franky995]

33 minutes ago, Ccollins said:

Not sure why but my wife said she would buy me the stellias and allow me to wear them to bed as long as i was able to grow my hair back again, go to the gym and end up looking like this guy, and learn to speak french. 
 

i’m currently negotiating terms for the overcoat and racing  gloves

 

 

…….Then again maybe i’ll just go back my akg k371, and keep both of our expectations realistic 

1. Let her buy the Stellias

2. Deal with reality as it unfolds.

3. Best of luck!

[Ccollins]

24 minutes ago, franky995 said:

1. Let her buy the Stellias

2. Deal with reality as it unfolds.

3. Best of luck!

Lol - you have me thinking now

 

1. Let her buy the stellias

2. Deal with reality as it unfolds

3. Turn the lights off and close the blinds

Crucial point: Make sure I buy the stellias from a store with no return policy

[Batty]

I have just bought a pair of Clear, really impressed, way better than the AGK Q701 and HiFiman 4xx drop.

Bought some Mogami Balanced cables and a SMSL SH-9 head phone amp.

[betty boop]

3 hours ago, Ccollins said:

Not sure why but my wife said she would buy me the stellias and allow me to wear them to bed as long as i was able to grow my hair back again, go to the gym and end up looking like this guy, and learn to speak french. 
 

i’m currently negotiating terms for the overcoat and racing  gloves

 

 

…….Then again maybe i’ll just go back my akg k371, and keep both of our expectations realistic 

Ooohlove the gloves …if find them let me know ….as would go well with the Stellias   ps fortunately wife hasn’t found this guy yet…but I am still learning French

[Ccollins]

59 minutes ago, betty boop said:

Ooohlove the gloves …if find them let me know ….as would go well with the Stellias   ps fortunately wife hasn’t found this guy yet…but I am still learning French

Ohh la la  (just practicing for my place)

 

 

 

Edited September 13, 2023 by Ccollins

[21stcenturyquaker]

I bought open backed Clear; they sound great but given the ambient noise in our home I probably should've bought closed back Radiance.

 

Anyone with Radiance interested in a trade for Clear send me a message.

[MangledLeg]

Dipped my toe and bought the Elegia, any recommendations for after-market cables? The included ones are too short Not looking for balanced as I have a few sources I’d like to use them with, a lot of the online chatter was focused on US and AliExpress sources but I thought there might be some reasonably priced local options. Thanks in advance for recommendations

[Batty]

I bought a pair of Focal Clear Headphones a few months ago, to be totally honest I have never heard a better pair of HP.

OK I am not used to higher-end HP, I have a pair of AKG Q701, A pair of HiFiMan/ Drop 4xx. I have had Fischer, Grado and Sennies.

 

Super detailed and even across the bandwidth.

 

Share your views, please.

 

 

[betty boop]

@Batty congrats...

 

probably not aware but anything focal headphones has been picked up at some stage and stuck over to a massive focal owners thread here