Focal Headphones Owners & Discussion Thread

[08Boss302]

Just doing some reading/research and would love some longterm opinions if anyone cares to share them.

 

I am planning on taking advantage of the current deals and on Saturday just gone I auditioned the

- Elegia

- Celestee

- Radiance

I am not a seasoned HeadFi guy, my experience is with a few of the newer cheap IEMs on the market such as Tin HiFi T3+,  the QKZx HBB, CCA CRA and KZ ESX for on the train and for exercise I have the Jabra active 65t

My only over ears are the Sony WH-1000XM4 which I really (really) like.

I am using my LG V30+ as a dedicated DAP at present with FLAC files or hotspot to my phone.  I will buy DAP of sorts at somestage this year.

 

Am heading back this weekend for another listen but right now am torn between the Celestee and Radiance, I have not disregarded the Elegia altogether but out of the box for my music preference it just didn't wow me.  When I first put the Elegia on I quite liked them albeit a bit lean for me as I listen to a lot of metal but also delve into jazz and blues and rock like Creedence and Billy Joel etc etc.

I found the mids and highs a bit shouty at me, the bass was a little lean but somehow still had decent impact.  I loved the staging though, they felt really wide to me.  I added a few db of bass in and it helped considerably.  But EQ is not something I am keen on doing as if I use these in my 2ch rig I don't have EQ at my disposal.

The guy helping me then put the Stellia pads on the Elegia and said this will be what you are a after and a good marriage, but I it sounded worse than the felt pads?!  Subsequently I've read a few reviews that this mod or the Dekoni Sheep Skin pads is a real solid fixxer (without using EQ) if you're wanting some lower end boost and tame of the mids without losing much detail, so something obviously went wrong.  I might try this mix again in case something was a miss. 

 

The Celestee was more to my tuning taste with some more low end kick but the sound closed off noticeably.  Still though I liked them.  They sounded fuller to me at the expense of stage width.  My research this week has found these are very well received but the complaint of stage width is pretty constant.  Thats not a deal breaker for me but it was definatly noticeable.  Dare I say they had more a sound that my Sony delivers in terms of width and after hearing the Elegia I was really wanting something with its width and air but tuned more toward the Celestee. 

I went back and forth on these for probably 45min with different tracks and different genres and at times I was like the Elegia with some low end EQ are it, then I'd put the Celestee on and I was smiles but craved that bit more expanse.

 

I was not planning on spending Radiance but he said try these and I think this as its probably what you are chasing - he was pretty darn correct, the kick drums when listening to metal were sensational but it didn't muddy, it still had some good extension and the mids were pretty correct for me - it did lack a little sparkle and air but staging was pretty decent, certainly wider than the Celestee but maybe not quite as wide as Elegia, but I'd forgo that in place of its warmth and rounded sound compared to the Elegia which at times felt as though it was singing at me rather than singing to me.  I think on my poorer recordings the Celestee and Radiance (particularly the Radiance) will be more forgiving too.  Oh, I was not a fan of the Bentley logo on the Radiance though - just a small aesthetic gripe haha

 

This saturday I'll go back and listen to all 3 again and also the Clear, I know these are open back but I think they are worth considering.

 

I did listen to the Fostex T60RP as well but preferred the Focals.  I am also wondering if I should chase down some Denon 7200 for a listen and whilst they are double what I was wanting to spend if they are as good as people say just wait till I can afford them?

 

Sprooking to the Stellia is not an option, I didn't listen to them and they might well be the perfect set for me but it would also put me in the street sleeping and they are too nice for that 

Edited April 24, 2023 by 08Boss302

[Ooogh]

Hi boss302,

 

first off I guess you are a Ford man….

 

I went for the Celestee after going through a similar process to you. A big deciding factor for me was that I really only listen via a DAP and both my old iPod and A&K (bottom of the ladder) were able to drive them with ease. I was only interested in closed back models.

 

Personally I found the Celestee to have a different sound signature to the Radiance and Eligia which I much preferred. Having not heard the Celestee previously I purchased the big Sony MDR Z1R second hand but they do not get the use my Celestees do even though my home set up. I listened to them all through a fancy pants rig at A2R and felt no love for the similarly priced Fortex. I didn’t get to hear the Denons either as they were not in shop and I also wanted to try them due to glowing reviews.

 

Not sure what the sale price is this time around but when I got  them at $850 brand spankers at A2A it was a no brainer down from I think $1,200 or $1,400. Quality carry case and I think beautiful in the flesh.

 

Not as comfortable as my B&O H6 mk2 which are an absolute joy to wear and underrated for their easy listening long term use but the Focals are levels above in detail retrieval and all the other audiophile stuff.

 

If the Celestee grab your ear in comparison to the other Focal offerings I would suggest you grab them and live happily ever after. A few pairs have shown up second hand a SNA recently but if the sale price is really good the savings were only around $100 or $200 so new becomes very attractive.

 

A photo of my old XB Coupe for your enjoyment, only it was a 351… 

[08Boss302]

8 minutes ago, Ooogh said:

Hi boss302,

 

first off I guess you are a Ford man….

 

I went for the Celestee after going through a similar process to you. A big deciding factor for me was that I really only listen via a DAP and both my old iPod and A&K (bottom of the ladder) were able to drive them with ease. I was only interested in closed back models.

 

Personally I found the Celestee to have a different sound signature to the Radiance and Eligia which I much preferred. Having not heard the Celestee previously I purchased the big Sony MDR Z1R second hand but they do not get the use my Celestees do even though my home set up. I listened to them all through a fancy pants rig at A2R and felt no love for the similarly priced Fortex. I didn’t get to hear the Denons either as they were not in shop and I also wanted to try them due to glowing reviews.

 

Not sure what the sale price is this time around but when I got  them at $850 brand spankers at A2A it was a no brainer down from I think $1,200 or $1,400. Quality carry case and I think beautiful in the flesh.

 

Not as comfortable as my B&O H6 mk2 which are an absolute joy to wear and underrated for their easy listening long term use but the Focals are levels above in detail retrieval and all the other audiophile stuff.

 

If the Celestee grab your ear in comparison to the other Focal offerings I would suggest you grab them and live happily ever after. A few pairs have shown up second hand a SNA recently but if the sale price is really good the savings were only around $100 or $200 so new becomes very attractive.

 

A photo of my old XB Coupe for your enjoyment, only it was a 351… 

Thank You @Ooogh!

I am a bit of an old Ford man haha, this pic is a beauty!!  I love those Coupes and XB and XC my arguably my favourite shape of that era - superb.

Headphones though before I digress LOL.

 

I took my LG V30+ in knowing it was going to be the main driver, this also meant I was not down the rabbit hole of A2A gear.  I really liked the Celestee until those darn Radiance were on my head, but its also why I walked away and didn't make an emotional purchase. TBH I was a bit confused in the end and needed to just think it out.  I think the second listen this weekend will finalise my choice. 

 

You are spot on though, the Celestee was different to the Elegia and Radiance, and IMO more in the family of Radiance, the Elegia was quite different but with bass EQ it brought it closer to the others but not enough at the time to make me plunge to them.  The Radiance was gentle in HF but had massive slam in that drumming zone, where the Celestee was a little more sparkly uptop with a bit less slam in that drumming zone but still had seriously solid impact.  The Radiance probably won out on soundstage but not by lengths - the Elegia prob won that contest but lost most of the others to my tastes/ears.

 

Closed back is my preference I'll check the Clear out but unless its mind blowing to me I doubt I'll go that path.  A2A don't have the Denons listed at all, I am not sure they are stockist but given the savings on the Focal's right now I think its the court I need to play on.

Right now I seem to have a confirmation bias towards Radiance then Celestee but I'll go in as objectively as I can saturday and make my choice.

I think then i'll need a cable too, not for my OTG listening, but for my 2ch listening as the 1.2m supplied cable sits me looking at wall like a kid in trouble.

[BadSneakers83]

I’ve owned all three and eventually settled on the Radiance. It’s a step up from the Celestee in terms of soundstage and detail. I also prefer the build quality. Celestee is beautiful but still features some suede that I don’t think will age particularly well. Radiance screams high end in this regard. I also think the tuning is more crowd pleasing, a tad warmer. 

 

The Clear will beat them all in terms of detail and openness, at $799 they are an outrageous steal. But, open backed. 
 

 

[08Boss302]

43 minutes ago, BadSneakers83 said:

I’ve owned all three and eventually settled on the Radiance. It’s a step up from the Celestee in terms of soundstage and detail. I also prefer the build quality. Celestee is beautiful but still features some suede that I don’t think will age particularly well. Radiance screams high end in this regard. I also think the tuning is more crowd pleasing, a tad warmer. 

 

The Clear will beat them all in terms of detail and openness, at $799 they are an outrageous steal. But, open backed. 
 

 

Thank you

Yes the Clear I'm keen to hear.

Not sure if open back is what I need atm but if they totally impress me I could go that way and save a bit against Radiance but I think closed back as my first decent headphone is prob more functional, but I can be swayed

[Ooogh]

@08Boss302, did you go in for a listen today mate? 

[08Boss302]

11 hours ago, Ooogh said:

@08Boss302, did you go in for a listen today mate? 

 

Hi @Ooogh

I did, I went in and took my daughter, she is only young but has a good ear also and quite enjoys auditioning speakers etc.

We got the Elegia, Celestee, Radiance and Clear MG out for a listen and played them in this same order.

 

The Elegia again I enjoyed and for the money really wanted to like them more.  TBF to them, this only comes about because I had put the Celestee etc on.  I think if I walked in and said, can I hear the Elegia please, and that was it, NO other headphone was auditioned,  i'd be quite satisfied as I wouldn't know what I wouldn't know!

 

The Celestee and Radiance were next and this was really difficult, I felt them both soooo good.  IMO the Celestee is so close to the Radiance that at RRP it would be a total no brainer, I loved the sound of them, they have a nice extended bass, mid range alot smoother than Elegia and nice high extension but without it getting too sharp (for me) as I don't get along well with bright or mid/treble focused speakers or headphones.

The Radiance like last week, just added more to the Celestee, bit more bass, mids were still smooth and the high end had all the detail I would like.  The staging again noticeably wider than the Celestee but being completely honest maybe not quite as wide as Elegia but won out in every other area it still trumped the Elegia.  So right now the Celestee or Radiance had my money.

 

I then put the Clear OG on and it wacked me hard for six.  They did pretty much IMO the middle of the road in bass between the Celestee and Radiance, the mids were equal and highs were too - but they had staging that surpassed them all.  My only issue was they were open back and for my first "real" set of headphones the closed back option was more functional.

 

At this point the guys there were talking to us and straight up asked my daughter what she liked - now I am not sure what they thought she would say, she is only 11 and her reply was

Clear/Radiance first

Celestee

Elegia

The guys looked at me and said, that is exactly what I would say too hahaha. I think they were shocked she was able to pick an order and tell em why she liked them that way.

 

Incidently my order was the same, however functionality won out and I put the Radiance/Clear equal.

 

I asked for a comparable open back, they gave me some HiFiMAN Edition XS Planar to listen too, we plugged them into Fiio K5 Pro ESS desktop DAC, this was the most cost comparable way to drive the HifiMANs.  Whilst the idea of the desktop DAC didn't appeal to me I wanted to hear something else open back at similar price point (sale price point not RRP).  I thought the HiFiMAN were really really good too, and it gave me a quick comparison.  I noticed immediately how even that budget desktop DAC really helped the HiFiMAN and Clear OG etc open up.  Its something I'll definately be mindful of when I buy DAP in a few months and choose something with a bit of grunt.

 

Apologies for this essay, but I had such a great day yesterday auditioning headphones and learning more about them and desktop DACs etc.  2ch is my main thing but yesterday was awesome.

 

So my decision was this.

Radiance.  I absolustely loved them, they present the sound exactly how I like it on a range of genres I listen too.  Being closed back I can get use out of them when travelling and on the couch or lying in bed it won't annoy anyone.

...That being said, the Clear OG did everything I like as well and had a wider stage, so I am getting them too.  These will be my indulgence purchase, I wont need the desktop DAC with them, so can plug in to my existing amps/dacs and i'll find time to enjoy these at different times to the Radiance.  I'll grab them in the next week or two.  I held back from buying both yesterday as I wanted to come home and enjoy one pair properly for a week or two.

 

I really could have walked out with either Celestee or Radiance TBH, but I chose Radiance for that bit of extra kick and warmth, but I can totally see how with some genres this might be their handicap and the Celestee comes out the winner.  For the genres I listen to though they knocked it out of the park.

 

We had a family function last night so I had zero time to enjoy them, literally got home, opened the box and then we had to head out, didn't get a chance to even plug them in, today though I'll sit down, put them on and enjoy.

 

 

[075Congo]

Sounds like a great day.........if you cannot choose between options.........get them both All the best!

[08Boss302]

7 minutes ago, 075Congo said:

Sounds like a great day.........if you cannot choose between options.........get them both All the best!

Sound advice and this is ultimately the outcome. 

The Clear OG should be here if not next weekend definatly the week after.  The only reason they are not now is I wanted to just enjoy one at a time rather than come home and have one in a box waiting to be used.  Spoilt for choice is nice but I felt will lessen the excitement of one pair a little.

Given the amazing sale prices there was no rush.  If it was a situation where they said, if you buy both we'll do this price then I'd have them here.  At the sale prices the value is just insanely good and of course I didn't dare ask for further discount by taking both, but the Clear OG will find a home here.  I confirmed stock level and sale price will be active over coming week or so to avoid any disappointment haha!

[Ooogh]

Excellent review @08Boss302. Sounds like you had a great day and found the right headphones. If you managed to pick up the Radiance for a grand that is great buying. When I made the choice it was $850 v $1,800 and that was a walk over victory for the Celestee!

 

Is it worth having another knock out battle with the open back designs before making a decision on a second pair? It might be worth trying some Sennheisers as they have a huge reputation in the open back arena.

 

It sounds like A2A really looked after you which has been my experience too in their Adelaide store. Excellent business strategy as great service will bring you back as you continue to expand your collection and grab amps, Dacs et al to expand your system.

 

Enjoy.

 

 

[Ooogh]

By the way, it might sound shallow but the aesthetic design of the Focal range really does add to the pride of ownership, they are simply beautiful looking headphones.

[08Boss302]

10 minutes ago, Ooogh said:

Excellent review @08Boss302. Sounds like you had a great day and found the right headphones. If you managed to pick up the Radiance for a grand that is great buying. When I made the choice it was $850 v $1,800 and that was a walk over victory for the Celestee!

 

Is it worth having another knock out battle with the open back designs before making a decision on a second pair? It might be worth trying some Sennheisers as they have a huge reputation in the open back arena.

 

It sounds like A2A really looked after you which has been my experience too in their Adelaide store. Excellent business strategy as great service will bring you back as you continue to expand your collection and grab amps, Dacs et al to expand your system.

 

Enjoy.

 

 

So true mate, the Celestee were great. As I mentioned above it was really only the pricing that made the Radiance the goer, if they were as far apart as when you got yours I'd have Celestee here and been happy.  As a matter of fact, i'd not have even auditioned the Radiance.

I asked about Sennheiser and the lads told me they are very nuetral and given my tastes in sounds I prob wouldn't like them.  I'll check them out next visit though before buying the Clear just for due dilligence.  They also suggest the HiFiMAN Ananda might be down my path, so thats another

Agree completely with you, the guys at A2A were brilliant.  They had no issue with me and my daughter listening for an hour or so, swapping headphones etc, they were really cool about it and offered advice on other things, never got pushy or indicated if I am not buying its time to move on type thing.  That is a big tick in my book, especially not getting a bit funny about my daughter trialing the headphones too. 

 

 

7 minutes ago, Ooogh said:

By the way, it might sound shallow but the aesthetic design of the Focal range really does add to the pride of ownership, they are simply beautiful looking headphones.

I must agree.

[08Boss302]

Absolutely still loving my Radiance.

Friday night finally got around to picking up the Clears

Really pleased now I have a closed back and open back option

 

...Now I think I am set for my headphone enjoyment for quite a while.  I have a few IEM for OTG and regularly use my Sony WH1000xm4 too but the Focal Radiance & Clear will stay inside and out of the elements.

 

 

 

[Ccollins]

2 hours ago, 08Boss302 said:

Absolutely still loving my Radiance.

Friday night finally got around to picking up the Clears

Really pleased now I have a closed back and open back option

 

...Now I think I am set for my headphone enjoyment for quite a while.  I have a few IEM for OTG and regularly use my Sony WH1000xm4 too but the Focal Radiance & Clear will stay inside and out of the elements.

 

 

 

I’ve never really liked the clears but have been curious about the radiance.

I owned and enjoyed the elear before later moving to the utopias. (Still own the focal sprit pros too). 

 

I feel focal hps have improved with most new releases. 
 

how would you compare the two?

Edited May 28, 2023 by Ccollins

[08Boss302]

59 minutes ago, Ccollins said:

I’ve never really liked the clears but have been curious about the radiance.

I owned and enjoyed the elear before later moving to the utopias. (Still own the focal sprit pros too). 

 

I feel focal hps have improved with most new releases. 
 

how would you compare the two?

 

....Bearing in mind I am pretty new to the HP world and these are my first toe dip, I'll try to provide you with the best comparison I hear between them.  My only other over ear phone experience instore was the HiFiman XS Edition planar. 

 

In terms of ownership I own the Sony WH1000XM4 and some IEMs for OTG.

Musical preferences are Metal, Jazz, Blues and Rock.

Sound preferences are something with a warmer character, impactful bass and probably more around that mid bass area where a lot of metal drumming double kick happens, not essentially sub bass tho that is important.  Mids I prefer not too shouty or forward and highs definately nothing too brittle as I am not a fan of that.  If anything I would lean toward high end roll off over super analytical.  (Probably because some of the music I listen too is not blessed with the best production).

 

I've lived with the Radiance a few weeks, the Radiance provides great bass, mids are smooth but might be a little recessed for some?,  the highs have all the detail I would like. I am never wanting more air or detail from them.  they never sound muddied either.

 The staging is IMO wide but not "x" amount of feet outside your ears wide, it's just wide enough to provide me a good sense of stage both side/side and front/back.  I've no doubt there are better but at price point (current) and with their ease to be driven they hit the check points for me.

 

The Clear OG have a little less bass, and I am talking small margins but enough for me to notice - this might be due to them being open back? In any case they weren't lean in any way either.  The mids were slightly more forward and highs were too but neither made me grimace - BUT they do have staging that surpasses the Radiance.  Where the Radiance staging might sit a bit "domey" around your head, the Clear go wider and a little more forward/back. I'd say the forward/back is not as much a jump as the side/side staging between them, but certainly noticeable. 

 

Only having the Clear at home for 36hrs my evaluation is memory based and from another listen in store Friday.  I expect that over time my experience will be the same at home as it was instore between them.

 

Having brought home the Radiance first  it was my first choice between them, and if I was only buying one it would still be the one.  Their sound signature just sits well with me.  I compared them instore to Elegia and Celestee.  A few posts back you can see what I thought between them all including the Clear OG.

 

I think there are few members in this thread that have had the Radiance, Clear (both versions) as well as Celestee and Elegia longer than me that would be more qualified to provide a long term thought as well as having more experience with headphones, but hopefully i've been able to provide some insight for you.

 

[franky995]

Nice write up. 
 

Radiance>Clear for me

 

Such amazing cans!

[Ccollins]

And without going toooo far off topic how does the radiance compare to these?

 

obviously it’s hard to compare speakers to hps buy curious if it’s worth the upgrade 

 

https://addictedtoaudio.com.au/collections/magico-loudspeakers/products/magico-m9-carbon-fibre-floorstanding-speakers

 

 

I might put a listing in the wtb classifieds. 
 

anyone looking to sell a pair?

Edited May 29, 2023 by Ccollins

[08Boss302]

2 hours ago, Ccollins said:

And without going toooo far off topic how does the radiance compare to these?

 

obviously it’s hard to compare speakers to hps buy curious if it’s worth the upgrade 

 

https://addictedtoaudio.com.au/collections/magico-loudspeakers/products/magico-m9-carbon-fibre-floorstanding-speakers

 

I might put a listing in the wtb classifieds. 
 

anyone looking to sell a pair?

yeah look, I am not too sure the Radiance would compete though it might come down to cables (of course), speaker position and room treatment

[Ccollins]

49 minutes ago, 08Boss302 said:

yeah look, I am not too sure the Radiance would compete though it might come down to cables (of course), speaker position and room treatment

Getting the speaker position right is going to be tricky. Each speaker is 1000 pounds. 

Not £1000 but 1000 lbs. 

[Andre28]

Has anyone bought a headphone cable off Amazon Australia? There seem to be a few nice looking types under $50. Are they decent enough? I'll probably give this stock cable some time to come back in to shape after uncoiling it, but it just seems like it's going to be permanently bent.

Edited June 7, 2023 by Andre28

[075Congo]

To get any significant improvement over the "stock" cable you will need to spend considerably more than $50.......save your $ and investigate the range of after-market cable suppliers. Support your local guys.......Aurealis Audio produce some excellent products.

[08Boss302]

Having recently bought the Radiance I too was looking at a new cable, it was a frequently raised bugbear in all online reviews.

I have now just got use to it, it doesn't really straighten out much better than when new, but I'll live with it. 

I did look on Amazon AU and also eBay but never progressed, though there was a cable for approx $120 from memory that I was pretty interested in but never acted on.

[075Congo]

Be worth putting a Wanted to Buy on the SNA Classifieds......be interesting to see whats out there ? I wonder if the company (A2A ?) is aware of the problem....also try the Australian Distributor (BusiSoft AV) they have an Online Contact process.

[Andre28]

Ok thanks all. I dont think I want to spend a big % off the cost of the headphones on a new cable, so will just make do for now, but ill keep an eye out for 2nd hand. The other one I was looking at are Hart cables, which are $55 USD plus shipping, probably end up a little over $100 aud all in.

Edited June 7, 2023 by Andre28

[AussieMick]

Hi All

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

Mick