Focal Elear Review | 93 Data compared

The Focal Elear features 40mm Aluminum-Magnesium "M"-shape dome drivers that deliver a 5Hz to 23kHz frequency response, offering a high-fidelity, open-back audio experience. Built with robust, premium materials for durability, these headphones prioritize comfort for long listening sessions through generous, microfiber-covered memory foam padding. While excelling in build and comfort, they are limited by a heavy 450g design and a fully open-back structure that provides zero noise isolation. Performance-wise, they deliver a balanced sound with strong, punchy bass but may feel slightly veiled in the treble, with a noted, sharp 4kHz-6kHz dip.

The Focal ElearGo, reviewed by STEREO, is characterized as a high-end, open-back headphone featuring 40mm aluminum-magnesium drivers that deliver an energetic, punchy, and highly dynamic sound signature. Praised for premium construction, high-quality materials, and a spacious, speaker-like soundstage, it excels in bringing musicality and tactile impact to the listener. Key drawbacks include a notable upper-midrange recession that can affect vocal clarity, a heavy, unwieldy stock cable, and significant sound leakage characteristic of its open design. While the 450-gram weight can cause fatigue, its high sensitivity makes it relatively easy to drive, positioning it as a robust, albeit heavy, audiophile choice for home use.

This MODERNHIFI review explores Focal's 2016 multi-tier headphone lineup showcased at the CanJam exhibition, providing detailed breakdowns and comparative first impressions. Starting with the high-end open-back models, the flagship Focal Utopia utilizes a premium 25-micrometer pure beryllium dome driver that offers masterclass transient handling, reference-level detail drawing, and exceptional treble clarity without artificially inflating the soundstage. Its primary pros include unmatched resolution, high localization sharpness, and a highly linear, distortion-free output. Conversely, its cons highlight a leaner, more reserved low-end response compared to its sibling, alongside a hefty price tag. Meanwhile, the more affordable open-back Focal Elear swaps beryllium for an aluminum-magnesium alloy driver. It provides a distinctly warm acoustic profile with a robust, punchy bass that delivers more physical pressure than a Sennheiser HD800. However, its cons are a slightly more constrained, intimate spatial soundstage and less treble micro-detail compared to the Utopia.

The Focal Elear review on Audisseus positions these open-back headphones as a high-end, uncompromising audiophile product featuring premium aluminum construction and a 40mm "M-shaped" aluminum-magnesium driver. Key strengths include exceptional dynamic, punchy bass, a lively, transparent soundstage, and comfortable, thick memory foam padding. Conversely, the 450-gram weight is noted for fatigue, while a subtle upper-midrange/lower-treble dip can make the tuning appear dark and vocals slightly recessed, compounded by a cumbersome 4-meter cable.

The Focal Elear is an open-back, circumaural dynamic headphone that inherits a significant portion of its technical DNA from Focal's high-end flagship Utopia model. Handcrafted in Saint Etienne, France, the Elear features an innovative 40mm Aluminium-Magnesium alloy dome shaped like an "M" and dispenses with a traditional voice coil bobbin to keep the moving mass down to a mere 150 milligrams. It features an 80-ohm impedance, heavily padded leather headbands, and high-quality memory foam earpads that make it robust and comfortable enough to disappear from physical awareness during long listening sessions. Tonal testing reveals a volllmundig (full-bodied) and warm sound signature that pairs silk-like precision and deep, sonorous bass extension with an impressively wide and layered three-dimensional soundstage. Pros & Cons Pros: Outstanding micro-dynamics, precise spatial localization with advanced depth, a fatigue-free warm timbre, lush natural midrange, high-quality materials (aluminium yokes and memory foam), and an exceptionally robust, detachable 3-metre anti-microphonic cable. Cons: The open-back construction offers virtually no isolation (letting environmental noise in and leaking music out), the 450-gram weight is relatively heavy for portable use, and it lacks...

The Focal ElearGo is a premium, open-back headphone that marks the brand's ambitious entry into the high-end audio market with a list price of around €1,000. The reviewer notes that the build quality is outstanding and highly robust, utilizing premium materials for the loudspeaker housing. It is designed for extreme comfort, featuring a wide, plush headband and deep ear cups that fit large ears perfectly. Despite weighing close to 450 grams, the smart weight distribution prevents it from causing uncomfortable pressure points during long sessions. The core strength of the Elear lies in its versatile and dynamic sound profile, which adapts effortlessly to different musical styles. A major sound advantage is its linear scaling and deep, physical bass response. The bass extends remarkably low into the sub-bass frequencies even when listening at lower volume levels. Additionally, it provides pristine instrument separation, realistic live recordings detail, and excellent vocal presentation without creating harsh sibilants.

The Focal Elear and Focal Clear are high-quality, open-back over-ear headphones that heavily inherit design elements and technologies from the flagship Focal Utopia. Both models feature robust aluminum headbands, soft leather padding, and angled aluminum-magnesium alloy drivers engineered to project sound forward for a more realistic, speaker-like soundstage. They weigh roughly 450 grams each and sit firmly but comfortably on the head, even during prolonged listening sessions with glasses. However, their accessories package differs significantly: the €1,000 Elear is packaged in a large, magnetic-closure storage box and comes only with a single 3-meter cable (with optional XLR selection), while the €1,500 Clear includes a travel-friendly hard case and three separate stock cables (short 3.5mm, long 6.35mm, and long XLR) right out of the box. Sonically, the reviewer favors the Focal Clear for its agile, highly detailed, and multi-faceted presentation that maintains deep, punchy bass and a crisp, clean character. A major pro of the Clear is its lower impedance of 60 ohms (compared to the Elear's 80 ohms), making it significantly better suited for mobile device usage. Conversely, the Elear...