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Focal Elear Review | 93 Data compared

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  • Avg. price in UK: ~£880
  • Avg. price in US: ~$1,000
  • Form factor: over-ear
  • Connectivity: wired
  • Battery life: N/A hours
  • Active noise cancellation (ANC): no

Focal Elear review. Compare 93 technical specifications and user reviews to see how it ranks among headphones and if it is worth buying.

3.8

Overall score

What it is: An overall evaluation of the headphones' quality, based on technical analyses and user reviews.

When it matters: When you need a quick reference to identify the best headphones on the market.

Score components:

80.0%

3.1

Technical Score

20.0%

6.7

User score

Poor
3.1

Technical Score

What it is: An assessment of the headphones' technical performance, covering key areas such as sound quality, noise cancelling, microphone performance, battery life, comfort, connectivity, features, and build quality.

When it matters: When you want to compare headphones based on technical performance and available features.

Score components:

52.0%

3.2

Sound

20.0%

2.7

Features

10.0%

5.5

Design

8.0%

2.9

Connectivity

6.0%

1.0

Battery

4.0%

1.1

Calls & Controls

Poor
6.7

User score

What it is: A rating that combines user reviews and the total number of reviews received by the headphones.

When it matters: When you want to understand how headphones perform in real listening and how reliable they are in terms of comfort, audio quality, battery life, and long-term use.

Score components:

70.0%

8.0

User reviews

30.0%

3.7

Popularity

User score:
United Kingdom
amazon
4.0
(67)
United States
Amazon_logo.png
4.0
(67)

(Reviews last updated: June 2026)

Good
  • 0.2
    Gaming

    Score components:

    35.0%

    0.0

    Audio latency

    25.0%

    0.0

    Low-latency game mode

    20.0%

    1.0

    Can be used as a headset

    12.0%

    0.0

    Noise-canceling microphone

    8.0%

    0.0

    Battery life

  • 0.5
    Travel

    Score components:

    28.0%

    1.0

    Active noise cancellation (ANC)

    24.0%

    0.0

    Battery life

    18.0%

    1.0

    Weight

    16.0%

    0.0

    Multipoint support

    14.0%

    0.0

    Ambient sound mode

  • 0.2
    Calls

    Score components:

    28.0%

    0.0

    Noise-canceling microphone

    24.0%

    1.0

    Can be used as a headset

    18.0%

    0.0

    Multipoint support

    16.0%

    0.0

    Battery life

    14.0%

    0.0

    Companion app

  • 1.4
    Workout

    Score components:

    28.0%

    1.0

    Weight

    24.0%

    1.0

    Water resistance

    20.0%

    4.0

    IP rating

    16.0%

    0.0

    Battery life

    12.0%

    1.0

    Can be used as a headset

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Best rankings

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Available: ranking among products currently available (including other versions of this product).
All: ranking among all products in the database.

Verdict

The Focal Elear is a high-end, open-backed circum-aural headphone featuring exclusive 40mm 'M'-shaped aluminum/magnesium dome drivers, an 80-ohm impedance, and a frequency response of 5Hz–23kHz. Handcrafted in France, it is characterized by a premium build utilizing solid aluminum yokes, a leather headband, and microfiber memory foam ear cushions that provide exceptional comfort for long listening sessions. Main pros include its remarkable dynamic punch, realistic soundstage, and high sensitivity of 104dB which makes it relatively easy to drive compared to other audiophile models. However, notable cons include its significant weight of 450g, a cumbersome and heavy 3-metre stock cable, a relatively narrow soundstage for an open-back design, and a recessed upper mid-range that can sometimes result in a 'veiled' or distant vocal presentation.

Technical Specifications of Focal Elear

Technical Score

What it is: An assessment of the headphones' technical performance, covering key areas such as sound quality, noise cancelling, microphone performance, battery life, comfort, connectivity, features, and build quality.

When it matters: When you want to compare headphones based on technical performance and available features.

Score components:

52.0%

3.2

Sound

20.0%

2.7

Features

10.0%

5.5

Design

8.0%

2.9

Connectivity

6.0%

1.0

Battery

4.0%

1.1

Calls & Controls

3.1
Focal Elear has a technical score of 3.08 points, which is lower than that of 98.9% of products in this category.
User score

What it is: A rating that combines user reviews and the total number of reviews received by the headphones.

When it matters: When you want to understand how headphones perform in real listening and how reliable they are in terms of comfort, audio quality, battery life, and long-term use.

Score components:

70.0%

8.0

User reviews

30.0%

3.7

Popularity

User score:
United Kingdom
amazon
4.0
(67)
United States
Amazon_logo.png
4.0
(67)

(Reviews last updated: June 2026)

6.7
Focal Elear has a user score of 6.71 points, which is lower than that of 83.7% of products in this category.
Popularity
What it is: An indicator based on the number of reviews received by the headphones.
When it matters: When you prefer headphones that have already been chosen and reviewed by many other users.
3.7
Focal Elear has a popularity of 3.7 points, which is lower than 55.3% of products in this category.
Ratio quality/price

What it is: An indicator that combines the headphones' overall rating with their cost.

When it matters: When you are looking for headphones that offer a strong balance of performance, features, and price.

Score components:

60.0%

3.8

Overall score

40.0%

5.9

Price

4.4
Focal Elear has a quality-to-price ratio of 4.4 points, which is lower than 97.4% of products in this category.
Active noise cancellation (ANC)
What it is: Reduces background noise using active technology
When it matters: When blocking office, travel, or aircraft noise is a priority.

Importance: HIGH

no
Focal Elear does not support active noise cancellation. 27.4% of headphones support active noise cancellation.
Driver type
What it is: Type of speaker driver technology used
When it matters: When the underlying sound character and driver technology matter to you.

Importance: MEDIUM

dynamic
Driver size
What it is: Diameter of the speaker driver unit
When it matters: When you want extra hardware context behind how the headphones may handle bass weight, scale, or overall presentation.

Importance: MEDIUM

40 mm
Focal Elear uses a driver size of 40 mm, larger driver size than 28.2% of headphones and equal to 53.6% of headphones.
Number of drivers
What it is: Total number of speaker drivers per earcup
When it matters: When multi-driver designs are part of your buying criteria.

Importance: LOW

1
Focal Elear uses 1 drivers, equal to 96% of headphones.
Lowest frequency
What it is: Lowest audio frequency the headphones can reproduce
When it matters: When deeper bass extension matters for your music or movie listening.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: <=10 Hz

5 Hz
Focal Elear reaches a lowest frequency of 5 Hz, lower lowest frequency than 86.3% of headphones and equal to 10.8% of headphones.
Show more
Noise-canceling microphone
What it is: Built-in microphone reduces background noise during calls
When it matters: When you take calls in busy spaces and want your voice to stay clearer.

Importance: MEDIUM

N/A
Can be used as a headset
What it is: Shows whether the headphones can handle voice chat and calls in addition to normal audio playback.
When it matters: When one pair needs to cover music, calls, meetings, and gaming chat.

Importance: MEDIUM

no
Focal Elear is not headset-ready, while 15.3% is. 84.7% of headphones can be used as headsets.
Number of microphones
What it is: Total number of built-in microphones
When it matters: When call pickup quality and beamforming support matter to you.

Importance: LOW

Good value: >=2

0
Focal Elear has 0 microphones, fewer microphones than 74.1% of headphones and equal to 25.9% of headphones.
Boom microphone
What it is: Includes detachable boom microphone for voice clarity
When it matters: When you need stronger voice clarity for gaming, streaming, or work calls.

Importance: LOW

N/A
Microphone SNR
What it is: Signal-to-noise ratio of the microphone
When it matters: When call clarity matters and you want your voice picked up more cleanly instead of buried in background hiss.

Importance: LOW

Good value: >80 dB

N/A
Show more
Connectivity
What it is: Available connection methods (wired, wireless, Bluetooth, etc.)
When it matters: When the headphones need to match how you listen across wired and wireless devices.

Importance: HIGH

wired
Focal Elear supports wired connectivity, equal to 52.6% of headphones.
Bluetooth version
What it is: Version of Bluetooth technology supported
When it matters: When wireless stability, efficiency, and feature support matter more than treating Bluetooth as a box-check spec.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: >=5.0

N/A
Maximum Bluetooth range
What it is: Maximum wireless operating distance from source device
When it matters: When you move around rooms and want fewer dropouts from your source device.

Importance: LOW

Good value: >=10 m

N/A
Audio latency
What it is: Delay between audio and video in wireless mode
When it matters: When you watch video or play games and need sound to stay in sync.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: <60 ms

N/A
Multipoint support
What it is: Supports simultaneous connections to multiple devices
When it matters: When you switch often between a phone and a laptop during the day.

Importance: MEDIUM

N/A
Show more
Ambient sound mode
What it is: Allows external sounds to pass through for awareness
When it matters: When you need to stay aware of traffic, voices, or announcements.

Importance: MEDIUM

N/A
EQ support
What it is: Allows customization of sound profile via equalizer
When it matters: When the stock tuning is not enough and you want to shape bass, mids, or treble to match your taste.

Importance: MEDIUM

no
Focal Elear does not support EQ customization. 23.3% of headphones support EQ.
Companion app
What it is: Dedicated mobile app for customization and updates
When it matters: When software customization, updates, and extra controls matter.

Importance: MEDIUM

N/A
Adjustable ANC levels
What it is: Allows adjustment of noise cancellation intensity levels
When it matters: When you move between quiet rooms, offices, streets, and public transport and do not want one ANC setting for every situation.

Importance: LOW

Good value: >=4

N/A
Voice assistant support
What it is: Compatible with voice assistants like Siri, Alexa, or Google Assistant
When it matters: When hands-free control is part of your daily routine.

Importance: LOW

no
Focal Elear does not support voice assistants. 60.9% of headphones support voice assistants.
Show more
Battery life
What it is: Playback time on a single charge
When it matters: When you commute, travel, or work long shifts and do not want charging breaks to interrupt listening.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: >45 hours

N/A
Battery life with ANC
What it is: Playback time with active noise cancellation enabled
When it matters: When you plan to keep noise cancellation on for most of the day.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: >40 hours

N/A
Charging time
What it is: Time required for a full battery charge
When it matters: When you often need the headphones ready again after short breaks.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: <=2 hours

N/A
Quick charge
What it is: Provides quick playback time with short charging period
When it matters: When a short top-up needs to deliver useful playback before you leave.

Importance: MEDIUM

N/A
Battery capacity
What it is: Total energy storage of the internal battery
When it matters: When you are estimating how much battery headroom the design may have before relying only on the official runtime claim.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: >=720 mAh

N/A
Show more
Brand name
What it is: The manufacturer or brand of the product.
When it matters: When you prefer a specific ecosystem, support network, or design philosophy.

Importance: MEDIUM

Focal
Form factor
What it is: Overall design type of the headphones (over-ear, on-ear, in-ear, etc.)
When it matters: When comfort, portability, and isolation depend on the overall headphone style.

Importance: HIGH

over-ear
Weight
What it is: Total weight of the headphones
When it matters: When long listening sessions make wearing comfort more important.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: <150 g

450 g
Focal Elear weighs 450 g, heavier than 97.1% of headphones and equal to 0.4% of headphones.
Acoustic design
What it is: Type of acoustic design (open-back, closed-back, semi-open)
When it matters: When you need the right balance of isolation, leakage, and soundstage.

Importance: HIGH

open-back
Clamp force
What it is: Amount of clamping pressure applied to the head
When it matters: When comfort and fit security matter during long sessions.

Importance: MEDIUM

4.9
Focal Elear has a clamp force of 4.9, higher clamp force than 59.5% of headphones and equal to 8.8% of headphones.
Show more

Focal Elear vs the average headphone

  • 13 Hz lower bass extension
    Focal Elear has a lower lowest frequency than the average headphone (5 Hz vs 18 Hz). The average headphones reach a lowest frequency of 18 Hz.
    What it is: Lowest audio frequency the headphones can reproduce
    When it matters: When deeper bass extension matters for your music or movie listening.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    Good value: <=10 Hz

    Focal Elear has a lower lowest frequency than the average headphone (5 Hz vs 18 Hz). The average headphones reach a lowest frequency of 18 Hz.5 Hz vs 18 Hz
  • Foldable design
    Focal Elear has a foldable design, the average headphone does not. 61% of headphones are foldable.
    What it is: Earcups or headband can fold for compact storage
    When it matters: When you travel often and want easier storage in a bag.

    Importance: LOW

    Focal Elear has a foldable design, the average headphone does not. 61% of headphones are foldable.
  • Open-back design
    Focal Elear uses an open-back design, while the average headphone does not. 9.3% of headphones have an open-back design.
    What it is: Shows whether the headphones use an open-back housing that lets air and sound pass through more freely than a closed design.
    When it matters: When you listen in quiet places and care more about spacious sound than blocking outside noise or preventing sound leakage.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    Focal Elear uses an open-back design, while the average headphone does not. 9.3% of headphones have an open-back design.
  • 1.8 m more useful cable length
    Focal Elear offers a more useful cable length than the average headphone (3 m vs 1.2 m). The average headphones have a cable length of 1.2 m.
    What it is: Length of the supplied audio cable
    When it matters: When your desk, TV, or audio setup needs more or less movement range.

    Importance: LOW

    Focal Elear offers a more useful cable length than the average headphone (3 m vs 1.2 m). The average headphones have a cable length of 1.2 m.3 m vs 1.2 m
  • 3,000 Hz higher treble extension
    Focal Elear has a higher highest frequency than the average headphone (23,000 Hz vs 20,000 Hz). The average headphones reach a highest frequency of 20,000 Hz.
    What it is: Highest audio frequency the headphones can reproduce
    When it matters: When treble extension and overall frequency reach matter to you.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    Good value: >=24000 Hz

    Focal Elear has a higher highest frequency than the average headphone (23,000 Hz vs 20,000 Hz). The average headphones reach a highest frequency of 20,000 Hz.23000 Hz vs 20000 Hz
  • 4 mm more spacious earcup height
    Focal Elear offers more spacious earcup height than the average headphone (64 mm vs 60 mm). The average headphones offer an inner earcup height of 60 mm.
    What it is: Internal height of the earcup cavity
    When it matters: When larger ears need enough space inside the earcups.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    Focal Elear offers more spacious earcup height than the average headphone (64 mm vs 60 mm). The average headphones offer an inner earcup height of 60 mm.64 mm vs 60 mm
  • 2 dB/mW higher sensitivity
    Focal Elear has a higher sensitivity than the average headphone (104 dB/mW vs 102 dB/mW). The average headphones have sensitivity of 102 dB/mW.
    What it is: Sound pressure output level per unit of input power
    When it matters: When you plan to use weaker sources like phones, handhelds, or entry-level dongles and still want enough volume.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    Good value: >=106 dB/mW

    Focal Elear has a higher sensitivity than the average headphone (104 dB/mW vs 102 dB/mW). The average headphones have sensitivity of 102 dB/mW.104 dB/mW vs 102 dB/mW
  • Foldable design
    Focal Elear has a foldable design, the average headphone does not. 61% of headphones are foldable.
  • 1.8 m more useful cable length
    Focal Elear offers a more useful cable length than the average headphone (3 m vs 1.2 m). The average headphones have a cable length of 1.2 m.
  • Open-back design
    Focal Elear uses an open-back design, while the average headphone does not. 9.3% of headphones have an open-back design.
  • 4 mm more spacious earcup height
    Focal Elear offers more spacious earcup height than the average headphone (64 mm vs 60 mm). The average headphones offer an inner earcup height of 60 mm.
  • 13 Hz lower bass extension
    Focal Elear has a lower lowest frequency than the average headphone (5 Hz vs 18 Hz). The average headphones reach a lowest frequency of 18 Hz.
  • 3,000 Hz higher treble extension
    Focal Elear has a higher highest frequency than the average headphone (23,000 Hz vs 20,000 Hz). The average headphones reach a highest frequency of 20,000 Hz.
  • 2 dB/mW higher sensitivity
    Focal Elear has a higher sensitivity than the average headphone (104 dB/mW vs 102 dB/mW). The average headphones have sensitivity of 102 dB/mW.

Total
Design
Sound
  • 2.06x higher weight
    Focal Elear is heavier than the average headphone (450 g vs 218 g). The average pair of headphones weighs 218 g.
  • Tangle-prone cable
    Focal Elear uses a tangle-prone cable, while the average headphone is easier to manage. 64.2% of headphones use a tangle-free cable.
  • 0.6 higher clamp force
    Focal Elear has a higher clamp force than the average headphone (4.9 vs 4.3). The average headphones have a clamp force of 4.3.
  • No passive noise reduction
    Focal Elear does not offer passive noise reduction, while the average headphone does. 82.7% of headphones have passive noise reduction.
  • Not headset-ready
    Focal Elear is not headset-ready, while the average headphone is. 84.7% of headphones can be used as headsets.
  • 1 fewer microphones
    Focal Elear has fewer microphones than the average headphone (0 vs 1). The average headphones have 1 microphones.
  • No voice assistant support
    Focal Elear does not support voice assistants, the average headphone does. 60.8% of headphones support voice assistants.
  • No passive noise reduction
    Focal Elear does not offer passive noise reduction, while the average headphone does. 82.7% of headphones have passive noise reduction.
    What it is: Shows whether the headphones reduce outside noise through physical sealing, fit, and materials rather than active electronics.
    When it matters: When you want better isolation from fit and seal alone, even with ANC turned off or not available.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    Focal Elear does not offer passive noise reduction, while the average headphone does. 82.7% of headphones have passive noise reduction.
  • 2.06x higher weight
    Focal Elear is heavier than the average headphone (450 g vs 218 g). The average pair of headphones weighs 218 g.
    What it is: Total weight of the headphones
    When it matters: When long listening sessions make wearing comfort more important.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    Good value: <150 g

    Focal Elear is heavier than the average headphone (450 g vs 218 g). The average pair of headphones weighs 218 g.450 g vs 218 g
  • No voice assistant support
    Focal Elear does not support voice assistants, the average headphone does. 60.8% of headphones support voice assistants.
    What it is: Compatible with voice assistants like Siri, Alexa, or Google Assistant
    When it matters: When hands-free control is part of your daily routine.

    Importance: LOW

    Focal Elear does not support voice assistants, the average headphone does. 60.8% of headphones support voice assistants.
  • Not headset-ready
    Focal Elear is not headset-ready, while the average headphone is. 84.7% of headphones can be used as headsets.
    What it is: Shows whether the headphones can handle voice chat and calls in addition to normal audio playback.
    When it matters: When one pair needs to cover music, calls, meetings, and gaming chat.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    Focal Elear is not headset-ready, while the average headphone is. 84.7% of headphones can be used as headsets.
  • 9.78x more expensive
    Focal Elear is more expensive than the average headphone (£880 vs £90).
    Focal Elear is more expensive than the average headphone (£880 vs £90).£880 vs £90
  • 52.3% worse value for money
    Focal Elear has worse value for money than the average headphone (4.42 vs 6.736).
    What it is: An indicator that combines the headphones' overall rating with their cost.
    When it matters: When you are looking for headphones that offer a strong balance of performance, features, and price.
    Focal Elear has worse value for money than the average headphone (4.42 vs 6.736).4.42 vs 6.74
  • 1 fewer microphones
    Focal Elear has fewer microphones than the average headphone (0 vs 1). The average headphones have 1 microphones.
    What it is: Total number of built-in microphones
    When it matters: When call pickup quality and beamforming support matter to you.

    Importance: LOW

    Good value: >=2

    Focal Elear has fewer microphones than the average headphone (0 vs 1). The average headphones have 1 microphones.0 vs 1
  • Tangle-prone cable
    Focal Elear uses a tangle-prone cable, while the average headphone is easier to manage. 64.2% of headphones use a tangle-free cable.
    What it is: Cable designed to resist tangling
    When it matters: When you often carry wired headphones in a bag or pocket.

    Importance: LOW

    Focal Elear uses a tangle-prone cable, while the average headphone is easier to manage. 64.2% of headphones use a tangle-free cable.
Total
Overall
Design
Sound
Calls & Controls
Features

Graphic comparison of Focal Elear and

Attribute category
Attribute
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Third-party reviews

United Kingdom
amazon
4.0
67 Reviews
United States
Amazon_logo.png
4.0
67 Reviews

(Reviews last updated: June 2026)

What customers like about Focal Elear?

  • Exceptional dynamics with powerful punch and physical "slam"
  • Premium build quality featuring solid aluminium yokes and high-end materials
  • Outstanding bass performance that is tight, detailed, and well-extended
  • High level of comfort for long sessions due to thick microfiber-covered memory foam pads
  • Relatively easy to drive from standard headphone jacks without a specialized amplifier
  • Excellent detail retrieval and clarity across most of the frequency range

What customers dislike about Focal Elear?

  • Noticeable 'suckout' or dip in the upper midrange (3-6 kHz), causing some vocals to sound recessed or 'dead'
  • Substantial weight (approx. 450g) can lead to 'hotspots' on the top of the head for some users
  • The stock 13-foot cable is frequently described as excessively heavy, thick, and unwieldy
  • Small and intimate soundstage width compared to other high-end open-back competitors
  • Open-back design results in significant sound leakage and zero noise isolation, making them unsuitable for public use
  • Reports of a 'creaking' sound in the headband assembly when moving or maneuvering

Expert reviews

R
rtings.com
20/12/2018
Focal Elear Headphones Review - RTINGS.com

The Focal Elear are premium, open-back, wired headphones designed for neutral, critical listening, featuring a well-balanced sound with a smooth mid-range and clear highs. Pros include exceptional, robust build quality and a comfortable, plush design suitable for long, stationary listening sessions. Cons include a lack of deep sub-bass, somewhat inconsistent treble, heavy weight,...Read more

S
stereophile.com
28/07/2016
Enter the Next Generation: Focal Elear Headphone

Tyll Hertsens' Stereophile review highlights the $999 Focal ElearGo as a game-changing, open-back headphone featuring exceptional build quality, striking styling, and an innovative aluminum/magnesium M-dome driver. Key strengths include outstanding comfort, a highly dynamic, punchy sound signature, and very low total harmonic distortion.

S
superbestaudiofriends.org
12/08/2016
Focal Elear Measurements - Super Best Audio Friends RTINGS.com

The Focal Elear is identified as a highly dynamic, open-back headphone boasting class-leading transient response and exceptional clarity, often compared to the flagship Focal Utopia. It delivers an engaging, wide soundstage, though the review notes a significant upper-midrange dip that reduces musical energy and instrument overtones. While the bass is considered excessive out of the...Read more

H
headfonia.com
22/06/2017
Review: Focal Elear - Hyperior - Headfonia

The Headfonia "Hyperior" review praises the Focal Elear for its premium, sturdy build and exceptionally comfortable, plush design. However, noted cons include a heavy 450-gram weight and a rigid, impractical stock cable. Sonically, the headphones offer an energetic, punchy bass and romantic mids, though they suffer from a "dark" sound signature characterized by an upper-midrange dip...Read more

H
head-fi.org
29/07/2016
Focal Elear - Reviews - Head-Fi

The Focal Elear, an open-back headphone, is praised for its robust aluminum construction, comfortable memory foam earpads, and user-friendly dual 3.5mm detachable cables. Its sound is characterized as dynamic and engaging, featuring exceptional bass impact, detailed midrange clarity, and high efficiency that makes it easy to drive. Despite these, the headphones suffer from a tight...Read more

H
hifiplus.com
13/06/2018
Focal Elear headphones - Hi-Fi+

The Focal Elear is an open-back, circum-aural headphone priced at £1,000 that borrows heavy engineering lineage from its ultra-premium sibling, the Utopia. Built with an innovative, lightweight aluminum/magnesium M-shaped dome driver, it targets pure frequency perfection and wide dynamic expression. Sonically, the reviewer notes that the Elear handles complex, dense layers of music...Read more

H
headphone.shop
01/01/2023
Focal Elear | Headphone Shop (Product Review)", "Focal Elear | Headphone Store (Product Review)

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...Read more

(Translated)Show original
S
stereo.de
Keine Angabe
Focal Elear - Test Results - stereo.de

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...Read more

(Translated)Show original
M
modernhifi.de
26/09/2016
Focal Utopia, Elear and Listen in the CanJam review

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...Read more

(Translated)Show original
A
audisseus.de
15/05/2017
FOCAL ELEAR – audisseus

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...Read more

(Translated)Show original
A
audisseus.de
15/05/2017
Focal Elear Review by Audisseus", "Focal Elear - Audisseus

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...Read more

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miniklangwunder.de
20/03/2017
Focal Elear Review – Exceptional Headphones and Breaking Boundaries!

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...Read more

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hifi-ifas.de
17/06/2018
Review: Focal Elear & Focal Clear Headphones

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...Read more

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fr.audiofanzine.com
08/03/2017
Focal Elear Headphones Review: Focal Opens Its Mind

The Focal Elear is a premium, open-back audiophile headphone that delivers impressive performance and high-end build quality, though its €1,000 price tag targets casual listening over professional studio work. Weighing 450 grams, it features a robust chassis constructed from aluminum, leather, and microfiber, fitted with highly comfortable memory foam ear cushions. In sound testing...Read more

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lesnumeriques.com
16/06/2016
Focal Utopia, Elear and Listen: A Luxury Headphone Range

The Les Numériques review covers the launch of Focal's luxury headphone lineup, highlighting the Made-in-France open-back Utopia and Elear hi-fi models alongside the portable, closed-back Listen. The flagship Utopia (€3,999) earns a 5/5 score for its groundbreaking pure Beryllium "M" dome driver and support-free voice coil. Pros include a massive frequency response (5 Hz to 50 kHz),...Read more

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homecinema-fr.com
15/06/2016
FOCAL: headphones (HCFR reviews) / NAIM: electronics", "FOCAL: headphones (HCFR tests) / NAIM: the electronics

The provided webpage serves as a comprehensive forum index and community discussion thread tracking reviews for high-end audio products by Focal and Naim rather than a single standalone product review. It aggregates technical specifications, official product sheets, and user impressions for a wide array of premium audiophile headphones spanning from 2016 onward. Notable models...Read more

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lesnumeriques.com
18/09/2018
Focal Elear: Best Price (Room for Improvement)", "Focal Elear: Best Price (Could Do Better)

The French website Les Numériques gave the Focal ElearGo open-back headphones a perfect score of 5 out of 5 stars. The testing team loved how the headphones sounded. They also praised how well the headphones were put together and how good they felt to wear. The pros of this headphone are its amazing sound quality. The review says the audio is very flat, clean, and full of small...Read more

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lesnumeriques.com
24/01/2017
Focal Elear Review: The 100% Pure Pleasure Hi-Fi Headphones

The Les Numériques review awards the Focal Elear a perfect 5 out of 5 stars, hailing it as a highly successful entry into the 100% hi-fi headphone market. Sonically, the reviewer praises its remarkably neutral, precise, and detailed sound reproduction, highlighted by astonishingly deep and punchy low-end frequencies that outperform many traditional open-back competitors....Read more

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digitalvideoht.it
04/06/2017
Focal Elear | Digital Video HT

The Focal Elear is a premium, open-back circumaural headphone manufactured in France that delivers a dense, warm, and meaty sound profile reminiscent of closed-back models rather than typical airy, open designs. Built with high-end aluminum-magnesium 40mm drivers, memory foam micro-fiber earpads, and a leather-covered headband, it provides remarkable weight distribution that ensures...Read more

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hifi.nl
04/02/2018
Hi-Fi Headphones: The Real Deal", "High-End Hi-Fi Headphones

This article by Jamie Biesemans on HIFI. NL looks at high-end "Head-Fi" headphones. The author explains that true top-tier headphones cost between 4,000 and 6,000 euros, which is still much cheaper than the best speaker systems. To get the best sound from these premium headphones, you must use high-quality, lossless digital music files. A good dedicated Digital-to-Analog Converter...Read more

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lexicommultimedia.nl
16/04/2019
Focal Elear & Clear headphones for a personal experience

The Focal Elear and Focal Clear are both open-back, high-end audiophile headphones that utilize Focal's patented "M"-shaped aluminum-magnesium cone diaphragm to deliver a cross-over-free, high-resolution listening experience. The Elear offers a warm, highly engaging, and romantic presentation with an expansive soundstage that acts like a "magnifying glass" for audio detail. Its...Read more

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hifi.nl
04/02/2018
Focal Elear and Focal Utopia - Hifi.nl

The Focal Elear and Focal Utopia are open-back, high-end headphones that deliver outstanding build quality, comfort, and resolution, cementing Focal as a major player in the head-fi market. The €1,000 Elear features an aluminum/magnesium M-shaped driver, a premium metal and mesh finish, and an expansive soundstage that performs well across multiple musical genres. Its main pros...Read more

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