Elear

Released 2016

The Elear are Focal's 2016 open-back hi-fi headphones, with aluminium/magnesium 'M'-shaped dome drivers developed from the Utopia project, suited to home listening; Focal no longer sells them.

Type: Over-ear
Noise cancelling: No
Battery: –
With case: –
Best codec: Wired
Weight: 450 g

Over-ear

What reviewers say

Reviewers agree the Elear is superbly built and comfortable, with dynamic, punchy and realistic sound, and easy to drive. Headfonics found the soundstage lacking width and height despite good depth, and Headfonia heard some issues in the upper midrange and lower treble, though neither found them spoiled the listening.

From headfonics.com and headfonia.com

Specifications

Report a wrong or missing spec

Sound

Type: Over-ear
Noise cancelling: No
Driver size: 40 mm
Back: Open
Impedance: 80 ohms
Bluetooth codecs: None (wired)
Drivers: 40 mm aluminium/magnesium 'M'-shaped dome, full range with no crossover; 5 Hz – 23 kHz; sensitivity 104 dB SPL (1 mW, 1 kHz); THD < 0.3% (1 kHz, 100 dB SPL); impedance 80 ohms on Focal Naim North America's page, 32 ohms on Focal's 2016 product data sheet

Battery

Listening time (maker's claim): No battery (wired)

Design

Weight: 450 g
Headphone cable: Yes
Fit and ear tips: Circumaural, open-back; 20 mm memory foam ear pads covered in microfibre; leather headband with length adjustment and ear cup rotation; aluminium yoke
Works with: OFC cable with a 6.35 mm stereo jack and two self-locking 3.5 mm jacks at the ear cups; 3 m on Focal Naim North America's page, 4 m on the 2016 data sheet
In the box: Headphones, OFC cable (6.35 mm to 2 x 3.5 mm), rigid carrying case with magnetic lock

Pros and cons

Pros

40 mm aluminium/magnesium 'M'-shaped dome drivers; 5 Hz to 23 kHz
104 dB/mW sensitivity
Separate left and right cable entries make custom balanced cables straightforward

Cons

Heavy at 450 g
Only a 6.35 mm cable in the box, with no 3.5 mm plug for portable players
Open back leaks sound and lets outside noise in

Closest rivals

Model	Type	Noise cancelling	Battery	With case	Best codec	Weight	Released
AKGK872	Over-ear	No	–	–	Wired	390 g	Sept 2016
beyerdynamicDT 1990 PRO	Over-ear	No	–	–	Wired	370 g	Sept 2016
SennheiserHD 599	Over-ear	No	–	–	Wired	250 g	Sept 2016

Sources

Photo: dam.focal-naim.com

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