Happy Cake Day @BuffaloWing.
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Anybody have any experience with the Focal Shape series? I want to upgrade from my Kef lsx…I don’t really want to get a monitor per se but I have heard the shapes are great at being “audiophile speakers” as well. Going to use them nearfield on desk so any thoughts appreciated!
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Welp, decided to try it for myself! Please don’t disappoint me!
Also, if anyone is interested in the shape series too feel free to ask me questions…
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Do focal headphones generally have a strong clamp force?
I have a large head, Ananda was a bit tight for me, Eikon/ K7xx / X00’s were great, for reference.
I cannot compare to the other models, but I found the Focal’s clamp force ok (I have the Elegia). Works nicely for me, even in longer sessions, and while wearing glasses.
As a reference, I have a 58 hat size (that’s roughly 23").
A little video @Resolve did from our trip to France in October. Includes Focal’s main office in St-Étienne and their cabinet factory in Bourbon-Lancy
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And for those wondering, there are several @taronlissimore cameos in this one. Man of mystery Paul as well.
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Nice video. It illustrates why enthusiast headphones are so expensive: limited market size, extreme quality control needed for their tiny drivers, hand assembly needed for small and oddly shaped parts, and located in an extremely expensive labor market. Focal isn’t that far away from Geneva, Switzerland. Luxury Swiss watches are made around there, and certainly have similar production requirements.
Yep. Why not add some intros: “Hi, I’m Taron and I do XXX”?
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You learn something new every day.
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That was a risky click… could’ve been a lot worse hahaha.
that’s pretty badass! I live in Utah and have toured Zu, Tekton, and Spatial audio labs but none manufacture their own drivers. They really just assemble the cabinets, damping, and final package. Would be pretty sweet to watch the tweeter stamping and woofer fabrication process.
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Focal appears to have a Bluetooth/wireless ANC headphone in the works, Focal Bathys.
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… and more.
Waiting for Headphones.com to release more info in the other dedicated thread https://forum.headphones.com/t/mystery-focal-release-10-04-2022/
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Introvert and extrovert. Brothers, but different 
Update on the Utopia. After some burn in all day yesterday and last night, they’ve come alive in the lower FR. Much more weight now. Makes them feel like they have a soul. The dynamics and imaging seem to have improved as well. Haven’t heard og but I feel these are right where they need to be for me in the upper FR. I don’t think I’d want more. Very musical, punchy, and engaging. Oh, and I’m very surprised by the stage. Not too narrow and great depth imo.
Compared the bass to radiance and the Utopia is where it needs to be. Radiance is a little much but fun as a closed back, especially in that price range.
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Congratulations, glad you are loving the Utopia more after the burn in!
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Once you go Utopia you never go back. 
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Yeah these really surprised me. Even more so with the burn in the last day or so. Thought the stage would have been much closer like other focals, but these are pretty spacious. So dynamic
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I want to buy the Elear and use alt pads. Since I can not find the Clear pads I’d like to buy the
“dekoni Audio Elite Velours Ear Pads Set for Focal Elear, Transparent, Utopia” (only 60€)
Are these the ones that Resolve suggested for the Clear?
And will this work? Did anyone try?
Could someone help?
I can buy a used Elear for 300… I have to be quick I guess…
(I can not buy the Utopia pads because money)
(sry if this is the wrong thread - I have a feeling it is?)
edit:
ok after some digging I found this link in the Elex thread:
I think it answers my question! yeh!
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