Hey DMS since your sponsored by these guys I would really appreciate it if you made a few DMS playlists that we all can look up for test tracks and maybe another for the stuff you really enjoy. I would love to tune into your playlists.
Hello DMS. I know of the cold and snow very well. I am originally from West Seneca, a Buffalo suburb. I moved to Tennessee 16 years ago, but I still miss living there. Great review as always.
Idea for a future video: Would you compare amps, progressing in price, what every next one brings new to the table in terms of sound quality? Up until your XIaudio stuff (Probably from some higher end headphone’s point of view, that reveals the differences better)
@Ashley Wright that seems to be a reoccurring theme, however many cheap amps offer much power with multiple Watts and great specs. For some reason you still don’t want to pair high-end headphones (e.g. Hifiman, Abyss, etc.) with let’s say A90, although it measures objectively perfect. You buy equipment like gsx mini, XIaudio Broadway/Formula S, Woo Audio (their expensive portable stuff doesn’t even have much power, but class A). There are attributes that specs won’t show you, like timbre, detail delivery, any harshness or soundstage, which better headphones can depict a lot more from amp to amp. There are differences, otherwise there wouldn’t be any sense in buying multi thousand $ equipment, as much cheaper stuff measures as good
After sitting side-by-side with the Celeste’s and radiance at audio 46 I chose the Celestee because it was easier to drive on my Btr5 and I figure I can EQ the Celestee to sound a little more like the radiance for the most part if I wanted too..both are outstanding closed backs!
@@theodorezurla496 i wpuld only pad swap with Radiance pads, and those cost about the same as the price difference I guess. But nah I am just biased to the overall look and build of the Radiance. And the stock tuning which is the most balanced of all Focals to date.
I had big issue with these - I got very different pads left vs. right(and different sound for sure). Focal customer service is basically non-existing here in US. They never send me a good pair of pads so I had to return my pair.
I currently own six headphones all of them in the high to summit tier and this is easily one of my favorites. Glad you like them as much as I do DMS. These are especially good with Hip-Hop, RnB & Electronic. Awesome for movies as well.
I don't think I heard you go over the soundstage. How are the soundstage on the Radiance? I've been debating between Noire and Celestee but I've been leaning more toward Noire due to the soundstage but I love the look of Radiance and just wanted to find a good reason to add a Focal headphone into my collection
Agreed about black strong-memory focal cables. I really hate the black plastic one that came with my clears. It also had some white fabric cables which I really liked, which apparently is their old style. Not sure why they switched, the old kind was at least better.
1:18 - It’s kinda weird that Tidal is so proud of streaming at 1,411 kbps when that’s exactly equivalent to 44.1/16 bit? Like, CD-quality audio is a good thing, of course, but it almost seems as if Tidal is trying to imply that they stream at hi-res uncompressed, when they don’t?
I like Focal headphones. Unfortunately, the ear pad openings are just a bit too small (at least on the Elegia) for me to wear comfortably. Bummer. I am curious if the newer models like the Radiance are a tad bigger. Looking forward to that Element 3 review.
Great video as always. For me it was in between focal radiance and the Audeze LCD XC 2021 and bought the Audeze. Now I wonder how would they compare, will you ever do a comparison video? Thanks.
Lcd xc are much better performance but the Radiance has a very addicting insane bass. Performance=lcd xc (just eq more bass in) out of the box tuning for bass lovers goes to Radiance with the technical performance a bit behind lcd xc 2021 but not like way worse or anything radiance still has good technicalities.
Good timing, I have a set of these from AVexchange arriving in a couple days. Interested to see how much I like them. Currently using Elex as daily driver but also have Clear MG on the way...I splurged to say the least. Way more than I should be spending. Knowing my tastes, I'll probably end up with just the Clear MG and sell the Elex and eventually the Radiance. 6xx is my forever backup I think although after using the Elex so much I get a bit of "fatigue" listening to the 6xx now with some tracks. The mids sometimes seem overwhelming now where they used to be always smooth.
Would love Tidal more if they would pay Artists you actually listen to. I had like over 200 listens more for an Artist which I never listened to, except in some features. But artists which I listened to daily I had a stream rate of 50 listenings for the month. Send them a message that their service didn´t work, at least for me. They just replied it´s a "new service" and might not work properly. I could understand it if there would be like small differences for artists you actually listen to, but I feel just tricked and lied to like this.
I have the Elegias, which I like, I bought a woven cable for the headset, to use instead, found it on Amazon, smaller diameter connections that still fit. Its better than the Elegias on keeping a memory to the cable. I tried emailing Focal on other cable options, but they never replied on other cable options. Disappointing in customer service. So while I like the quality of the product, I don't care for the customer service nor the cables. Have you tried reaching out to Focal on other cable options? It would be nice if you could let the rest of us know since you are an in the review business.
When I tested these I couldn't even finish the test playlist. The sound was so sharp and bright that I dropped the volume maybe 5dB from my usual test level. Same with the Stellia. Any thoughts on if there's some explanation beyond a difference in preference? Source was a Mojo. I really liked the Utopia, Clear MG, I don't mind a DT990 etc. Edit: I tested the Stellia first so maybe it destroyed my ears for these as well?
@@DMS3TV With my Radiance I found you can use gear (or EQ) that can gently push on the treble to pull it up a little from the back. BUT! If that source/EQ pushes too much it quickly makes the headphone sharp, glassy, shouty, glaring especial in the region for female voices and trumpets.
I had the same experience testing the Celestee - the treble was intolerable and metallically zingy, and same as you, I liked the Clear MG and Utopia. Preferred Clear over Utopia.
The peaky treble is the same with my pair as well; and I find them at times more troubling than my HD800S at times, as the treble peaks sharply contrasts with the thick body of the bass. It is almost right up there with some of the DCA headphones I tested. Though I use EQ to tune it down, it is otherwise a good set of headphone in terms of sound despite being quite creaky from inside the headband structure (more like a metal cligy sound) when just wearing them and moving your head around. Is there really that much unit variance? Running them off of my SU-9n DAC + THX789 / iFi Go Blu.
@@DMS3TV I experimented with some different genres of music and A/B'd against my Elex, LCD-5, and HD800S. The Radiance is peaky in frequencies that most music don't (at least repetitively) go to. The treble is 'relaxed' for most music, but if I listen to specific genres, electronic J-Pop, for example YoiYoi Kokon by REOL (try them on soundcloud/spotify as the youtube version is completely smoothed over), starting at around 1:00 without EQ the Radiance can become a bit of an ear-r@pe as the peak contrast with the dips right below it, making it somehow worse then my HD800S without EQ. Please try it and see if it is still a matter of unit variation, or if your pair behave similarly in these specific frequencies.
Tidal is also still too expensive for what the competition offers , it’s Hifi offering is CD 16bit /44.1 kHz , where as Apple Music or Amazon HD ( Which I subscribe to for under $6.50 /monthly before taxes with Prime Membership ) apple is the same price as Tidal but it has Hi Res files available just like Amazon does. So if you want Hi Res streaming you need to cough up another 10 dollars more on Tidal , the only good thing about Tidal is the artist payout. No thanks I’ll stick with my Amazon HD with High Res files for under $6.50 per month before taxes) And yeah MQA , controversial subject. I ain’t drinking the Koolaid that Tidal is selling with MQA .
Go to Hutch's and Mulberry's for me! My favorite Restaurants in Buffalo! Hutch's for Jambalaya pasta (Large order) and Mulberry's for Manicotti with large meatball and extra sauce. I heard "The Roost" is good.
Great video DMS well done! I really want you to do a review of the $3,000 Focal Stellia headphone and also compare it side by side with your Focal Radiance headphone. I want to buy the Stellia headphone. If you are going to do a review of the Stellia, please give us some insight of why the Focal Stellia cost more money than the Radiance. Please do a review of the Stellia.
BUFFALO? i am from Buffalo, went to School #1 (gone now, on Busti Ave near Hudson), then Grover Cleveland for one semester and then to Kensington HS, graduated in 1962. my friends moved out to the east of the city to Cheektowaga and beyond. i worked at Bethlehem Steel when it was going great guns. i left in 1970 for Los Angeles and live just north of the San Fernando Valley now. we have a fair number of hifi stores and record stores here and i live relatively close to the showroom of Schiit Audio which is called the Schiitr. i enjoy your reviews and most of the other YT audio community. i have headphones...my orgiinal Grado SR60s, PS1000s, Hifiman 4XXs, ATH50x with a FIIO BT adapter, and some TinT2s. my close friend just bought Focal Celestees. haven't heard them yet but judging from this review, they will do nicely. thanks for letting me bend your ear. ...hifitommy
@@DMS3TV ...i used to go to Lancaster Speedway every Thursday night for the 1/8 mile drag races, then on Sunday to Niagara Dragway for the 1/4 mile drags. i am not sure that either continues today. I didn't get into audio until i moved to CA and only recently into headphones specifically. anyway, i still consider Buffalo home but i won't be moving back due to the weather and my age (77). had i frequented hifi stores when i was there, i would have been rubbing elbows with Dan D'Agostino as he lived in Niagara Falls area at the time. ...hifitommy
Elegias are literally the same performance. Radiance has v shaped and bass tuning Elegia is pretty neutral with slightly forward mids. If u want the bass of the radiance in the elegias u need two things, Dekoni sheepskin pads+bass boost eq(or button on amp). Trust me! Also u can't just bass eq elegias with the defualt pads won't work well. Hope that helps.
This is what i get from my pair: Strong mid and elevated sub bass, that is initially very square and clean lined but smooths in with burn in. Mids are very good but just below an HD6## series' timbre and overall feel. Treble is smooth and laid back where i would say only the very outside edge of cymbal hits had any edge. Vocals are like youre at the opposite ends of a long empty hallway as the singer. Its clear and easy to understand but its just, waaay over there. EQ can pull the vocals more forward towards the center of the stage. My favorite music on it has been acoustic.
Have you heard the DCA Stealth? I was choosing between the Noire and Radiance and I chose to give the Radiance a shot. The key factor was that is because the Stealth had this wierd tonality to it that sounded like some instruments or vocals were being played in an echo chamber / box. Did not realize that until I picked up the Meze Elite and I couldn't go back to the Stealth, sold it and I'm just going to give the Radiance a shot. My main concern was going to the Noire would be like the Stealth and have that weird tonality I heard.
Focal wanted to charge me $480.00 for a pair of OEM pads for these - Are they kidding or what. Every review of a Focal headphone should point out that Focal are going to tear them a new one when you want replacement pads.
Both the Focal Radiance & the DCA Noire are on my short list. I'm leaning more towards getting the Noire first because of its superior portability & the fact that my personal preferences gravitate towards neutral. I currently own both an Ether CX & an Elex. My experience with both suggests that while the Radiance has superior dynamics, the Noire just might close some of the gap after a few hundred hours of burning in. No, it won't completely close the gap, but it will get to an acceptable level compared to where they start out. This is just an educated guess on my part based on my experience with the Ether CX.
I see your destiny ghost in the background, love that game. As someone who has reviewed a lot of headsets what premium headset do you think is best for gaming and listening to music/movies don't have a budget but would like to keep under 2k and even better under 1200?
Thanks for the review. I have The Radiance and enjoy it too. Any idea how it pairs with the new Mojo2 dac? I heard that audio quality with Focal Headphones and the Mojo2 may be an issue with crossfeed etc. Many thanks
Just be aware that if you drop these outside even once they could be destroyed. I’ve owned a pair of Elear and currently own the Elegia and would never EVER consider taking them outside. These Focal headphones are meant to be enjoyed INSIDE.
Dear Doug, Do you think the attached cable and single ended, hold back the TYGR's. Looking at sending them to Demevalos for balanced mod. I trust your input on sound. #Abyss. Best, D.
Recently I bought radiance. I like the sound very much, but unfortunately the spring force of the yoke and the ear pads are different on the left and right.
I'd love to hear what you think of the element iii. I was thinking about picking up a combo unit to use at the office but I'm not sure whether to go with the El3 or whether I should pony up for the K9-pro if I'm going to drive something like the Closed X
DMS what happened to the link for your rating list in the description? I know I can go back and find it but since it's not there I am curious if it's still going to be getting updates
@@zfjames recorded music is far less dimensional, it's not often a drum machine flies over you from behind. This kind of detail is usually overlooked in these reviews. Headphones, even excellent sounding, can sound like it's 2ft away at all times... not what I want in movies and games.
@@zfjames I'm not talking about the digital end, I'm saying some headphones sound much closer or wider depending on their hardware/style. The HD800 is the king of wide stage, the various Focals' , are extremely narrow in comparison, and it has nothing to do with what audio is going into them. Different style/signatures, both excellent sounding for their design. Closedbacks and semi closedbacks are again much more narrow than open most of the time, but... some of them can be wide, but it's rare and not mentioned in videos like this what is what.
Crin's measurement looks about the same, the only big difference is his looks less dipped in the 3.5-6k region, this looks pretty far below harman there, could this be a closed back Elear (with more sub bass)?
@@windowsXD100 usually means "Japanese domestic market". I haven't heard it used with audio gear before, but it makes sense, it is more commonly used for autos and watches ( ex : JDM vs Swiss ).
@@BradFletcher-sg8ft focal clear is open though focal radiance is closed. If ur looking for a well performing but not overpriced focal I'd go for the Radiance or Elegia. But I'd pick a 2021 LCD XC out of both.
Current Celestee owner looking to upgrade. Would you suggest a radiance used Stellia or used verite closed? I use this for comminuteand office work. Currently have a ifi go blu and hip Dac 2 for Dac/amp options.
Hey DMS since your sponsored by these guys I would really appreciate it if you made a few DMS playlists that we all can look up for test tracks and maybe another for the stuff you really enjoy. I would love to tune into your playlists.
Great idea
+1
Again....! Your the king ! Articulate, accurate, very easy to understand....you nailed it out of the park 👏. Thank you for your hard work 🙏
Hello DMS. I know of the cold and snow very well. I am originally from West Seneca, a Buffalo suburb. I moved to Tennessee 16 years ago, but I still miss living there. Great review as always.
Doug, completely agree. I picked these up in a trade of a set of IEMs with a vendor, and have been in love with them since.
Damn what were the iems you parted with for these?
Idea for a future video:
Would you compare amps, progressing in price, what every next one brings new to the table in terms of sound quality?
Up until your XIaudio stuff
(Probably from some higher end headphone’s point of view, that reveals the differences better)
@Ashley Wright that seems to be a reoccurring theme, however many cheap amps offer much power with multiple Watts and great specs. For some reason you still don’t want to pair high-end headphones (e.g. Hifiman, Abyss, etc.) with let’s say A90, although it measures objectively perfect. You buy equipment like gsx mini, XIaudio Broadway/Formula S, Woo Audio (their expensive portable stuff doesn’t even have much power, but class A). There are attributes that specs won’t show you, like timbre, detail delivery, any harshness or soundstage, which better headphones can depict a lot more from amp to amp. There are differences, otherwise there wouldn’t be any sense in buying multi thousand $ equipment, as much cheaper stuff measures as good
Love the ghost as a headphone stand 😄 thanks for the review. Nice to see a closed back review for a change, among so many open back reviews around.
I'm glad I procrastinated on trying out Tidal. I knew being lazy would come in handy.
Nice Casio Royale you got there. Couldn't help but notice. That's a great watch.
Me: sees title
My wallet: Oh no
After sitting side-by-side with the Celeste’s and radiance at audio 46 I chose the Celestee because it was easier to drive on my Btr5 and I figure I can EQ the Celestee to sound a little more like the radiance for the most part if I wanted too..both are outstanding closed backs!
The softer pads and quality leather on the Radiance well justifies the price gap to some buyers.
@@gwapster13 you can just pad swap
@@theodorezurla496 i wpuld only pad swap with Radiance pads, and those cost about the same as the price difference I guess. But nah I am just biased to the overall look and build of the Radiance. And the stock tuning which is the most balanced of all Focals to date.
@@gwapster13 radiance is definitely more warm and bassy
I really like the focal mg clear, just got it
Can you recommend the clear over the radiance? I’m saving up for the clear but if the sound is similar maybe not to bad at saving a few bucks
I had big issue with these - I got very different pads left vs. right(and different sound for sure). Focal customer service is basically non-existing here in US. They never send me a good pair of pads so I had to return my pair.
I currently own six headphones all of them in the high to summit tier and this is easily one of my favorites. Glad you like them as much as I do DMS. These are especially good with Hip-Hop, RnB & Electronic. Awesome for movies as well.
Care to share the other 5
@@ivanflores6521 Rosson RAD-0, LCDX 2021, Aeolus, VC, Arya Stealth
I don't think I heard you go over the soundstage. How are the soundstage on the Radiance? I've been debating between Noire and Celestee but I've been leaning more toward Noire due to the soundstage but I love the look of Radiance and just wanted to find a good reason to add a Focal headphone into my collection
I like how he sidestepped MQA in the Tidal plug HAHA
Agreed about black strong-memory focal cables. I really hate the black plastic one that came with my clears. It also had some white fabric cables which I really liked, which apparently is their old style. Not sure why they switched, the old kind was at least better.
that's a cool ass background.
I was thinking of throwing all this plastic into the ocean, then decided it would be better off glued to the wall of my basement.
1:18 - It’s kinda weird that Tidal is so proud of streaming at 1,411 kbps when that’s exactly equivalent to 44.1/16 bit?
Like, CD-quality audio is a good thing, of course, but it almost seems as if Tidal is trying to imply that they stream at hi-res uncompressed, when they don’t?
My favourite closed back ❤️ amazing sounding with solid state amp. But can highly recommend from a A&S Mogwai SE🎧❤️
yea but Stellia exist to eat it alive :D
I like Focal headphones. Unfortunately, the ear pad openings are just a bit too small (at least on the Elegia) for me to wear comfortably. Bummer. I am curious if the newer models like the Radiance are a tad bigger.
Looking forward to that Element 3 review.
Not having a place near to demo any headphones makes these videos such a tease. But I love the tease, keep it up!
You didn't talk about the soundstage.
Great video as always. For me it was in between focal radiance and the Audeze LCD XC 2021 and bought the Audeze. Now I wonder how would they compare, will you ever do a comparison video? Thanks.
I have the XC from 2019. Love it. BUT I wonder if I would enjoy the Radiance more.
@@mclement052164 I have never heard the radiance. Hopefully I will have the opportunity to hear it one day.
Lcd xc are much better performance but the Radiance has a very addicting insane bass. Performance=lcd xc (just eq more bass in) out of the box tuning for bass lovers goes to Radiance with the technical performance a bit behind lcd xc 2021 but not like way worse or anything radiance still has good technicalities.
@@carlitosway6922 hope my answer helps u 😊
@@mclement052164 I commented a comparison on his comment if u wanna read:)
Joshua Valour inspired thumbnail? You guys are the best.
Good timing, I have a set of these from AVexchange arriving in a couple days. Interested to see how much I like them. Currently using Elex as daily driver but also have Clear MG on the way...I splurged to say the least. Way more than I should be spending. Knowing my tastes, I'll probably end up with just the Clear MG and sell the Elex and eventually the Radiance. 6xx is my forever backup I think although after using the Elex so much I get a bit of "fatigue" listening to the 6xx now with some tracks. The mids sometimes seem overwhelming now where they used to be always smooth.
Very cool Tidal sponsored this video, I think you've done a lot for their business in the last few years
Wish they offered lossless for master quality. I'd resub to them if that was true
Would love Tidal more if they would pay Artists you actually listen to. I had like over 200 listens more for an Artist which I never listened to, except in some features. But artists which I listened to daily I had a stream rate of 50 listenings for the month. Send them a message that their service didn´t work, at least for me. They just replied it´s a "new service" and might not work properly. I could understand it if there would be like small differences for artists you actually listen to, but I feel just tricked and lied to like this.
@@tsurugi12 Welcome to the average Tidal experience. they have a history of hiding and lying about everything to everyone
Love your diffusion panels behind you...could you include a link to a source? Keep up the good work!
I have the Elegias, which I like, I bought a woven cable for the headset, to use instead, found it on Amazon, smaller diameter connections that still fit. Its better than the Elegias on keeping a memory to the cable. I tried emailing Focal on other cable options, but they never replied on other cable options. Disappointing in customer service. So while I like the quality of the product, I don't care for the customer service nor the cables. Have you tried reaching out to Focal on other cable options? It would be nice if you could let the rest of us know since you are an in the review business.
When I tested these I couldn't even finish the test playlist. The sound was so sharp and bright that I dropped the volume maybe 5dB from my usual test level. Same with the Stellia. Any thoughts on if there's some explanation beyond a difference in preference? Source was a Mojo. I really liked the Utopia, Clear MG, I don't mind a DT990 etc.
Edit: I tested the Stellia first so maybe it destroyed my ears for these as well?
Strange, this pair measures and sounds relaxed in the treble. Maybe the source?
@@DMS3TV With my Radiance I found you can use gear (or EQ) that can gently push on the treble to pull it up a little from the back. BUT! If that source/EQ pushes too much it quickly makes the headphone sharp, glassy, shouty, glaring especial in the region for female voices and trumpets.
I had the same experience testing the Celestee - the treble was intolerable and metallically zingy, and same as you, I liked the Clear MG and Utopia. Preferred Clear over Utopia.
The peaky treble is the same with my pair as well; and I find them at times more troubling than my HD800S at times, as the treble peaks sharply contrasts with the thick body of the bass. It is almost right up there with some of the DCA headphones I tested.
Though I use EQ to tune it down, it is otherwise a good set of headphone in terms of sound despite being quite creaky from inside the headband structure (more like a metal cligy sound) when just wearing them and moving your head around. Is there really that much unit variance?
Running them off of my SU-9n DAC + THX789 / iFi Go Blu.
@@DMS3TV I experimented with some different genres of music and A/B'd against my Elex, LCD-5, and HD800S. The Radiance is peaky in frequencies that most music don't (at least repetitively) go to.
The treble is 'relaxed' for most music, but if I listen to specific genres, electronic J-Pop, for example YoiYoi Kokon by REOL (try them on soundcloud/spotify as the youtube version is completely smoothed over), starting at around 1:00 without EQ the Radiance can become a bit of an ear-r@pe as the peak contrast with the dips right below it, making it somehow worse then my HD800S without EQ.
Please try it and see if it is still a matter of unit variation, or if your pair behave similarly in these specific frequencies.
MQA is entirely a sham, and if it weren't for Tidal still pushing it, I'd still be on the service.
Same. I’ll go back to them when they get rid of that BS.
Tidal is also still too expensive for what the competition offers , it’s Hifi offering is CD 16bit /44.1 kHz , where as Apple Music or Amazon HD ( Which I subscribe to for under $6.50 /monthly before taxes with Prime Membership ) apple is the same price as Tidal but it has Hi Res files available just like Amazon does. So if you want Hi Res streaming you need to cough up another 10 dollars more on Tidal , the only good thing about Tidal is the artist payout.
No thanks I’ll stick with my Amazon HD with High Res files for under $6.50 per month before taxes)
And yeah MQA , controversial subject. I ain’t drinking the Koolaid that Tidal is selling with MQA .
Same. Although I found out recently they’ve been charging me for months after I cancelled their service so….
you can just subscribe to the hifi tier then, that's what ive done. I mainly switched cause spotify doesnt pay the artists
Same here
These are my commute cans. I dont like IEMs, so these were the perfect thing.
Go to Hutch's and Mulberry's for me! My favorite Restaurants in Buffalo! Hutch's for Jambalaya pasta (Large order) and Mulberry's for Manicotti with large meatball and extra sauce. I heard "The Roost" is good.
Great video DMS well done! I really want you to do a review of the $3,000 Focal Stellia headphone and also compare it side by side with your Focal Radiance headphone. I want to buy the Stellia headphone. If you are going to do a review of the Stellia, please give us some insight of why the Focal Stellia cost more money than the Radiance. Please do a review of the Stellia.
Excellent review and good to see a fellow Buffalo Soldier into good headphones.
BUFFALO? i am from Buffalo, went to School #1 (gone now, on Busti Ave near Hudson), then Grover Cleveland for one semester and then to Kensington HS, graduated in 1962. my friends moved out to the east of the city to Cheektowaga and beyond. i worked at Bethlehem Steel when it was going great guns. i left in 1970 for Los Angeles and live just north of the San Fernando Valley now. we have a fair number of hifi stores and record stores here and i live relatively close to the showroom of Schiit Audio which is called the Schiitr.
i enjoy your reviews and most of the other YT audio community. i have headphones...my orgiinal Grado SR60s, PS1000s, Hifiman 4XXs, ATH50x with a FIIO BT adapter, and some TinT2s. my close friend just bought Focal Celestees. haven't heard them yet but judging from this review, they will do nicely.
thanks for letting me bend your ear.
...hifitommy
Small world! I just got a house out in Lancaster next to Cheektowaga 😄 Buffalo is growing fast these days.
@@DMS3TV ...i used to go to Lancaster Speedway every Thursday night for the 1/8 mile drag races, then on Sunday to Niagara Dragway for the 1/4 mile drags. i am not sure that either continues today. I didn't get into audio until i moved to CA and only recently into headphones specifically. anyway, i still consider Buffalo home but i won't be moving back due to the weather and my age (77).
had i frequented hifi stores when i was there, i would have been rubbing elbows with Dan D'Agostino as he lived in Niagara Falls area at the time.
...hifitommy
I've had these for months and one of the pads started leaking glue or something. Don't know what that's about. Great headphones !
Recently picked up the elegias and have been liking them so far. These are a bit too rich for my blood as of now
Elegias are literally the same performance. Radiance has v shaped and bass tuning Elegia is pretty neutral with slightly forward mids. If u want the bass of the radiance in the elegias u need two things, Dekoni sheepskin pads+bass boost eq(or button on amp). Trust me! Also u can't just bass eq elegias with the defualt pads won't work well. Hope that helps.
This is what i get from my pair:
Strong mid and elevated sub bass, that is initially very square and clean lined but smooths in with burn in. Mids are very good but just below an HD6## series' timbre and overall feel. Treble is smooth and laid back where i would say only the very outside edge of cymbal hits had any edge. Vocals are like youre at the opposite ends of a long empty hallway as the singer. Its clear and easy to understand but its just, waaay over there. EQ can pull the vocals more forward towards the center of the stage. My favorite music on it has been acoustic.
U said that about Noire, I bought it and they were “Le Garbage” and they went back, do you pay full retail? Hmmmm
Have you heard the DCA Stealth? I was choosing between the Noire and Radiance and I chose to give the Radiance a shot. The key factor was that is because the Stealth had this wierd tonality to it that sounded like some instruments or vocals were being played in an echo chamber / box. Did not realize that until I picked up the Meze Elite and I couldn't go back to the Stealth, sold it and I'm just going to give the Radiance a shot. My main concern was going to the Noire would be like the Stealth and have that weird tonality I heard.
Focal wanted to charge me $480.00 for a pair of OEM pads for these - Are they kidding or what. Every review of a Focal headphone should point out that Focal are going to tear them a new one when you want replacement pads.
Focal builds absolutely industry leading quality. Nice quick review. :)
Both the Focal Radiance & the DCA Noire are on my short list. I'm leaning more towards getting the Noire first because of its superior portability & the fact that my personal preferences gravitate towards neutral. I currently own both an Ether CX & an Elex. My experience with both suggests that while the Radiance has superior dynamics, the Noire just might close some of the gap after a few hundred hours of burning in. No, it won't completely close the gap, but it will get to an acceptable level compared to where they start out. This is just an educated guess on my part based on my experience with the Ether CX.
it wont be the same, tried both before. based on your collection i recommend emu teak or denon d7200 or this radiance
I see your destiny ghost in the background, love that game. As someone who has reviewed a lot of headsets what premium headset do you think is best for gaming and listening to music/movies don't have a budget but would like to keep under 2k and even better under 1200?
Man... I love those back sound panels. So cool looking. I think Asus made smartphones that had the same design.
Love that Casio watch I believe that’s the 1200 series
Now that you’ve spent some time with the aeon 2 noire and the focal radiance, which would you say you prefer?
Can’t wait for the new tier list. ;)
Yes
Great video. Curious what watch is that you're wearing 🧐?
Hey DMS, this gonna be out of the blue question but where did you get your glasses frame from? I like the look haha
Sir wanted to know if moondrop Aria will sound better than Sony XM4 over the ear headphones? Please do reply 🙂
The headphones on Ghost is a cute touch
I'm pretty sure the Focal cables are made of romex.
I got a pair of Elegias for 360 on adorama and I became a believer in focal after that, though the wire I got with it was god awful
By the time I decided I wanted the Radiance, everybody was sold out. Thanks for rubbing it in that I missed out!
Plenty of used ones! That’s how I got it.
Thanks for the review. I have The Radiance and enjoy it too. Any idea how it pairs with the new Mojo2 dac?
I heard that audio quality with Focal Headphones and the Mojo2 may be an issue with crossfeed etc. Many thanks
Actually ill buy these for train trips :D Was already going to but this confirms it. Thanx. :D
Just be aware that if you drop these outside even once they could be destroyed. I’ve owned a pair of Elear and currently own the Elegia and would never EVER consider taking them outside. These Focal headphones are meant to be enjoyed INSIDE.
Man, I was looking into these.
Would you say the Radiance has a better soundstage than the Celestee?
Thanks for your review!
Would love to see a non-branded version of this headphone. Maybe a drop collab?
Is this wider than the Celestee? What about imaging?
it was a dealbreaker about the celestee for me. Interested in this question as well.
Dear Doug, Do you think the attached cable and single ended, hold back the TYGR's. Looking at sending them to Demevalos for balanced mod. I trust your input on sound. #Abyss. Best, D.
What phone are you using at 2:50? Anything with a headphone jack is exciting
Recently I bought radiance.
I like the sound very much, but unfortunately the spring force of the yoke and the ear pads are different on the left and right.
I'd love to hear what you think of the element iii. I was thinking about picking up a combo unit to use at the office but I'm not sure whether to go with the El3 or whether I should pony up for the K9-pro if I'm going to drive something like the Closed X
How it differ from MG
DMS what happened to the link for your rating list in the description? I know I can go back and find it but since it's not there I am curious if it's still going to be getting updates
Gaming/Movies? Many of us would appreciate a taking point about this aspect in every review. IT helps convey imaging / stage in that use case.
Gaming is irrelevant, movies are just music on steroids so if good for music, good for movies
@@zfjames recorded music is far less dimensional, it's not often a drum machine flies over you from behind.
This kind of detail is usually overlooked in these reviews.
Headphones, even excellent sounding, can sound like it's 2ft away at all times... not what I want in movies and games.
@@Ottobawt what's your point? Dimension added in mixing and mastering is far different than artifacts added by the _encoding process-
@@zfjames I'm not talking about the digital end, I'm saying some headphones sound much closer or wider depending on their hardware/style. The HD800 is the king of wide stage, the various Focals' , are extremely narrow in comparison, and it has nothing to do with what audio is going into them. Different style/signatures, both excellent sounding for their design. Closedbacks and semi closedbacks are again much more narrow than open most of the time, but... some of them can be wide, but it's rare and not mentioned in videos like this what is what.
2:27 That headphone stand on the right, is really pushing in the pads. You sure the pads won't be affected by this? Unless it's just a prop haha
I know you're pretty new to the gaming scene but will you be playing horizon forbidden west? Great artstyle and music that game
Hej! Here’s an idea for a video. Which is the best headphone you could use directly with a phone (i.e. iPhone dongle)?
Buffalo NY. Oh my deepest sympathies.
Thx for the Tidal link✌️👍
hoping to see you at CanJam this year!!!
Great vid mate! Love ur stuff
Crin's measurement looks about the same, the only big difference is his looks less dipped in the 3.5-6k region, this looks pretty far below harman there, could this be a closed back Elear (with more sub bass)?
Different measuring rigs
DMS, Rewatched Z's TYGR video. Yes, doing a balanced mod. Adding Forza AW Cable. I have Forza on my KATO's; unbelievable. Best, D.
Tidal isn’t available in Azerbaijan 😕. I’m still waiting them with roses on my hand 🙂
Interesting headphone stand, could you tell us more about the stand that holds the DCA headphone?
haha, It's just a ghost from the game Destiny 2. Not actually a stand I just like using it as one sometimes.
Pity i was going to get these for my digital piano :(
Great video! 😍
Hello and compared to the Bathys ?
Can you do some reviews on some Etymotics?
Could you review the Avantone Planar?
It’s a pity this review came out now, since afaik these headphones are already discontinued and rather hard to find T.T
how much of a difference is between radiance and Bathys in usb dac mode?
I've been using both tidal and apple music. I like tidal better for desktop and apple for mobile I've found.
Tidal is STILL not available in India.
Can you make a review of Kinera Nanna?
they sound ideal for dub techno
As a JDM guy....if the headphones didn't say Bentley on them I may be interested in them lol.
JDM?
@@windowsXD100 usually means "Japanese domestic market". I haven't heard it used with audio gear before, but it makes sense, it is more commonly used for autos and watches ( ex : JDM vs Swiss ).
Focal: Radiance
Hollow Knight Fans: 👀
Do you prefer the Focal Radiance over the Focal Clear original? Considering both, thanks
Clear OG for sure
@@DMS3TV is there a large difference between the two? I am looking for something with a closed back
@@BradFletcher-sg8ft focal clear is open though focal radiance is closed. If ur looking for a well performing but not overpriced focal I'd go for the Radiance or Elegia. But I'd pick a 2021 LCD XC out of both.
Hey DMS. Can you review the new Element 3s by JDS labs! Would be really helpful
Is Diana PHI so good that you had to buy it?
What about the price..?
Wanted to buy a sub from tidal, but it does not work in my country. Too bad :(
the tidal link says 10 and 20 for me. Not 1 and 2 dollars. Anyone else see the same? or maybe it's because I'm outside the US ?
waiting for element 3 review.. hoping you could compare with aune x1s gt
Are these punchier than the Clears? How do these compare to the Clears in general?
clears are gonna be much better dude. S tier open back
Current Celestee owner looking to upgrade. Would you suggest a radiance used Stellia or used verite closed? I use this for comminuteand office work. Currently have a ifi go blu and hip Dac 2 for Dac/amp options.
Verite.
1 up for VC it's way better than Stellia or Radiance. Stellia has good performance but way over priced.
@@soraflame66 radiance can now be had used for 850 and vc around 1600 used for monkey pod. Do you still vote vc considering the price diff ?
@@aceofspades6667 no, I'd buy a elegia for 280$ used and also just buy a VC. Elegia is literally 99% the performance of a Radiance
@@aceofspades6667 most of foals lineup is over priced elegia are amazing and a huge price drop rn 390$ brand new and under 300 used