Matching left and right drivers is a key step in headphone manufacturing.
That may be a reason to sell the drivers only in pairs. See this video.
Maybe you can return the pair to Focal so that they can repair the faulty driver or replace it with a matched driver.
Just wanted to say that the customer service wasnât nasty in any way, itâs just that I was bit taken back by the price of the replacement parts.
Unfortunately no offer was made by Focal for any type of return or repair service.
This was a very interesting video, I had no idea that is how they handled the drivers in headphones. Do you know if all manufacturers employ this kind of technique? I wonder if they do it via regular speakers as well, I do now recall seeing mention from ads before about matched pair (usually in conjunction with the pitch about them being consecutive serial numbers).
@Larry_Herrett I do not know about other headphone manufacturers.
I suppose it will depend on the price point of the headphones.
Hi all,
Thanks for all the comments and input. I have done some reading, although no listening tests yet. I thinking of pitching the set-up a bit lower so I can see how I get on with things. The thinking being i will be able to make use of the bits of kits if I donât really get on with headphone listening.
I am thinking of something like this at the moment.
Streamer (Allo Digione spdif) â DAC/AMP (PRO-JECT AUDIO PRE BOX S2) â Headphones (Meze 99 Classic)
I am already in the process of building the Digione with an existing RPI, I am just waiting on Allo. I will then get the other bits and pieces as I listen and then when funds allow.
A reasonable plan.
An interesting experience: yesterday my son came to visit. He is a jazz musician, plays bass. I wanted to show him the new AAA 789 headphone amp:
Itâs hooked up to a $80 DAC, but also to Audeze LCD-4z headphones. He knows Roon, has his own license, I gave him the iPad and went out to the kitchen to prepare dinner.
He came and told me, he had picked up a Sonny Rollins album from Tidal. He had a transcription of the bass part, and has used that to practice with. The transcription includes some very subtle nuances, he assumes they must be correct, but he has never heard them when listening to his speakers, or his headphone rig â all gear that is reasonable but low end. On my rig, he heard it instantly.
Telling that story just to illustrate why a really good headphone rig is worth the money. And that not all good gear is expensive, the AAA 789 amp is $350.
Thanks @AndersVinberg - I have my name down to be notified by massdrop when available, so this could be an alternative. I would need to find DAC obviously.
It would also give you a bit more flexibility with headphones - I donât think the Pre Box S2 copes all that well with high impedance headphones (it wasnât usable for me with HD650s).
Edit: Another cheap but decent option for the amp would be the Arcam rHeadâŚnot as good as the recommendation from Anders but generally available for less than half the price and will drive pretty much anything I think.
I have all the gears you listed. They are all very good but pay attention to the Meze. They are extremely easy to drive, to the point that you donât need an headphone amp. I love how the Meze sound but I didnât like them with the S2 Digital and moved them to my office driven by Dragonfly Black and they are still too loud.
One of my favourite headphones shops , spiritland - very nice chap who usually fronts the shop and have a great selection to sample. Bought my N90s and the LCDs from this place.
I just had notice that the THX AAA⢠789 Linear Amplifier is back via mass drop, I wonder whether this might be too good to pass up. I built the streamer as I mentioned above, the Allo Digione, and its sitting happily feeding my Arcam irDACII at my home desk set-up now. So, I might struggle to extricate it again as I like it. So I might consider getting another. Anyway, it doesnât look like the amp is shipping until May, but I am in no massive rush.
@AndersVinberg, are you still as effusive in your praise? Any more reflections or should I just order and worry later? I am in the UK but Massdrop look like they will ship it over here.
Oh well, in the time I was writing and doing a bit of reading the drop has ended. Must have been popular!
Damn, I just came online and saw your note, I was going to buy one or two more!
They apparently sold another 1,000 or so, with 10,000 requests.
Never mind, they will build more.
Or you can spent $3,100 for the Benchmark equivalent.
462 units in this drop according to the confirmation email I received 
If it doesnât play nicely with my Beyerdynamic T1 (2nd Gen) 's Iâll put it up for grabs on the Sales and Trades threadâŚ
My favorite set of headphones with the AKG N90Q a very close second.
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