*PLEASE READ CAREFULLY* Please be a decent human being and keep your sexist/racist thoughts and conspiracy theories to yourself. External links are also a no-no. Comments that *advance* the conversation are most welcome.

I love my Stellia so much. Absolutely my favorite pair of headphones.

While I will likely never own a $3k pair of headphones I still thoroughly enjoy your content. First of all, I really enjoy hearing what you are listening to. Second, I do like how you also review entry level equipment, like your recents looks at entry level DACs. Can’t wait for your thoughts on entry level headphones. The value there will be immense considering your exposure to so many high end sets. Great work, thank you.

I really like how John sprinkles nuances of albums to explain the features of the headphones. It also enables me to explore those parts of the music with my own headphones. But John's taste and mine are polar opposite, but good for me since I get to discover more of a foreign genre. Thanks, John and Olaf has quite beautiful camera angles.

No one commented on the incredible coffee transition… loved it! On a more serious note, I auditioned the Stellia and the Utopias and I just got charmed and hooked by the Utopias, best investment to date, they really just stand out for me. They’re Focal’s top end headphones, you get what you pay for. Another great video from John Darko.

What I love about your video’s is that I get exposed to all these new (to me) albums! With all the pausing your video last hours ;) Great stuff! Thank you

I bought the Stellias this year and am extremely happy with them. I use a McIntosh MHA150 amp and also run Harbeth P3ESR-XD’s speakers when not using the Stellias. At my age this was the smallest, simplest, decent system I could assemble. Thanks!

Love John's intellectual agility, his ever inventive language, his infectious enthusiasms. Have never tried the Stellias, but I own the Utopias that I use with the Bartok. The surprise for me is that cables matter greatly. I swapped out the stock cables for cables made for them by Transparent. The difference was HUGE.

If you are experiencing hearing loss and you don't want everyone to join your club, headphones are a great way to go! :-)

I love Hifi and music since I was a teenager, and I'm 61 currently. Previously I had a combo B&W 802 + Amp Classè Audio A class. I just bought a Stellia and I listen to music with MacBookPro + Dragonfly black henceforth. To shrink the story a bit, I've never heard such an amazing sound. DAC + Stellia gives you the best, without dispute. Pure emotion. Period.

I bought Focal Clears a few years ago. They are stunning. The quality of materials and sound never ceases to amaze me. Great video - love your enthusiasm and expert insights!

After spending around €9000 on my surround sound system in my previous apartment, where I could crank up the volume and I felt like I was in heaven as one would. To now living in another apartment where I cannot use my system because of the neighbors, I am feeling somewhat sad knowing that these beautiful headphones would have been a much better purchase 😂 . If only we could see the future wouldn't that be awesome. Nice review by the way 👍

Thank you for continuing your headphone series. Much appreciated.

Hope you haven't missed hearing this - Toy Planet: Irmin Schmidt & Bruno Spoerri (1981). Thanks for all the content.

Those leather ear cups look gorgeous! Beautiful color and luscious.

Nicely Done. Looking forward to the entry level vid. Hopefully not to long in the making :)

Just got them 3 days ago very much enjoying, once growing accustomed to the closed back sound.

Thanks John and Olaf. Love the alchemy of music and head-fi (and coffee!)

These Focal headphones sure are beasts to behold. I love the way they look and all I have to do is experience them for myself.

John, you are to high-end audio as Nigella is to eating strawberries...and I mean that in a good way. Watching you introduce a headphone jack to a socket is, quite simply, sublime!

I’ve been wanting those Stellias 🎧 since they’ve been announced. After this review, I want them even more. Gonna have to pull some night shifts to save up 😬

Super enjoyable to watch mate. They're pretty special cans.

Thanks for another great review. Also, you have introduced me to many artist’s that I wouldn’t have found. I appreciate your dedication to the listening experience. Enjoy your musical journey.

Great review. With the wife and daughter working from home now (due to Covid), headphones are my musical lifeline.

Best part of this Video - The Luxurious Coffee preparation !

Thanks John for always pushing me in new musical directions.

Love my Stellia's. I had the Empyrean's before and loved them too but the Stellia's are just as sharp and dynamic, less airy but most importantly for my use case, closed back.

I enjoy the way John brings out the music as he discusses the sonic qualities of the product. ❤

Love getting album/track recommendations, and will get them on my listen list. That's what it's all about at the end of the day

High end audio and coffee go well together. You should try adding like 30-60 grams of water to the coffee and letting it sit for 30 seconds before adding the remaining water. It helps improve extraction. I love the video. I am constantly discovering new music from you and it is a real joy.

G/day John, another super awesome video- thank you for your effort!

While I'm not really a headphone guy, my (only) audiophile friend owns a pair. With his FiiO DAP and my own Pontus II DAC it was simply the best headphone experience of my entire life.

I meant your whole approach brought me back to hifi... and I did not need this problem!!! More seriously, Thank you for your work.

Wieder ein großartiges Video, dankeschön.

Hi, I owned Focal Stellia for one year. They are the best closed back Headphones you can buy. But I sold them again, because wires. Those thick wires are annoying AF. And you also need a pretty bulky amplifier to drive them and that repelled me from using them. But if you take your time and put in the effort they are. a dream.

I’m seriously thinking of the focal celestee it’s nearer to what I could push for, but these look and I’m sure sound absolutely gorgeous.

When i used to fly in the military we used Dan Clarks and it was with that brand i first came across voice activated and sound canceling. A very comfortable headset. Am also challenged with glasses, i no longer use behind the ear frames because of aviation headsets.

Thanks very much for sharing your thoughts and observations on these...as always informative and well presented 👍👍

Thank you so much for this nice review. I don't own those beautiful Stellias, but I bought the Celestee just about 2 weeks ago, and I'm really really happy with them. They look beautiful, they are extremely comfortable, but most importantly they sound so good. I didn't expect this from a closed back.

I'm not an audiophile, but I just think these are so cool. I bought some Focal tower speakers because I've just read about and watched so many videos on Focal, and love the brand. I could never justify spending that kind of money on headphones as I don't really even listen to headphones that much, but they're definitely on my dream list of stuff

Looks good on you John. Beautiful device.

Had only thought about headphones as for late night don't disturb the Spouse listening; thank you enlightening me to the acoustics in comparison to listening to loudspeakers within a room🎶

While I'll never find the will to invest in $3000 headphones, this did inspire me to brew with the Chemex and bring out Spanners this morning. I always thought Black Dog records post-Plaid guys were superior to Plaid. Is it just me or do all this era's IDM recordings (GPR Records, Likemind, early John Beltran) lack dynamics from a sound quality standpoint? Speaking of the Orb, John, if you haven't picked up The Grid's recent collab with Robert Fripp, you're in for a treat.

Another great video, especially the coffee interlude. Agree entirely about the Stellia sound. It’s the only Focal headphone I truly enjoy; the comfort and its character , wonderful. Awesome music choices throughout.

Love what you're suggesting with the coffee interlude.

Hi John, thank you so much for your detailed review of the Focal headphones 😉 BTW, your nonverbal behavior revealed every single detail of the Focal headphones 🎧 and that is such a wonderful thing to see, your enthusiasm is more than obvious 👊👊👊 Thanks again for a fantastic review gentleman 👍 much appreciated 💯👌

Seems everyone is getting into headphones at the moment or maybe it's just me and the KZfaq algorithm. Also, it has just occurred to me that John is living the ultimate bachelor lifestyle.

I had a pair of Stellias. Then I had two more pair's of Stellias. All three of them had bad drivers, really poor QA on Focals behalf. Decided to give up on the brand entirely and bought a pair of HD800S.

I like headphones, like most people, but I can't relax with them if my partner is in the living room watching the TV. When she's not in the living room, I listen with my speakers. As a side note, room correction is a nice way of fixing room modes (if not the reflections) and hearing the sound stage with more clarity. I think we will start seeing a lot more digital amplification employing room correction soon.

Love Prefab Sprout! When love breaks down was the first tune heard. brilliant

Thanks John for your videos, such great audio equipment and amazing music tips 🚀

Cant imagine how they can not be pure luxury for that price :) Focal got that stylish look for their headphones, adding great sound quality make them solid choice

Lovely review John. Very Pleasant. They really are exquisite headphones 🎧

Love you videos. I use Stellias with Mojo when travelling. Amazing sound listening to Tool / Pink Floyd. Great video.

Joooohn!!! OMG, I managed to put my hands on the Metallic Spheres thing... I still cannot believe my studio monitors could show such details. The CD is indeed an explosion of microsounds everywhere!!! Fan.ta.stic. Thanks, and keep up with the good job. Cheers, Al.

I really like headphone reviews as I use headphones a lot myself. I think it is very true that you get a lot with really good headphones. I have Sennheiser HD 800 S and the sound quality with these is breathtaking. I do listen to a lot of classical music, they are really good for that of course. Headphones are a very different presentation from loudspeakers, but I find I like the immersion that you get with them. I first started using headphones a lot in the 90s when I lived in London and I had a tiny flat (apartment in US). If I played music with loudspeakers then my neighbours in their tiny flats were listening along as well. So, I started listening to music with headphones almost exclusively each night and I developed a great love of using headphones.

Great review, will be working my way through the back catalogue!

Thanks John for talking about Metallic Spheres, I had forgotten I had it in my CD collection and had to go and put it on a re experience its sublime soundscapes

very good take. love the cheeky smiles when talking about being practical. your measured deliberated sauteing of words makes it quite easy to follow what the various headphones bring to the table. thanks. on your cheeky smile, i felt the same way when my focal salesman spent 45 minutes aligning the big speakers to perfection, only to have me bump them out a foot in each direction because i needed to see the teli ... sure, it ruined the perfect sound signature. but .. teli...

I recently got Focal Elegia's and coming from my previous best headphones, the Sennheiser HD 6XX, the difference in build quality and presentation is astounding.

Nice review, thanks. Plenty of information and valid comparisons

Lovin' your music selections, again. It's because it's outside of my 'recommendation pool'. Playing these tunes on Tidal, hopefully makes my recommendations a bit wider. And, of course, it yields a few album picks for immediate enjoyment. Really love Calexico's Hot Rail at the moment. Thumbs up! Oh and: not in the market for a 3 grand pair of headphones, but something about your videos makes me want to watch (the gear part) still :-D

As allways, thanks for a nice and detailed review. Cheers.

Brilliant! Great nuances when comparing the headphones👍

Very much out of my budget, but I am looking forward to your entry-level headphone video

John, thanks for your video brilliant as always, best reviews & production by a country mile ......

There seems to be pretty good consensus about the Stellia being a great sounding headphone. I want to like Focal, I really love their build quality and designs but clipping issues with their open backs and the bizarre-o tonality of the Elegia have spooked me from investing further in the brand. I feel like a Verite Closed is a safer buy given ZMF tuning, pad options, and warranty. But I prefer the styling of Focal's line to just about any other headphone brand. (edit) I just bought these for a grand off 😬. Hopefully she's more than a great pair of yams.

Great video and explanation of these Focals. Personally I am not a fan of closed back headphones as much. Open back have less ear fatigue and the sound is more airy.

great video I was still hesitating between the stellia and the meze. lots of information and always so professional in your attitude. You can benefit from a 3-year additional warranty to the official website by registering your product

If I had a spare $4500 Australian to spare I'd definitely grab these, but I'll stick to my focal Elegia for now, I also found them to be extremely detailed and if I want to hear everything, I wear them and 100% agree, with what you said about open backs being the best is pragmatic. Seriously watching that coffee being made, I was drooling 💦

Good evening fella. Great vid as always. Not sure if you’re aware the Gilmore & Orb Metallic Spheres album released with a double CD and the second CD was a headphone specific version of the album. Specifically a 3D60 version. Maybe worth checking out. Also a recommendation which maybe up your street music wise, Craven Faults. Utterly outstanding modular synth stuff.

I listened to some stellias 2 years ago at the Florida audio expo, but I couldn't get myself to like it for some reason. I still prefer my T60 Argon's.

Wow, I haven't listened to 'Metallic Spheres' in so long! Thanks for the reminder :)

I’m using a McIntosh MHA150 headphone amp into my Stellia’s and am extremely happy. I wanted higher end gear for early mornings while my wife is sleeping, or most other times she’s around. I run the Harbeth P3ESR-XD external speakers for ambient listening. I NEVER “critically” listen to anything…😉 Thanks!

I love your hi-end headphones reviews even if my budget only allows for $20 in-ear earphones 🤓

Another great and simple as it should be. Thanks. Amazing headphones ; )

Could you please review the more affordable Focal Celestee?

Tested these on a store a few months ago and I completely agree on what you said about the layers in music. Especially vocal separation, there's simply nothing like it. It does lack warmth though and I guess for this reason it could never be an all-round pair of headphones for me.

A work colleague had shared a URL with me for the Focal Stella and I balked at the price, but I'm glad to have seen this review. Maybe something a third of the price would be within my pain threshold. Looking forward to your next video.

the most helpful detail for me was when you sit outside(balkony) : i was like ; "ahh okay !, i can sit in my garden with headphones!" otherwise i would not change to headphones .. and going out with 2k headgear would not make me feel comfortable to be honest ...thanks for ENO & HYDE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I agree with your review but would add that the Stellia are "Pure Luxury" in both fit and finish and build quality and sound quality.

@Darko Audio Thanks for a great Video ! "If you want to get close to what they heard in the studio it's headphones..." Well... not really. 99% of productions (and the albums you mentioned) were mixed with monitors (speakers) and more importantly, when you listen with speakers, your left ear can hear the sound from the right speaker (not just the left speaker) and the other way around, but with headphones, you get a complete different stereo image, which your brain completes for you, since each ear can only hear one side of the stereo sound. your right ear can't hear the sound that is coming out of the left headphone side. so it's better to have your own room sound with speakers to get close to studio sound. I prefer headphones as well, but they always sound different from what the artists meant.

I understand what you are saying about the value of $3000 headphones compared to $3000 pair of speakers. Still, if I really want to enjoy my music to the fullest, it will be through speakers. I only use headphones when I can't listen through speakers. Thanks again for a fun review.

Great review as per usual, and I appreciate your in-depth coverage of devices with different types of sound signatures.

Fantastic review on a product that I am so close to investing in but I must say it was at 11:57 that it all congealed and I hit the "Subscribe" button.

Excellent review. The Focal looks awesome and I’m sure they sound pretty amazing. The problem is my wallet.

Berylium metal dust is highly toxic when inhaled. (A retired chemist who was in head of a major university’s chemical safety program for seven years.) that is the reason for the HAZMAT suit.

I keyed in on your observation that they are closed back but don’t necessarily sound like a typical closed back. That’s nice to know because I’m currently shopping for headphones and have not had the chance to start listening to any yet. Considering Audezey LCD-XC and LCD-3. I will add these to my list as well. Thank you. I own Meze 99 Classic. They are great. Looking to step up.

The stellias are fantastic and I had them for a couple weeks and have since tried to get something cheaper that came close and the Sony MDR-Z7M2 is what I chose...

I am very very tempted to buy the Stellia’s but my question is “are the Stellia’s ten times better than the Sony WH-1000XM3?” Ultimately the Stellia’s are a treat. A special one off purchase. Any thoughts folks?

Luxury. I’m all in

Hi John, could you share your thoughts please on how the Focals sound through the Hugo 2/2go combo compared to the dcs Bartok? Thanks

Why not do a review af the Focal Utopia headpgones also, as a reference? I know its been out about 5 years,but still viable.

At review, will have to work through the back catalogue!

👀 LOOKS AND SOUNDS👂 LIKE A LUXURIOUS EXPERIENCE 🤗🤗🤗😎😍😍😍

You nailed it , i love my Stellias and agree with everything you said. great video again. keep the great videos coming

Yes, between 3000€ headphones and 3000€ boxes I will buy the headphone, in my home boxes is for background music and headphone are for appreciating music, same difference as when I am cooking everyday and I am going in a fine french restaurant with my beloved. :-) .

I enjoyed the Stellia when I got them but listening to IEM and other cans with better details and clarity on vocals just made me sell them. I can't even say it has good bass, it is very muddy and not enough layers with the bass. And uppermids/vocals are quite muffled. Also, while it looks luxurious, the leather headband will suffer discoloration. Happened to mine and most of used Stellia.

Excellent video

I compared the Stellia with ZMF Verité (open and closed). The ZMF looked beautiful too, but I missed so much tiny things and details in the sound that I choose the Stellia. It was a lot of money, but I like every bit of music through it. Thanks for agreeing, John. (Sometimes a man likes to be confirmed, don't he?)