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AbbottsOnion t1_je8l4gi wrote

Don't think I could ever take the plunge with a HIFIMAN product for this reason.

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Deferian t1_je9bqmb wrote

Same. So many Hifiman headphones I would have loved to try/own. But at the price we're paying, durability should be very much consistent.

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blorg t1_je9il29 wrote

...says the Focal / Audeze owner

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Deferian t1_je9jlcl wrote

There are failures with every brand. But it would be a stretch to say that other brands have issues as widespread as Hifiman. And consistently across their models, too.

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blorg t1_je9k0bg wrote

I think they are very prevalent with Audeze and Focal. Particularly Focal, they were having driver and headband failures on certain models at an extraordinarily high rate.

They had to up the warranty on the Utopia to five years to try to reassure people, because they were crapping out left right and center. The Elex, even worse, a very high percentage of them were breaking. I have the Clear and Utopia myself, so nothing against Focal, but I'm more concerned about them than I am my Hifimans. Listen to this for headband quality.

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random_LA_azn_dude t1_jee02od wrote

Yeah, Focal headbands have a chintzy internal construction.

Remember the goo that leaked from Utopia stock pads and got into the driver chamber? This caused a number of driver deaths.

I'm also a Utopia owner (2020 edition).

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blorg t1_jee0ui4 wrote

I have the 2020 Utopia as well, on Head-Fi Focal acknowledged but also said they had fixed the driver death issue with the Utopia by that point (I hope!)

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random_LA_azn_dude t1_jeff3fv wrote

I saw that post too. Fingers crossed because I love my Utopia despite disliking most of the other Focal headphones that I've encountered (Elex, Elegia, Radiance, and Clear Mg, with the Clear Mg not being in my dislike bucket).

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1trickana t1_je8oyh5 wrote

Yeah I really wanted to try the Arya SE but seeing the dozens of weekly posts on here, no thanks

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garoo1 t1_je8yrh8 wrote

Luck of the draw I guess, I've had 3 pairs now and no issues at all

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lesiashelby t1_je9493b wrote

I’ve had two pairs, and no issues (knock on wood)

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radrod69 t1_je97j81 wrote

I've had two pairs and one issue (on the expensive one -_-)

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dad_beans t1_jef796q wrote

I've had 8 pairs of HiFiMans over the years and none of them have had any issues. So YMMV.

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External-Newt t1_jeajbw6 wrote

Idk my he400se has been reliable and abuse resistant (shit cables tho)

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