I find it puzzling that you think the Elear is uneven and shrill, but you're OK with the HD800. I tried them side by side (also own the Elear) and I just found the HD800 painful to listen to. Both driven by a HA-1.
With that said, the HA-1 sounds a bit unrefined in the treble compared to my Chord Hugo, but not near as bright or fatiguing as the HD800.
I agree with you Makne, I have the same experience, e.g. my HD 800 is too bright for listening to metal, e.g. listening to Summoning (atmospheric black metal) with them gives me a headache.
Also with my gear, the HD 800 have their renowned huge soundstage, but still poor imaging (same with HD 800S which I heard at a show driven with Queststyle QP2R), and for metal really do lack slam, even with my iFi Pro iCAN, etc. (I have the impression it would be the same with HD 800 S, but because I don't own the S, I could only listen to music which is not mine, and not even metal).
Also my HD 800 has less detail than my Elear with my gear, not to speak of comparing them to the Utopia, but it all depends on which gear one uses to listen to them, some gear might not be scale up and be revealing enough.
For me personally (with my own gear) my Utopia and even my Elear widely superseded my HD 800, which are still a collector piece in my collection but to which I don't listen much, but of course some might still like to listen to them a lot (e.g. for classical or folk music, or re. their huge size for people with big ears, etc.)
Re. the Clear, I had post Focal a feedback in the spring that I was interested in newer versions:
- with a headband construction allowing them to fold flat like Oppo's hps, allowing them to be easily transported with so little space, so practical for daily transport
(I use to take the Oppo PM-2 every day to work, now I am doing this with the Elear)
- ideally BT.
I am still waiting for a Focal which can fold flat, so I probably will only buy the carrying case in the short term
(and maybe the Clear earpads).
Though if I didn't own already the Elear, I would buy the Clear.
(I doubt the Clear will come close to the potential of the level of detail and cleanness of my Utopia, because e.g. with my RME ADI 2 Pro my Utopia is far above my Elear).