Focal Elex Review

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Going French this time...I decided to take a look at a widely-regarded Focal x Drop product. Many claimed they are an HD650 upgrade, so I had to see for myself. Honestly, these were a nice surprise!
Testing done through my SMSL SU-8 DAC to my THX AAA 789 amp through both BAL and SE.
--- Featured: ---
** Focal Elex **
-Drop: drop.com/buy/massdrop-x-focal...
--- Recommended Products: ---
** Sennheiser HD600 **
-Amazon: amzn.to/2W8K2WH
** Sennheiser HD800S **
-Amazon: amzn.to/2BjW7iZ
** Hifiman HE-4XX **
-Massdrop: www.massdrop.com/buy/massdrop...
** Audeze LCD-2C **
-Amazon: amzn.to/2RI657Q
** Sennheiser HD650/6XX **
-650 through Amazon: amzn.to/2REy74d
-6XX through Massdrop: www.massdrop.com/buy/massdrop...
** Sennheiser HD58X Jubilee **
-Massdrop: www.massdrop.com/buy/massdrop...
** Koss Porta Pro **
-w/mic through Amazon: amzn.to/2AW9eXf
-X through Massdrop: www.massdrop.com/buy/massdrop...
** Koss KPH-30i **
-Amazon: amzn.to/2AW9hlT
** AKG K7XX **
-Massdrop: www.massdrop.com/buy/akg-k7xx...
** Philips SHP9500 **
-Amazon: amzn.to/2K0hpca
-Newegg: www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...
** Monoprice Retro **
-Amazon: www.amazon.com/Monoprice-Ultr...
** Koss KSC75X **
-Massdrop: drop.com/buy/massdrop-x-koss-...
** Aune X7S **
- Massdrop drop.com/buy/aune-x7s-balance...
- Amazon: www.amazon.com/Aune-Acoustic-...
** SMSL SU-8 **
-Drop: drop.com/buy/smsl-su-8-dac
-Amazon: www.amazon.com/Decoder-SMSL-2...
** Schiit SYS **
-Amazon: www.amazon.com/Schiit-Audio-S...
- Schiit: www.schiit.com/products/sys
** Audio-Technica ATH-M40X **
- Amazon: www.amazon.com/Audio-Technica...
** Hifiman Sundara **
- Amazon: www.amazon.com/HIFIMAN-SUNDAR...
** Sennheiser HD800 **
-eBay: www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from...
** Topping D50s DAC **
-Amazon: www.amazon.com/Topping-D50s-B...
-Drop: drop.com/buy/topping-d50s-dac

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Опубликовано:

15 июл 2024

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Комментарии : 41

@MrLuftmann 2 года назад

I think you are really frank and we need more of that. THANKS.

@divinecurrent9053 4 года назад

Thanks for the review. They are definitely a mixed bag, especially for us HD600 fans. I found comfort to get a lot better over a few months because the pads wear in. HD600 are still the natural/neutral tonality kings, but a little EQ fixes those peaks to sound almost as natural as the Sennheisers, plus better soundstage and imaging (and dynamics).

@drunkensailor775 4 года назад

Will you make 600s comparison? You describe 600s the way I hear them, your comparisons are very useful. Also would like you to hear Aivas and it's clones.

@chuckolatte600 4 года назад

Soon. Very soon.

@No_Limits_411 4 года назад

Wow, what a great package

@chuckolatte600 4 года назад

;)

@intoitreviews 4 года назад

I keep wanting to get these in for review as well. Maybe someone or Drop will send me one. Great take 2. Bummer about the chip, cables, and the comfort.

@alainmc4147 4 года назад

I see you everywhere XD

@IPforster 4 года назад

Could you tell us how do you compare them to hd800? In my country I've managed to buy used hd800 for about 570$ I use often hd600 and also use hd800 with budget fiio dac/amp for short sessions. With hd800 I don't feel myself uncomfortable about treble peak due to low listening levels (about 60-70 dB), but I've started to hear ringing sometimes. Mostly I listen to post-rock, alternative, indie rock etc. and do a lot of multiplayer FPS gaming. I am dying to hear your thoughts about these options: buy higher ranked dac/amp like burson conductor sl 9018 for HD800 and do SDR mod or should I try Elex (about 720$ with all costs)? (Also I would like to add my thoughts about comfort you mentioned: Once I had ATH MSR7 (1st gen) and it just blown my mind with neutral super detailed sound, but very high vertical/horizontal clamping force distracted me so I sold them. Now I've heard about 2nd gen MSR7b which are much lighter in terms said above. I consider to buy them in the future and I suppose despite on price difference they can be on par with HD660S and may be Elex in some ways)

@chuckolatte600 4 года назад

First and foremost, I recommend you use PEACE EQ to lower the peaks in the treble just a bit. I cannot enjoy them on some tracks without it. Second, they are far too different to compare. If you can adjust to using the EQ on the HD800 and you can't live without their comfort, keep the HD800. If you find the HD800 to neutral or "boring" for your tastes even after the EQ, try out the Elex. But do be warned, the Elex are DEFINITELY a step down in comfort.

@IPforster 4 года назад

@@chuckolatte600 Thank you so much for your honest opinion. I've tried "peace" eq and it worked for me very well (metal571 DF treble preset) with exception of some sound texture loss in treble region. Looks like I just can't refuse not to experience focal's dynamics, will try to buy them.

@chuckolatte600 4 года назад

@@IPforster I tried applying metal571's EQ as well and I found that it took away what made them special. So, I only applied the 6.5k and 10k dips and less than what he applied. Found that to be the best middle-ground.

@Shoaibexpert 4 года назад

Btw if comfort is a problem on the Elex... surely would be a problem on all their Headphones upto Utopias coz they are all the same shape...

@krmatiu 3 года назад

These tube awesome, on a WA22 they are great.

@ilike2eatt 4 года назад

This shows that everyone's heads are different. I find my Focal Elex as comfortable as my HD650. Can wear them for 8 hours a day without any issues!

@chuckolatte600 4 года назад

Yeah, for sure. Idk how large your head is, but I've got a Josh Nichols-sized dome so

@IamKill3m 4 года назад

Not sure what you're talking about with comfort. The clamp force is nowhere near a 600 line ( I guess unless your head is huge). They're a bit heavy but really not bad compared to say an LCD, and the pads are softer (foam-wise) than a 600, just not velour.

@gramblor1 4 года назад

The comfort really bothered me for the first couple of days I had this headphone, even after doing my normal thing of letting a headphone stretch out overnight straddling a large book. It wasn't clamping pressure, but it would press down on the top of my head terribly. Then I realized that to wear this headphone comfortably I had to position the headband closer to my forehead than I was used to. Now I can wear the Elex without any discomfort. BTW, where are your eq settings for the Elex? I don't see them in the description.

@chuckolatte600 4 года назад

Currently, pre-amp set to -2dB, 83Hz @ -2dB 1.41Q, 180Hz @ -2dB 1.64Q, 10K Hz @ -1dB 2Q

@gramblor1 4 года назад

@@chuckolatte600 Hmmm. Okay, I don't know how to interpret that, but thank you. Have you solved the comfort problem or did you sell them?

@chuckolatte600 4 года назад

@@gramblor1 Those are settings for the PEACE GUI which is used with EqualizerAPO. And I actually got rid of the original pair of Elex, but I just recently bought another pair lol

@gramblor1 4 года назад

@@chuckolatte600 Have you received it yet, and does it fit better than your original? I'm listening to mine right now with no comfort problems.

@chuckolatte600 4 года назад

@@gramblor1 Fits better, but still not that comfortable. One of my least comfortable HPs for sure. But it's at least bearable now.

@m.g.i2480 4 года назад

Bass is not over done on these.... These are giving that which a HD650 lacks.... the low low end. That is not to much bass.

@chuckolatte600 4 года назад

Right. The sub-bass is amazing on these, not overdone. I was referring to the mid-bass.

@MRFUTURETECHNOLOGYGAMING 4 года назад

Anime for Life

@Tesseract9630 4 года назад

Do a comparison with hd 6xx.

@chuckolatte600 4 года назад

unfortunately, I do not have access to those. But they should be similar enough to my Elex vs HD600 comparison.

@jeffbergstrom 4 года назад

I like your review a lot but trim your finger nails if your hands are shown prominently in your videos (which they are). I hate doing it too but I think it will help your channel. Just my $0.02.

@chuckolatte600 4 года назад

lol yeah, I just forget sometimes

@Shoaibexpert 4 года назад

30 mins of burn in? More like 400 hours recommended for most Headphones I've read!

@4lc441 4 года назад

Burn in isn't a real thing

@omaior20 4 года назад

first. forever. EDIT: weeb

@rhodey2952 4 года назад

Interesting with the comfort. I've always thought about picking these up but decided not to due to other headphone purchases. Plus I don't like the look haha. It doesn't look comfy to me, that headband looks too big.

@rhodey2952 4 года назад

Burn in is definitely real. On some headphones.

@chuckolatte600 4 года назад

"They hated Jesus because he spoke the truth"

@brydon10 4 года назад

Very uncomfortable? Well that's really too bad. That's an instant pass for me.

@MRFUTURETECHNOLOGYGAMING 4 года назад

Focal elex clipping o boi

@jayglisson4792 4 года назад

Worst collaboration Massdrop ever made! The cables are complete shit, the pads are covered in some weird material that feels like paper towels, the highs are sibilant and the drivers are failing as much as I did at marriage! On the other hand, Massdrop's return policy and overall customer service is the best I've ever seen!