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80% would recommend to a friend 
https://imgur.com/a/5kA3SYC 4.7kHz peak with the unit reviewed here: https://www.reddit.com/r/headphones/comments/eebb4d/focal_elex_impressions_drop_rheadphonelibrary_tour/ Uh-oh, is there unit variance?! Or is it simply MiniDSP EARS inaccuracy and variance (especially approaching the treble region) as shown many times in the past? There's a reason why any self-respecting reviewer (see Resolve) adds the usual disclaimer when discussing and using MiniDSP EARS data.
Massdrop x Focal Elex Headphones
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Massdrop x Focal Elex Headphones
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Product Description
Made with Focal’s brilliant engineering and extraordinary attention to detail, the Elex headphones take a fundamentally different approach to dynamic drivers—and deliver a better measured performance across the board than headphones several times their price. A refinement of the $1,000 Elear with elements of the $1,500 Clear, they boast several improvements to the sound, build, and aesthetic, too Read More
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4.3
(623 reviews)
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4.2
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keyboard_arrow_downdeathlyHallows
8
Mar 11, 2019
triggsviolaWhere did you find the sale? And hope your wife was supportive of the Utopia purchase :P
Skylordquasar
118
Jul 28, 2019
checkVerified Buyer
Never heard anything like it
I have owned the Beyerdynamic dt1990s, the Sendy Avias, and the Sennheiser 58x. After using The AAA 789 with all four, I can say that these make all of those sound almost like toys by comparison. The frequency response is perfect, and the separation, sound stage, and imaging are worlds ahead of the other headphones I mentioned. The 1990s are not compatible with a balanced cable, so they can't even come close to competing. Compared to the Aivas, the Elex has much more low end and a little less in the highs. More importantly though, the Elex sounds almost as though you are not even wearing headphones. Once you hear them, it becomes painfully obvious that the sound from every other pair of headphones is coming from a driver a centimeter away from your ear; they have rendered every other headphone I have pointless.
Recommends this product? Yes
Skylordquasar
118
Dec 5, 2020
They are both highly detailed but Elex doesn't sound like a pair of headphones and 1990 does. They are still the most clear and natural sounding headphone I have. They sound so natural and realistic that I sometimes forget I'm wearing them and turn my head reflexively when I hear certain noises.
TheNip73
51
Dec 6, 2020
SkylordquasarAwesome- thanks for the insights.
I love my 1990s - favorite of all my pairs (also have 177x go and hd6xx along with some Sony noise canceling ones). However, I still use all of my pairs at different times and like them all in different ways.
Squirrel_Jerky
41
Feb 8, 2020
checkVerified Buyer
First pair had a bad left driver. It appears this has been widely reported. In my opinion it's completely unacceptable for a premium headphone, or any headphone, to be shipped in that condition. Regardless, Brett R. with Drop did an outstanding job of issuing a replacement.
So concerning a FULLY functioning set of Elex's; I like them very much. They're definately treble forward to great effect with excellent mids and I find the bass to be exactly where and when it should be. Anyone looking for a warm sound is going to be very dissapointed. I personally don't think they're the best for certain genres or recordings but the clarity is excellent and some recordings sound simply incredible. I'm finding the realism of many live albums very satisfying. They're described as a "Super HD6XX" in the product notes. I agree with that.
(Edited)
PopZeus
386
Sep 13, 2018
checkVerified Buyer
The best headphones I've ever heard. They don't need a lot of power but they shine with a top quality source and amplification. Warm but neutral, dynamic as hell, what everyone says is true; they will reveal flaws in recordings but will also make some too polite recordings breathe with life in a way you've never heard. They're incredibly detailed, probably only bested by headphones costing 3-5x this one. It's an almost transparent presentation, if there is such a thing. Besides maybe the bass because of tuning, no part of the Elex sticks out. It's all very controlled, quiet when it needs to be slamming loud when called upon. That intensely dynamic experience sacrifices soundstage width, but separation is not hindered as a result. Imaging is exceptional, despite the intimate soundstage. For most who are obsessed with good sound, this is likely endgame. It is for me.*
The negatives amount to little more than a collection of nitpicks. Besides wanting a touch more sub-bass and [edited] smaller treble spikes (which are already fairly minimal), the only thing that stands out is the weight. The Elex aren't heavy but they are heavier than most headphones. They're basically two tiny full-range speakers taped to your ears. Except they're not taped, just gently clamped, and can slide around depending on how far I lean in a given direction. If it's a trade-off, I'd rather they be more comfortable and less clamping, than secure but squeezin' my noggin. Definitely not a mobile product despite that low power requirement.
Try the new Beatles remixes, the recent remaster of Purple Rain, some ELO, or even some modern music like Outkast, Radiohead, and Daft Punk. Through the Elex, it will sound less like a recording and more like a performance.
* Not including IEMs.
(Edited)
Zerviscos
34
May 22, 2020
PopZeusHi, after 2 years of use, have you gotten any problems with it? No clipping or failures or whatsoever? I'm looking at how many ppl reviewed it poorly, but it seems to be there's only a few 1 star to 2 stars that dictate headphone failures. I don't know how many ppl bought and were just happy enough and to not review, or how many ppl bought and had driver failures but didnt bother reviewing or updating their reviews.
PopZeus
386
Jul 13, 2020
Zerviscos@Zerviscos, unfortunately I sold my set over a year ago. I realized the treble was ultimately fatiguing after my typically longer listening sessions. But I'm really sensitive to peaky treble, and prefer fairly warm tunings in general.
When I had the Elex, I had no driver or clipping issues. I didn't really blast my ears with volume, but I wouldn't say I listen at low volumes. Sorry I couldn't provide a more satisfying answer!
ncsMD
53
Feb 13, 2019
checkVerified Buyer
I ended up returning these headphones after experiencing the audio clipping issue some have described here. However, I would not like to touch on that issue and instead review the headphone regardless of the clipping issue.
For background, I am a huge Sennheiser HD6XX fan and this headphone immediately grabbed my attention after reading this was the natural upgrade for the 6XX fans. After watching reviews from Joshua Valour, DMS, and Zeos on youtube, as well as reading some pretty phenomenal reviews on reddit, I knew I had found my perfect match.
Boy was I wrong. These headphones have one main issue, and that is the treble. There is a very prominent treble spike in the 5K region that is extremely fatiguing and completely overrides the positive attributes of these cans. Within seconds of putting these on, I immediately had a vague headache that would not clear until taking the cans off. While I definitely believe there a many out there who will not mind this peak, I am writing this review to those folks out there who may be a bit more sensitive to the treble.
These headphones do several things right. The build quality is phenomenal, the bass in defined, crisp, and rich. The mid range is almost on par with the 6XX in terms of warmth and intimacy, however the Focal trades this off for a significant (but not phenomenal) improvement in soundstage. The detail is definitely a notch up above the 6XX as well.
However, the 5K treble spike is a significant issue that makes these headphones not enjoyable. For a price tag of $700, you think Focal would have solved this issue. After returning back to my 6XX daily, I have never appreciated the sound as much as now. It definitely took me some courage to write this review that goes completely against the almost exclusively positive reviews about the Elex out there. However, I want you to know that there is a significant, fatiguing issue with the treble on these headphones. For reference, I had the HD800 at one point and had a similar issue with those as well (not with the HD800S though).
FYI my setup consisted of the Schiit Modi 3 -> JDS Atom
(Edited)
mbvjmc
188
Mar 12, 2020
https://imgur.com/a/5kA3SYC 4.7kHz peak with the unit reviewed here: https://www.reddit.com/r/headphones/comments/eebb4d/focal_elex_impressions_drop_rheadphonelibrary_tour/ Uh-oh, is there unit variance?! Or is it simply MiniDSP EARS inaccuracy and variance (especially approaching the treble region) as shown many times in the past? There's a reason why any self-respecting reviewer (see Resolve) adds the usual disclaimer when discussing and using MiniDSP EARS data.
Reece1
34
Mar 24, 2020
checkVerified Buyer
Ridiculous failure rate, HOLD your wallet unless…
I've have been holding my impression about one month after I saw so many people have reported this headphone has some serious quality issues.
I think it might happen to me, and unfortunately it finally happened to me, right driver of headphone died after one month.
I also have two friends bought the same headphones from DROP.(BTW not at the same time nor same batch)
All of our headphones have quality issues, just like what happened to others, one of drivers died after a short time of usage.
I think DROP should ask Focal to investigate/improve their product due to their flawed design.
And NOT just shipping products backward and forward between DROP and customers.
If I choose replacement shipping date will be the same as next shipment which is 4 months later when i get it.
Will DROP extend my warranty? I have no idea and still waiting for reply.**
These headphones still using Massdrop mark on them but not DROP, made me wondering did Focal pre-product these headphones a lot or just repair them and ship to next customers? I have no idea nor evidence.
As you can see lots of THX AAA 789 amp now using new DROP mark on them recently. Why not these headphones?
(DROP does ship to my country, but…)
Friendly remind for who want to buy this headphone via forwarder or from resellers, JUST DON'T.
Because DROP doesn't send your replacement to forwarder from what I saw in discussions.
If you buy this pair either via forwarder or from resellers, you have very high chance to return it which will be a nightmare to you.
If your headphone fails, you will have 2 options.
- Ask your forwarder to proceed the RMA for you.
- Contact customer support then send your headphone back to US at your expense for a full refund which costs you about $50USD.(airmail, depend on your country)
(Edited)
Recommends this product? No
Eldood1000
29
Dec 25, 2020
checkVerified Buyer
Sound great, but TERRIBLE quality control and Warranty department
Bought a pair brand new when they were on sale for $550. Within the first few days I noticed the baffle was damaged and peeling. Not to mention the small paint chip on the metal driver grill.
Notified Drop of the issue and they offered me a replacement. Great. Get the "new" replacement in under 2 weeks time. Open it up and come to find 2 strands of hair within the storage box, immediately check the drivers (took pads off) noticed what appeared to be crumbs on the pads. The pads themselves looked off (old, used). Also notice on one of the cups that the baffle is wrinkled but at least its stuck on this time. Place the headphones on my head, and the right cup is not holding its stiffness and feels like mashed potatoes compared to the left cup. My entire right ear is literally touching the metal driver grill which is causing a massive imbalance in sound (sound is shifting center right). Seems like someone bought a new pair off Drop, swapped their old pads and sent it back to Drop only for them to send me this "New" pair. I come to the conclusion that the "new" replacement that Drop had sent me is a B stock item (30 day return period, or refurbished pair). How can a company possibly think this was okay to send out due to a warranty claim and tell me its "Brand New". This is completely unacceptable. I paid for a brand new one, if I wanted to purchase a used Elex I would have...This is the second pair that Drop has sent me with issues. At this point, send me a NEW item or give me my money back. This is such a shame to deal with considering the price they sell for. In the event that they decide to send me a brand new pair, I now have to wait another 2 weeks to receive a pair on top of their long response times. This entire experience has been nothing but a headache. If nothing is done, I will never buy anything off Drop again.
Awaiting Drops response to this. Will update.
(Edited)
Recommends this product? No
pandora420
10
Dec 30, 2020
Eldood1000i've had similar issues with the elex and quite frankly, I really recommend just buying the focal clear from a local retailer over the elex, it's just a much better headphone that i'd say is a straight up upgrade and goes on sale commonly enough to match the price of a brand new elex.
erniethegeek
1
Jan 6, 2021
Eldood1000I thin it's the pads - I had two pairs that are came with the same imbalance (first on the left, then on the right) - and I swapped the pads on the new unit (put left on right, and right on left) - once pads were swapped, the imbalance was now on the left
Both headphones also came with blemishes leading me to believe these are not new. I will be returning mine
mbriggs
35
Jun 19, 2020
checkVerified Buyer
Confusingly terrible pad experience
I love my Elex headphones, I use them all day every day. If I had realized that the pads deteriorate at the speed they do, it would have been a knock against them, but would likely have still bought them. These headphones are worth an ongoing cost of a new set of pads every 1-1.5 years.
But it turns out these pads are rarely in stock. When they are, you get shipped partial orders, and the pads you receive are CLEARLY not the same. They are noticeably less comfortable, and significantly impact the soundstage. The elex with these pads is not the same thing as the elex with the originals.
With a combination of all these things, I would would not recommend the Elex, which is a damn shame because this is the dumbest reason I have ever had for not recommending headphones.
Recommends this product? No
Bozodiophile
6
Sep 7, 2020
mbriggsThe pads from the Elear, Clear and Utopia fit the Elex... but their cost is ridiculously extravagant. Of all the audiophile-class Focals imho the most comfortable pads are the Elear's with the Clear's not trailing far behind. But you have to shell out almost $200 for the pair. That's the original pads from France, I know there are third-party suppliers who sell replacements made in China but I highly doubt they'd be able to match Focal itself. The problem with such Chinese products is not that they are bad per se, some are of very high quality but it's not consistent, you never know what you'll get until you get it. There are exceptions of course, like HiFiMan whose QC has greatly improved over the last 2 years or so.
Hartford
26
Jun 13, 2020
checkVerified Buyer
Bad.
Another Elex whose both drivers failed. I regret to not have read more reviews before ordering it ..... :(
I cannot imagine that Focal don't test this kind of headphone at the end of the production.
So I think their one layer coil without support is too fragile and does not support the shipping.
I don't see another explanation to all this failures.
Recommends this product? No
CASE001
52
Nov 24, 2019
checkVerified Buyer
This is alien technology.
I have been spending the last few days listening to these headphones non-stop, and I have come to a conclusion: the Focal Elex is alien technology. I have been listening to headphones for a long time, I've had my fair share of beyerdynamics, I own the Sennheiser HD 58X, 650, and 700. I have too many IEM's to count on two hands, including custom 64 Audio A6t's. NONE of them even hold a candle to the Focal Elex.
The Focal Elex is extremely detailed, dynamic, engaging, everything is incredible. The soundstage is wide, but not unrealistic in any way. Surprisingly, they are capable of producing convincing sub-bass, which is something that I have not heard in an open back before. I compared them to my planar dynamic headphones, and they are about 90% there in the bass department, only the Elex presents the bass in a more smooth an accurate manner.
I find myself laughing out loud, shouting "HOW!?" and "WHAT!?" when listening to these things. They have brought me to tears on more than a few occasions. I sometimes have to touch my head to ensure that I'm actually wearing headphones. Absolutely insane. I couldn't recommend them enough.
Recommends this product? Yes
DJAT
299
Dec 28, 2019
CASE001Yeah man... and this OUT OF THE CANS experience, like listening to speakers rather than headphones...
They all say it's like listening to bookshelves. And... they're... all... RIGHT.
These are dynamic ear-speakers as far as I'm convinced.
And yeah, these are keepers, for sure.
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I am not a high-end audiophile, but I am a professional musician who loves listening to all kinds of music. I listen to music on my computer with iTunes, though a Jotunheim amplifier with the DAC module. I'd like to present some comparisons to you. I define "fun" as bass presentation (not necessarily extension) and punchy dynamism. I define "detailed" as being able to hear individual instruments in their recorded acoustical space clearly. When I evaluate "comfort," note that I have a fairly large head, I wear glasses, and I have some neck and shoulder problems from the last 10 years of being a professional violist.
HD6XX are less fun, less detailed, and slightly less comfortable (clamp force too much for my big head and glasses). Aeon Flow Closed are less fun, similarly detailed, and slightly more comfortable (see update). Ether Flow are less fun, more detailed, and slightly more comfortable (see update). K7XX are less fun, less detailed, and similarly comfortable. TH-X00 are similarly fun, less detailed, and less comfortable (if memory serves).
Of all these headphones, the Elex has the best balance of fun, detail, and comfort. The closest competition is the Ether Flow, which have better bass extension, but not as punchy as the Elex. They are "laid back." The Elex also seem more "open" than any other headphones here. It's almost like listening to speakers.
Here are some tracks that used for direct comparison:
Pasadena Symphony: Rachmaninov: Symphonic Dances: non allegro (the Pasadena Symphony binaural recordings are some of the most underrated classical recordings out there). John Williams: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban: Quidditch, Third Year Daft Punk: Tron Legacy Soundtrack: Outlands, Pt. II Massive Attack: Mezzanine: Angel Yosi Horikawa: Wandering - EP: Letter Blues Traveler: Four: Hook
Elex has very nice build quality. The nicest of all the headphones I've ever owned. I wish the balanced cable was longer.
My dream cans would be something as detailed as the Ethers, but as fun as the Elex. Clear maybe? My wife would divorce me if I bought those just to find out.
Hope that helps. I'm sure lots of people will tell me how stupid and wrong I am, but these are my opinions.
UPDATE: I've had these for a few days now. I discovered how to wear them and they now match the comfort of the Ethers and Æons. I've always worn headphones in such a way that the headband rests at the crest of my parietal bones. This works for other headphones, but for this headphone, I need to place the headband further forward, along the coronal suture. This also makes the ear pads line up better with my ears. Now it's almost like I'm not even wearing headphones. Maybe this is obvious to everyone else, but not me.
UPDATE 2: I've had these for a number of weeks now and I no longer listen to them. I fell so in love with the Focal sound that I ponied up and bought a Utopia, which is what I listen to constantly. I was able to go to a retail store and compare the Elear, Elex, Clear, and Utopia all from the same amp. I may give the Elex to my brother. It seems to me, based on reading other reviews and comments that either you love or you hate the Focal sound. I just happen to love it. It commands your complete attention. Maybe if you're looking for something to play in the background, go for a relaxed planar sound. Now my next purchase will be a nicer DAC/Amp combo. Somehow I get the feeling that the Jotunheim isn't pushing the Utopia to its full potential. The Elex and Utopia are very similar in build and comfort, but the Utopia just has more depth, detail, and focus. Incidentally it's on sale right now (until the end of October 2018) for "just" $3000. And you get a $1000 player thrown in, which you can sell on ebay.