Massdrop x Focal Elex Headphones Reviews | Drop

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Massdrop x Focal Elex Headphones

Audiophile

FULL DISCUSSION

sephula

Nov 21, 2019

Verified Buyer

So revealing! These give you superpower hearing

Sound-wise, they're awesome: These are so freaking revealing that I can clearly hear the difference with every subtle change I make in my setup. Way more powerful than my 6xx, which sound a little wimpy by comparison. The fact that these are made of heavy metal makes the 6xx feel wimpy, too. Although, the 6xx has more detail and slightly better tone in the mid-range. Of course, the 6xx is a very mid-focused driver, and so it's not at all surprising. The Elex manages to be almost as intimate, while at the same time more expansive, wider, deeper, warmer, brighter, more transparent, more revealing and more expensive sounding than the 6xx. The price seems justified. The Elex is overall more impressive to hear. However, it doesn't completely beat the 6xx in every little detail. One thing I would warn you of is that the Elex's drivers are a lot more efficient, and so you have to resist the urge to crank them up too high, or they will become overpowered and start to pop and cut out. The 300 ohm rating of the 6xx, on the other hand, provides enough protection to be able to really blast them at stupidly high volumes. People who enjoy this ability (people like me) might find this a little disappointing. However, the same would be true of any higher efficiency driver. So, you can't blame the Elex for this. Actually, they're quite a bit louder/clearer/brighter/more transparent at lower volumes than the 6xx, which sounds dark by comparison. So, you don't really need to crank these as much, but it's still so much fun. It would be nice if Focal would release a high ohm model for us to play with. BTW I like the stock cables a lot. They're a wee short, and maybe stiff, but they seem well made. Especially, considering these are supposedly "hand-made in France"? Maybe not? Whatever. I dunno what others are complaining about, there. TL;DR: If you're even considering it, you simply must try these. You won't be disappointed. These are some insanely good headphones. Especially, at this price. In the end, totally worth it. I have no regrets. 45 day update: It's been over 6 weeks since I got the Elex, and I've decided to give my impressions this far in. I no longer listen to my 6xx, at all. The clarity that the Elex offers is no comparison. The Elex is like listening to music, while the 6xx is like wishing you could hear more of the music. The 6xx isn't bad, in any way. It just feels less than the Elex. The Elex really shows off the hi-fi in my other hi-fi components much better. For only $600, it's incredible. You're getting what I think is a professional studio monitoring headphone for an economical price. Some people may prefer the Clear for listening to their music. But, it costs twice as much, and is only slightly more laid back. You'd have to be very sensitive to find the Elex less then comfortable. I can't take mine off. They may be heavy, but they never feel that way. The padding is sufficient, and there are no uncomfortable pressure points. I can't say the same about the 6xx, which does get uncomfortable to me, even though they weigh less. The lower weight feels nice at first, until they start to dig into those awkward pressure points. The Elex also just looks sexier, and more modern. They are next level in just about every way. I should also mention that mine went through what I presume must be some kind of burn-in issues, or something. For a short while, I was going to send them back, because they'd developed some of what sounded like channel imbalance, and other sound quality issues. But, it quickly went away, and hasn't returned. So, I don't know... Maybe it's a natural part of the burn-in process? Anyways, they come with a 2 year warranty, and the people I spoke with at Drop about it assured me that, should these problems return, I could ask for an exchange. So, there's that.

(Edited)

Recommends this product? Yes

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Interceptor69

Dec 15, 2019

sephulaI am listening to them balanced thru the D70>THX 789 and oh my!

Dec 15, 2019

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sephula

Dec 16, 2019

Interceptor69I finally got my 789, and it is very clean. You can actually hear the difference with the tube, even though my tubes cost as much as the amp they're powering. Personally, I prefer the sound of the tubes. A little clarity is nice on occasions too, though.

Dec 16, 2019

ethanchan

270

Feb 29, 2020

sephulaI just picked these up and they are on schedule to be here tomorrow. I picked these up because of all of the good things I have been hearing about the focal brand and the elex specifically. I currently run my 6xx off of my LD MK II on rolled tubes with the Brainwavz XL Large replacement memory foam earpads on them because of the comfort issue I was having and the itchy ear from the stock pads. My 6xx has now been the longest running headphones for me amid my 800s, LCD 2 Closed, Aeon flow, and other headphones because it hit that sweet spot on tubes that I was looking for. I see in your picture you have them sitting next to a tube amp and was wondering if you run it off that way, and if so, what do you think of the way it sounds. I get mine tomorrow but it will be a few days before I actually put them on my head. I normally check the fit and finish, then make sure they work properly, after that, they get attached to the amp for a couple of days to break them in. This has been my practice for years and it has worked out great, but in the meantime, I am in limbo, so if you could share some of your impressions of it on a tube amp, I would truly appreciate it. Thanx in advance.

Feb 29, 2020

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sephula

Feb 29, 2020

ethanchanThe Elex is so much better than the 6xx IMO. So much more clarity, and resolution, comparatively. On a tube, what you expect from a tube. Sounds great to me. Tube adds depth, and soundstage. Tapers the highs a tad, and brings the low end up a notch. Gives more of a 3D sound.

Feb 29, 2020

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