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Massdrop x Focal Elex Headphones

$749

overview

details

reviews618

photos227

q&a94

discussions4.4K

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Massdrop x Focal Elex Headphones

Name: Massdrop x Focal Elex Headphones
Brand: Drop
SKU: massdrop-x-focal-elex-headphones
Price: 749 USD
Availability: InStock
Rating: 4.299353 (618 reviews)

618

$749

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Frequently bought together:

DarkVoice 336SE OTL Headphone Amp

xDuoo TA-30 Tube DAC/Amp

overview

details

reviews618

photos227

q&a94

discussions4.4K

Sort by: Newest

mlltrza

Jul 25, 2023

These Massdrop x Focal Elex Headphones are simply awesome, the sound quality blew me away - it's like hearing my favorite songs for the first time. Plus, they're super comfy on my ears, even after hours of use - a real game changer in my book. https://www.amazon.com/Focal-Over-Ear-Bluetooth-Headphones-Cancelation/dp/B0B93YKQT3

BOB1973

Nov 30, 2022

Have drop stopped doing postage to the uk ? Won’t accept my address for delivery 🤔

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liam__b

Keyboard Club Member

Oct 13, 2022

At the current $600 price tag are these a good upgrade over the 6XX? I know there are QC issues with these but seems like the current price is a great deal. Or should I save up and go for the hd8xx (I know those have tuning issues and require tuning to get sounding good) Currently using a motuM4 amp/DAC. Willing to upgrade this but I like its inclusion of 2 mic/audio inputs and only needs USB power so traveling with it is nice (I do realize I am probably leaving some quality off the table with this setup)

voo.hoo

Nov 3, 2022

liam__bIf you're willing to save up for the 8XX then maybe you should consider the Focal Clear for $890 since they're a more refined Elex but without the quality control issues. Seeing how many comments there are about failed drivers made me steer clear of the Elex for the fear of dealing with a driver dying out of warranty. FWIW I prefer my EQ'd 8XX over my EQ'd Clear. While the Clear maintains it's dominance in slam and speed, the 8XX has a more natural timbre and a much more immersive soundstage.

ericdammann

Aug 17, 2022

Hi all, I've had these for a few months now and overall very pleased- wonderful sound using an OPPO-205 and Qobuz hi-res files. Last night, however, I noted while playing Stay from the Interstellar soundtrack, that there was some wavering in the higher organ notes when the massive low tones were playing (this does not happen when I play the track on my speakers). While the volume was loud, it wasn't blistering. Is this a sign of a problem, or just what you'd expect from the demands of this particular track? (which has some of the lowest and most powerful organ tones I've heard)

RayceManyon

Dec 15, 2022

ericdammannI felt the same, but it's not fair to judge headphones based on that track, or any of the Fury Road tracks.

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tomgreen_33

Aug 17, 2022

Hi all, I just received a pair of Focal Elex's and unfortunately the right driver does not work. This really sucks since I was really looking forward to these, and for all it's worth, the left driver sounds really good. It's August 17th 2022 at the time that I'm posting this, so qc problems are likely still be common unfortunately.

EdTheNerd

410

Keyboard Club Member

Aug 30, 2022

tomgreen_33amazing they havnt figured this out after literally years

RayceManyon

Dec 15, 2022

EdTheNerdI was thinking the same! It's been like 10,000 units and years for them to fix this.

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AngelMau

Jul 26, 2022

Quality issues solved? I remember that few months ago people was claiming about broken drivers or something like that. Does anyone still have same problem? Thanks!

jaxel

Sep 27, 2022

AngelMauSecond this, Ive had 2 of these and both ended up with dead drivers. I gotta say, I love these headphones, but buying them again for a third time seems masochistic at best.

(Edited)

EdTheNerd

410

Keyboard Club Member

Jul 5, 2022

Seeing as yet again Drop has pushed inconvenient comments further back in time than they are even when sorting them by "newest first": These have been as low as $450-500 on multiple occasions. Don't get taken for a ride. (seriously, this happens alot. My comment from Mar 22nd 2022 is still there but wayyyy the hell back further than that in the sorting of comments now. Drop prefers to hide criticisms vs address them)

(Edited)

voo.hoo

Jul 13, 2022

EdTheNerdI don't expect the price to ever hit that low again unless it's a clearance sale. This product isn't the only time I've seen a price increase. Inflation is a bitch and it seems to have a big effect lately. Customers waiting for a $500 Elex may be waiting indefinitely.

MDwyer

Jun 25, 2022

I find it annoying that the right and left are not clearly identified. Similarly the cable does not indicate which is the right or left plug. The marking don't need to be garish, just visible. I've only had this headphone for one day and don't yet have a comment on the sound.

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ElectronicVices

2921

Aug 9, 2022

MDwyerThe cups aren't symmetrical so it's pretty clear which is which in my view. The cable has both L and R indicators, not very well marked but they are marked.

g0ldl10n

121

Jun 17, 2022

Honestly, just wanted to post that I received my pair today and state they haven't clipped at all, and I listen to music at average 88/90db (all genres) - sometimes will see 92/93 peaks. If I was to listen to levels higher than that, it would not be enjoyable, so I see this as being a non-issue for me, thankfully. Will update with full review once I break them in. First impressions are that I was not expecting them to pack this much power in the low end, specially with the reported clipping issues on the low end with high volumes. These actually hold their own in the low end vs my Fostex TR-X00 Purplehearts, but much more detailed, amazing. Oh, and my pair is not making any creaking noise at all, as it has been reported - unsure if that happens over a period of time or not. Running them balanced off Geshelli J2 DAC + THX 789 amp. Edit: I was coming across some posts online that said the Darkvoice tube amp pairs very well with the Elex, and I actually own one that hasn't been used for years. So I took it out of the closet, blew the dust off of it and hooked it up with the J2 DAC. And wow, imo this amp really brings the Elex to life! If you own the Elex, I would definitely consider picking up the Darkvoice amp. Tubes: Raytheon 6SN7 GTA A Soviet DAVITU 6H13C I have some other tubes I will have to try. These respond to EQ beautifully! Much better than any other headphones I've had, you can get extremely percise and really dial it in perfectly for yourself. That said, these don't "need" EQ, they sound great without, but I EQ everything I own to get the best sound out of it for me.

(Edited)

Vote

EniGmA1987

592

Jul 21, 2022

g0ldl10nThis headphone matches well with the darkvoice because bass response centered around 50hz has the highest impedance, up at about 290ohm, while the rest of the range drops down to 80ohm. The Darkvoice is an OTL amp and really should be used with high impedance headphones to get proper damping, but the unique curve of the Elex does actually work well with the Darkvoice due to the specific interaction between the two devices. By having too low impedance in most of the frequency range you lose clarity and gain some "tube sloppiness" in the mids and highs, but the bass actually gets controlled very well and to our minds, this seems to result in a slight bass boost as well as the sense that the headphones have a really nice and tight bass. What is actually happening is that the rest of the frequency range is getting a bit sloppy, but our minds dont perceive this. In the end, the interaction between this and the Darkvoice results in tight, controlled bass with a significant amount of tube distortion being heard. A specific response manmy people want and like. So while the actual scientific measurement may be "bad", the way humans hear and perceive is quite good. If you mod the Darkvoice and give it larger output capacitors you will lower the tube distortion harmonics in the mids and highs, while also slightly increasing sub-bass levels, at the cost of slightly higher total distortion across the entire frequency range. So it would be a tradeoff of what type of sound you prefer.

g0ldl10n

121

Aug 7, 2022

EniGmA1987"In the end, the interaction between this and the Darkvoice results in tight, controlled bass...." this is 10000% true, and the paring between the DV and the Elex is so so good because of it imo, because the separation and clarity in the top end is still there, the bass just becomes something I have never heard/experienced before, and it's heavenly. The Elex has resurrected my DV from the closet, it's just way too good. Don't get my wrong, the Elex sound great on the balanced THX 789 amp, but you lose that magic the DV provides. Think it's gonna be real tough to beat this combo even spending quite a bit more, and definitely nothing imo is going to come remotely close in the price range of the two together, ESPECIALLY when Drop has the sale going for $550. All of that said, if anyone is reading this and the Elex are out of your price range, the Jubliee 58x paired with the DV is exceptional for the price - they sound like a junior version of the Elex with the DV. What I mean by that is the overall tonality of the pair is quite similar to the Elex, it just lacks the exactness in the details + separation the Elex provides, but still very good for the price.

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