Elear or Elex? | Headphone Reviews and Discussion - Head-Fi

The Elex has a 2 year warranty (from Focal) in the US. The Elears are listed with a 1 year warranty at Crutchfield (it's dependent on country ... Menu Home Forums HeadGear Gallery Articles Sponsors Classifieds Login Register What'snew Search Newposts Searchforums Menu Login Register Installtheapp Install LatestThreadImages Seefullthreadgallery... FeaturedSponsorListings DROP+HIFIMANHE-R7DXCLOSED-BACKHEADPHONES Drop 149.00USD Youareusinganoutofdatebrowser.Itmaynotdisplaythisorotherwebsitescorrectly.Youshouldupgradeoruseanalternativebrowser. ElearorElex? Home Forums EquipmentForums Headphones(full-size) Threadstarter madugo Startdate Jun3,2019 1 2 3 … 6 Next 1of6 Next Last madugo NewHead-Fier Joined Jan30,2012 Posts 41 Likes 9 Location Houston,TX Helloall, Needalittlehelpondecidingbetweenelearorelexformynextpickup. Ihavereadthatsomepoeplesayingthattheyarenotmuchofadifferentonsound,andIhavealsoseenreviewthatsaidtheyarequitedifferentwithelexbeingmuchbetter. Hasanyonehasgoodexperiencewithbothtocomment? IdonotreallyinterestinthebalancecableoftheelexsoifthesoundisnotmuchofadifferenceIthinkelearismakingmoresensetomeconsideringthecurrentpricepointforboth. Thanksallforthehelp.   kith86 100+Head-Fier Joined Mar23,2019 Posts 258 Likes 121 Location Jakarta ijustboughtelearrecentlyandilovethesound,idontknowaboutelexsincenooneinmycountrysellthose,AFAIKelexnotcoveredby5yearswarranty(CMIIW),ifyouconcernaboutwarranty,elearisthebestchoice,onlyelearandutopiaget5yearswarranty,makesureyoubuyitfromfocalauthorizeddealer   Headphones:Elear+TH610+ADX5k Source:Up4+HoneyH1+Signature+Bifrost2+Jotun2 Davesrose HeadphoneusSupremus Joined Oct20,2006 Posts 4,858 Likes 172 TheElexhasa2yearwarranty(fromFocal)intheUS.TheElearsarelistedwitha1yearwarrantyatCrutchfield(it'sdependentoncountryandretailer).IhavenoticedthatcomparisonstendtosaytheElearisawarmersoundingheadphone(ithasmorepronouncedbass).IthinktheElexisprettybalancedsoundingandhasgoodbassextension.TheElexalsohastheadvantageofincludingbothsingleendedandXLRbalancedcables(IMOshowingagoodvaluesinceanotherXLRcabletendstobeatleast$60:ifyoudidfindyourselfgettingabalancedamp).TheElexhasaperforatedheadbandandpadsliketheClears. IfyoudodecideontheElears,Headphones.comhasextraincludedoptionslikecarryingcaseandUtopiapads https://www.headphones.com/products/focal-elear-over-ear-open-back-headphones?variant=17114911768647   Lastedited:Jun3,2019 OfficeRig/Digital:SMSLDP3musicplayer>BenchmarkDAC1>iFiiCanProHome:MusicHallMavrickSACDplayer,MusicHallM5.1TT,Byte3>BenchmarkDAC1USB>SinglePowerPPX3SLAM(melikesNOStubes) Headphones:AudezeLCD-2,AudezeLCD2Closed,MassdropFocalElex,MrSpeakersAeonFlowClosed,SennheiserHD650,HD580(modded),HD595,GradoSR-325 Photo-Fi:Canon5Dmk4,bunchofLlensesandlightsetups madugo NewHead-Fier Joined Jan30,2012 Posts 41 Likes 9 Location Houston,TX Thankyouallforthereply. IthinkIdidsawsomewherethatfocalisgivinga5yearwarrantyontheelearduetosomeearlybatchdriverissue. IthinkIamlookingforsomethingwithatrebleholdingbackalittle,liketheHD650,whichIlikedalotforthemajoritytypeofvocalIlistento. IgottheDT1990proandHe5sewhichIfoundbothhasprettysharpandbrighttrebletome.SoIamnotlookingforanotherreallybrighttrebleheadphone. IhopeeithertheelearorelexislikeanoverallbetterupgradetotheHD650. Alsonotsureifwhattheutopiapadswilldototheelear,anyonetesteditout?   Davesrose HeadphoneusSupremus Joined Oct20,2006 Posts 4,858 Likes 172 Again,Focalsayswarrantiesaredependentoncountryandretailer:CrutchfieldisanauthorizedretailerandliststheElearfor1year(thoughit'scurrentlynotbeingsoldthere).IdofindmyElexagoodupgradeoverthe650.It'seasiertodrive(goodifyoudowinduplisteningtoaportablewithoutamp),butalsodoeswellwithamplification.IfindithasmoreextensionthantheHD650,betterrefinement,andsomemoreslam.IfindI'mbecomingmoreofaplanarguy(LCD-2fazorsformyallinones),buttheElexisnowmyfavoritedynamics(maybeit'sthemetaldriversthatdogiveitsomebetterbelievablywithcymbals).Ithassomenicetransparency,anddoesn'thavethesuckoutinthemidsthatIfindBeyershave(IMO,thatmakesBeyerssoundmoresparklyandhavemorebassextension).IreallylikedmyHD650swithmytubeamp:IfindtheElexbasicallyimprovesoneverything;tonality,imaging,soundstage,anddurability--IthinkbothitandtheElearhavesimilarmetalparts,butstillarerelativelylightgiventhemetalconstructionandhaslessclampingforcethantheHD650. Whenitcomestopadsingeneral...Ithinksomepeopleputmoreemphasisinthemaboutsounddifferences.IMO,onepotentialadvantageofperforatedpadsissomelessstickiness/heatgeneration(butthenwiththeUtopias,they'realsoaleather).   Lastedited:Jun3,2019 OfficeRig/Digital:SMSLDP3musicplayer>BenchmarkDAC1>iFiiCanProHome:MusicHallMavrickSACDplayer,MusicHallM5.1TT,Byte3>BenchmarkDAC1USB>SinglePowerPPX3SLAM(melikesNOStubes) Headphones:AudezeLCD-2,AudezeLCD2Closed,MassdropFocalElex,MrSpeakersAeonFlowClosed,SennheiserHD650,HD580(modded),HD595,GradoSR-325 Photo-Fi:Canon5Dmk4,bunchofLlensesandlightsetups kith86 100+Head-Fier Joined Mar23,2019 Posts 258 Likes 121 Location Jakarta Davesrosesaid: Again,Focalsayswarrantiesaredependentoncountryandretailer:CrutchfieldisanauthorizedretailerandliststheElearfor1year(thoughit'scurrentlynotbeingsoldthere).IdofindmyElexagoodupgradeoverthe650.It'seasiertodrive(goodifyoudowinduplisteningtoaportablewithoutamp),butalsodoeswellwithamplification.IfindithasmoreextensionthantheHD650,betterrefinement,andsomemoreslam.IfindI'mbecomingmoreofaplanarguy(LCD-2fazorsformyallinones),buttheElexisnowmyfavoritedynamics(maybeit'sthemetaldriversthatdogiveitsomebetterbelievablywithcymbals).Ithassomenicetransparency,anddoesn'thavethesuckoutinthemidsthatIfindBeyershave(IMO,thatmakesBeyerssoundmoresparklyandhavemorebassextension).IreallylikedmyHD650swithmytubeamp:IfindtheElexbasicallyimprovesoneverything;tonality,imaging,soundstage,anddurability--IthinkbothitandtheElearhavesimilarmetalparts,butstillarerelativelylightgiventhemetalconstructionanddoesn'thavelessclampingforcethantheHD650. Whenitcomestopadsingeneral...Ithinksomepeopleputmoreemphasisinthemaboutsounddifferences.IMO,onepotentialadvantageofperforatedpadsissomelessstickiness/heatgeneration(butthenwiththeUtopias,they'realsoaleather). Clicktoexpand... Ialsohadquestionregardingpads,sincetheoriginalelear/clearearpadsridiculouslyhighprice(iwishmassdroplistingthemagain-elexpads),isthereanyalternative?whataboutperforatedelitesheepskinfromdekoni,douthinkthey'regood/sameleagueastheoriginal?ineedbackuppads..   Headphones:Elear+TH610+ADX5k Source:Up4+HoneyH1+Signature+Bifrost2+Jotun2 Davesrose HeadphoneusSupremus Joined Oct20,2006 Posts 4,858 Likes 172 kith86said: Ialsohadquestionregardingpads,sincetheoriginalelear/clearearpadsridiculouslyhighprice(iwishmassdroplistingthemagain-elexpads),isthereanyalternative?whataboutperforatedelitesheepskinfromdekoni,douthinkthey'regood/sameleagueastheoriginal?ineedbackuppads.. Clicktoexpand... Idon'thaveanyexperiencewithDekoniasI'vealwaysstuckwiththestockpads(it'sinterestingtocomparemyLCD2'srealleatherpadsthatarealsolessthickthanmyLCD2CBfauxleather).TheLCD2haslessareathatitsticksto,whiletheCBseemssofter.WhenitcomestotheElexpads,Idofindtheyhaveagoodbalanceofbeingsoftyetsupportive.InoticedMassdropofferedadroponchoiceofDekonipadsforAudeze,butIdidn'tbite(mighthavebeengoodtotryperforated,butAudezepadsarenotexchangeablesincethey'restuckonwithadhesive!).Dekonicertainlyseemsthemostpopularforcheaper3rdpartyandalsogivingtheoptionofleather,vellore,perforatedoptions.   OfficeRig/Digital:SMSLDP3musicplayer>BenchmarkDAC1>iFiiCanProHome:MusicHallMavrickSACDplayer,MusicHallM5.1TT,Byte3>BenchmarkDAC1USB>SinglePowerPPX3SLAM(melikesNOStubes) Headphones:AudezeLCD-2,AudezeLCD2Closed,MassdropFocalElex,MrSpeakersAeonFlowClosed,SennheiserHD650,HD580(modded),HD595,GradoSR-325 Photo-Fi:Canon5Dmk4,bunchofLlensesandlightsetups Delmetrice Head-Fier Joined Mar22,2019 Posts 81 Likes 39 Location USA madugosaid: IgottheDT1990proandHe5sewhichIfoundbothhasprettysharpandbrighttrebletome.SoIamnotlookingforanotherreallybrighttrebleheadphone. Clicktoexpand... Nottohijack,butI'dliketoknowalittlemoreaboutwhatyouenjoylisteningto.Ithinkthe1990isprobablythemostneutralheadphoneIhave,andIabsolutelyloveit,particularlywithatubeamp-lolneutral/tube.MaybeEQ-3around8hzwouldtakesomeofthebiteoutifyou'rehearingsibilance(minehavecalmeddownovertimeitseemsorIjustnevernoticeit). Iflookingforanupgradetothe650,IpersonallyenjoytheElexovertheElears,butthatcouldsimplybehowIhearthem.IthinkeitherwouldbeastraightmoveupbutoneIhaven'tbeenwillingtomakeformy650sjustbecauseIreallyreallylovemy1990s.   IpadswapontheDT1990sandlikeit. madugo NewHead-Fier Joined Jan30,2012 Posts 41 Likes 9 Location Houston,TX Delmetricesaid: Nottohijack,butI'dliketoknowalittlemoreaboutwhatyouenjoylisteningto.Ithinkthe1990isprobablythemostneutralheadphoneIhave,andIabsolutelyloveit,particularlywithatubeamp-lolneutral/tube.MaybeEQ-3around8hzwouldtakesomeofthebiteoutifyou'rehearingsibilance(minehavecalmeddownovertimeitseemsorIjustnevernoticeit). Iflookingforanupgradetothe650,IpersonallyenjoytheElexovertheElears,butthatcouldsimplybehowIhearthem.IthinkeitherwouldbeastraightmoveupbutoneIhaven'tbeenwillingtomakeformy650sjustbecauseIreallyreallylovemy1990s. Clicktoexpand... Iamprettynewtotheheadfigame, Imainlylistentoclassicalandchinesepops,whichfornow,DT1990isgoodformefortheclassicalduetothedetailsandseparationsoftheinstruments. Tomepersonally,HD650isalotdifferentthanDT1990,theholdbackonthetrebleisactuallyverysuitableformeforlistentochinesepops.ThesharpnessofDt1990,eventheHe5seonthe"teethsound"onvocalsandcymbalisveryfatiguetolistenandverypiercing.Ionlygotshiitmodiandjdsatomspairatthemoment,asIheardtheyarenotverywarmdac/amp,sothatmaybepartofthereason. SoIthoughtaboutifthereisanupgradeheadphonefortheHD650,whichismoredetailedbutalsoholdingbackonthetreble,that'swhyIaskedabouttheelearandelexbecauseIsawsomepeoplereferitasHD650upgrade.Butseeingmanypeoplecomplainaboutdriverfailureontheelear,andalsosomepeoplehavingissuewithelex,makesmenotwantingtopullthetrigger. Ihaveseennewelear(notfromauthorizeddealer)foraslowas$400,butwithoutthewarranty,it'sreallyagamble.with$300difference,maybeElexisabetterchoicewith2yearwarranty,ifthewarrantyprocessisnotahassle. Whatisthemaindifferencetoyouontheelexthatyoupreferovertheelear?   Lastedited:Jun14,2019 Trunks159 HeadphoneusSupremus Joined Aug2,2012 Posts 3,340 Likes 177 Elexisbetter.Kindaassimpleasthattome.   ManiATH87 500+Head-Fier Joined Dec11,2012 Posts 983 Likes 362 Location BritishColumbia,Canada IjustgotmyElearthisweek,IalsohavetheHD650onhandtocompare. HD650hasbeenmydailyuseheadphoneforthebetterpartoffiveyears,soIhaveatonofexperiencewiththem.TheElearisastepupfromthe650inALMOSTeveryway.TheElearhasabitofadipintheuppermids,lowertreble,sothe650hasabitsmootherresponseacrossthemid/upperfrequencies.That'stheonlyplacetheHD650shinesinthecomparison.TheElear'sbassisworldsbetterthenthe650,bettertextured,goesdeeper,waymorepunchysounding-nocomparison.TheElearismuchmoredetailedandclearsoundinguptopwithoutbeingbrightatall.Ithinkthemeasurementsshowaspikewithsometreblefrequencies,butIhaven'tnoticedanythingpersonally.ThedynamicsontheEleararecrazygood,somuchsoundjustpopsoutatyou.SoundstageI'dsaybothheadphonessoundsimilar,Elearhasmoredepthbutnotverywide,prettyintimatesoundstageforhowopenitis. TheElearismuchmorecomfortabletome,it'sheavierbuttheweightisdistributedwell,padsaremorecomfortabletome-Ifindthe650slightlyitchyfeelingforwhateverreason,maybethesuededoesn'tagreewithme. Ilovemy650's,buttheElearissomuchbetter-thebuildqualityoftheElearisworldclass.Ijustthinkalsothatitlookssophenomenal,itputsalmosteveryotherheadphonetocompleteshamefromadesignstandpoint.TheElearismaybethebestlookingheadphoneonthemarket. Ican'tsaymuchabouttheElexasIhaven'theardit,butfromthegraphsitlooksliketheyloweredthebassatouchandsmoothedouttheuppermidsandtrebleabit,probablymoreneutralsoundingvsslightlymorewarm.PersonallyI'mokwiththedippedtrebleandslightlywarmersoundoftheElear-workswondersforthemusicIprefer. There'salsothecosttoconsider-theElearisavailableforbetween500and600USDrightnowonsale,it'sanincrediblevalueandafairbitcheaperthentheElex.Ipersonallywouldn'tevenconsidertheElexifitisn'tatthesamepricepoint.It'spossiblealsotobuypadsfortheElearifyouwantittomorecloselymimictheElex(ClearsorDekoni's). Justmy2cents   SchiitAsgard3Multibit--->FocalClear ManiATH87 500+Head-Fier Joined Dec11,2012 Posts 983 Likes 362 Location BritishColumbia,Canada madugosaid: Butseeingmanypeoplecomplainaboutdriverfailureontheelear,andalsosomepeoplehavingissuewithelex,makesmenotwantingtopullthetrigger. Ihaveseennewelear(notfromauthorizeddealer)foraslowas$400,butwithoutthewarranty,it'sreallyagamble.with$300difference,maybeElexisabetterchoicewith2yearwarranty,ifthewarrantyprocessisnotahassle. Whatisthemaindifferencetoyouontheelexthatyoupreferovertheelear? Clicktoexpand... ThedriverissueswereonlywiththefirstbatchesofElearsthatFocalshipped-thisisfrommorethenayearago.TheredriverissueshavebeencorrectedbyFocalalongtimeago. IregisteredmyElearthisweekandithasa5yearwarrantyonit.Ididbuyitforaround$550USDfromanauthorizeddealer.   SchiitAsgard3Multibit--->FocalClear kith86 100+Head-Fier Joined Mar23,2019 Posts 258 Likes 121 Location Jakarta Problemsolved   Lastedited:Jun15,2019 Headphones:Elear+TH610+ADX5k Source:Up4+HoneyH1+Signature+Bifrost2+Jotun2 329161 HeadphoneusSupremus Joined May5,2012 Posts 2,453 Likes 464 ThefrequencyresponseoftheElexfollowsthatoftheClearveryclosely.   madugo NewHead-Fier Joined Jan30,2012 Posts 41 Likes 9 Location Houston,TX ManiATH87said: ThedriverissueswereonlywiththefirstbatchesofElearsthatFocalshipped-thisisfrommorethenayearago.TheredriverissueshavebeencorrectedbyFocalalongtimeago. IregisteredmyElearthisweekandithasa5yearwarrantyonit.Ididbuyitforaround$550USDfromanauthorizeddealer. Clicktoexpand... Thanksforyourinputandreply,Couldyoupointouttomewhichauthorizeddealerhasitfor$550? Thanks.   1 2 3 … 6 Next 1of6 Next Last Youmustloginorregistertoreplyhere. 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