Massdrop x Sennheiser HD58X vs. Focal Elex - Comparison

Sound wise, both of these headphones are very, very good. For someone who tends to listen at slightly higher volumes than I, the Elex can certainly outperform ... GrabaFocalClearfor$990andaFREE$100giftcard!|ExclusivetoHeadphones.com ShopByBrand A 64Audio Astell&Kern Audeze Audioquest Audio-Technica B-E Benchmark BursonAudio CampfireAudio Cayin Chord DanClarkAudio DekoniAudio Dunu EmpireEars F-H FeliksAudio FerrumAudio FinalAudio Focal Grado HEDDAudio Hifiman I-N iBasso iFi LakePeople MatrixAudio Meze MoonDrop MytekDigital NaimAudio Nimbus N-W RAAL-Requisite RME RossonAudioDesign Sennheiser SMSL SPL Thieaudio Topping Violectric Focal Hand-CraftedExcellencefromFrance Headphones Sales&Open-BoxDealsOpen-BackClosed-BackIn-EarWirelessDynamicDriverPlanarMagneticShopAllAmps&DACs Sales&Open-BoxDealsDesktopPortableTubeAmplifiersEntry-LevelShopAllAudioPlayers Sales&Open-BoxDealsFlagshipsShopAllAccessories EarPads&TipsCables HeadphoneCablesAnalogInterconnectsDigitalInterconnectsPowerCablesCasesStandsShopAllBundles Entry-LevelBundlesVideosReviewsLearnForumSupport TrackYourOrderContactUsShippingPolicy365-DayReturnsInfo MassdropxSennheiserHD58Xvs.FocalElex-Comparison IanDunmore 15minuteread ByPercyWegmann(@pwjazz) Summary TheMassdropxFocalElexandMassdropxSennheiserHD58Xsoundmoresimilarthandifferent,butformyownuse,IprefertheHD58X,pricenoobject.TheslightlywarmbutmostlyneutralsoundsignatureworkswellonprettymuchallofthemusictowhichIlistenandIcanenjoyitatlowvolumes.It’salsofarmorecomfortableformetowearthantheElex.ItlosestotheElexontechnicalitieslikespeedanddetailretrieval,andit’slesssmooth,butit’sprettydarnedgoodacrosstheboard,imagesexceptionallywell,andrendersmacrodynamicsbetterthantheElex(whichsurprisedme).TheHD58Xhasplentyofpunch,well-enoughextendedbassandtreble,anditgenerallysoundscohesive.It’salsosmootherthanwhatIrememberoftheHD600andtherefore“smoothenough”.Thegapinspeedanddetailretrievalcanpartiallybeclosedwithsolderdude’sfeltmod,whichI’vebeenemulatingwithEQandwillprobablyapplyforreal. Ifthere’sonesongthatbestdemonstrateswhyIlovetheHD58X,it’sStevieRayVaughan’sTinPanAlleyfrom“Couldn’tStandtheWeather”.Withtexture,punch,dynamics,reverbandothergoodies,it’sasonictreasureboxandrealdesertislandstuff!Bycontrast,listeningwiththeElexIfoundalotofsongsthatsoundedimpressivefromacriticallisteningperspective,butnothingthattickledmymusicalfibersliketheHD58Xdoes. TheDetails HavingrecentlygoneonaDSPbingeandsoldmyBeyerdynamicDT1990becauseIwashavingsomuchfunwithmyAudeze LCD2C,Icameoffthatbingewantingtoownsomeheadphonesthatdon’tneedanyEQorcrossfeedtosoundgood.IusedtoownanHD600whichfitthebillbutfailedtoimpresswithitsbassperformance,andithadaroughnesstoitssoundthatIcouldn’tignore.Hopingthatitmightsoundlikea“fixed”HD600,IpickedupaSennheiserHD58XoneBay.Soonafter,anopenboxElexbecameavailableforagoodpriceonBlinq.I’dalwayswantedtohearthefamedFocalsoundandIhopedthatitwouldsoundlikemyoldDT1990withoutthebigtreblespike,soIpickedupapair.I’veownedneitherverylong,butI’velistenedtobothlongenoughtoformsomeimpressions.IfindmyselfconstantlyreachingfortheHD58XovertheElexandsotheElexwillmoveontoahomewhereitmightfindmorelove. BackgroundandDisclaimersAboutMe I’velostenoughhighfrequencyhearingthatIdon’thearoverabout14or15kHz.SinceI’dliketopreservemyhearing,Itendtolistenatlowlevels(70dBAorbelow).Ilistentoprettymuchallkindsofmusic,butskewtowardsstuffthatincludesatleastsomeacousticinstrumentsandunprocessedhumanvoices.IlistentoalotofmusicduringthedaywhileIworkasaprogrammer,Ioccasionallydosomefocusedcriticallisteningforenjoymentandwritingreviewslikethisone,andIliketolistenintheeveningsforrelaxation.Iusedtoenjoyballroomdancingwithmywifepriortothearrivalofourkidsandsoenjoyagoodbeataboutasmuchasanyone.Icasuallyplaythepianoandamlearningtoplaytheukuleletogetherwithmyyoungson.Somepeoplemightmistakemeformusicallyinclineduntiltheyhearmesing,atwhichpointthey’llrealizethatIhaveawfulpitch. TestPlaylist TinPanAlleyon“Couldn’tStandtheWeather”byStevieRayVaughan GetLuckyon“RandomAccessMemories”byDaftPunk Angelon“Mezzanine”byMassiveAttack JamboneandTioMacacoon“WeLikeItHere”bySnarkyPuppy Abraham’sNewGifton“Alive”byPhronesis SecondHandNewson“Rumours”byFleetwoodMac Africaon“TotoIV”byToto Windowpaneon“Damnation”byOpeth 11:11on“11:11”byRodrigoyGabriela MetropolisPt.1on“ImagesandWords”byDreamTheater I’mNowhereandYou’reEverythingon“Deceiver”byChrisThiele LaMoldauconductedbyFerencFricsayonDeutscheGrammophonbyBedrichSmetana LeNozzeDeFigarostarringKarlBöhmonDeutscheGrammophonbyWolfgangAmadeusMozart St.Matthew’sPassionconductedbyIanBostridgebyJ.S.Bach SingetDemHerrneinneuesLiedon“Bach:Motets”performedbyR.I.A.S.ChamberChoir RachmaninoffVespersperformedbyRoberShawFestival AllsongswereinRedBookFLAC(16/44.1)fromCDripsorwebdownloadfromBandcamp,playedbackwitheitherRoonorUSBAudioPlayerProonAndroid. Commonalities AmpPairing IlistenedtobothheadphonesoutofanLGV20,aToppingNX4andaHifiberryfeedingaSchiitMagni3aswellasaGarage1217EmberIItubeampwithanRCA12AU7cleartoptube.Thetubeampdidn’tdoeitherheadphoneanyfavors,takingawaytoomuchbodyfromtheElexandtoomuchdetailfromtheHD58X.Allthreesolidstateampsdidwell.TheLGV20sufficientlypowersboth(Iusedabout25-35%volumemostofthetime).BothsoundedevenbetterfromtheNX4,whichfilledintheElexbottomendabitmoreandseemedtobringoutasomemoredetailandclarityfromtheHD58X.TheElexsoundedbestfromtheMagni3whichfilledinitsbottomendevenmore. Interestingly,thevolumeonbothheadphonesmeasuredandsoundedaboutthesamewithouthavingtoadjustthesettingsontheLGV20,sothatmadeiteasytoswitchbackandforthfortesting. ImagingandSoundstage Bothoftheseheadphonesimageverywellwithinwhatonemightcall“intimate”soundstageswhichtomesoundmorenaturalthanwidersoundstageslikeontheHE400iorHD598.Inparticular,Ineverfeeltheneedtoturnoncrossfeedtonarrowthestereoimage.Bothheadphonesseparateinstrumentsverywell,andtheybothallowmetopreciselyplacesoundswithinacontiguoussoundstage,unliketheLCD2Cwhichseparateswellbutplaceseverythingintojustoneofthreeblobs(left,center,right).TheElexalsoachievessomethingspecialinthatitplacestheimagemoreinfrontofmethanI’musedtofromheadphones,makingitvery“speaker-like”inthatregard. 11:11andthe2ndtrackfromTheMarriageofFigaroreallyshowofftheimaging.OnTheMarriageofFigaro,bothheadphonesconveythesenseofactuallysittinginanoperahouse.Icaneasilyimaginethevocalistsonstageinfrontofme,withthemalejustrightofcenter,thefemalejustleftofcenter,andtheorchestrafillinginaroundthem.11:11doesn’tcontainmanyparts,justacoupleofguitars,somebangingontheguitarsandsomeclapping,buttherecordingplaceseachoneinaslightlydifferentlocationacrossthestereoimageandbothheadphonesusetheavailablesoundstagetothefullest. OverallTonalityandTimbre Bothheadphonesaretunedneutrallyandrendervoicesandacousticinstrumentsrealistically.Maleandfemalevocalsarewellbalancedwitheachotherandwiththerestoftheinstrumentation.BothheadphoneshavewhatIwouldcall“enough”treble,providingenoughenergytocymbalsandsweetnesstofemalevocals,butneverbecomingsibilantorfatiguing.Bothdeviateabitfromneutral,withtheHD58XalittletowardsthewarmsideandtheElexalittletotheleanside.I’vefoundthatIdefinitelyprefertheHD58X’swarmertilt,whichgivesvoicesandinstrumentsabodythattheylackwiththeElex(unlessIturnupthevolume). Mymeasurements(relativetoaHarman-liketarget)illustratethegeneralsimilarityintheirtonalbalanceversussomethingliketheLCD2C.    Mid-Bass Inmostmodernmusic,bassguitaranddrumprovidethebeat,andit’simportantforthesebeclear,articulate,andpunchy.Ifindthatdynamicdriverheadphonesoftengetthe“punchy”partbutsometimesstrugglewith“clearandarticulate”.Bothoftheseheadphonesreallynailitallaround.TrackslikeGetLuckyandMetropolisPt1showoffwhattheseheadphonescando,withafastdrivingbeatintheformerwhichmakesmewanttodance,andsomefastdouble-bassdrummingandhighlytechnicalbassguitarlinesinthelatterthatmakemewanttobangmyheadwhileflashingthesignofsatan. Sub-Bass Open-backeddynamicdriversoftensufferfromprettyseveresub-bassrolloffanddramaticallyincreaseddistortioninthisregion.Bothoftheseheadphonesrolloffalittlebutextendsurprisinglywellandremainreasonablyarticulatedownthere.ListeningtoAngel,Icanhearlownoteswithsomedefinition,notjustagenericrumble.NeitheroftheserivalsmyLCD2CforbassperformanceandifIweretositdownforalisteningsessiondedicatedtoelectronicmusic,IwouldstickwiththeLCD2C,butfortheoccasionaldeepbasstrackthesebothgetthejobdone.TheHD58Xdoessufferfrommoreseverebassrolloffwhenwearingglasses,soforcriticallisteningImustlistenblind! Percussion Percussioncoversawiderangeofsounds,fromkickdrumstotomsandsnares,fromtrianglesandshakerstocymbalsandhihats,fromclapstobeatingonaguitar’sbody.Percussionprovidesbothabeatandinterestingaccentstothemusic.Counterintuitively,evenlowertonedpercussionliketomsseemtoneedsomeenergyinthetrebletosoundpunchyandbelievable,andthankfullybothoftheseheadphonesdeliveronthatscore.ThetwoSnarkyPuppysongsonthetestplaylistshowoffbothheadphones’percussivecapabilitiesverywell,andalsotheirimagingonlargejazzensembles.Ienjoyedlisteningtoallthepercussiveinstrumentssurroundingmyhead! Microdynamics I’mstilllearningwhat“microdynamics”reallymeans,buttheirrenderingofthetremolointhevoicesaround1:00intoGetLuckyseemslikeagoodexampleoftheseheadphones’capabilitiestoportraysmallvolumeswings. ToElex’sAdvantage Speed,ClarityandDetailRetrieval Partiallybecauseofitsleanersoundbutalsobecauseofbetterspeed,theElexoverallsoundsclearerandmoredetailed.WhereastheHD58Xalwayshasatinybitofhazinesstoitsbackgroundthatreducesitsresolutionabit,theElexpresentsaperfectlydarkbackgroundoutofwhichitsverydetailedsoundsseemtoemerge.ThisisconvincinglydemonstratedonAbraham’sNewGift. However,solderdude’sfeltmodnarrowsthisgap.IemulateditwithsomeEQ,andbringingdownthemid-basshumpinthiswaydidimproveperceivedclarityanddetail,andmadethebackgroundabitdarker.It’sstillnoElex,butit’snotbad.Inparticular,whiledoingthiscomparisonInoticedthatAfricahassomebriefquietvoicesontheleftchannelat0:03,whichI’dnevernoticedbefore. Build/Aesthetics Unliketheplastic-fantasticHD58X,thelargelymetalElexconveysasenseofbeingapremiumproductwhilstsittingonthedeskorheldinhand. ToHD58X’sAdvantage Macrodynamics TinPanAlleyandLaMoldaubothusedrasticvolumeswingstoconveyemotion.TinPanAlley’ssoundsexplodeoutofnowhereandfadeasquicklyastheyappeared,jerkingthelisteneraroundasStevieRaypullsheralongthroughhissolo.Adrumhitandguitarstrumthatmimicagunshotat5:11beginastretchwithparticularlystrongmacrodynamics.InLaMoldautheswingsaremoregradual,buildingenergyinawaythatevokesthemightofameanderingstreamturningintoaragingriver.TheHD58XrendersthesedynamicswingsbetterthantheElex,conveyingmoreoftheemotioninthesesongs. Guitars Elaboratingontimbre,IfindthatacousticandelectricguitarssoundmorefullbodiedandoverallbetterontheHD58Xbecauseofitswarmertonaltilt.TheelectricguitarattheendofSecondHandNewsdemonstratesthiswell–ontheHD58Xithasbody,crunchandbite,ontheElexit’sallbite. LowVolumeListening TheElexgainsbodybyturningupthevolumeto75dBAorhigher,towhichtheElexrespondsbeautifullyinotherwaystoo.Weightimproves,clarityincreasesandeverythingjustsoundsmorevividandpunchy.TurnuptheHD58Xtoomuch,anditstartstosoundmuddyandcongested.Thisislessofanissueafterthefeltmodandalsolessofanissueonthemorepowerfulsolidstateamps,butstillgenerallytrue. However,Ipreferlisteningatlowervolumestoprotectmyhearing,andatmylisteningvolumestheHD58Xsoundsbetterbalancedtomyears.SomeonewholistensathighervolumesmightbetterappreciatetheElex. Comfort TheElexmaylookgreatinmyhand,buttheHD58Xfeelsgreatonmyhead.It’ssignificantlylighter,itsheadbanddesignavoidshotspottingonthecrownofmyhead,itsovalearpadsprovideenoughroomformypointyears,andaftermanuallylooseningtheclampitclampsstronglyenoughtofeelsecureonmyheadyetgentlyenoughtoavoidcausingdiscomfort,evenwhenIwearglasses.AbouttheonlyplacewheretheElexwinsoncomfortisinitsslightlydeeperearcups,whichpreventmyearsfromtouchingthedriverliketheydoontheHD58X,butit’sasmallconsolationwhentheirsmallroundopeningsfoldeitherthetoporthebottomofmyearsinwards.Also,theElexincludesaheavy,kinkyabominationofacablethatmaylookexpensivebutisn’tworth$5asfarasI’mconcerned.Thankfullythecableiseasilyreplaced. Conclusion Soundwise,bothoftheseheadphonesarevery,verygood.ForsomeonewhotendstolistenatslightlyhighervolumesthanI,theElexcancertainlyoutperformtheHD58XinmostdimensionsandrevealsaclaritythatremainsoutoftheHD58X’sreachatanyvolume.However,atthelowvolumesIuse,theHD58Xsoundsverycohesiveandisgoodenoughacrosstheboardthatitmakesitapleasuretolistentojustaboutanything.Beyondthat,whiletheElexcansoundverytechnicallyimpressiveontherighttracksattherightvolume,notoncediditallowmetolosemyselfinthemusicthewaythatIcanwiththeHD58X.Lastbutnotleast,IpersonallyfindtheHD58Xmuchmorecomfortable.Giventhatitincludesanactuallyusefulcableretailsforalmost1/5thoftheElex,it’sano-brainerpickforme. SomeoneonRedditrecentlysuggestedthatahappyaudiophileisonewhohasfiguredoutthelowerlimitofwhatequipmentwilldelivernearmaximumenjoyment.I’llneedtospendmoretimewithitbeforeIcometoafinalconclusion,buttheHD58X+LGV20augmentedbyanNX4forcriticallisteningcouldbemysweetspot.Ofcoursethatwouldmeangivingupthepursuitofnewheadphones,whichisawhole'nothersubject! P.S.ItoccurredtomeafterwritingthiscomparisonthattheHD58X,liketherestoftheSennheiser600family,reallyexcelsatsinger/songwriterfolkmusicbecauseofitsspectacularrenderingofvocalsandguitars.OtherthanoneChrisThielesong,mytestplaylistdidn’treallyhitthiscategorymuch.I’mhappytosaythat,asexpected,theHD58XsoundsfantasticonalbumslikeJoniMitchell’s“Blue”! MeasurementNotes MeasurementsweremadeonaMiniDSPE.A.R.S.followingtherecommendationsintheMiniDSPmanual,butatalowerSPLtomatchmytypicallisteninglevel.ThetesttoneswereplayedfromanLGV20phoneusingUSBAudioPlayerProwithnoDSPactive.ThefrequencyresponseusestheMiniDSP-providedHEQcompensationwhichaccordingtoMiniDSPissimilarto(butnotidenticalto)theHarmantargetresponse. Note-theLCD2Cmeasurementsweretakenfromanearliermeasurementsessionandweremeasuredat84dBandthenshiftedforcomparisontotheElexandHD58X. -PercyWegmann(@pwjazz) --- JointhediscussionaboutthisMassdropxFocalElexvs.MassdropxSennheiserHD58X comparisonat"TheHEADPHONECommunity". «BacktoBlog RelatedArticles IanDunmore(@Torq)joinstheheadphones.comand"TheHEADPHONECommunity"team. 2minuteread SennheiserHD820Closed-BackHeadphone-Review 22minuteread FocalUtopia-FlagshipOpen-BackHeadphone-Review 18minuteread Hey!Lookslikeyou'vechangedyourthemeandnowDropInBlog'scodeneedstobere-addedtoyourthemefiles. 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