MASSDROP X Focal ELEX Review (headphone) - Audio ...

Founder/Admin ... This is a review and detailed measurements of the Drop Focal Elex. It was kindly loaned to me by a member and costs US $700. Reviews ReviewIndex Forums What'snew Donations Members Login Register What'snew Search Newposts Searchforums Menu Login Register Installtheapp Install WANTED:Happymemberswholiketodiscussaudioandothertopicsrelatedtoourinterest.Desiretolearnandshareknowledgeofsciencerequiredasis20yearsofparticipationinforums(notalltrue).Therearedailyreviewsofaudiohardwareandexpertmemberstohelpansweryourquestions. Clickheretohaveyouraudioequipmentmeasuredforfree! Forums Audio,Audio,Audio! HeadphonesandHeadphoneAmplifierReviews Youareusinganoutofdatebrowser.Itmaynotdisplaythisorotherwebsitescorrectly.Youshouldupgradeoruseanalternativebrowser. MASSDROPXFocalELEXReview(headphone) Threadstarter amirm Startdate Apr10,2021 1 2 3 … 8 Next 1of8 Next Last amirm Founder/Admin StaffMember CFO(ChiefFunOfficer) Joined Feb13,2016 Messages 36,887 Likes 151,014 Location SeattleArea ThisisareviewanddetailedmeasurementsoftheDropFocalElex.ItwaskindlyloanedtomebyamemberandcostsUS$700. TheElexnaturallyfollowsthedesignoftherestofFocalline: Theheadphoneweighs440gramsandhasinsidecupdimensionsof62x55x27(height,width,depth).Notethatthedriverisangledsothecupdepthvaries. Overallcomfortwasexcellent.Theownermusthaveasimilarshapetomyfaceandheadastohavewornoffthepadsjustright. Note:ThemeasurementsyouareabouttoseearepreformedusingstandardizedGRAS45CAheadphonemeasurementfixture.Headphonemeasurementsrequiremoreinterpretationthanspeakertestsandhavemoreofarequirementforsubjectivetestingasaresult.Inaddition,comparisonofmeasurementsbetweendifferentpeopleperformingitusingdifferentconfigurationsrequiresfairbitofskill.Sodon'tlookformatchingresults.Focusonhighlevelpicture.ListeningtestsareperformedusingRMEADI-2DACanditsheadphoneoutput. Mountingtheheadphoneonthetextfixturewaseasyrequiringverylittlemanipulationtogetleftandrighttomatchatdualfrequencies(withinreason). FocalElexMeasurements Asusual,westartwithourstereofrequencyresponsemeasurements: ThatsurelookssimilartoFocalClearfrequencyresponse: TheonlythingdifferentisbetterchannelmatchinginElexwhichcouldbeameasuredifferenceasmuchassampledifference. EventheFocalUtopialookssimilar: Looksliketheyhavetheirowntargetresponsethatallofthesearematchedto. BacktoElex,therelativefrequencyresponseisthus: Groupdelaymatchesaswell: Ihavenotedamember'shypothesisthatmessinessingroupdelayinthat2to4kHzmayresultinbetterspatialeffect. AsifweneedanymoreproofofsisterhoodbetweentheClearandElex,hereisthedistortiongraphwhichmatchesyetagain: Onedifferencethough:thistimeIdidnothavemyownheadphonesonandlistenedtothesweeps.Iwashorrifiedtohearthedriverscrackleat114dBSPL!Theclearmusthavedonethisaswellgiventhatsignatureresponseingreen: Sowhoeverthinksthedriverlimitationshereisimagined,well,theyneedtostopsayingthat. Onthepositivefrontistheincrediblylowdistortionat94dBSPL(blue).Thelineliterallymeltsintothe"0"percentage.Evenat114dBSPL,thereisnodistortiontospeakofabove2kHz.Soaslongasyoudon'thitthelimitofthedrive,thisisonelowdistortiontransducer.Maybethatisthetradeofftheymade? Hereisthedistortiongraphinabsolutescale: ImpedanceisvariableandagainmatchesClear: SensitivityisgoodrequiringhalfasmuchdriveasSennheiserHD-650forexample: FocalElexListeningTests AswiththeFocalClear,thenon-equalizedresponsewasfinebutnothingtogetexcitedabout.Similarequalization(createdfromscratchhereratherthancopiedfromClear),resultedinmajorimprovement: ImaybebiasedbydistortionmeasurementsbutIconstantlywent"ohthatnoteisclean!"Thishappenedacrosstheboardinmanytracks.QuietnoteswereespeciallyadelightwiththeElex. ItwasnotlongthoughbeforeIgothorrifiedwiththecracklingsound.Ohmanisthisthingscary.TheonlyaudiogearthatIamscaredofismy1000wattpoweramplifierwhichhasenoughjuicetosendaspeakertoMars!TheElexheadphonehadmeinthesamespotwhereIhadtohavemyhandonthevolumecontrol.IcouldnotenjoyanytrackathighvolumeasIkeptworryingaboutthecrackle. SoIturnedthevolumedownandgotbusywithanotherreview.Acoupleofhourslater,Irealizedhowcomfortablethisheadphonewasandhowniceitssoundwasatlowvolumes. Conclusions Let'scuttothechase:iftheFocalElexdidnothavethedriverlimitwiththatnastycrackle,itwouldgetthehighestremarksfromme.Ithasanutlralow-distortiondriverthatlendsitselfwelltoequalization.Oncethere,thesoundisadelightaslongasyoukeepthevolumereasonableandsensible.Equalizationsadlygetsyouclosertoitslimitandinmyapplicationwouldsurelyhitthelimit.Whatashame. IamovertheshockofthedriverlimitthatIhadwiththeClearanddecidedtoupgrademyratingofElexto"recommended." ------------ Asalways,questions,comments,recommendations,etc.arewelcome. Anydonationsaremuchappreciatedusing:https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/how-to-support-audio-science-review.8150/   Attachments FocalElexFrequencyResponse.zip 51.4KB·Views:179 Lastedited:Apr10,2021 Amir Founder,AudioScienceReview Founder,MadronaDigital ContributingEditor,WidescreenReviewMagazine ClickforMyTechnicalBackground MyYouTubeChannel sweetchaos MajorContributor ForumDonor TheCurator Joined Nov29,2019 Messages 2,646 Likes 6,911 Location BC,Canada ToimportthisPEQprofileinto'EqualizerAPO',use: Preamp:-7.5db Filter1:ONLSFc80HzGain7.0dBQ1.0 Filter2:ONPKFc4700HzGain3.0dBQ3.0 Clicktoexpand... ToimportintoyourfavoritePEQapp,enteritmanually. Otherwise,seemyPEQguide. .................................................................................................................. Forthosewhodon'thavePEQ-capableapp,andwanttouseGEQsinstead. Spoiler:10-bandGEQ Preamp:-7.7db 327.0 643.3 125-0.1 250-0.5 500-0.4 1000-0.3 2000-0.8 40001.6 8000-0.3 16000-0.7 Spoiler:31-bandGEQ Preamp:-6.9db 204.2 255.1 324.5 404.0 503.8 633.3 802.3 1001.2 1250.4 160-0.2 200-0.2 250-0.2 315-0.4 400-0.3 500-0.3 630-0.3 800-0.3 1000-0.3 1250-0.3 1600-0.3 2000-0.3 2500-0.3 3150-0.3 40000.9 50002.4 6300-0.2 8000-0.3 10000-0.4 12500-0.5 16000-0.7 20000-0.4 Ifyouwanttoimportinto"Wavelet"(AndroidApp): Spoiler:127-bandGEQ GraphicEQ:20-0.2;21-0.2;22-0.2;23-0.2;24-0.2;26-0.2;27-0.2;29-0.2;30-0.2;32-0.2;34-0.2;36-0.2;38-0.2;40-0.3;43-0.4;45-0.5;48-0.7;50-0.9;53-1.1;56-1.3;59-1.5;63-1.8;66-2.1;70-2.4;74-2.7;78-3.0;83-3.4;87-3.7;92-4.0;97-4.3;103-4.6;109-4.9;115-5.1;121-5.3;128-5.5;136-5.7;143-5.8;151-5.9;160-6.1;169-6.2;178-6.2;188-6.3;199-6.4;210-6.4;222-6.4;235-6.5;248-6.5;262-6.5;277-6.6;292-6.6;309-6.6;326-6.6;345-6.6;364-6.6;385-6.6;406-6.6;429-6.6;453-6.6;479-6.6;506-6.6;534-6.6;565-6.6;596-6.6;630-6.7;665-6.7;703-6.7;743-6.7;784-6.7;829-6.7;875-6.7;924-6.7;977-6.7;1032-6.6;1090-6.6;1151-6.6;1216-6.6;1284-6.6;1357-6.6;1433-6.6;1514-6.6;1599-6.6;1689-6.6;1784-6.6;1885-6.6;1991-6.6;2103-6.6;2221-6.6;2347-6.5;2479-6.5;2618-6.5;2766-6.4;2921-6.4;3086-6.3;3260-6.2;3443-6.0;3637-5.8;3842-5.5;4058-5.1;4287-4.4;4528-3.9;4783-3.7;5052-4.1;5337-4.8;5637-5.3;5955-5.7;6290-6.0;6644-6.1;7018-6.3;7414-6.3;7831-6.4;8272-6.5;8738-6.5;9230-6.5;9749-6.6;10298-6.6;10878-6.6;11490-6.6;12137-6.6;12821-6.6;13543-6.6;14305-6.6;15110-6.6;15961-6.6;16860-6.6;17809-6.7;18812-6.6;19871-6.4 Otherwise,seemyGEQguide.   Lastedited:Apr10,2021 SpeakerCompanies BookshelfSpeakers(PassiveSpeakers DomeMids>>>>>AllOthers F faheem ActiveMember ForumDonor Joined Oct10,2019 Messages 128 Likes 245 ThanksforthereviewAmir.Theinvestigationintospatialityisthemostinterestingforme.IhavetheHD650,AnandaandSusvara.Howeachonepresentsthataffectissouniqueandfascinating.Thereseemstobeverylittleattempttodeconstructthescienceinthatarea.It'sonlyyouandResolve,whohaveopenlyspokeabouttryingtoseewhatshappening.   Rottmannash MajorContributor ForumDonor Joined Nov11,2020 Messages 1,841 Likes 1,439 Location Nashville IhavethisHPandloveit,evenwithoutEQ.ThanksAmirforreviewingit!   Purifi&BuckeyeAllTheWay acbarn MajorContributor ForumDonor Joined Mar11,2020 Messages 1,728 Likes 4,068 Location California Greatreview,thanksasalways. TheFRgraphsconfirmwhatIheardwhencomparingtheElextotheClearandUtopia;thedifferencesaresubtleandnotcommensuratewiththemassivepricedifference. I’vebeenlisteningtotheElexregularlyforoverayearandhaveyettopushthemtothepointwherethedrivercrackles.I’mlisteningatwellbelow114dbthough.   Zensō@Bandcamp|AppleMusic|Tidal|Qobuz|Spotify|YouTubeMusic|SoundCloud D Deletedmember22141 Guest Irarelylistenatanythingover85dBformorethanafewminutes.ImustsayIenjoytheElex,andparticularlyasIgotthemduringtheirBlackFridaypromotionlastyearfor$550. Comfortisokay,butIdofindafterafewhoursthattheclamppressuregetsabitmuchandcancauseaheadache.IfindthemmuchmorecomfortablethantheHD6XXhoweverwhichislighterbuthasatrulyhorribleclamppressureforextendedlistening.   sweetchaos MajorContributor ForumDonor TheCurator Joined Nov29,2019 Messages 2,646 Likes 6,911 Location BC,Canada AmirvsOratory1990: Spoiler AmirvsJaakkopasanen(measuredbyOratory1990): Spoiler Oratory1990vsJaakkopasanen(measuredbyOratory1990): Spoiler PEQprofilebyAmir(frommypost#2above): Spoiler Preamp:-7.5db Filter1:ONLSFc80HzGain7.0dBQ1.0 Filter2:ONPKFc4700HzGain3.0dBQ3.0 PEQprofilebyOratory1990: Spoiler Preamp:-5.2db Filter1:ONLSFc105HzGain5.5dBQ0.71 Filter2:ONPKFc83HzGain-3.9dBQ0.4 Filter3:ONPKFc1320HzGain-4.7dBQ1.5 Filter4:ONHSFc1400HzGain3.0dBQ0.8 Filter5:ONPKFc1580HzGain-0.7dBQ7.0 Filter6:ONPKFc2950HzGain-1.2dBQ5.0 Filter7:ONPKFc3600HzGain-3.6dBQ3.0 Filter8:ONPKFc5750HzGain-6.2dBQ4.0 Filter9:ONPKFc9080HzGain-2.6dBQ6.0 Filter10:ONPKFc11000HzGain-5.4dBQ6.0 PEQprofilebyJaakkopasanen(measuredbyOratory1990): Spoiler Preamp:-3.9dB Filter1:ONPKFc24HzGain3.1dBQ1.06 Filter2:ONPKFc1318HzGain-3.0dBQ1.73 Filter3:ONPKFc2180HzGain3.4dBQ2.44 Filter4:ONPKFc7352HzGain2.4dBQ3.60 Filter5:ONPKFc10071HzGain3.4dBQ3.12 Filter6:ONPKFc188HzGain-2.0dBQ1.03 Filter7:ONPKFc510HzGain0.6dBQ1.25 Filter8:ONPKFc4305HzGain1.8dBQ8.17 Filter9:ONPKFc12472HzGain2.8dBQ1.41 Filter10:ONPKFc19822HzGain-10.3dBQ0.39   SpeakerCompanies BookshelfSpeakers(Toomanyamps>Toomanyheadphones D Deletedmember22141 Guest Jimbob54said: TheblockDropimposeonexportingthesebacktotheUKisarealpain,andwhyI"had"togetasecondhandclearinstead. Clicktoexpand... FortunatelyIhaveabrotherwholivesintheUSAandhegotthemforme.It'snotDrop'sblockit'sFocal's.   Jimbob54 MasterContributor ForumDonor Joined Oct25,2019 Messages 8,084 Likes 9,753 gavasaid: FortunatelyIhaveabrotherwholivesintheUSAandhegotthemforme.It'snotDrop'sblockit'sFocal's. Clicktoexpand... True,andluckyyou!   ToomanyDACs>Toomanyamps>Toomanyheadphones B beefkabob MajorContributor ForumDonor Joined Apr18,2019 Messages 1,174 Likes 1,545 Whatheadphonesworkbestforthoseofuswithbigassears?   Jimbob54 MasterContributor ForumDonor Joined Oct25,2019 Messages 8,084 Likes 9,753 beefkabobsaid: Whatheadphonesworkbestforthoseofuswithbigassears? Clicktoexpand... Sennheiser800series   ToomanyDACs>Toomanyamps>Toomanyheadphones 1 2 3 … 8 Next 1of8 Next Last Youmustloginorregistertoreplyhere. 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