Focal Elex Review - GoldenSound

The Focal Elex are an excellent pair of headphones for the money and a great all-rounder that will suit many tastes. They're an easy ... Skiptocontent Menu FocalElex:https://drop.com/buy/massdrop-x-focal-elex-headphones TestSetup: –DAC:HoloAudioMayanddCSBartok–Amp:BenchmarkAHB2,SingxerSA-1,andWooAudioWA33–Changesfromstock:PadsreplacedwithClearPropads(duetostockpadsbeingwornout),cablereplacedwithAposFlowCableduetobeingMUCHmoreflexiblethanstockcable. TheFocalElexwasgiventomebymyfriendDanMellinger.Contentandanalysismadepossiblethankstosupportfromhttps://headphones.comandhttps://patreon.com/goldensoundsupporters. Intro: ThismightbeonthecheapersideinFocal’slineup,butsofarit’sactuallymyfavouriteandI’vebeenquitesurprisedhowmuchIenjoyeditgivenmy…..well…lessthanidealexperienceswiththeClearandClearMG.Thetwoclearvariantsweretomyearsfartooboxysoundingwithawfultimbreandonlyredeemedbytheirmacrodynamicimpact.AdditionallytheClearMGseemedtohaveanuppertrebleresonancethatfatiguedmeveryquickly.ButtheElexIputon,andsmiled!Thesesoundgreatandthere’salottolove. Ifallyouwanttoknowisiftheseareworthbuying:Yes,theyare,they’regreatforthemoney,agoodall-rounder,andImuchpreferredthemtotheClearandClearMG.TheymightnotbetradingblowswiththeflagshipUtopia,butofcoursethat’samuchmoreexpensivecanandit’dlikelybeunfairtoexpectthemtodoso. BuildandComfort: TheFocallineupfollowsaverysimilardesignphilosophythroughout,andtheElexdoesnotdeviatefromit.Theheadbanditselfisnicelypaddedandhousestheadjustmentandswivelmechanism,whichratherthanbeingattheyokesoftheheadphonelikemost,isinsteadintheheadbanditself. Iappreciatethisdesignchoiceasitallowsfortheheadphonestoswivel,whilstusingasinglepieceofmetalfortheyokesratherthanincorporatingajoint,whichresultsinanexceptionallypremiumlookandfeel. ThecupsthemselvesfeatureablackFocallogoembeddedinasolidwiremesh.Theseareverymuchopenbackheadphonesandsonoiseisolationshouldnotbeexpected,buttheyfeelquiterobustandsturdy. Theuseofawiremeshinsteadoffabricorothermoredelicatematerial(suchastheplasticontheHD800)meansthesearemuchlesslikelytobedamagedorwear.TheonlypartsoftheheadphonesI’dhavesomeconcernsaboutlongevitywouldbethepads,whichareeasilychangediftheydohappentowear,andtheheadband,asfaux-leatherdoestendtocrackandpeelafterextendeduse. Thecuptiltisspring-loaded,andsotheywillnotshakeorturnwhilstyouareholdingtheheadphonesorpackingthemintoacase.Thisalsohelpstocreateamoreeffectivesealonmostheads.Overall,thecomfortontheElexisfantastic.Icouldquitehappilywearthemforextendedsessionsandmyearsneverfelthoteither.ThebuildoftheElex,alongwithmostofFocal’sheadphones,isexcellent. TheonlypartIhavesomegripewithisthecable.Thestockcableissimplytoostiffwithtoomuchshapememory.LeadingtoitbeingbothmicrophonicandoftenhardtokeepfromfoldingovermyhandswhentypingasitsimplywouldnotstaywhereIputit. Luckilythoughtheconnectionsarestandard3.5mmwithawideholefortheconnectorsotherewillbenotroublesourcingareplacementorcustomcableifdesired.IpersonallyusedtheAposFlowcableasitwasnotmicrophonicatallandmuchmoreflexibleandcomfortablethanthestockcable.Wouldrecommendplanningtogetsomesortofreplacementcablefortheseifpossible.(Forfulltransparency,Aposdidsendmetheflowcableforfree,butIwouldnotberecommendingitifIdidnotfeelitwasn’tagoodproduct.It’sgenuinelyaverynice,affordable,flexibleandgoodlookingcable.) Powerandsources: TheElexare80ohmheadphoneswitharelativelyhighsensitivityof104dB/mW,meaningtheyarenotparticularlytrickytodrive.TheyworkedjustfinewithcomfortablevolumecontrolrangeonallamplifiersItriedandevendonglesorDAPssuchastheLotooS2andL&PP6Pro. Youdoneedanamplifiertogetthebestoutofthem,butdon’tneedanythingwithcrazypower,focusattentionmoreonthesoundsignatureoftheampnotthepoweriftheElexarelikelytobeyourmaincans.IparticularlyenjoyedthemontheSingxerSA-1asitofferedaverydetailed,smooth(butnottoosmooth)andspaciouspresentation.TheydidnotseemtopairtoowellwithmoreclinicalamplifierssuchastheSMSLSH8S.Somethingwithatastefulhintofwarmthisidealinmyopinion. Sound: TheoverallsignatureoftheElexcan’treallybesummedupeasilywithblanketdescriptionssuchas‘warm’,‘bright’or‘v-shaped’.It’sactuallyabitanalyticalinnaturebutwithsomelowendimpactthatsays‘Iknowhowtohavefuntoo’.Perhapstheclosestdescriptionwouldactuallybe‘M’shaped,andit’snotonethatI’vereallyheardonmanyotherheadphones.Butit’sasoundthatIquiteenjoyedformanytracks.Itwasn’ttryingtoohardtobe‘warmandnatural’andmissingthemarkliketheclearMG,butitalsowasn’ttryingtoforceapparentdetailbybeingovertlybrightlikesomeotherheadphones.Itoffersamidbassboosttogiveasenseofimpactand‘fun’,andbacksitupwitharticulateandtechnicallycapabletreble.ImmediatelyuponlisteningIwasenjoyingthemalotwithseveraldifferentgenresandtheonlythingthatIfoundmyselfwantingabitmoreofwassomesubbassextension.ComingfromtheClearMGtheElexsoundimmediatelymorespacious,losetheoffensive‘boxy-ness’,andjustsoundalotmorenormaloverall. TheElexarenotneutralheadphones,buttheyAREanall-rounder,bothingenrestheysuitandsourcegearyoucanpairthemwith.Istruggledtofindanythingthatsounded‘wrong’whenusedwithorplayedontheElexandtheysimplyofferedslightlydifferentpresentationswithdifferentsourcegear.Theywerenotsourcepicky,thoughIdidleantowardswarmergearasapreferencewiththemforreasonsdiscussedfurtheron. Bass: Focalshaveabitofareputation,andawelldeservedoneatthatforbeing‘punchy’or‘slammy’. Listeningto‘Instinct’byKaylioxtheimpactofkickdrumsynthswasfast,forcefulandhadmeunabletositstill.TheenergyandspeedthattheElexcanpresentinthelowendisexcellentandgreatfunformanyelectronicgenres. Watchonyoutube//Download Butwhilstthisisgreat,it’sunfortunatelyslightlyletdownbyasomewhatmediocresubbassextension.Basspunchwasfantasticbutthenwhenlisteningtoatrackintendedtogiveadeep,continuousrumblelike“Bittersweet”byLouistheChild,itleftmefeelingalittlebitdisappointed.Theimpactofthekickisstillgreat,butthesynththatfollowsjustwasnotpresentenough. Thiseffectisnotreallyhelpedbyagentle‘U’shapeddipinthemidrangewhichtakesawaysomefeelingofbodyandfullnesstothesound.Nottoanyproblematicextent,aslisteningtosomethingsuchas‘TrusT’byHalf-Alivedoesstillsoundexcellentallaround,withforcefulandcontrolledtransients,plentyofresolution,andwhilstthemidrangeelementssuchasthepianoandsynthorganssoundalittlethinnerinpresentationthanotherheadphones,they’restillpresentenoughandwhatI’dcall‘fine’. SoiftheElexhasaflaw,it’sthatitcanbealittlelightweightinpresentation,thoughitretainsplentyofspeedandimpactforbothsyntheticelements,andacousticelementssuchaskickdrums. Midrange: VocalsaresomewhatuniqueinpresentationontheElex.Thelower‘body’ofthevocalsissomewhatrecessedwhilsttheupperarticulationareaisquiteprominent.Vocalsareintimateanddon’tstageasfarasmanyotherinstrumentsdobutthisisapresentationthatalotoflistenerswillenjoy,asthevocalistisinmostcasesthefocusofthetrackandsohavingthemputup-frontandcentreevensomewhatartificiallyisveryenjoyabletomany. Timbreisoverallslightlythinwhichdoesoftenleavemalevocalsneedingabitmorebody,butresolutionandseparationfromtherestofthemixisexcellentfortheprice.Atracksuchas‘Puma’byAndrewBirddisplaysthisquitewellasalotofAndrewBird’svoicesitsaroundthe500hzregion,whichontheElexisalittlerecessed.Howevertherestofthemix,theguitars,stringsanddrums,soundfullofenergy,detail,andareallcompletelyseparatedfromeachotherwithverylittlecongestionorlackofcoherence. FrequencyinfoforAndrewBird’svoicesingingat0:17inhistrack‘Alabaster’,withnootherinstrumentspresent. OtherheadphonesmayhaveasimilarmidrangediptotheElex,buttypicallycomewithastrongerbass/midbassboostthatleavesthepresentationmuchmoreveiledormuddyinnature.ThefactthattheElexdoesNOTgotoofarwiththemidbassemphasismeanselementsinhigherfrequenciesareabletoshinethroughmuchmoreeasily. Treble: Trebleitselfismoreprominentinthe3-5kregionbutdropsdownafter,leadingtoquitean‘articulate’feelnottoobrightorairy.ItremindedmeofaslightlytamedSendyAiva.Guitarplucks,snares,vocalconsonants,andmanyelectronicsynthelementssoundclearandquickwithoutbeingaggressiveorsharp,spaciousbutnotdiffused.It’soverallaveryenjoyabletreblepresentationandIcannotreallypointoutanymajorissues,it’sverygood.Itdoeshaveaslightlymorethanisrealisticemphasisonthe3-5khzregion,butagain,thisisnotacanthat’stryingtobestrictlyneutral,it’stryingtobealittlebitanalytical,withoutbeingfatiguingorsibilant,andtheaddedmidbassenergygivesitalittlebitmorefunthanotherheadphoneswithsimilarresolvingcapabilitiesinthispricepoint. Summary: TheFocalElexareanexcellentpairofheadphonesforthemoneyandagreatall-rounderthatwillsuitmanytastes.They’reaneasyrecommendationforanyonelookingforsomethingcomfortable,wellbuilt,thatlooksgood,andwillworkwithjustaboutanygenre.Ifyou’reabass-headtheymightnothavethatdeeprumbleyou’relookingforbutwillcertainlydeliveronslamandimpact,andifyou’reanoperaloverthenyoumightfindyourselfwantingabitmoreweightinAndreaBocelli’svoice,butyou’llcertainlyhavealltheresolution,articulation,andclarityofnotjustvocalsbuteveryinstrumentinthevenuetomakeupforit.Andwhilstitmightbeheresytosome,atouchofEQreallymakestheseheadphonesshineandlikelyoneofthebestoptionsavailablewithoutspendingconsiderablymore. Sharethis:TwitterFacebookLikethis:LikeLoading... 7thoughtson“FocalElexReview” isthisgoingtobeavideo? Loading... Reply Whatabouttubes?!?! Loading... Reply MinesoundgreatwithmylittlepieceofSchiitVali2(v.1.1,notthe+)w/aGE5670.It’sjusta$150hybrid,butthereissomesynergythere.I’veneverhearditwithanotl,butwithits80ohmimpedance,aslongastheamphasnomorethansingledigitoutputimpedance,Isuspectthatitwillsoundgood Loading... Reply Unfortunately,Idon’tbelieveDropwillshiptheElextotheUK/EUanymore.Abigshame. Loading... Reply It’sElear+Elexpads.YoucangetthemlocallyandimportingElexwouldprobablybesameprice.Andlocalbuymakesreclamationeasier(whichisimportantwithFocalQC). Loading... Reply Pingback:WhatistheBestHeadphoneUnder$1000?withafocusontheFocalElex.-Techmatemag.com Awesomepost!recentlyIusedDolbyAtomsheadphoneandisoneofthemostamazingsoundingaudioadvancesheadphone.IthasClearaudioqualityandsocomfortabledevice.Forthosewhoareinterested,Ihaveaddedthedetailsinmyprofile.Thankyou. Loading... Reply LeaveaReply Cancelreply Subscribetogetnotifiedwhennewreviews/measurementsareposted! 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