Focal Elegia Review

[@MrRAW1968]

Bought these in April and your review is right on spot. Pair these headphones with a good dac/headphone amp and it’s very pleasant to listening too for longer listening sessions. I use a Metrum Acoustics Amethyst which is a R2R ladder DAC, very good combo.

[@bosk1n]

Thanks for comparing them to 6xx. I own 6xx, love them. But need closed back to get rid of family noises while working from home. :) You’ve just confirmed I am looking toward right direction.

[@ANSWERTHECALLOFJESUSCHRIST]

I own both the HD 6XX and the Elegia. The Sennheisers sound great, but they have nothing on the Elegia. For being closed back, they sound outside of the head. They seem bass-shy at first, but the bass is just super clean. They sometimes have too much bass for me. I need to wear them for 15 before my ears get used to the signature. Then, I don't wanna take 'em off!

[@Angel-AbC9]

I see that you have some nice headphones behind you , it would've been nice for you to compare them to the focal or atleast in review say what it competes with .

[@Glit149]

Ah good point, thank you for the feedback

[@kellycny65]

Solid review. You deserve more subscribers. But compare the can in question to some of the other nice headphones you have in the background!

[@carter7036]

Sound impressions at 3:30

[@craigslue]

Just picked a new pair for great price. Wow, these things are dynamic and play loud!!! I have to turn the gain down to get useable volume control. Not sure where this complaint of no bass comes from? Songs with good bass have good bass! Mine came with a black cable that may be a little better but to be honest Ipaid little attention and plugged in some of mt Hart cables. I think there is plenty of bass for me.

[@Quixorion]

Hey I am planning to pick up either an used Sundara 2018 (200€) or a used Elegia (350€). Which one would you recommend me to pick up without considering the price difference since I think I could use the Elegia more because of the closed back design. I would love to hear your opinion. Thank you!

[@tobyyao6753]

Hi, really thanks for sharing. I'm choosing between Focal elegia and Meze 99 classic, anyone has advice? Thanks you

[@RLTrane]

Just picked these up for 400 on adorama. I loved the Elex but had some mechanical clipping. Hoping this won't have too much of that issue. Love the btr5 too. Figure this will compliment my hd58x sound wise and having it be closed back

[@Glit149]

Awesome! If you enjoyed the elex and hd58x, I have no doubt that you will love these.

[@Assimilator702]

Ryan Lupton The Elegia are $519 now open box on Adorama but $525 brand new in Amazon. Was your pair in MINT condition? I had a pair of Elear that was open box but there was a tiny mark on the top of the leather head band that bugged the crap out me considering I paid $500 for them. There was also a chip in the paint on the left yoke right where I would grab them and it got so distracting I returned them. I haven’t bought another pair but I loved the headphones. I would pay $400 on the Elegia if they’re anywhere close to the tuning of the Elear.

[@RLTrane]

@@Assimilator702 when I bought the elegia they were $400 brand new on adorama. They were having a sale. I haven't heard the elear. I enjoy them with the dekoni sheepskin (non perforated). I'm usually on the headphones reddit group and they usually post when good sales are going on.

[@Assimilator702]

@@RLTrane I'll have to keep my eye out on that reddit group. I've been using iems exclusively but usually move to full sized cans in the Winter. Do you find the Elegia excessively bright? And is the midbass scooped out enough to make kick drums sound less impact impact full than they should be? I would be listening to a lot of Jazz/Fusion and Metal and Classic Rock. For bass heavy genres I stick to iems.

[@RLTrane]

@@Assimilator702 hey. I'm including a link to the $400 sale on elegias I got in my email. Hopefully you can pick them up if interested. With the stock pads some of the mids were dipped in a wonky way to my ears and the sound was missing "meat". With the dekoni pads the bass was boosted a bit but now the treble suffers a touch (and the mids are now fine). I never found them excessively bright with either pads. I found the bass sufficient, but not really elevated. Either way very good details and soundstage for closed backs. And I love the build, they just feel nice (you've tried elears so you know). www.adorama.com/fofelegia.html?EmailPrice=T Hope that helps! Let me know if you have other questions. PS: I think this price is for email subscribers so make sure to subscribe!

[@janoskovacs11]

I have a Sennheiser hd 600 and a Sony wh-1000xm4. I like both of them, but i would like something that is a mix of these. I see you have a Sennheiser headphone in the background , how is the Focal compare to it? Worth the update, or just keep those two headphones?

[@Glit149]

It's an upgrade to the xm4. As for the hd600, I would say its not drastic - the elegia has better bass and its closed back. Treble and mids are very similar.

[@janoskovacs11]

@@Glit149 thank you!

[@Glit149]

@@janoskovacs11 no problem, the hd600 has a slightly veiled treble compared to the elegia but again, isn't drastic

[@janoskovacs11]

@@Glit149 Iam surprised! Ive read several reviews, and i was pretty sure the Focal sounds much more superior. Iam just looking for a closed back headphone, bc my family is not a big fan of my open back hd 600

[@janoskovacs11]

@@Glit149 So here is my story: ive got the xm4 first, it’s super practical , high tech, and the sound is pretty good, iam sure 99% of the people would say it’s perfect. But not me unfortunately. It is a bit “ boxy” and not “ refined” for me. First, I figured out i need an audiophile headphone if I want better sound, and than my journey has begun to Mordor. :) Ive watched and red a tons of review , but i just got more confused. Now I know what not to buy, but i still don’t know what to get. I need a closed one, bc i dont want to disturb my family, and I don’t want them to disturb me. When i got my hd 600 my wife said “ so what is the point of having a headphone if we can hear it too!?” 😂. She made a point for sure. I guess i have to find a store, and listen several headphones, or join a forum on the internet. Do you know a good one btw?

[@spiritualarchitect4276]

So you think there IS enough BASS for Rock music?

[@Glit149]

Oh yes

[@H1NCH023]

Pair with an ifi hip DAC and you're sorted

[@spiritualarchitect4276]

@@H1NCH023 Neat gizmo. I would have to get a lightning to USB adapter to use it with my iPod. Maybe too clunky. Do you use a rubber band to hold the dac to your phone in your pocket? Are you getting enough bass out of the Focals when plugged into your home stereo?

[@v.i.l.o.]

Rock music? Nothing beats 58X!

[@Yos115]

​@@spiritualarchitect4276A year late and on my other account, but I currently use the qudelix 5k using oratory's EQ settings. That paired with the sheepskin earpads is very good. Still think I prefer my Sivga Phoenix though haha

[@evil_twit]

Instead of a tube amp, just eq. Equalizer APO

[@williaml1570]

lmao the cable is like an ethernet cable wrapped in a travel charger

[@vishalbhiwandkar]

Amazing video Very informative 👌

[@jimis3167]

Have you ever heard the EL8 closed-back 2016 version?

[@Glit149]

Sorry I have not

[@jimis3167]

@@Glit149 I highly recommend you to buy one, they exist on eBay. Just make sure you're taking a pair which you can clearly see the vents.. Those are the 2016, there are also 2015 version which they have foam shield in front of the vents and they don't sound as good. In 2016 version Audeze has upgraded their sound, more balanced, I think the 2015 version have a midrange bumb which sounds harsh...

[@MichaelSidneyTimpson]

I got them for $299 at Adorama on Black Friday!!

[@jimis3167]

I want a comparison of these to an Ether CX If you can... You say they are revealing, more than Ether CX??

[@Glit149]

From what I hear from other reviews, the elegia is more analytical while the ether cx is more warm. I would think the elegia would be more revealing. Please keep in mind that I have not heard the cx though so take that with a grain of salt.

[@nortonfamily6711]

How does this headphone compare to the Sundara?

[@Glit149]

Sundara is a planar so the bass slaps harder. Both headphones are fast but sundara is faster - handles metal better. Sundara is more forgiving on poorly recorded tracks. Sundara is airy and handles treble beautifully. Eligia handles midrange better than Sundara - that sweet midrange.

[@jimis3167]

Can you make an Ollo audio S4R review?

[@Glit149]

I would love to but I dont have a pair

[@tomrayse3790]

hifiman sundara or focal elegia?

[@Glit149]

Sundara but those are open back obviously

[@tomrayse3790]

@@Glit149 yeah, i know but i need headphones for music production and mixing

[@Glit149]

@@tomrayse3790 gotcha, go with sundara

[@tomrayse3790]

@@Glit149 did you heard the sundara? i mean- elegia is 2x more expensive , sundara will win this battle no matter the price?

[@Glit149]

@@tomrayse3790 yah I had the sundara. Prefered it over elegia. Price doesn't always mean better especially in this hobby

[@jimis3167]

If you hear loud, surroundings will hear what you hear??

[@Glit149]

These do tend to leak sound a bit while at loud volume. My wife said that she can make out the beat/rhythm of the song but nothing more - its nothing compares to an open back so don't worry about taking them out in public

[@vintageprinciples]

Thanks for the review! I have the Audeze LCD XCs but looking at selling those and getting these instead for better portability? Any idea how these stack up to the Audeze sound?

[@vintageprinciples]

@Fisher Man Yea I got the Elegias but found them a bit too bright and sharp. Didn't sound super natural to me for my style of music - more vocal and strings. Very comfy though! Still have the Audeze XC and LCD2s and HD 600s. Wouldn't mind trying to find the Aeon 2 Noire though

[@v.i.l.o.]

Good job! Thanks

[@kirkkarnage6344]

This is the only review i have watched so far that called these headphones neutral.

[@Shoaibexpert]

I bought these for $399 from Adorama. Mixed feelings really! But would love to know where you got this cheap balanced cable? Btw, burning them in over 200 hrs transforms them. Cheers!

[@Glit149]

www.ebay.com/itm/164401582310

[@ANSWERTHECALLOFJESUSCHRIST]

I also got in on the $399 Adorama deal back in October 2020. I hated mine at first out of the box due to the super loud mids and overwhelming clarity. I really was super disappointed, but every time I wore them, they seemed to get better and better. Now the bass is starting to really open up and sound huge. As they sound now, I wouldn't have felt bad even if I spent their $899 MSRP. For $500 less, it's the best audio deal ever for me!

[@giladkingsley]

@@ANSWERTHECALLOFJESUSCHRIST how could you hate it so much at first though?

[@truth-uncensored2426]

@@giladkingsley Placebo effect

[@LakerTriangle]

Changed out the pads for Dekoni Sheepskin non-perferated and they sound wonderful! Picked up a Lyr 2 from eBay this week and it's a match made in heaven.

[@Glit149]

Have dekonis coming too, can't wait to hear them. Cheers

[@jeofthevirtuoussand]

Prepare for treble and make it db.

[@zzezzobike]

Hello!! If you know just little bit of hifi you should know that it's about the wire quality what matters but obviously you are not into audio so much to understand or appreciate the effort that companies like Focal, one of the best in business, put into every detail of their products. So just stop complaining about something that has a quality inside.