Focal Elex vs Utopia (Headphone Comparison)

[@DibIrken]

Hey, I like how you inserted the specific sound you were listening on the Daft Punk song so people no what to look for. Do this more please!

[@jazzpianoman01]

Great video review; fantastic headphone but I think the price range is a tad too high for the Utopia! The 800s to my ears are just more spectacular sounding with that massive soundstage second to none for movies and classical music! Just my ears maybe; one thing the upper treble on the Utopia is really nice less bright than to my ears than the 800s! I think for a fully immersive relaxing intimate into the mix I would have the Utopia but for truly spectacular sound then the HD800

[@klaymoon1]

Amazing review! Only reviewer who really speaks what's on the mind.

[@verveblack]

I still can't get over how not harsh your lighting is. lol

[@paddywestside3396]

The Lemo connectors are very high quality, usually used in medical and industrial devices.

[@JonathanGurgul]

PaddyWestside A lot of aviation headsets use them.

[@theinnocent_one]

You needed to do it vs the Elear and Elegia. The Utopia is a very different price point.

[@kaimills8807]

Elect sucks and elegia is weird

[@djhmax09]

Any specific advantage with going balanced vs unbalanced with these headphones?

[@mgtow-extraits]

the wall of fame is starting to grow behind you!

[@j3ffleopard690]

Really happy to see Hemingway make a re-appearance at 8:08.

[@rustygates3367]

These Focals are indeed very DAC/amp picky. I used to have a Bifrost Multibit / Jotunheim and a Focal Clear and Utopia and it was a close tie, of course preferred the Utopia though; I then got a Chord Hugo TT2, and the differences were incredible - I ended up selling the Clear because I felt it just could not keep up with the detail being put forward; the Utopia just had better layering, body, texture and a very good amount of "crunch", much faster transient response, very punchy indeed, imaging top notch. Overall timbre was incredible. But I do agree Elex is an absolute bargain. A headphone I could never let go of though is the Senn HD650 - over the past 8 years of owning it I've seen it scale up from basic HP out of a laptop through to my TT2 and it was just a beast at every step up I took with my upstream gear. Just FYI, the qualities of a headphone goes far beyond the frequency response graph - it needs to be compared in context with 300Hz & 30Hz square wave reproductions, transient response, THD+N measures etc. and even then its a lot more complex than that to characterise the qualities of a headphone well enough to compare to others.

[@s.b.c.1950]

Of course, of course....because Utopia is even more expensive so it HAS to be better...of course.... 🤦🏻‍♂️

[@andrewanderson3746]

Very helpful review. Thank you!

[@SoundWaveTrax]

Nice. Strange that you don't seem to be that wowed with these cans. I recall you being perhaps a little more enthusiastic in the Stax review. A comparison between the L300 limited and the Utopia would be interesting, however brief.

[@Aqil.Samedov]

What if to compare with Beyerdinamics DT770 Pro? Thanks

[@TFWandyzilla]

There are ppl who think 200usd headphones are ridiculous. But then they pay 2k for a 2m TV...

[@serban2139]

True. Now, is the difference between elex and utopia as big as the difference between a 1000£ tv and 4000£tv? How much more do you get for that extra money? How much do you have to suffer from the diminishing return?

[@Leonhart_93]

@@serban2139 The short answer would be no, the difference between high-end headhpones tends to be more in preference and frequency response, rather than capability. I don't think a 4k headphone can reproduce details an 1k headphone can't or have better features, generally speaking.

[@TFWandyzilla]

@@serban2139 Yeah. But if you have the money, why not buy a 10 million dollar car instead of a 1 million one if you like it better, even if it it's just 0.2 seconds faster? That's exactly the Romanian mentality, "it's too expensive". I'm also a value-oriented person. I own the hd660s and the m1060c.But I would buy Utopias if money was no issue.

[@MetalsForBrunch]

Very different between tv and headphones. Its easier to fix vision vs hearing. Hearing is more complicated and varies per person but 90% of people will see full benefits of tv, 90% of people will not hear full benefits of headphones. Tv isnt a good comparison with headphones.

[@serban2139]

@@TFWandyzilla I like to think it's more complicated than that. If me and you buy utopia like money grows on trees, they will increase the price to 4500£. IDK if you are into hardware, but would you also pick the last gen inte cpul over st gen ryzen cpu value for money? That's the point I'm trying to make. I am also price/performance, But for fun, if you have 5k£, would you buy utopia and dac/amp or hd800s, lcd2, zmf and a few amps? That is my problem, how much FUN can I get for the money? Obviously everyone is entitled to it's own opinion.

[@kaimills8807]

Describing the elex as more detailed in some cases is strange to me, but we l hear different I guess.

[@bunozen1]

I love my utopias, just wish they had more sub bass. When comparing with my Denon D7000, I feel that there’s more fun to listen to. One thing I noticed is that the utopias sounds better with vacuum tube amp, sound stage is bigger and a bit less so forward on your face, and incredible smooth, silky like vocals and almost perfect trebles. On the other hand the Denon D7000 seems not to like tubes, at only 25ohms is not recommended in my opinion. Happy holidays man.

[@jeffreymakuch2493]

It's probably mid-bass or lower mid-bass not actual sub-bass that you're hearing from the Denons. The Fostex Biodyna drivers they use (and many other headphones use variants of) are known for this. True sub-bass at a good level without distortion from dynamic drivers is not common.

[@user-vi3tb3bw5t]

Great comparison merry Christmas!

[@bernamej]

Uhh, why not compare Clear and Elex ? Makes more sense.

[@JoshuaValour]

Simple. I did not have a clear here to compare. If I did, I would have compared that too...

[@bernamej]

Joshua Valour gotya. Is that something you’ll be doing in the future ? I consider you the most objective headphone reviewer by the way. Congratulations.

[@wiliyantoadinata9170]

nice review

[@Ghettopanda80]

So do you have a certain playlist you have when you review headphones? If so what songs do you listen to? I heard you mention the Daft Punk song but would be good to know what else you listen to.

[@Bluebair]

He has talked a lot about his music throughout all his reviews. I believe he even shared a playlist at some point too

[@Harvester88]

What headphone stand is that in the thumbnail ?

[@Juanixtec]

Now the real question LCD x vs Utopias?

[@Leonhart_93]

If I am not to regard sound itself in the equation, I like dynamic headphones more over planars. Dynamic headphones tend to be much more longevive and lightweight compared to the planars. To this day you can hear stories of people that have used their HD 555 or 600 for like 10 years or more. On the other hand, there are a ton of driver failures for Hifiman and Audeze headphones.

[@intoitreviews]

Not even a question... real question is massdrop hifiman edition xx vs elex...

[@bradbeck6158]

@@Leonhart_93 So I am guessing you haven't heard of the vintage Yamaha, NAD and Fostex Planar drivers, those have lasted decades.

[@Leonhart_93]

@@bradbeck6158 Now that you mention it, I have indeed heard of a handful of those that are still around, but almost none at all compared to the vintage dynamics. But it still doesn't mean that the current companies can make them long lasting. I don't think this many people would complain just because they happened to overreact...

[@majsterV]

Leonhart, there are horror stories for sure, but those stories are more design and production failures of early cost effective drivers, rather than ability of technology to to provide longevity.

[@Thevikingcam]

Wait, ill get my beer. Ok now im ready for the main event :D

[@gbaudio9034]

Hey josh, great review! I have elex but I dont know what amp to pair it with. Any suggestions?

[@Shahzad-Khan]

GB Audio mass drop THX AAA 789 is a perfect pair.

[@eliazarmarcano5616]

I got them too. You don't need any amp. Less than 100 ohmns you don't need amplifier. After it you need amplifier. If you buy amp for it you are really stupid. I'm an electrical engineer and an audiophile.

[@justina9914]

Tube amo

[@NiSHAN256]

do the good dynamics of the Elex present only in the midrange ?

[@crankk_chaos]

Why did you removed this video earlier, And now update it.? Focal elex vs utopia Now Focal elex vs utopia (Headphone comparison)

[@TheMightyMedia]

Elear or LCD X?

[@xndru]

What stand is that in the thumbnail?

[@svilleda237]

Is there any rumbling efect im the sub bass with the Elex?

[@Ekeezee]

Elex for mixing and mastering music? or is there a better headphone? plus, which amp for this application using the headphone of choice?

[@TheOptimistiCynic]

They are very detailed, but are definitely colored if that helps at all. The great dynamics can make them a bit shouty sometimes in some songs. For instance, they sound amazing with pink floyd's money, but I cannot listen to time because the bells at the start are very loud and just hurt at high volumes. *time still sounds good after the bells tbf

[@LuboAck]

SavageHippie Colored? How? To me these are pretty neutral and natural sounding, except for a single spike in the trebble

[@justina9914]

To be honest if I were to buy a pair of headphones for mixing I'd buy the sennheiser hd280 pro

[@Aqil.Samedov]

Are they both open no?

[@auradrifter7779]

Is there going to be a 6xx and elex comparison?

[@JoshuaValour]

Nope. I had to send the elex back.

[@strafewraith]

I find that with the right amp, cable, or in other words, “set-up” for the Utopia’s, that it really is bar none, the best. It’s very accurate, it’s almost as if it’s a “teleportation” device, wherein which the sound is so good, so real, it seems like “you’re there”. I get the impression, that you like more of a “coloured” sound. To each his own I guess. But if you go to Axpona and exhibitions of the like, the goal or objective is really to make the sound as real or as living as possible, and not “synthetically-mixed”.

[@Maaruks]

pls review Focal Stellia

[@AruSharma04]

I'll do it for you - Closed back endgame, miles miles ahead of anything closed I've ever heard, galactic soundstage, precision imaging, cleanest can I've ever heard. Superb mid-range, beautiful controlled low and and Crystal highs without piercing your eardrums. So comfortable, I could live in them for the rest of my life. Plus they look so good, I could lick them all over. These cans turn me on. Orgasmic sound. Genuine. I'm considering selling my car for the Stellia.

[@AruSharma04]

@neizetetz sound is subjective, and I have not heard the Denon so I will not comment on them. The Stellia blew me away.

[@AruSharma04]

@neizetetz Headphones that you haven't even heard, because your friend said so? Good way to argue. Again, won't comment on the Denon, but till you hear a properly set up Stellia, don't comment. Some people prefer SHP9500s to HD58X, and some people prefer in ears over headphones. So sound is absolutely subjective. Don't comment on stuff you haven't tried.

[@derpulous3231]

@neizetetz Have your friend discuss here then rather than yourself lol. If you haven't heard them don't try to argue for them... doesn't make any sense. Also some of the stuff you mentioned like the mids being forward are subject to opinion, some people like forward mids, some don't, it's not a good or bad fact. Plus, things like detail soundstage and speed are again dependent on one's ears, so what your friend heard is not going to be the same as someone else, we all have different ears, so you can't generalize. And the stellia is widely regarded as one of the best closed backs on the market so I wouldn't really speak unless you have personal experience... Have to agree with @Arunav Sharma on this one

[@universeman657]

How does the elex compare to the hd800?

[@JoshuaValour]

Very different headphones. Very different.

[@WookieWoolie]

Elax is nowhere near their cheapest headphones.

[@thechef5531]

Another review to get all the utopia owners on headfi in a frenzy again. Z had them rattled Lol. The Utopia is a decent headphone, but not 4k decent. Definitely preferred my HD800s over it. If the Utopia was priced similar to the 800s , it wouldn't be a bad buy. People can't even get $2500 for them on the for sale thread on headfi. LOL

[@jabss6793]

@MR STRUGGLES consider hitting enter a few times when you get a chance. thx for the read tho

[@oranges3482]

what connectors do the elex use?

[@wesman246]

Dual 3.5mm

[@pyregazer9210]

I can tell you from a couple of years of listening; overpower the elex and put them on a tube. Y MMV

[@jazzpianoman01]

Haven’t heard the Elex yet

[@jownbey]

Can anyone compare the elex to the beyerdynamic t1.2?

[@sakabatou]

Why caption the HD 800 as Utopia?

[@JoshuaValour]

Look closer at the thumbnail;)

[@fyrebolt]

@@JoshuaValour I was about to mention it, but nice one

[@pierolam8515]

wish elex would be 400-500 bucks :/

[@CarlosPerez-gt5ol]

Look on the used market, I got mine for 600 CAD

[@insertaghere]

Got mine for 400 recently. Look out for sales

[@_djsport]

Why i can't find the Elex in the Focal website?

[@TechGoop]

Massdrop edition only. It's there now.

[@harrybaque5502]

what did he say, I got distracted buy the neck/chest beard... JK love the channel, production quality continues to stand out from the rest!

[@Jerdy808]

More partially shirtless reviews, please. Mahalo!

[@casualmime2792]

Focal in general strikes me as overly elitist. They also make it way too hard to find pairs with valid warranties, having only a couple authorized dealers who all stick to MSRP plus. They're like fashion cans meant to be inaccessible for the sake of being inaccessible, just like their speakers.

[@JonathanGurgul]

Please get the mic out of the shot haha 😂 so distracting