Reviewed: Focal Elegia headphones

[@ezvkm77]

Just bought these, first impressions are very clear with good sound, no sibilance so far, it's a little aggressive but still well managed, so far so good.

[@69Muscle]

I just bought the Clears. They are absolutely stunning. I love Focal products.

[@shadouxg7150]

@Fisher Man lol

[@Sam-lx1ij]

Did you have any problem with the Clear?

[@69Muscle]

@@Sam-lx1ij no, none.

[@ElCapoNinja]

@Fisher Man actually fries were invented in Belgium….

[@ElCapoNinja]

@Fisher Man lol you’re right

[@60zeller]

If you want these. Show patience. Focal offers big discounts. I learned the hard way of course.

[@davecharvella4854]

Yep, just saved $400 on my Clears!

[@johnclark3067]

So your advice is to wait until the price drops? Wonder how long that will take...

[@TheBebe666]

You can buy EL8 for much less than that . Price on ebay for brand new is around 395€ ( 455$ ) . But i'll wait for Elegia since i had both EL8 and didn't like them .

[@60zeller]

John Clark , just wait, it will happen

[@caldrumr]

On Focal's Website, you mean, or???

[@allansh828]

Elegia is my favorite for metal music for its cold and scary presentation. I own Utopia and Stellia but Elegia still has its place in my collection.

[@DeadSeaGenesis]

That’s what I’m looking for. I enjoy my 650s but I want something more exciting, more forward, more detailed when listening to metal of all genres.

[@ultimatemetalguitartones]

Thanks for the info man! I'm looking to upgrade my HD 380 pro and I mainly listen to metal music + record guitar

[@fastlanerc8]

How else does the elegia keep its place in your collection?

[@Bootrosgali]

@@fastlanerc8 lets keep this thread alive!,,,

[@caspar_gomez]

im so conflicted I keep hoping its like you say but then other people say otherwise. If it's like I imagine I'll like it but I can't try it first. I'm coming from ultrasone pro750 and hifiman ananda stealth

[@tweakerman]

I can't believe, that some people give steve a dislike, I'm a audiophile of 33 years standing, I like to think I'm very knowledgeable on the subject, but steve has so much knowledge, he's excellent, some people do make me wonder, keep them video's coming steve.

[@Stew666able]

Couldn't agree more he has a fantastic amount of knowledge, but to each his own.

[@supersabrosinho]

I just like his 3 min videos. In a world where all the other wankers make a 30+ min video to just say "it has clear mids"

[@vladimirussachevsky1315]

Thanks Steve! I have listened to the Massdrop Focal elex “basically” elear with clear ear-pads and I do agree that the Focals are in your face a bit. Great for when you want it but fatiguing after an few hours. Very detailed and dynamic with some good slam, but when I want to relax I turn to my 650’s.

[@gwapster13]

Focal could have easily priced this more similar to the Clear and market it as the closed-back Clear, and probably still sell lots of pairs, given how audiophiles have sort of accepted the ever increasing price brackets. But it's good that Focal has priced it more "reasonably", if $900 is being reasonable these days.

[@frosty6845]

Arnel Enero Focal probably has a higher end closed back in the works

[@Bootrosgali]

Getting a pair for 400 tomorrow. Ahhhhhhhhappy days my friend,, my firste aphile phones and theyll be a true 1k pair ,, its the closedback headphone bargain of the centurry,,, one of!

[@Karmakatt6]

@@Bootrosgali $500 Canadian, arriving today. Already have a Btr7.. YAY!!

[@DavidAzimi1]

$210 Brand New from authorized dealer, Historic low!

[@raoulselten9480]

I went to buy the Audeze EL-8 closed backs once. I was really diappointed. Their sound was decent and balanced but also BOOORING. I thought the dynamics to be horrible. Nothing popped, nothing had any life to it. Also the midrange was a little recessed for my taste. I think the Elegia might be what I'm after then! And thanks for the comparison to the EL-8C!

[@zeza8603]

FOCAL all day, everyday.

[@Nick-s-f]

A ''bright'' headphone can be bright for several reasons. Upper-midrange glare or resonance is the worst offender, but sharp treble can be a problem as well. I am curious about how the Elegia is perceived as bright.

[@dododale-ni7bf]

french make better hp than tanks, that is good to hear!!

[@eat_ze_bugs]

I love the 'M' shaped Focal driver. If you roll some quality tubes with it they can really sing especially on the low end. Try shining a light on the driver while playing a bass heavy track and you'll get what I mean.

[@evil_twit]

Because it stops being accurate and sounds muddy :)

[@kennethkennelty7652]

How do they compare vs Beyerdynamic DT 1770?

[@vote4ulvio]

Are these a big upgrade from my Shure srh1540?

[@patrickferlaino4621]

I like my EL8 Titaniums - but I love my Elegia's

[@davecharvella4854]

Recently purchased the Clears, and like you, hate the cord!

[@joewinglovemusic]

Good morning from Sydney how are you? Just wondering are you still using this headphone pls? Is it worth buying if i find it just under AUD400 please? Thanks a lot! J

[@scottgordon1721]

Steve, You called this one in, good for you ;)

[@turbomustang84]

The Stellia's are the best Headphones I've ever heard but the Elegia is closer to my budget..... Stevey you like grado and you think Focal is too bright ? I'd sell my mother in law to get the Stellia's

[@Bootrosgali]

Weirdly insubstantial review for one of the best closed backs in the world..

[@soulfulfool]

haha yea

[@bksherm]

Looking for headphones so thanks Steve, Focal is in the running.

[@darkroom8317]

In (almost) one breath Steve said “kinky, stiff... & I think we’re done here”.... well played steve, well played! (Pun intended)

[@craneywatch]

I have to admit: I haven't tested any better headphones than Focals. If only, I could afford them.

[@zombockerman]

They are on sale for 350 on Amazon right now

[@RoverWaters]

all high end detailed headphones sound bright

[@riseuplight]

Rover Waters haha so wrong

[@jimis3167]

Between Audeze EL8 closed and Focal Elegia which bass response is more capable to extend deeper to sub-bass, EL8's or Elegia's???

[@EazyRed]

i have a many PEQ filter for these. Respond to the comment here if ya want it. these things lack bass, vocals are far, real thin. my EQ makes it WAYYY Better and actually sound like its 900$ lmao

[@EazyRed]

@HonkyDigital depends. what sound signature do you like? if you like bright, but with audible, but not boomy bass, ide say get em, otherwise ide say get the DCA Aeon Flow 2 closed for like 800$

[@Brandonp76]

Im confused with something. You dont like these, since they're too bright, but you love grados. So does that mean these are brighter then the grados, or something else, maybe less natural sounding? Im curios because i was looking for a decent closed back. Side not; I do enjoy grados and headphones on the brighter side of warm. Thanks

[@rianredfield5252]

Try adding that Schitt loki to them and hear what you're missing! 🙂

[@spiros06]

The name is Greek. Ελεγεία. Ι am Greek, that's why I know it. Εlegia in french

[@riseuplight]

Athanasios Leftheriotis thanks bro

[@VijayMohan]

Please suggest a sub $1000 headphone which sounds most similar to the Elegia without the tight fit and more comfortable.

[@evil_twit]

It's a sub 1K headfone now :)

[@Bootrosgali]

@@evil_twit REALLY sub now! :))))))))

[@evil_twit]

@@Bootrosgali as these things happen :)

[@bigcjm]

Woo this was a scary review. You could absolutely tell Steve didnt like these.

[@johnclark3067]

I don't think Steve prefers forward sounding speakers and headphones. He did have some good things to say about these over on CNET though. Regardless, I am considering buying these headphones.

[@bigcjm]

@@johnclark3067 bright headphones are definitely an acquired taste. Ofcourse sometimes it's just a case of hearing loss. Still Steve almost always gives positive reviews that's his policy.

[@Assimilator702]

@@bigcjm Wouldn't a brightly tuned headphone sound less bright to someone with hearing loss?

[@bigcjm]

@@Assimilator702 yeah. That's my point. Some people like the bright sound. Others just hear so much less of that range it seems balanced.

[@fastguitars4380]

The EL8 has no treble, and if you are into a "cuppy" sound, with too much low midrange, then its your favorite. Oddly enough, no other reviewer, including Inner-Fidelity, has even come close to saying the sound of this headphone is bright, and the trebles also bright. As a matter of fact, every other review you will read, (go read) including InnerFidelity, says almost the opposite of what Steve is describing as this headphone's sound. Not one other reviewer said this headphone has a bright or etched treble. So, thats very interesting. As a matter of fact its the LOW END that most reviewers have stated is quite neutral, tho extended, and most wish for a little bit more.....Some reviewers said the mids are a bit forward...But nothing about the Trebles being bright, or the tone of the headphone being bright. A few reviewers state this is a reference sounding (or very close to it) headphone, including Inner-Fidelity.

[@fofocho71]

You forgot to mention Inner-Fidelity

[@onetwo6039]

He said these were bright sounding. So are these similar to the sennheiser hd700?

[@gtbweo]

The HD 700 isn't bright... They are needle piercing, ear bleeding, fatiguing headphone.

[@piratemousey]

Close.in my opinion

[@tsamplifiers6493]

How much did you pay for those Steve? How do they compare to the dozen or so phones in the background?

[@rabit818]

I get the impression the “close or detailed” sound is similar to a professional headphones like the Beyerdynamic pro series. Yes?

[@johnclark3067]

I am considering purchasing these and have heard these described as an "extremely near field studio monitor" type of headphone. That may or may not be what you want.

[@rabit818]

Thanks for the info. I am OK with the "close and detailed" sound. Probably comparable to my Beyerdynamic Pro

[@cornerliston]

Hey rabit818, Focal and Beyerdynamic sounds very different. Focal have less treble and more midrange. Personally I think Focal is overpriced for what you get. (I have the Clear Professional headphones.) But the price/sound quality ratio is leveling out severely when you get above $600-700 so no surprise to that really.

[@patriotsbiker]

@@johnclark3067 That's exactly what I thought when i purchased these. I have the Focal Alpha 80's. Positioning variations notwithstanding, the elegias are the closest experience to monitors that I've tried.

[@eastgreenlander5016]

I just bought these. Very disappointed but might be because they do not pair well with dragonfly cobalt that I use them with: no lower midrange and bass

[@bosk1n]

@Per Nicolaisen Did you find andy good mobile amp for those?

[@eastgreenlander5016]

@@bosk1n no didn’t try a mobile amp. I returned them.

[@scottpolston6137]

Use a amp plus they need to burn in man I got mine awhile ago and was disappointed at first to but I also own many other over ear closed backs one of which needed 100+ hours of burn in to come alive I’m glad I didn’t return any of them but the elegia does bass just fine but need around 30 or so hours of run time to show what they can do this is not uncommon with any driver rather it’s a headphone home theater car audio it doesn’t matter a burn in is always recommended

[@richardlaub889]

Hey Steve, what are the best headphone you've ever heard?

[@SteveGuttenbergAudiophiliac]

Abyss AB 1266

[@spiritualarchitect4276]

@@SteveGuttenbergAudiophiliac Would a Yamaha AS-1200 amp be powerful enough to make the Focal Stellia or Clear MG's sound good? Or do they need some kind of dedicated headphone amp?

[@jn3750]

Steve, you have to test some of the high end Grados (handmade in Brooklyn!!!). They probably blow away most of your foreign counterparts in the same class.

[@blejzerosamigos6115]

So these are bright for you but grados are not.. 🧐 Hmm interesting.

[@rianredfield5252]

Might be time to get those aging ears tested Steve, you might be surprised, happens to the best of us with age you know.

[@jonasgmunder7214]

Focal, worst build quality ever...made in france, tells it all...(i had a Renault) i had to change the cables three times and each time i had to wait two months....Never again focal...went back to made in Germany... I' m happy now...and ps: it chrunches with every little Head Movie...

[@miltoncrosbie5567]

I'll have to go with the assumption Focal products are way over priced, hp or speakers..their prices are insane. Utopia for $3500-4000...I don't think so. I'll stick with BeyerDynamic.

[@frosty6845]

Focal uses incredibly expensive materials in their headphones

[@russredfern167]

Need something open ended. Those will make you go deaf.

[@ericthomas2388]

Opposite actually

[@dnalekaw4699]

@@russredfern167 open backs cause more hearing damage

[@russredfern167]

dnalekaw How so?

[@dnalekaw4699]

@@russredfern167 You will need a higher volume with open backs to overcome the background noise. Even in a dead silent room, closed backs require lower volume as the closed back cups lower the ambient noise.

[@russredfern167]

dnalekaw I don't play them loud.