Finally, a reviewer is capable of elaborating the difference b/w Elex & Clear clearly enough and comprehensibly enough through a narrative comparison. Keep up the good work Joshua!!
i know Im asking the wrong place but does any of you know a tool to get back into an instagram account..? I somehow lost my password. I appreciate any help you can offer me
@Alexzander Ellis i really appreciate your reply. I found the site through google and Im in the hacking process atm. Seems to take a while so I will get back to you later when my account password hopefully is recovered.
Josh is spot on. I have both the Clears and Elex. If you can afford the Clears get them. If dollars are a consideration the you will not be disappointed with the Elex.
Josh, the Elex really demands a comparison to the Eclair (Elear with Clear/Elex Pads). This discussion has been ongoing on forums without a conclusive insight and you would really be doing a favour to everyone.
The Devil is a liar! Bought my Clears for $1000 and I have not looked back since. They are in every way, shape and form some of the best headphones you can buy currently (especially for $1000 as opposed to their original $1500). I have the LC2C, 6XX, Elex, Ether CX, and these by far are the best. The treble detail is ridiculous, and these have the best bass I have heard, contrary to people saying Audeze has the best response. They just hit every point for me, however, the only weak point I will say is that vocals are not as forward as other headphones likes the LCD2C or 6XX so if that is an absolute must for you then you may be better served by the Elex. I am getting in the Arya's this Friday so I am curious to see how these two stack up against each other. Hopefully one of them can replace the other so I can save $1500 lol
Watched your clear review earlier where you said this video would be out soon. Didn't realize it'd be THIS soon. Can't wait to get my elex next week :)
Sundara has been my daily for over two years, and never heard them as bright. They’re a bit thin through mids to some, but they have a very natural balance that you could call it’s color. It’s a very nice, easy listen. I just received a pair of Elex a couple weeks ago. Very promising out of the box. Ragged, as would be expected. With all due respect, I just can’t understand those who feel break in makes no difference. I’ve spent at least two hours daily with these Focal’s as they’ve gone through approx two hundred hours of non stop loop play. My Elex are a different headphone than the one I first lit up. It would be nice to know if units under review are new or have time on them.
Bought a B-Stock Focal Clear OG to complement my HD600 for $800AUD ($530USD) with a full 2 year warranty. I'm excited af to try it out after using the HD600. Will give an update on my thoughts when they arrive and I can try them out.
@@RX-rd4sc They work fine. I’m not huge on the midrange, but they’re an engaging, dynamic, and punchy listen. I have no driver clipping issues because I don’t listen at dangerous listening levels. If you listen at 75db, you’ll be fine. Around 90db is where the drivers will clip, but you shouldn’t be listening that loud anyway
The Elex and Clear don't use the same pads. The pads on the Elex are noticeably softer and not as rigidly built as the Clear. The clear has much better control over the whole frequency spectrum primarily due to the far improved voice coil. Although its a small part, it makes a difference. The better bass control you are finding is due to the voice coil upgrade.
Disclaimer, I'm a newbie to the audiophile world. Been following several well known expert/reviewers on TH-cam. 1) I appreciate your reviews. 2) I appreciate that you can do a review in a reasonable amount of time ;-) Not that I'm against a 45 min review but at times, but I like when you kind of cut to the chase. 3) while it may not be critical re. your content, I appreciate your video, lighting, and audio quality of your TH-cam reviews. Thanks! Press on.
I, too, have been listening to the Elex headset on the THX 789 (fed by an SMSL SU-8), and have been doing so for a few months now (since January). The combination really is starkly clear and dynamic to a fault. There is no leeway for anything less than pretty much perfect recordings because any muffles or heavy-handed compression is brought to the forefront for your listening displeasure. I think the Elex is better suited for amps that have a warmer, more "musical" signature to them, IMO. These kinds of amps seem to be more forgiving to the source material, though at the expense of accuracy. For me, finding a balance between accuracy and musicality is key to getting a pleasurable listening experience, and the Elex + 789 combo is a bit too extreme. Luckily for me, I can warm up the tone a bit with filters on my SU-8.
Thanks for the info, I have 789 as well but pairing with Grace SDAC(unbalanced). Wish I can try Elex out before buying(Im not in the States so returning is a bit of a hassle).
S. K. I got a chance to listen to the Clears for today and agree with what he said. They’re suuuper comfy and sound is easy to listen to and quite fun! Not the most technically impressive in every way but definitely a great pair of headphones. Overpriced imo but still worth considering.
I own the Elex and it's an exceptional sounding headphone. I paid $600 for them. I am aware of the stories of break down but am hoping that I got a good pair and know that I treat my gear with extreme care. Although the Clear may be a better sounding headphone I can not believe that it sounds $900 better. I listened to my Elex this afternoon for a couple of hours after spending yesterday enjoying my Audeze LCD-2. These are the two finest headphones I own. The Clears are $1500 + tax while I have my eye on the LCD-X at $1200 if I choose to buy them brand new. The Audeze is certainly going to be heavier than the Clear but $300 cheaper. I almost scored an open box LCD-X a few nights ago for $900 but slept on the idea and woke up to find them sold. This hobby of ours is insanity. I refer to it as "my great sickness" even though I don't have the deepest pockets to be able to afford the flagship headphones. It drives me bonkers at times but damn how I love it! I've been doing this since the late 70's!
FYI - bought Clears for $900 delivered from dealer sealed, Utopias for $2000 same deal. Audiogon and negotiating with dealers is the way to go. Also, have the Elex and is the best for my ears of the three and the cheapest. I have Meze Emps en route. We will see if they de throne the Stax L700.
Agreed on the pricing as I stated above. There really isn't that big of a difference on "street" pricing between the two. Also, nobody is paying anywhere near $4K for the Utopia, if you did, you got ripped off.
so often with high end stuff hundreds and hundreds of additional dollars only give you a SLIGHT and tiny improvement....i really dont know if anyone should spend so much money on headphones, when 600-700 dollar headphones are 98% of the sound. only real freaks would notice a difference i think.....but i'm also just a beginnder so i might be wrong
Train Deluxe I listened to both the Clean and Elegia today, the Elegia’s tonality is wacky and the stage is very closed, boxy sounding. If you can find the Clear used, get those!! Much more comfortable and natural but still fun signature. I have no experience listening to the Elex.
@@nl_2652 I listened to Clear and Elegia myself. I TOTALLY agree with what you say. Elegia is more closed, a bit boxed in. In that sence it is perfect for listening to audiobooks. The sound feels directly at your ear. But Elegia has amazig Detail. You can hear the fingers touching guitar strings and stuff like that. CLEAR is way more airy and wide but has less detail. I bought the CLEAR since I got it new for an amazing price. Fun fact: The cable of the CLEAR broke after 4 weeks of light usage. Got a replacement "Version 2". Very disappointing to get a cable defact with a 1500€ headphone.
Train Deluxe well said! I didn’t spend much time on the Elegia but I’ll try listening with spoken word only next time I’m in to listen. Glad you got the Clear, that’s very exciting! What gear are you running them off? Also, sorry to hear about the cable. I’ve heard Focal has some issues with QC. The Elex closer to my desired price point but with the potential for channel imbalances and the need to purchase an aftermarket cable I’m not ready to pull the plug yet.
The clear and Elegia (for the most part) share the same driver. The Elegia is not a closed off sound at all though, but comparing a closed back to open back in general is an unfair comparison. The Elegia's do not compose themselves as a typical open back and really sound incredible at the current $400-500 range that they are popping up in. I daily listen to HD800s and feel the Elegias are quite competitive. Additionally, my Elegia cable broke internally after approx 1 month, lol!
Just a thought Elex vs Utopia it may sound 98% close to each other but I promise you the Utopia with the Beryllium Tweeter will be more dynamic and cleaner sounding with NO ear fatigue. Also please DO NOT get stuck on the $4k price of the Utopia's because I purchased mine with a FREE Questyle DAP for less than $2600 NEW and sold the DAP and came out around $2k for a new pair here in California. If you go to the big stores it will be full price. I am listening to my Utopia's right now with my Feliks Audio Euforia tube amp to Stone Temple Pilots, Nirvana, and Radio Head and it sounds awesome. Remember a crappy recording will sound crappy no HP will fix that. So do not think the Utopia's are for Classical Music, I listen to everything and before the night's over I will probably will have some Beastie Boy's and Notorious BIG in the mix..
Wow finally a nice detailed comparison of these two. I have owned the Elex as my primary headphone for the past 6 months and have always wondered if the Clear would be a good substitute. I had previously heard that the Clear was more intimate and narrow soundstage, with the Elex being more open and wide, but it sounds like this is the opposite of what you've found. I appreciate you mentioning that the Clear is a bit more enjoyable, because as much as I love the detail and analytic approach of the Elex, sometimes it just isn't that nice to put on and relax with. Cheers.
I do not understand why people consider differently priced product comparison Not Fair. A tool is a tool, A tool should be justified by its capability not its price. But having a scale always helps.
Well, it depends on what you're comparing and how big the price difference is. Headphones, for example, aren't a very objective product, and more expense does not always equate to better performance. But if you're comparing something like computer components, they have specific and objective performance. Comparing two products of vastly different prices is pointless outside of curiosity, as two products with vastly different prices aren't even competing with one another to begin with.
That really comes down to preference. The clear is accurate tight and natural, and the lcd2c is dark a bit fuzzy but in a relaxing way. the LCD2C weighs more so keep that in mind.
If you dont know Planars have acoustical problems which partialy were solved with fazors. Lcd 2c have these problems and sound muddy, lack air, speed and any energy. Lcd2 almost fixed these problems fazors. Only Planars seem to have no acoustical disadvantage compared to dynamics is Susvara, Hek SE, Abyss and Diana models. I wouldnt buy highly flawed headphones like cheap planars.
Erik Leonardi I’ve heard excellent reviews of the LCD2- closed back. From what I’ve gathered, it is a stark difference to the other Audeze 2 to 4. So far: - Better bass response than the Elex - Soundstage rivals that of the Elex - heavier weight than Elex - Big ear pads - “refined/brighter” treble Idk, I’m going to try them out soon. Hopefully they live up to be the “closed back focal clear killers” someone said they were.
These were $2200 AUD ($1500 USD) here in Sydney. Just got CLEAR for $1200AUD ($800 USD) as Focal was offering 50% off across the range. Bloody awesome for that price !! Can't complain especially Senn 8xx are $2000+ here and Elex is $1050 AUD Delivered from Massdrop
I should add that I get a slight shouting character in the upper mids that has never appeared in my system. It seems to be very narrow in frequency. It was much worse when new, and has settled down considerably, but is still an artifact I don’t like. Has anyone else noticed this, or am I alone in the ethereal mist?
Hi, interesting, on the Stellia, you get a much darker sound. Relaxing, but dark, it feels like the last layer of the highs is missing. When comparing with some others hps, it sounds very different, but in a bad way. The bass, sub bass, sound different and weird. Side by side with my Denon D7000, it’s a very different listening experience. The acoustic in the D7000 is outstanding, bass, sub bass are linear. I prefer the D7000. The weird Stellia went back.
Which are better on tubes sonically? I know Elex have higher impedance so on paper that’s the answer but would love to hear some opinions. I have the Lyr 3, Feliks Echo II, Bottlehead Crack, and MT-604 for tube amps.
Hey Josh. I need more volume for Bluetooth earbuds and headphones. My Galaxy Tab s4 doesn't push enough powerful sound. Is there a Bluetooth Dac or Amp that will help ?
there is..depends on the headphones that you listen to but that you mention that you listen from the tablet the FIIO BTR3 is great. Its small has Ldac codec and aptx hd and has lower latency than most bluetooth heaphones ( even airpods ). I use this bluetooth amp/dac to power my sennheiser momentum on ear because my Mate 20 Pro cant't power them at the volume i need with the included adapter ( stupid ). So to compare it to the mate 20 pro at max volume the amp will be anywhere from 60-70% volume. So there is a lot of volume in that tiny thing and its cheap ( 80 $ , 61 pound ). It can even amplify the sennheiser HD6XX ( 300 ohm ) but not to the poit where you can listen to them every day just on that.
No. Bluetooth headphones have their own built in dac/amp. They need to. Your phone doesn't regulate how loud they get. Also, if your headphones aren't loud enough, there's a good chance you're used to listening to your music way too loud. Try dialing it back a little. You only get one set of ears. Don't ruin them just to listen to loud music. It's not worth it.
Hey Josh (and Josh followers), have you ever tried the Monoprice THX 788? How does it compare to Massdrop THX 789? As 789 is taking so long to return I'm thinking about alternatives up to USD 500 Thank you all
I would buy the monoprice amp. Even if the 789 was back today, it would be limited and you have to invest in a balanced dac and wait about 3 months to get it.
Oh and sound wise Z just reviewed it, if you're not into his videos he basically says it's an amp with THX tech which gives it a leg up on any other amp besides the 789, plus it has a bunch of eq options and a remote
@@mrolinad hey friend, just received the notification the 789 just became available on Massdrop, it's 400 now but if you still want it you should hop on it fast, last time the drop only lasted a few hours
@@ju1cycrackfa1ry oh man, too busy day... I lost the oportunity again. I'm so tired of it that I decided to go another way. I'll try to buy an used Matrix M-stage HPA-3B. Someday in the future, when the hype has gone, I hope 789 will be on MD everyday like all the other Cavalli's. Thank you
Hey Josh, i'm just wondering why you and other reviewer never mention the sound cap (you know when the bass is too intense and the focal decide not to do the sound and instead does a popping sound) on the focal headphones? I mean it's kind of a big deal for a lot of people it's so weird that nobody ever mentions it. Not saying I don't like the focals I love em, but yeah I was kinda shocked at first.
They dont mention it because it does not happen. Something is wrong with your setup, or power delivery. It could be an un-grounded connection, seems similar to that situation.
@@Mew-269 You are wrong Justin, here is a comment from Focal themselves : ''Dear all, As already mentionned several times on Head-Fi, the issue described is actually not a quality issue. Indeed, we have made a clear design choice on Elear (and by consequence Elex) and Utopia. Our headphones have been designed to favor the respect of the dynamic contained within the audio signal versus dynamic compression that would offer a higher SPL capability but less respect of the original audio signal. To cut a long story short, the choice was audio quality oriented rather than SPL oriented. This allows our products to work with full performances until the mechanical clipping is activated. This means that you jump directly from a very low distortion to a sound which could be heard as rattling / cracking noise. On very special tracks with only very low frequencies at very high level, you can thus hear some noises - as you will do on classic loudspeakers. If we change your pair of headphones, the new one will be designed similarly and it will also have a kind of cracking sound when you will be listening to music with high volume and a fair amount of bass. The only solution we can recommend you is therefore to listen to your headphones at a lower volume. Thank you for your understanding, Best regards, Marine, Community Manager Focal '' Source : www.head-fi.org/threads/massdrop-x-focal-elex-review-measurements.867615/page-46#post-14228871 I have owned many Focals and they all do that, even the one made by massdrop. I used Aune X1s and X7s which are knowned to pair extremely well with focals. I love their sound, among my favorites it's just weird to me nobody talks about it at all. NOTE : I know they only mention Elear and Elex but it's on the Clear as well.
@@那人冷靜一點 wtf you're right. i don't know how they are cheaper than every other seller though... greetings from the US by the way! hopefully hifiman/moondrop is cheaper for you guys
Anyone compared Focal Elex vs Hifiman Sundara? Pretty big price difference (almost 2x).. I prefer the build and looks of Elex and they sound like a perfect open monitoring/reference headphone.. But Sundara also seem to have similar tuning/purpose and probably that Planar magnetic oomph/weight? (Last pair I owned was HE400 many years ago..very uncomfortable though). I'm specifically interested in the bass quality/quantity between the two...also I have a feeling that the Elex will have a wider soundstage?
Hey, I have both. In general, the Sundara is the brighter and airier headphone over the Elex. It has a slightly wider soundstage, but it also has a less defined image. The Elex is more pinpoint and is more focused to my ears when it comes to imaging and soundstage. The bass is more dynamic on the Elex, no surprise due to it being a dynamic headphone. It also sounds more tight and punchy than the Sundara. However, the Sundara does have more rumble and extends better into the sub-bass. I personally think the Elex sounds a little more natural, because the Sundara is a bit too bright for my tastes. With EQ, the Sundara can compete with the Elex. But I generally prefer the presentation of the Elex, as it is tighter and more dynamic, and more focused.
@@divinecurrent9053 Thankyou! I'm definitely leaning towards the Elex (or a used pair of Clears). But the Sundara sound like they would be enjoyable for listening to certain types of music. I do miss having planars, but I don't want to spend over 1k for something like LCD-X which I feel like I wouldn't use very often.. (super heavy). In general I prefer closed headphone, but I like having one quality pair of open reference cans around.
Wow, I already thought the mid range of the Clears was very intense and in your face. If the Elex is even more extreme, it doesn't sound like an enjoyable experience.
yeah i wasn't very happy with mine, i a little too sharp sometimes. if the clear is just that little bit smoother/softer in the mids/highs it'll be a winner for me.
I really like my Focal Elex BUT feel the clipping issue has been buried to the point of being misleading. I simply cannot listen to sub bass strong tracks without hearing physical clipping unless I lower the volume to an unenjoyable level. This is not considered a defect, rather a trait of their diaphragm design but it should be made much more clear to potential customers Imo. I'm not going to send them back, they are wonderful headphones otherwise but I dislike how this is being dismissed with claims that I am listening to music too loud. Modern electronic music with sub bass are compressed to be loud as possible, turning volume down to the point where clipping no longer happens is plain low volume. Put it this way, if you are a bass head, scratch these off any list, they will clip throughout your music.
This actually is disappointing. I did not ever hear the clipping until recently, this past weekend. I had no clue it was even an issue when making my reviews or comparisons. Wasn’t trying to bury anything. Just didn’t know 🤷🏻♂️ The only accidental benefit is it may actually save your ears from listening to loud lol sort of an automatic db limiter.
@@JoshuaValour Sorry but I wasn't saying you were intentionally burying it. I think you are one of the best reviewers out there. I just find it odd that a fairly significant compromise in its design has really only been brought up on forums. I agree,generally that it is a bit a non issue for the vast majority of consumers. I also agree that it's an issue only at unhealthy volumes but reality is nearly every live show is at these volumes and people do listen to these particular genres at higher volumes and there lies the problem. I still love my Elex but think potential customers should be better educated on this from the manufacturer then the media. Keep up your excellent and fair reviews.
I just picked up an Elex... Has this issue been fixed? I have a few sub bass tracks and none of them clip, even at highly elevated volume levels. These headphones sound insanely dynamic at louder levels, but I won't indulge and damage my hearing.
Listening to a riview about a product like headphones is a bit strange. Hear you have Joshua who sometimes says the elex is better for the wrong reasons and sometimes worse for the right reasons. This video is a bit confusing but, is not really anybody's fault. Trying to widen the gab between 2 headphones that sound very close to each other makes someone use terms that ar not really need it. Remember that we all hear a bit different and that diference is enough to hear, or not, what a reviewer is describing. And one more thing. I hope that everyone knows that on some level they are influenced by a review. An exemple is like when you like a teacher because you know is smart and known in the world about a thing he said. You may take every thing he says just to find out later that is wrong and you ( depending on your personality) may not accept that. I hope you get the point. Joshua did a video talking about how to choose a reviewer that i think is nice. I like to watch every review on a specific product, even tho most people say the same thing word for word like they copy one another, to make an opinion. Great video, as always!!
Oh wow, thanks for saving me 800 plus dollars... I've heard the whole line except the elex... the clear was too bright for me... the only one in the line I thought was good was the clear pro (stellia was good but for the $$?)... and I wouldn't want any more intensity than the clear oof... also the clear pro sounds (red and black) sounds different and better than the clear imho (more balanced). Also more $$$...
Can't help notice you are using a thinner cable than the stock that comes with the Clears. No wonder, I do the same because the stock cable is too thick and too stiff for comfort. I must say though after my rant about the Clear on your previous review I've hooked them with a tube amp and now I like how they sound. More soundstage, great bass extension and a tiny bit more warm. Still too agressive in some high frequencies though. I know you guys work mainly for the US viewers but for foreigners like me the whole Massdrop thing is completely useless. This comparison should be between the Elear and the Clear imho. Not complaining, just pointing out.
i put my face in to the marshall stack cabinet when i'm playing guitar so here's the one who like that kind of shit hahahahaha BTW i bought hd58x yesterday after i watched your review about it and i have not a single fuckin regret about it this headphone is so good for it's asking price
Am I the only one that thinks the mass-drop beyers should be called the "DT 17XX" rather then the "DT 177X GO" cuz that name sounds stupid and more of an after thought.
They are 17xx go because they are low impedance so that they can be easily powered with a mobile device, and they are closed. If anything they put more thought into calling it the 177X GO.
Finally, a reviewer is capable of elaborating the difference b/w Elex & Clear clearly enough and comprehensibly enough through a narrative comparison. Keep up the good work Joshua!!
i know Im asking the wrong place but does any of you know a tool to get back into an instagram account..?
I somehow lost my password. I appreciate any help you can offer me
@William Derrick Instablaster ;)
@Alexzander Ellis i really appreciate your reply. I found the site through google and Im in the hacking process atm.
Seems to take a while so I will get back to you later when my account password hopefully is recovered.
@Alexzander Ellis It worked and I finally got access to my account again. I'm so happy!
Thank you so much you saved my ass :D
@William Derrick You are welcome =)
Josh is spot on. I have both the Clears and Elex. If you can afford the Clears get them. If dollars are a consideration the you will not be disappointed with the Elex.
Josh, the Elex really demands a comparison to the Eclair (Elear with Clear/Elex Pads). This discussion has been ongoing on forums without a conclusive insight and you would really be doing a favour to everyone.
The Devil is a liar! Bought my Clears for $1000 and I have not looked back since. They are in every way, shape and form some of the best headphones you can buy currently (especially for $1000 as opposed to their original $1500). I have the LC2C, 6XX, Elex, Ether CX, and these by far are the best. The treble detail is ridiculous, and these have the best bass I have heard, contrary to people saying Audeze has the best response. They just hit every point for me, however, the only weak point I will say is that vocals are not as forward as other headphones likes the LCD2C or 6XX so if that is an absolute must for you then you may be better served by the Elex.
I am getting in the Arya's this Friday so I am curious to see how these two stack up against each other. Hopefully one of them can replace the other so I can save $1500 lol
@Spongebob Schwanzkopf oof, racist and writes in German, the irony. I think you'll surely like the Verum One, the maker is also an outspoken racist.
@@stanstaniboy7655 I just google translated his comment.... that may have been the most horrible, racist thing I have ever read.
Josh, are you getting the DT 177X to test?
Of course he will
@@sleepyrhythms6668 ya its been a year and he hasn't
@@sleepyrhythms6668 but they just came back in stock and are on sale rn for black Friday (so are the ELEX)
Watched your clear review earlier where you said this video would be out soon. Didn't realize it'd be THIS soon. Can't wait to get my elex next week :)
Sundara has been my daily for over two years, and never heard them as bright. They’re a bit thin through mids to some, but they have a very natural balance that you could call it’s color. It’s a very nice, easy listen.
I just received a pair of Elex a couple weeks ago.
Very promising out of the box. Ragged, as would be expected.
With all due respect, I just can’t understand those who feel break in makes no difference.
I’ve spent at least two hours daily with these Focal’s as they’ve gone through approx two hundred hours of non stop loop play. My Elex are a different headphone than the one I first lit up.
It would be nice to know if units under review are new or have time on them.
Bought a B-Stock Focal Clear OG to complement my HD600 for $800AUD ($530USD) with a full 2 year warranty. I'm excited af to try it out after using the HD600. Will give an update on my thoughts when they arrive and I can try them out.
ATA? I got a pair too, excited to try them out 👍
@@peanutbutterjellyman123 That’s it! Let me know what you think
are they working good, i found they have driver clipping issues?
@@RX-rd4sc They work fine. I’m not huge on the midrange, but they’re an engaging, dynamic, and punchy listen. I have no driver clipping issues because I don’t listen at dangerous listening levels. If you listen at 75db, you’ll be fine. Around 90db is where the drivers will clip, but you shouldn’t be listening that loud anyway
@@paulblartmallcop3917 so, the driver clips above 90db, just for knowledge
but how about now that the Clears are $500 off? Clears an obvious win?
The Elex and Clear don't use the same pads. The pads on the Elex are noticeably softer and not as rigidly built as the Clear.
The clear has much better control over the whole frequency spectrum primarily due to the far improved voice coil. Although its a small part, it makes a difference. The better bass control you are finding is due to the voice coil upgrade.
Disclaimer, I'm a newbie to the audiophile world. Been following several well known expert/reviewers on TH-cam. 1) I appreciate your reviews. 2) I appreciate that you can do a review in a reasonable amount of time ;-) Not that I'm against a 45 min review but at times, but I like when you kind of cut to the chase. 3) while it may not be critical re. your content, I appreciate your video, lighting, and audio quality of your TH-cam reviews. Thanks! Press on.
I, too, have been listening to the Elex headset on the THX 789 (fed by an SMSL SU-8), and have been doing so for a few months now (since January). The combination really is starkly clear and dynamic to a fault. There is no leeway for anything less than pretty much perfect recordings because any muffles or heavy-handed compression is brought to the forefront for your listening displeasure. I think the Elex is better suited for amps that have a warmer, more "musical" signature to them, IMO. These kinds of amps seem to be more forgiving to the source material, though at the expense of accuracy. For me, finding a balance between accuracy and musicality is key to getting a pleasurable listening experience, and the Elex + 789 combo is a bit too extreme. Luckily for me, I can warm up the tone a bit with filters on my SU-8.
Thanks for the info, I have 789 as well but pairing with Grace SDAC(unbalanced). Wish I can try Elex out before buying(Im not in the States so returning is a bit of a hassle).
Got some clears for under 1k, watching your videos definitely helped make my decision!
Love the Elex. Can't listen to the HD6XX anymore.
I own the Clears. They are stunning. I wear them for 5-8 hours at time, amazing sound and comfort that never fatigues.
You own a Prius.
S. K. I got a chance to listen to the Clears for today and agree with what he said. They’re suuuper comfy and sound is easy to listen to and quite fun! Not the most technically impressive in every way but definitely a great pair of headphones. Overpriced imo but still worth considering.
Clear's are currently my favorite headphone and the one that I have as my primary driver, powered by a Mytek Brooklyn DAC+
Exactly. Same combination for me, since having those combo i have lost desire to buy another headphone
@Mike O'Horny of course there are diminishing returns. Do you dislike the clear?
are they working good, i found they have driver clipping issues?
I own the Elex and it's an exceptional sounding headphone. I paid $600 for them. I am aware of the stories of break down but am hoping that I got a good pair and know that I treat my gear with extreme care. Although the Clear may be a better sounding headphone I can not believe that it sounds $900 better. I listened to my Elex this afternoon for a couple of hours after spending yesterday enjoying my Audeze LCD-2. These are the two finest headphones I own. The Clears are $1500 + tax while I have my eye on the LCD-X at $1200 if I choose to buy them brand new. The Audeze is certainly going to be heavier than the Clear but $300 cheaper. I almost scored an open box LCD-X a few nights ago for $900 but slept on the idea and woke up to find them sold. This hobby of ours is insanity. I refer to it as "my great sickness" even though I don't have the deepest pockets to be able to afford the flagship headphones. It drives me bonkers at times but damn how I love it! I've been doing this since the late 70's!
FYI - bought Clears for $900 delivered from dealer sealed, Utopias for $2000 same deal.
Audiogon and negotiating with dealers is the way to go. Also, have the Elex and is the best for my ears of the three and the cheapest.
I have Meze Emps en route. We will see if they de throne the Stax L700.
Agreed on the pricing as I stated above. There really isn't that big of a difference on "street" pricing between the two. Also, nobody is paying anywhere near $4K for the Utopia, if you did, you got ripped off.
@jungfamily5 are the Elex still your favorite and which dealer did you purchase through?
You are the best! Love your reviews!
so often with high end stuff hundreds and hundreds of additional dollars only give you a SLIGHT and tiny improvement....i really dont know if anyone should spend so much money on headphones, when 600-700 dollar headphones are 98% of the sound. only real freaks would notice a difference i think.....but i'm also just a beginnder so i might be wrong
The difference is actually a lot bigger than you'd think having heard the difference between both price points
Focal Elegia vs Elex vs Clear. That is a review I would love to watch ...
Train Deluxe I listened to both the Clean and Elegia today, the Elegia’s tonality is wacky and the stage is very closed, boxy sounding. If you can find the Clear used, get those!! Much more comfortable and natural but still fun signature. I have no experience listening to the Elex.
@@nl_2652 I listened to Clear and Elegia myself. I TOTALLY agree with what you say. Elegia is more closed, a bit boxed in. In that sence it is perfect for listening to audiobooks. The sound feels directly at your ear. But Elegia has amazig Detail. You can hear the fingers touching guitar strings and stuff like that. CLEAR is way more airy and wide but has less detail. I bought the CLEAR since I got it new for an amazing price. Fun fact: The cable of the CLEAR broke after 4 weeks of light usage. Got a replacement "Version 2". Very disappointing to get a cable defact with a 1500€ headphone.
Train Deluxe well said! I didn’t spend much time on the Elegia but I’ll try listening with spoken word only next time I’m in to listen. Glad you got the Clear, that’s very exciting! What gear are you running them off? Also, sorry to hear about the cable. I’ve heard Focal has some issues with QC. The Elex closer to my desired price point but with the potential for channel imbalances and the need to purchase an aftermarket cable I’m not ready to pull the plug yet.
The clear and Elegia (for the most part) share the same driver. The Elegia is not a closed off sound at all though, but comparing a closed back to open back in general is an unfair comparison. The Elegia's do not compose themselves as a typical open back and really sound incredible at the current $400-500 range that they are popping up in. I daily listen to HD800s and feel the Elegias are quite competitive. Additionally, my Elegia cable broke internally after approx 1 month, lol!
Just a thought Elex vs Utopia it may sound 98% close to each other but I promise you the Utopia with the Beryllium Tweeter will be more dynamic and cleaner sounding with NO ear fatigue. Also please DO NOT get stuck on the $4k price of the Utopia's because I purchased mine with a FREE Questyle DAP for less than $2600 NEW and sold the DAP and came out around $2k for a new pair here in California. If you go to the big stores it will be full price. I am listening to my Utopia's right now with my Feliks Audio Euforia tube amp to Stone Temple Pilots, Nirvana, and Radio Head and it sounds awesome. Remember a crappy recording will sound crappy no HP will fix that. So do not think the Utopia's are for Classical Music, I listen to everything and before the night's over I will probably will have some Beastie Boy's and Notorious BIG in the mix..
98% how do you now that ? 98% is the same sq
What is your audio player on your computer approx 6:50 in? The spectrum analyzer is very pretty
I'd really like to see a comparison to the hd6xx series especially the 660s since jab describe the Elex as a super 660s.
Wow finally a nice detailed comparison of these two. I have owned the Elex as my primary headphone for the past 6 months and have always wondered if the Clear would be a good substitute. I had previously heard that the Clear was more intimate and narrow soundstage, with the Elex being more open and wide, but it sounds like this is the opposite of what you've found. I appreciate you mentioning that the Clear is a bit more enjoyable, because as much as I love the detail and analytic approach of the Elex, sometimes it just isn't that nice to put on and relax with. Cheers.
What about for gaming, specifically competitive FPS.
Which one is best? Paired with a RebelAmp
I do not understand why people consider differently priced product comparison Not Fair.
A tool is a tool,
A tool should be justified by its capability not its price.
But having a scale always helps.
Well, it depends on what you're comparing and how big the price difference is. Headphones, for example, aren't a very objective product, and more expense does not always equate to better performance. But if you're comparing something like computer components, they have specific and objective performance. Comparing two products of vastly different prices is pointless outside of curiosity, as two products with vastly different prices aren't even competing with one another to begin with.
Lovin the new intro!
Great comparison, I said the clear would be my upgrade but I'm more interested in the elex now. Good upgrade to the 650?
Ya, I think it’s a logical step up.
@@JoshuaValour should get a shot of those metal drivers... Lol
Focal - My Love!
Focal clear or LCD-2C. Which one would you choose, and why ? Thanks for answering 😁
Interesting...
That really comes down to preference. The clear is accurate tight and natural, and the lcd2c is dark a bit fuzzy but in a relaxing way. the LCD2C weighs more so keep that in mind.
If you dont know Planars have acoustical problems which partialy were solved with fazors. Lcd 2c have these problems and sound muddy, lack air, speed and any energy. Lcd2 almost fixed these problems fazors. Only Planars seem to have no acoustical disadvantage compared to dynamics is Susvara, Hek SE, Abyss and Diana models. I wouldnt buy highly flawed headphones like cheap planars.
Huh, a preference maybe, but not a "problem". Non-fazor planars aren't defective by design...
Erik Leonardi I’ve heard excellent reviews of the LCD2- closed back.
From what I’ve gathered, it is a stark difference to the other Audeze 2 to 4.
So far:
- Better bass response than the Elex
- Soundstage rivals that of the Elex
- heavier weight than Elex
- Big ear pads
- “refined/brighter” treble
Idk, I’m going to try them out soon. Hopefully they live up to be the “closed back focal clear killers” someone said they were.
What cable you using for the clear?
I got the lcd x thanks to your review and im lovin them! Thanks !
Hi, what EQ setting did you use? If you used any
lcd x needs eq I just got one sounds so wonky I still love it though
These were $2200 AUD ($1500 USD) here in Sydney. Just got CLEAR for $1200AUD ($800 USD) as Focal was offering 50% off across the range. Bloody awesome for that price !! Can't complain especially Senn 8xx are $2000+ here and Elex is $1050 AUD Delivered from Massdrop
are they working good, i found they have driver clipping issues?
I should add that I get a slight shouting character in the upper mids that has never appeared in my system. It seems to be very narrow in frequency. It was much worse when new, and has settled down considerably, but is still an artifact I don’t like.
Has anyone else noticed this, or am I alone in the ethereal mist?
Do you plan on reviewing the elegias ?
The Amazon Echo kept chirping every time you said, "Elex."
Your intro is dope. So clear is the clear winner in terms of sound but eLeX is the winner in terms of value
Yeah no, it’s a preference thing
Would you recommend these headphones for studio & personal use? Thank you!
Thank you Josh, it helped me decide.
I personally own the Elex and use it on a D90 MQA/A90 combo with a Blue Dragon XLR for the cable. It's very, very detailed almost to a fault.
U have a new sub just found your channel and I love the way u go in depth etc about the headphones
Listening on my Clear Pro. I regret nothing.
I’m listening on clear non pros, but the new MG release has me questioning things
You will when the drivers shit the bed
@@chefgav1 the clears don't have driver issues
Cant decide between LCD X, CLEAR OR HD 800s. Buying all 3 is probably the best option.
I own the LCD-X and Clear. I enjoy the LCD-X more for what it’s worth. It sounds bigger and more lifelike.
Lucas Eckel I own both as well. The lcd-x sounds bigger and more impressive in some ways... but seems boring compared to the life of the elex
It is funny that for europeans Clear is
Killer video.
Your intro is slick!
Hi, interesting, on the Stellia, you get a much darker sound. Relaxing, but dark, it feels like the last layer of the highs is missing. When comparing with some others hps, it sounds very different, but in a bad way. The bass, sub bass, sound different and weird. Side by side with my Denon D7000, it’s a very different listening experience. The acoustic in the D7000 is outstanding, bass, sub bass are linear. I prefer the D7000. The weird Stellia went back.
Josh, I purchased the Elex a week ago. Would you please recommend an Amp (Preferably a solid state) that would bring the best out of the Focal's.
THX789 when it’s available again
I have the Elex, best sounding headphone i ever had, unfortunately I got a lemon batch... left driver failed just 4months of light use.
very good reviews..
Love the Clears, great HPs for sure!
Which one is more worth it given that the Clear costs $800 now?
What program did you use at 6:55 ?
foobar2000
Delta Deka Thank you 🙂👍
Thanks .. .Peace
Which are better on tubes sonically? I know Elex have higher impedance so on paper that’s the answer but would love to hear some opinions. I have the Lyr 3, Feliks Echo II, Bottlehead Crack, and MT-604 for tube amps.
Which one would be better for country, jazz, vocals.
hey i thought the elex was a bit bright, do you think i would find the clear bright or just right?
6:40
Here start talking about the imaging seperation and sound stage which it's the most important factor for me.
Focal Elex or Audeze LCD X??
LCD-X--and I do own the Elex also.
Brilliant review! Been waiting for this for ages! Agree! 👍🏼top channel! Thanks
Hey Josh. I need more volume for Bluetooth earbuds and headphones. My Galaxy Tab s4 doesn't push enough powerful sound. Is there a Bluetooth Dac or Amp that will help ?
there is..depends on the headphones that you listen to but that you mention that you listen from the tablet the FIIO BTR3 is great. Its small has Ldac codec and aptx hd and has lower latency than most bluetooth heaphones ( even airpods ). I use this bluetooth amp/dac to power my sennheiser momentum on ear because my Mate 20 Pro cant't power them at the volume i need with the included adapter ( stupid ). So to compare it to the mate 20 pro at max volume the amp will be anywhere from 60-70% volume. So there is a lot of volume in that tiny thing and its cheap ( 80 $ , 61 pound ). It can even amplify the sennheiser HD6XX ( 300 ohm ) but not to the poit where you can listen to them every day just on that.
No. Bluetooth headphones have their own built in dac/amp. They need to. Your phone doesn't regulate how loud they get. Also, if your headphones aren't loud enough, there's a good chance you're used to listening to your music way too loud. Try dialing it back a little. You only get one set of ears. Don't ruin them just to listen to loud music. It's not worth it.
Hey Josh (and Josh followers), have you ever tried the Monoprice THX 788?
How does it compare to Massdrop THX 789?
As 789 is taking so long to return I'm thinking about alternatives up to USD 500
Thank you all
I would buy the monoprice amp. Even if the 789 was back today, it would be limited and you have to invest in a balanced dac and wait about 3 months to get it.
Oh and sound wise Z just reviewed it, if you're not into his videos he basically says it's an amp with THX tech which gives it a leg up on any other amp besides the 789, plus it has a bunch of eq options and a remote
@@ju1cycrackfa1ry I'm gonna check it. Thank you
@@mrolinad hey friend, just received the notification the 789 just became available on Massdrop, it's 400 now but if you still want it you should hop on it fast, last time the drop only lasted a few hours
@@ju1cycrackfa1ry oh man, too busy day... I lost the oportunity again. I'm so tired of it that I decided to go another way. I'll try to buy an used Matrix M-stage HPA-3B.
Someday in the future, when the hype has gone, I hope 789 will be on MD everyday like all the other Cavalli's.
Thank you
Hey Josh,
i'm just wondering why you and other reviewer never mention the sound cap (you know when the bass is too intense and the focal decide not to do the sound and instead does a popping sound) on the focal headphones? I mean it's kind of a big deal for a lot of people it's so weird that nobody ever mentions it. Not saying I don't like the focals I love em, but yeah I was kinda shocked at first.
Crazy Neonate were you running them bass boosted or EQ’d
They dont mention it because it does not happen. Something is wrong with your setup, or power delivery. It could be an un-grounded connection, seems similar to that situation.
@@Mew-269 You are wrong Justin, here is a comment from Focal themselves :
''Dear all,
As already mentionned several times on Head-Fi, the issue described is actually not a quality issue.
Indeed, we have made a clear design choice on Elear (and by consequence Elex) and Utopia. Our headphones have been designed to favor the respect of the dynamic contained within the audio signal versus dynamic compression that would offer a higher SPL capability but less respect of the original audio signal. To cut a long story short, the choice was audio quality oriented rather than SPL oriented. This allows our products to work with full performances until the mechanical clipping is activated. This means that you jump directly from a very low distortion to a sound which could be heard as rattling / cracking noise. On very special tracks with only very low frequencies at very high level, you can thus hear some noises - as you will do on classic loudspeakers.
If we change your pair of headphones, the new one will be designed similarly and it will also have a kind of cracking sound when you will be listening to music with high volume and a fair amount of bass.
The only solution we can recommend you is therefore to listen to your headphones at a lower volume.
Thank you for your understanding,
Best regards,
Marine, Community Manager Focal
''
Source :
www.head-fi.org/threads/massdrop-x-focal-elex-review-measurements.867615/page-46#post-14228871
I have owned many Focals and they all do that, even the one made by massdrop. I used Aune X1s and X7s which are knowned to pair extremely well with focals. I love their sound, among my favorites it's just weird to me nobody talks about it at all.
NOTE : I know they only mention Elear and Elex but it's on the Clear as well.
@@johnpotter4210 No, read my comment to Justin MacPhee for more info
Since you can buy the elex at 600, I'm wondering if the clears are worth another 600 or so. Probably not thats literally double the price lol
The clears are 899 tho, sad that the 899 price is only available in the us
@@那人冷靜一點 wtf you're right. i don't know how they are cheaper than every other seller though... greetings from the US by the way! hopefully hifiman/moondrop is cheaper for you guys
@@MananaMan super disappointed by the ananda so I'm buying the elex
@@那人冷靜一點 do you just personally dislike it or do you think it's just a bad headphone. Never listened to those headphones myself.
@@MananaMan heard it, sold it. I don't like it
Anyone compared Focal Elex vs Hifiman Sundara? Pretty big price difference (almost 2x).. I prefer the build and looks of Elex and they sound like a perfect open monitoring/reference headphone.. But Sundara also seem to have similar tuning/purpose and probably that Planar magnetic oomph/weight? (Last pair I owned was HE400 many years ago..very uncomfortable though). I'm specifically interested in the bass quality/quantity between the two...also I have a feeling that the Elex will have a wider soundstage?
Hey, I have both. In general, the Sundara is the brighter and airier headphone over the Elex. It has a slightly wider soundstage, but it also has a less defined image. The Elex is more pinpoint and is more focused to my ears when it comes to imaging and soundstage. The bass is more dynamic on the Elex, no surprise due to it being a dynamic headphone. It also sounds more tight and punchy than the Sundara. However, the Sundara does have more rumble and extends better into the sub-bass. I personally think the Elex sounds a little more natural, because the Sundara is a bit too bright for my tastes. With EQ, the Sundara can compete with the Elex. But I generally prefer the presentation of the Elex, as it is tighter and more dynamic, and more focused.
@@divinecurrent9053 Thankyou! I'm definitely leaning towards the Elex (or a used pair of Clears). But the Sundara sound like they would be enjoyable for listening to certain types of music. I do miss having planars, but I don't want to spend over 1k for something like LCD-X which I feel like I wouldn't use very often.. (super heavy). In general I prefer closed headphone, but I like having one quality pair of open reference cans around.
Anybody know of any iems that have a similar sound signature to the clears?
Wow, I already thought the mid range of the Clears was very intense and in your face. If the Elex is even more extreme, it doesn't sound like an enjoyable experience.
yeah i wasn't very happy with mine, i a little too sharp sometimes. if the clear is just that little bit smoother/softer in the mids/highs it'll be a winner for me.
Moral of this is:audition them your selves!
Always! - when possible
Does anyone have an opinion on the headphone amp in the UA Apollo Twin mkii?
I really like my Focal Elex BUT feel the clipping issue has been buried to the point of being misleading.
I simply cannot listen to sub bass strong tracks without hearing physical clipping unless I lower the volume to an unenjoyable level.
This is not considered a defect, rather a trait of their diaphragm design but it should be made much more clear to potential customers Imo.
I'm not going to send them back, they are wonderful headphones otherwise but I dislike how this is being dismissed with claims that I am listening to music too loud.
Modern electronic music with sub bass are compressed to be loud as possible, turning volume down to the point where clipping no longer happens is plain low volume.
Put it this way, if you are a bass head, scratch these off any list, they will clip throughout your music.
Just bought one of these used so no warranty and that's sad to hear. I listen at about 80db so hopefully it won't be too bad for me
This actually is disappointing. I did not ever hear the clipping until recently, this past weekend. I had no clue it was even an issue when making my reviews or comparisons. Wasn’t trying to bury anything. Just didn’t know 🤷🏻♂️
The only accidental benefit is it may actually save your ears from listening to loud lol sort of an automatic db limiter.
@@JoshuaValour Sorry but I wasn't saying you were intentionally burying it.
I think you are one of the best reviewers out there.
I just find it odd that a fairly significant compromise in its design has really only been brought up on forums.
I agree,generally that it is a bit a non issue for the vast majority of consumers. I also agree that it's an issue only at unhealthy volumes but reality is nearly every live show is at these volumes and people do listen to these particular genres at higher volumes and there lies the problem.
I still love my Elex but think potential customers should be better educated on this from the manufacturer then the media.
Keep up your excellent and fair reviews.
@@JoshuaValour what volume in db, do these clip?
I just picked up an Elex... Has this issue been fixed? I have a few sub bass tracks and none of them clip, even at highly elevated volume levels. These headphones sound insanely dynamic at louder levels, but I won't indulge and damage my hearing.
It is definitely worth the aditional cost if your chain is adequate.
Once made in france, never again, had both elegia and clear....im so happy back to beyer....Thats quality
Focal > everything.
these fanboys are funny IoI
Can u please review the sendy aiva?
وش شريت سماعه؟
والله يا انت قديم بعد
شريت هايبر إكس كلاود ألفا
محمد الحارثي الحين تناظر رفيو سماعات اوديو فايل في الاخير تشتري هايبر اكس!
للأسف طقعت بآخر ركعه
محمد الحارثي ههههههه كم كانت ميزانيتك
Listening to a riview about a product like headphones is a bit strange. Hear you have Joshua who sometimes says the elex is better for the wrong reasons and sometimes worse for the right reasons. This video is a bit confusing but, is not really anybody's fault. Trying to widen the gab between 2 headphones that sound very close to each other makes someone use terms that ar not really need it. Remember that we all hear a bit different and that diference is enough to hear, or not, what a reviewer is describing. And one more thing. I hope that everyone knows that on some level they are influenced by a review. An exemple is like when you like a teacher because you know is smart and known in the world about a thing he said. You may take every thing he says just to find out later that is wrong and you ( depending on your personality) may not accept that. I hope you get the point. Joshua did a video talking about how to choose a reviewer that i think is nice. I like to watch every review on a specific product, even tho most people say the same thing word for word like they copy one another, to make an opinion. Great video, as always!!
Damn it Josh, HD820!!!!
How does massdrop get companies to undercut themselves so consistently?
The promise of volume, like Groupon.
They save on expensive finishing in case of headphones & gain a new market to bargain consumers.
Cut out the expensive case, the expensive cables, expensive ear pads + guarantee 5000 headphone sales = $200 off.
I enjoy your reviews and am a subscriber. I was wondering if you are going to review the Beyer t1 gen3?
What about games... which one is the best?
MrFLORESBR lcd-x. Lol. I know that’s not what u asked but take it from an owner of the elex and lcd-x
Spongebob Schwanzkopf you don’t sound like you game. So you should probably not give advice on which headphones to use for gaming.
Review the DT 177X and you will be the third reviewer. Since you are obsess with the 1770 and owner of the 1990
Who is the second one ?
@@davidmason8212 zeos ?
@@nicktan4530
Nah
Z is the first one
The second is someone with big beard
I hope josh will be the third
@@davidmason8212 BadSeed Tech was the first sorry. Look at the time release
Do a video review of the focal elegia vs clear. Just remember the elex is $700 not $800.
The red and black one comes with other cables! They don't come with balanced cables.
Oh wow, thanks for saving me 800 plus dollars... I've heard the whole line except the elex... the clear was too bright for me... the only one in the line I thought was good was the clear pro (stellia was good but for the $$?)... and I wouldn't want any more intensity than the clear oof... also the clear pro sounds (red and black) sounds different and better than the clear imho (more balanced). Also more $$$...
Focal company confirmed that its exactly same sound quality and driver only difference is accessories
Idiot the clear and clear pro are the same headphone
Can't help notice you are using a thinner cable than the stock that comes with the Clears. No wonder, I do the same because the stock cable is too thick and too stiff for comfort.
I must say though after my rant about the Clear on your previous review I've hooked them with a tube amp and now I like how they sound. More soundstage, great bass extension and a tiny bit more warm. Still too agressive in some high frequencies though.
I know you guys work mainly for the US viewers but for foreigners like me the whole Massdrop thing is completely useless. This comparison should be between the Elear and the Clear imho. Not complaining, just pointing out.
Elex vs elear pls?
josh, i only have so much money
Sorry lol :/
Elex is 700...unless Massdrop told you they were raising the price to 800...hmmmmmmmmmmmmm
Only suckers pay full MSRP for Focals. Go to a dealer-the Clears can be had for ~$1100.
i put my face in to the marshall stack cabinet when i'm playing guitar
so here's the one who like that kind of shit hahahahaha
BTW i bought hd58x yesterday after i watched your review about it
and i have not a single fuckin regret about it
this headphone is so good for it's asking price
Am I the only one that thinks the mass-drop beyers should be called the "DT 17XX" rather then the "DT 177X GO" cuz that name sounds stupid and more of an after thought.
They are 17xx go because they are low impedance so that they can be easily powered with a mobile device, and they are closed. If anything they put more thought into calling it the 177X GO.
The Elex pads shouldn't be softer, they're literally the same pads but in black.
Wallet: am i a joke to you?
DISLIKE
Second 😎
Not first... Missed it by 30 mins