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Massdrop x Focal Elex Review and Measurements

Discussion in 'Headphone Measurements' started by purr1n, Dec 15, 2017.

Page 6 of 13
  1. Ringingears

    Ringingears Honorary BFF

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    Thanks Marv. I appreciate your honest answer. Out of my expertise.
    Edit; Never mind just realized you where answering @OJpos.
     
    Last edited: Dec 21, 2017
    Ringingears, Dec 20, 2017
    #101
  2. JonCharles

    JonCharles Friend

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    @Marvey or anyone who has heard these (at least from memory), do they have a similar (excellent) timbre in high orchestral strings as the HD600? Also, how open are they compared to the HD600?

    I might jump on these if it scratches my "Super HD600" itch, but at this point the 600 still seems to ultimately satisfy me more than the new shiny $$$ headphones which get all the attention.
     
    Last edited: Dec 22, 2017
    JonCharles, Dec 22, 2017
    #102
  3. captkirk

    captkirk Khan's BFF

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    captkirk, Dec 29, 2017
    #103
  4. Cellist88

    Cellist88 Friend

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    Nice...also its gonna ship faster......Feb 19, 2018 PT
     
    Cellist88, Dec 29, 2017
    #104
  5. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    purr1n, Dec 29, 2017
    #105
  6. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    Timbre is slightly different, but I'd say more similar to HD600 as opposed to LCD2C which has a completely different timbre. It's a metal cone, and metal does have its own sound, just as plastic does. Focal might be the only one or one of the few using metal material for headphone drivers at this time. I actually think the Be used in the Utopia is a more different from HD6** timbre than the alum / magnesium in Elex / Elear / Clear.

    I don't hear anything as "off", but I am very used to alum, magnesium, ceramic, and diamond type drivers from speaker world. If your experience is mainly from headphones, you will mostly be used to plastic.

    FWIW, I prefer most the sound of paper or cloth (without gooey coatings); and dislike most plastic material drivers.
     
    Last edited: Dec 29, 2017
    purr1n, Dec 29, 2017
    #106
  7. Luckbad

    Luckbad Traded in a unicorn for a Corolla

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    Suddenly the Elex is less than half the price of the Clear and measures similarly in frequency response? Damn...

    @Marvey, is yours a final production unit? Do you know if any tweaks were being made still?
     
    Luckbad, Dec 29, 2017
    #107
  8. Ringingears

    Ringingears Honorary BFF

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    I’m going off now to have a small headphone mental breakdown. :confused:
     
    Ringingears, Dec 29, 2017
    #108
  9. e.schell

    e.schell Friend

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    As if it was not tempting enough, they lower the price and bump up shipping date!
     
    e.schell, Dec 29, 2017
    #109
  10. captkirk

    captkirk Khan's BFF

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    @Marvey

    Similar silly question that I posed on the Clear thread:

    Issues with higher output impedance amps?

    **
    I'm thinking with the HD600-ish tonality and the Elex driver (most likely) being very similar to the Elear, that the impedance bump around 50-50Hz may be of a benefit*. - Based off Tyll's measurements of both the Elear and Utopia.

    * Benefit being for someone looking for a mild bass boost.

    Edit: I’m fairly sure in my interpretation of the measurements that it will act the same as the Utopia with a higher output impedance amp. Where I’m uncertain is if the distoration will come into play?

    Already answered in previous post, my bad.

    #stilllearning
     
    Last edited: Dec 30, 2017
    captkirk, Dec 29, 2017
    #110
  11. Will

    Will Massdrop

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    That is incorrect, not sure why it changed (some backend shenanigans no doubt) but it should be back to April. Thanks for posting.
     
    Will, Dec 29, 2017
    #111
  12. I_want_all_the_tacos

    I_want_all_the_tacos Friend

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    Now that you have had a lot more head time on Clear and really love it, do your initial impressions against Elex still stand? Is Elex as good as Clear, but just has less bass? Would EQ on Elex be in the same league as Clear, or does Clear still bring something unique to the table that Elex can't match?

    At $700 for Elex, that puts it at under half the price of Clear so I think many of us are wondering just how close the two are and if the premium price of Clear is still worth it over Elex?
     
    I_want_all_the_tacos, Dec 29, 2017
    #112
  13. JonCharles

    JonCharles Friend

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    Thanks for the informative replies and impressions, I'm finally jumping on board. I'm usually reserved about my impressions, but I'd like to do a simple comparison with my HD600 and 650K when these arrive, since it seems most people own/have heard those.
     
    JonCharles, Dec 29, 2017
    #113
  14. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    In terms of resolution, it Clear is better than Elex, but closer to Elex than to Utopia. Utopia jump up (speed, resolution, bass quality) is significant from both.

    Elex top end sounds a bit rougher than Clear and still maintains a bit of that tizz on the Elear. Clear top end is smoother like the Utopia, perhaps with even less glare than Utopia - likely a result of less lean balance.

    Subjectively and nitpicking, Elex top end is just a tiny bit too hot for me, like the HD600. Clear bass is just a bit too much, like stock HD650. We are talking 1-2db here.

    $700 does make the Elex more compelling.
     
    purr1n, Dec 29, 2017
    #114
  15. Maxx134

    Maxx134 Dunning–Kruger effect poster boy

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    I have noticed this as well after testing the Fostex and Dennon biocelulous drivers.
    They have a more natural timbre to them.

    The plastics are so prevalent in most headphones I even noticed metal coated or just colored units as well.
    Come to think of it,
    I am also assuming the driver membrane in most planars are also some type of plastic.(!)
    Oh well.

    That was Way too compelling for me as $699 (700) is basically bringing you to the "$1k level" playing field of other headphones,
    Most of which don't even deserve to be at that price level...

    I can't wait to see what modding potential it has...
    ;)
     
    Last edited: Jan 26, 2018
    Maxx134, Dec 30, 2017
    #115
  16. AllanMarcus

    AllanMarcus Friend

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    Isn’t the Elex just an Elear with black Clear pads? Wouldn’t it have the same modding potential as the Elear?
     
    AllanMarcus, Dec 30, 2017
    #116
  17. Maxx134

    Maxx134 Dunning–Kruger effect poster boy

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    I read same Elear driver and all else slightly changed.
    The pads are similar but not exactly clear pads, most probably a bit cheaper quality.
    Regardless signature should sound better than Elear.
    Massdrop shows the measurements.
     
    Maxx134, Dec 31, 2017
    #117
  18. Maxx134

    Maxx134 Dunning–Kruger effect poster boy

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    So the closest thing to utopia is the Clear,
    And the closest thing to the Clear, is this Elex.
    This to me is an improved Elear at less than half the price and those that hesitated lost out on the sale,
    Which being a Massdrop edition, makes it out to be a limited model,
    As I cannot envision Focal selling the Elex at all when they have the Elear and the Clear..
     
    Maxx134, Jan 1, 2018
    #118
  19. Jinxy245

    Jinxy245 Vegan Puss

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    Do you mean not selling the Elear? From what you're saying that seem to be the takeaway, since the Elex is reportedly superior...
     
    Jinxy245, Jan 1, 2018
    #119
  20. Maxx134

    Maxx134 Dunning–Kruger effect poster boy

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    It can go either way. One or the other must go away.
    Right now the Elex is only a Massdrop unit.
    If Focal sold the Elex, then it would make Elear obsolete, and have to be priced accordingly.
    I don't see that happening but who knows how they will manage this.
     
    Maxx134, Jan 1, 2018
    #120
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