I’m definitely keen to listen to the new Senn’s. I’ve only heard the 600 and it was awhile ago. I’m planning on visiting a high-end headphone store soon, so should be able to give them a listen.
So much of the decision depends on what you like in Metal. Metal can be anything from symphonic to death and anywhere in between, and that alone makes it difficult to quantify what audio equipment works well with it. Beyond that, people have different parts they like to focus on. I personally like my headphones to really bring out the crunch and edge in Metal guitar. I know there are better headphones out there, but the SHP9500 really excels with distorted guitar. It may be a function of the granularity in those headphones that helps in this respect. I also enjoy the HE-4 series (400i, 400s, 4XX) for more critical listening. When I want to put on Maiden or Blind Guardian and simply enjoy the complexity of the composition, and the skill of the musicians, that is what I grab.
Hi everyone, so I finally took a trip to a high-end headphone shop and listened to a bunch of headphones. I will write a quick summary below if anyone is interested:
Headphones I demoed:
Audeze LCD2C, X
Focal Elegia, Clear, Stellia
Hifiman Sundara, Ananda, Susvara
Fostex TH-610, 900
Campfire Audio Cascade
Final Audio Sonorous VI
Test Tracks:
Lamb of God - Blood of the Scribe, Broken Hands
Gojira - Toxic Garbage Island, Esoteric Surgery, Wolf Down the Earth
Death - Crystal Mountain, Spirit Crusher, Symbolic
Pig Destroyer - The Diplomat
Coheed and Cambria - Welcome Home
Between the Buried and Me - Mordecai
Nasum - Scoop
Sikth - Pussyfoot
The Black Dahlia Murder - What a Horrible Night to Have a Curse, I’m Charming
Trivium - Pull Harder on the Strings of Your Martyr
The Dillinger Escape Plan - Sugar Coated Sour
Pantera - 5 Minutes Alone
August Burns Red - Marianas Trench
Nails - You Will Never Be One Of Us
All That Remains - Whispers
Megadeth - Symphony of Destruction
At the Gates - Blinded By Fear
Amon Amarth - Twilight of the Thunder God
Listening was done through a Simaudio Moon 430HA
Preference based purely on sound quality:
Focal Stellia > Clear > Elegia > Susvara > Cascasde > TH-900 > TH-610 > Ananda > LCD-X > LCD2C > Sonorous VI > Sundara
The Focal Elegia and Campfire Audio Cascade stand out the most for their incredible value. The difference between the Elegia and the flagship Stellia was so subtle and minuscule that I can’t imagine ever being able to justify buying the Stellia, at four times the price of the Elegia.
I have to point out that the Audeze’s were very, very disappointing for me. Not that they were bad, I can definitely see why people love them so much. But going back and forth between the LCD-X and the Clear, it was just so apparent how much clearer (no pun intended) the Clear was in comparison. Yes, the Audeze had a bit more bass, and if you prefer a smoother, more “laid-back” sound, you will prefer the Audeze. But if you want your metal to sound “ballsy”, “aggressive” and “in-your-face”, then the Focal is where it is at!
The Focal Elegia is probably what I’m going to buy. It was dynamic, punchy, forward/aggressive, superb mids, nice, non-sibilant highs etc. All of the people claiming that these sound thin or bass-light are insane! This is coming from someone who currently has a Fostex TH-600!!
The bass is definitely slightly set-back and could definitely use some more quantity overall, but it’s still very good! Please check out the Focal line if you haven’t already. You might be pleasantly surprised like I was.
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Yeah, I really like my elegia, very neutral and accurate, definitely a great purchase
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Lol, I guess you really didn’t like the Sundara. Like the HE4XX, they’re not great for metal. But I do enjoy them most other genres. Though I will probably start using them exclusively with EQ going forward due to the treble.
If you enjoyed Focal Clear, the Focal Elex ($700) will likely also be great for you. The Elex sounds similar to the Clear and is one of my favorites. But I have no idea if you’d enjoy them more or less than the Elegia. If I were you, I’d still get the Elegia just because it’s a safer purchase. You can’t return stuff bought on Drop.
I did try out the Elear, but I returned them because I figured I’d enjoy the Elex more. The issue they have is a dip in the upper mids. They are still a great buy for $500 though.
Owning both the elegia and the clear, and having heard the elex, I would say that the elegia is closer to the clear in sound signature. The clear had better technicalities easily, but signature wise the elegia sounded like it was a bit more budget version of a clear. The clear is slightly more neutral though, but the elegia is one of the more few closed backs that comes close to a fairly neutral sound. The elex is a more fun sounding headphone, almost w shaped to me. The elegia and clear have more detail, and are more neutral then the elex, but the elex almost sounds more dynamic then the other two. I also would say that the elex probably has the more energetic bass response
Edit: I would just skip the elear tbh, because it’s not as good as any of the headphones mentioned above. You might as well just save up and get an elex.
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No, actually I did like the Sundara. The problem is though, is that it sounds like a slightly improved HE-400i/4XX with better clarity and bass response. It sounded definitely good, but it was just outclassed by the other headphones, which are all significantly more expensive, except for the TH-610 which was $100 more and sounded wayyyyyyyy better. At least based on my preferences…
I did’t get to try the Elear as they didn’t have any available to try. I’ve heard they are the odd ones out, as the other models sound suprising very close to each other. For example I would guess that the Stellia and Utopia are no more that 15-20% objectively “better” sounding. The sound signatures are very, very close. Whether that small difference is worth it is mostly down to how much you’re comfortable spending… I’m neither rich nor poor, but I just couldn’t justify the extra cost.
Damn, I actually just pulled the trigger on the Elegia. I agree, the Elegia was so close to the Clear, that I couldn’t justify spending double to get that tiny improvement. Just not worth it. Be better off spending that money on a better amp or dac…
Very curious about the Elex and Elear though. Heard very polarising opinions on both. But still, I don’t think I’ll be disappointed with the Elegia. Can always sell off all my headphones when I find “the one”. If that even exists… So many headphones out there to try.
Also, as an Australian, the brutal exchange rate makes Massdrop stuff not such good value for me. the 500 USD Elex ends up being 1200 AUD shipped…
I think why some people say the elegia is bass light, or boring is because they are not used to a signature that is as neutral as the elegia. Nothing is really emphasize or missing, unlike the elex. I think that’s why people prefer the elex over the elegia and the clear. Also what was your opinion on the sound isolation for the elegia? I thought it was excellent for having a vent on the side
For anyone else interested, prices on the Elegia are surprisingly good for such a new model. Not the case at all with the Focal Clear (still $1500 on Amazon).
You can save $180 (so $720 new) if your a prime member on Amazon.
https://www.amazon.com/Focal-Audiophile-Circum-Aural-Closed-Back-Headphones/dp/B07J5MDMTQ
I’d consider it if I didn’t already completely exceed my yearly audio budget.
Also if I had to rate the focal line up, it would be Stellia > Utopia > Clear > Elegia > Elex > > Elear
Edit: pretty outdated, currently imo it would actually be Utopia > Clear > Stellia > Elegia = Elex > Elear
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Yeah, I found the Elegia to be fairly neutral overall. But those mids… It just sounded so dynamic and aggressive and punchy. It pretty much did everything how I like. If only it had Fostex level bass… It would be perfection. I found the sound isolation to be excellent, it’s definitely a closed headphone. You could use it public easily, I think.
Yeah I use them in an office, and they work great. But know that the cable is absolute shite. It’s janky, stiff, almost too short, loud (microphonic), and ass in general. I would highly suggest getting a different cable, and save yourself the pain of using it. Worse then some fostex cables
Yeah I’ve heard the cable is awful. Got any suggestions for a replacement?
I personally have this cable: https://www.ebay.com/itm/UPOCC-Focal-Elegia-Elex-Elear-Clear-Stellia-HiBy-Sony-Balanced-4-4mm-Cable-1-25M/113752718022?hash=item1a7c30bac6:g:--wAAOSwtANc3q3l
I like it alot, since I use mine portable and it’s supple enough to bend and rest flat, and is less microphonic then the stock. It also doesn’t tangle as often. You can pretty much use any 3.5mm mono jack cable with these
Sharing here. \m/
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Abyss 1266 is the best… I’ve heard so far
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Good to know but a tat bit out if my price range XD
Hahaha yeah me too… yet still… somehow I have one? Crazy hobby
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