🔷 Focal Elegia

CantAffordThisHobby · July 20, 2021, 5:06pm

Let’s Go!!

Blackscreen · July 20, 2021, 5:39pm

Enjoy! I was on mine in the office all morning.

WaveTheory · July 20, 2021, 6:10pm

Seems backward. Don’t you mean “on you”?

WaveTheory · July 20, 2021, 6:10pm

The gateway drug to the hi end for many. Enjoy!

Blackscreen · July 20, 2021, 6:49pm

I guess listening on them would have made more sense…

kamui · July 20, 2021, 10:40pm

I bought this TXesign headband (in 2-1/2"W) for my Elegia:

It’s got an inner lip so the zipper won’t damage the leather band, a layer of padding underneath, and it’s even got a little suede hook so I can hang it on my desk hook. Fits the Elegia perfectly.

Blackscreen · July 20, 2021, 11:50pm

JaVerde · July 21, 2021, 12:58am

I got the dekoni sheepskin pads for my babys

Kate_Ang · July 21, 2021, 3:03am

Every single darn time this goes on sale at $399, I’ll be in a huge dilemma for DAYS!!! I’ve read through this entire thread trying to come to a decision, emphasis on trying.

Of course most posts are positive, in fact not a single post came off entirely negative at all. 399USD for what these can do is a real steal, but people seems to selling them off very quickly as well. I understand what you guys meant by gateway cans. The consensus is that the technicality and detail retrieval are really good, however it also seems like it is lacking in something to stand out from the rest. As mentioned by someone in earlier posts, Jack of all trades, master of none.

So once again, I’m torn… As I’m located outside USA (these are no longer available where I am), I’ll have to get a freight forwarder to send these to me, return is not an option. On top of that, selling used headphones here is not easy too as we have a relatively small market. Thus the dilemma.

11_Clouds · July 21, 2021, 3:22am

I use this one with the Clear, fits tighter than the other Geekria which I got first…

Geekria Knit Fabric Headband Pad Compatible with Sony WH1000XM4, WH1000XM3, WH1000XM2 Headphone Replacement Headband/Headband Cushion/Replacement Pad Repair Parts (Black) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07K4C4BPN/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_NCNBTN56KXGEC97J5PDK?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

fabiokelm · July 21, 2021, 4:43am

I can sympathize with this, living abroad and in a terrible market for expensive items like this. The Elegia was a great experience for me and I really liked them, but it’s always a risk. If you have the spare money (remember to include shipping and taxes) and like a neutral-ish sound, not too much bass. Them I would say go for it, they are definitely something else, especially if you’ve never heard a Focal before.
Just remember to spend responsibly and try to enjoy your journey.

ssjdrn · July 21, 2021, 4:47am

I’ve owned them over a year and they’re still getting a lot of use from me. They’re basically a relaxed set in terms of upper-mids but with good extension in the lows and the highs. Vocal tonality is occasionally a bit wonky compared to the Aeon RT closed, which are very coherent but often too aggresive in the 6-10k region for me. The Elegias also have impressive sense of slam and impact. Not the equal of the Emu-teaks, but close.

But I’m sort of stuck in mid-fi hell, so YMMV.

Kate_Ang · July 21, 2021, 5:37am

Yea I’m in the mid-fi range too. I really like the slam on emu teaks but eventually gave it a miss and kept my dt177x with hybrid pads instead. It’s true that I’ve never tried a focal before. Perhaps I should demo some focal cans in my local store to get a gist of their sound signatures before deciding!

skian · July 21, 2021, 3:11pm

“mid-fi hell” LOL Certainly worse places to be.
I also have the Aeon RT and can’t decide if it makes sense to add the Elegia’s to my collection.
Can you give a little more comparison on the two and for which music genres you pick one or the other?

ssjdrn · July 21, 2021, 4:36pm

In terms of raw resolution I think the RT just barely edges it out. Elegia definitely has more impactful bass, and more of a ‘relaxed’ character around the upper mids/low treble, which is a problem area for me with the RT. The RT can be a little too aggresive in this area, though it does provide a certain textured detail to acoustic instruments and female voices that the Elegia lacks. I’d say the RT has the more ‘correct’ tonality, where the Elegia gives me a sense of ‘bigger’ sound with that slam. Or it could just be that the RT’s treble keeps me from turning the volume up as loud.

It’s an interesting comparison. I’d probably take the Elegia as my all-rounder for games and music, while preferring the RT for simpler acoustic and vocal tracks, and possibly movies/TV where the Elegia’s tonality can be distracting, depending on the mix.

CantAffordThisHobby · July 21, 2021, 5:30pm

Do these headbands seriously improve comfort, or are they simply there to help preserve the headphone?

11_Clouds · July 21, 2021, 5:32pm

i use one purely to preserve the headband

skian · July 21, 2021, 5:32pm

That’s a good breakdown. Thank you for that.
I take it you’ve tried the different tuning pads on the RT to tame the upper mid/treble?

Multibeast · July 21, 2021, 6:39pm

For me I’m looking to preserve the underside of the headband. It’s a light gray color and shows any oil or other build up very quickly. I’m balding so was using a topical treatment that after one use left some discoloration.

Multibeast · July 21, 2021, 6:40pm

Thanks all for the headband cover choices