🔷 Focal Elegia

[BoxingRobes]

Going to give these more of a focused listen throughout the weekend. But very early initial impression is that these are incredibly impressive at the sale price point. First thing I noticed is the clarity and forwardness of the vocals (big time preference for me), but wide soundstage, clear imaging, and really strong detail. Definitely got a sound signature I really enjoy.

Played with high-low gain…low gain gave it more of a subtle intimacy, high gain gave it a big, expansive presence.

Again, very early impression…I made a very worthwhile purchase.

[Rhodey]

They are really nice. And i like the decent sized bubble soundstage the have. It just works. And honestly, i do pretty well in FPS games with them. Probably the best closed back I’ve used for FPS games.

[BoxingRobes]

Been listening to these all weekend and I am simply impressed. At the sale price…the performance is second to none and as a closed back holds up remarkably well to open backs in soundstage.

tbh, I’ve liked it more on the JDS Labs Atom amp over the SMSL SP200.

My only knock early on is this horrendous excuse for a cable that comes stock. Quality is fine, I suppose but its two feet long. I’ve got to use the head amp as a pillow. Also, feel like I need to wear it a bit more to loosen up the clamp. Its not fatiguing at all, but its not exactly a cloud speaker on your head either. When I wear them, I feel like I’m here for business, not for casual listening. I’m sure that’ll get better over time.

@M0N or anyone. Thoughts on potential amp combos for the Elegia. I’m sure you’ve mentioned it, but I’m feeling lazy and don’t want to look earnestly.

[M0N]

@BoxingRobes

My only knock early on is this horrendous excuse for a cable that comes stock.

All focal owners feel your pain lol

@BoxingRobes

tbh, I’ve liked it more on the JDS Labs Atom amp over the SMSL SP200.

@BoxingRobes

Also, feel like I need to wear it a bit more to loosen up the clamp. Its not fatiguing at all, but its not exactly a cloud speaker on your head either. When I wear them, I feel like I’m here for business, not for casual listening. I’m sure that’ll get better over time.

Yeah, it did take me some time to get used to the focal fit, they become more normal with more use

@BoxingRobes

@M0N or anyone. Thoughts on potential amp combos for the Elegia. I’m sure you’ve mentioned it, but I’m feeling lazy and don’t want to look earnestly.

The elegia isn’t too picky, but I do like the elegia on the rupert neve rnhp, and for a dac, the bifrost 2 is pretty sweet for the pairing imo

[Osmediocre]

How do people feel the Elegia stack up against the Elex in terms of sound quality alone if isolation is not a big factor?

[M0N]

I think the elex is a slight upgrade overall in technicalities, but also a sidegrade in terms of signature. The elegia is more neutral and less amp picky, the elex is a bit more amp picky and also a bit more w shaped, and more dynamic as well. Detail, spatial recreation, timbre, and impact take a bit of a step up on the elex as well, but the elegia is no slouch either esp for a closed headphone

[Pr3ssAltF4]

Again, it’s sunday, I’m very bored, and I think I have a handle on my opinions of this recent acquisition.

TLDR :
Great cans. If you’re going for $1000 on a pair of closed backs, these are stellar imo.

How I tested the Elegias :
Played it via my Monolith Liquid Platinum, Geshelli Labs Erish and Archel, my phone, and my iFi Nano BL. Been fooling around with it for a number of days on different sources. Took it on walks, used it during construction in the house, used it while working on DIY cables, and used it at my desk / on calls. Have had my hands on them for 4 days. They’ve been on my head almost the whole time.

Elegia General Sound Sig :
Very precise, very resolving, very lively and defined soundstage and imaging, best separation I’ve heard, and excellent macrodynamics and impact. Other reviewers probably have more extensive and educated opinions on this, so I would just look for Elegia reviews (on Head-Fi especially, as I agree with most of what they all have to say). Very neutral. Sufficient quantities of everything imo. Maybe a bit mid forward. Impact and macrodynamics are just enough to be satisfying while not being overwhelming. Bass extension, impact, and definition are excellent.

Pros :

• Comfort. These things are ridiculously comfortable for me. I know people with larger heads have complained about the headband / clamp over 4+ hour sessions. I don’t have any of that right now.
• Portability. These are wicked easy to drive. I can run them half-decently off my phone and laptop. They are almost overpowered on low gain on all of my Amps (the Archel being the most forgiving and least powerful). Also the carrying case is first rate. Goddamn everyone else needs to step up their case game. These are easily powered (and sound good) via any amp you can get your hands on. Makes it a perfect first hifi can for people who have yet to step up their amp / dac game.
• Sound sig. These are detail monsters for me. Because of their excellent separation, interesting soundstage (very 360), and excellent resolution / resolve I am able to hear every detail these things can provide extraordinarily clearly. Very easy to follow individual instruments and locate individual sounds. Much more so than my Eikons.
• Looks. These things are downright sexy. End of story. I like my Eikons and their wood, but the Elegias just look sleek on the shelf and on the head. I’m not into headphones for looks, but if you wanted to walk around wearing these you might not look insane.
• Isolation. Am listening to these while construction is going on in the house. They reduce the volume of exterior sounds so that you can still hear them, but they won’t pull you out of the music. These will be my headphones in the office / on the train if and when we ever get back.

Cons :

• Timbre. The only thing lacking to me in the sound sig is the natural timbre than my Eikons have. These at times sound very clinical and it’s very easy to tell certain tracks are recordings. Unlike the Eikons, there have only been a couple of times I had to remember that I wasn’t at a live performance.
• Microdynamics. I don’t get the same level of microdynamics as I do on my Eikons. This means that rock and active / lively music sounds great, but when you get to chill, slow, or artful stuff you lose a tiny bit of musicality in comparison. Detail retrieval is crystal clear, but sounds a bit sterile in comparison to the Eikons.
• Cable. Is shit. That’s all I have to say about it. If you’re gonna chuck the money at these to buy them, either buy an aftermarket cable or make one yourself. Cable looks great but is stiff as a board and very microphonic.
• Price of replacement parts. Warranty is good, but if you want fresh pads be prepared to pay through the nose, cause Focal.
• Driveability. Both a boon and a curse in equal measure. I can’t turn the volume up past low gain on my Enog and 8 o’clock on my Liquid Platinum. Over 9 o’clock is ear bleeding levels. If you have a powerful amp with a channel imbalance at low volumes and no pre-amp / dramatic gain control you’re gonna have a bad time.

Would I recommend you buy it? :
Highly. If you can get it on sale for less than $700 I’d consider these things an absolute fucking steal. At $800-1000 they are just a great closed back headphones. If you want a neutral closedback that doesn’t really sound closed with excellent portability and ridiculous detail retrival, these are the cans. End of story.

[M0N]

@Pr3ssAltF4

Cable. Is shit. That’s all I have to say about it. If you’re gonna chuck the money at these to buy them, either buy an aftermarket cable or make one yourself. Cable looks great but is stiff as a board and very microphonic.

A requirement for any focal lol

[Ryllin]

It really is…

[Mr_Makua]

You almost convinced me to buy a second pair with this review. Ha! I’ll be venturing back into the office for the first time this week since quarantine started a few months ago, and these will definitely be my close companion for the foreseeable future.

[SpeleoFool]

@M0N

I think the elex is a slight upgrade overall in technicalities, but also a sidegrade in terms of signature.

Perfectly put.

@BoxingRobes

Thoughts on potential amp combos for the Elegia.

I like my Elegia with all of my amps, but it’s great on my 887 and RNHP. Look for low output impedance (Elegia is only 35 ohms).

[SpeleoFool]

@Pr3ssAltF4

Cable looks great but is stiff as a board and very microphonic.

Actual picture of Elegia stock cable:

[mbvjmc]

Just got these and went to put them through their paces for an hour or two. As stated elsewhere, I was looking for a neutral-ish closed back with decent isolation from outside noise for sub $1k, and Adorama’s deal was too good to pass up.

OOTB, I was greeted by Focal’s metallic timbre and immediately remembered why I wasn’t too enamored with loaner Elex that I evaluated several months ago. Thankfully the Elegia does not have as many weird dips as that Elex loaner. Overall, the Elegia’s sound signature appears to be more coherent and less offensive than that Elex pair. On the other hand, the Elex might have been a dud and already had one ear pad noticeably more collapsed than the other.

Anyways, I immediately knew that I wanted to EQ these and decided to use Resolve’s EQ settings. His settings helped out a bit by making the sound a little less bright and reduced some of the metallic, artificial sheen. Post-EQ, the Elegia is more pleasing to my ears right now and I enjoy these more than that Elex loaner. Let’s see how it goes over the next few days.

[MrAyrit]

Bah, wishing I would have picked up a set of these. If these go on sale like that again, please make sure you post to the deals thread. I’ll pull the trigger next time.

[Ryllin]

I would highly recommend doing so.
My pair is very crisp with great positional imaging.
The bass isn’t great or very present, but that is what I have other headphones for.

Also very easy to drive

[SpeleoFool]

@Ryllin

The bass isn’t great or very present, but that is what I have other headphones for.

Same. Bass feels well-balanced to me on Elegia–it’s not lacking, but also doesn’t overwhelm or step on the mids. It’s there when it needs to be, absent when it shouldn’t be there. And it’s pretty well controlled.

One of my test tracks for sub-bass is The Advent, Industrialyzer - Up Close. There’s a very low beat that’s more felt than heard, and it occasionally cuts out. Elegia does this track justice, though it’s not the most exciting presentation.

Another is Gorgon City - Go Deep. Same general idea, except here there are some bassy notes that are anchored with sub-bass. On cans with good extension these will feel weighty. On cans that lack that extension those notes are more hollow. Again, Elegia gets the job done.

If I want more exciting bass, 1770 Pro with leather pads delivers the goods. The presentation is not as smooth or refined as Elegia, and the highs are pulled back a little more than I prefer, but these have very deep and punchy bass while maintaining strong mids.

[mbvjmc]

Not really liking Resolve’s EQ settings. Really tizzy at 4.5kHz and 8.0kHz with my pair, which gave me a headache.

Here’s my EQ settings which primarily adjusts 4.5kHz, 8.0kHz, and 11.5k. I’m still adjusting these primarily, particularly 4.5kHz. Feel free to criticize,

Also, looking for suggestions…

Preamp Gain: -5.5dB (or -6.0dB)

Freq,Gain,Q, Filter (blank = Peak)

10, 0, 1.41,
21, 0, 1.41,
42, 0, 1.41,
83, 2, n\a, Low Shelf
166, 0, 1.41,
333, -1.5, 1.41,
577, -1.5, 2,
1800, -1.5, 2,
4000, 2.5, 2,
4500, 0, 2,
8000, -1.5, 1.41,
11500, 1.2, n\a, High Shelf
20000, 0, 2.99,

EDIT: Better readability

[TyroneBiggums]

Made of wood? Dont get it?

[Sgtdap]

Took my Elegia’s to my dad’s last night and played several songs for him and his wife off the UP4. Really fun to connect over music and each of us picking different songs to test out. He wants his own copy if it drops to the 430$ price again haha.

The cable is annoyingly stiff and keeps its curved appearance when rolled to travel in the case, but it’s got a very satisfying “click” and fit at the earcups. I don’t think after market cables will fit and look as nice unless someone has a good suggestion?

Overall I really enjoy the sound of the headphones and they don’t run as hot as the 177x with the leather or suede pads. Brought them into work and listened to music all day and it was very enjoyable. The earcups are large enough that I can ‘just’ see them at the very edge of my peripheral vision. HD6xx are much thinner and never had that issue. I don’t recall ever noticing on the 177x either.

[Atrox_V2]

Amphenol 3.5mm mono-jacks fit nicely in to the recessed female connectors on the earcups. Does not have the “click” mechanism though. I use a custom Oidio cable for my pair of Elegia.