Focal Elegia

Enther

Head-Fier
Pros: Spectacular for relax sessions, some classicals musics, vocals genres....
Good resolution.
Very good dynamics.
It has good spatial technicalities (although there are few ones already here for similar prices equal or better)
The midrange seems to be the best I have heard on a closed back.
I think it's very pretty.
Cons: It does not have a pure or natural tone.
It is not the most versatile headset on the market. I wouldn't consider it an "all-rounder."
It needs a little more dB to be more complete on bass department.
In 2024 there are MANY options, like the Hifiman R9 (better tonality, scene and bass impact).
INTRO
Welcome to the written review of the Focal Elegia.
In previous reviews we have analyzed in-ears. Today it's time to talk about an over-ear headphone, from the Focal brand. The Elegia.
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Focal is a high-end French brand that, in addition to headphones, also makes speakers for the home and cars, the so-called car audio.
This brand has headphones considered to be the best in different price ranges. The Focal utopia, considered the best headphones in the world (leaving electrostatic aside) and the Focal clear considered one of the best for less than €1,500. We will see the latter on the channel later.
This time we are going to talk about the Focal Elegia. A closed over-ear headphone with a spectacular design, at least it reminds me of a Buggati...
This headset is officially discontinued, but can be purchased in different stores at a price of about €500. It must be noted that, when it came out at the end of 2018, its official price was €899, even selling more expensively in certain stores.

UNBOXING
The packaging of the headset is relatively basic considering the price. But the reality is that we don't need more either. We have a medium-sized cardboard box where the headset comes. Inside we have a carrying case, very rigid and of a quite adequate size in relation to the size of the Elegia. This cover is the one we also see in other models of the brand.
The headset comes inside along with a renewed cable. This headset has received criticism for practically everything and one of them was for including a rigid cable, perhaps too rigid, but personally I prefer that type of cable to a weaker one. The one he brings is similar to the Hifiman one. It rolls up easily but can be considered semi-rigid.
The connection is 3.5mm Jack to 3.5mm cup as well. Although we have a 6.3 to 3.5 mm adapter.
We also have some Focal papers and guarantees…
As you can see, the content is relatively scarce, but the reality is that much more is not needed. The most important thing apart from the headset is the carrying case or bag and I find this very practical because it is resistant, beautiful, has a good touch, weighs little and is manageable.
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SOUND SECTION
Before entering into purely sound aspects, something must be highlighted. The comfort of the Elegia is outstanding. Although 430 grams may be a lot, it feels comfortable due to the pads that adapt more than well to the shape of your skull. In addition, the wide headband manages to distribute the weight distribution well.
It is very important that an over-ear type headset be very comfortable for us. Personally, it is something that is more important than the construction, type of cable or design...aspects that tend to be easily criticized.
The Elegia focal has a sensitivity of 105 decibels and 35 ohms. I recommend a dac dongle to take advantage of the headset. Although I have tried it with a mobile phone, a red magic 5g and at half power the volume was more than enough. Still, high volume and driver efficiency are not the same. It may sound at a good volume but the driver may not be working correctly if it is not given the necessary power.
The frequency response ranges from 5 Hz to 23 kHz.
The Elegia is made up of two 40mm aluminum/magnesium capsules typical of Focal. The general result after the first listen is a dynamic and relaxed sound…but certainly peculiar.
The world of high fidelity audio is a very particular niche. Each person has musical tastes and preferences. I add to this that we are not always in the same mood and that can drastically affect the sound signature we want. That is why it is very difficult to have a single headset that we are always passionate about. I do not consider that you have to bet only because the correct thing is a neutral firm. You must also evaluate signatures in V, W, brilliant, basshead... each one has positive and negative aspects.
That said, the Elegia presents itself as a headphone with a somewhat forward midrange sound, very lively and clean. Maybe it is not the tonality you are looking for if you want something neutral and correct, but after 10-15 minutes of listening to get used to it I find Focal Elegia very attractive for vocal, jazz, classical music sessions... although honestly with more popular genres it does not disappoint.
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SOUND SECTION – TECHS-
In the technical section, the Focal elegia stands out for presenting good audio dynamics. This is a feature of the brand that I sincerely appreciate very much.
Everything sounds very lively giving you a more than good perceived dynamic range superior to many other headphones. It is no wonder if we take into account that it is a headset that was sold for €900.
Its soundstage is not excessively large, but it is more than convincing if we treat it as the closed headphone that it is. Something to highlight is the ability it has to put sounds in front of you and not inside your head or on the sides of it.
This, together with a precise image, gives the sensation of a, misnamed, holographic sound that is quite well achieved. Basically sometimes it sounds like your music is coming from speakers and not a headphone. The soundstage may lack a little depth, but that is compared to other options on the market such as the R9. Comparison that we will see in another video.
As I said, the image is accurate. It is possibly, along with dynamics, its best virtue. In classical music, the instruments are positioned very easily and in other vocal genres the voices tend to be placed on one side to make way for the rest of the instruments that will be heard on the other. The sensation of air is more than evident.
I repeat, I didn't expect anything less from a headset at this price.
Not everything is positive, I consider the instrumental separation to be not good on more congested tracks. Although it separates L/R well when there are few sounds or they are well differentiated, in denser songs it costs a little more.
In short, do I consider you technical? Yeah. Perhaps it is the most technical closed option in general, although I think that due to its price the market is making it really difficult for Elegia if it wants to be in the top positions.

SOUND SECTION – BASS-
The bottom end of the Elegia features a decent level of detail. It is a bass that seeks control in the face of a rumble. If the track requires it, it will have good punch, although it is not comparable with most current options that inflate these frequencies more.
In short, The Elegia offers precise and competent bass, which arrives with impact if necessary. It doesn't have much gain, but it's still enjoyable. In sub-bass regions I would have liked it to have a few more decibels.
The overall sound, despite being very detailed, is still more emotional thanks to that intoxicating bass.

SOUND SECTION – MIDS-
In the media the elegy almost makes something perfect for me.
Focal decided to advance the mids so that they stand out slightly and have more prominence. A success from my point of view. Additionally, this range feels quite open, avoiding vocal congestion. On vocal tracks the mids can vary by placing themselves in front of you and not in a more central position. There will be songs where the voice is perceived in front and to the side or in front in a surgical way.
It's one of the best midranges I've heard. I feel he has enough body, dynamics, cleanliness... I would have liked more naturalness but that would be too much to ask for.

SOUND SECTION – TREBLE-
The female vocals sound velvety, but the strings and other instruments never lose their edge. The resulting sound is both rich and uncompromising, but also tempered and controlled. That is to say, without all the talk, if you are looking for that kind of treble that walks the fine line between tons of detail and excess detail, your long search is over.
If we go to higher regions it is not as bright as I expected, the top end of the Elegia seems slightly softened, leading to a relaxed but detailed sound, something, as I said, difficult to achieve.

SUMMARY SECTION - VIDEO-
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What was mentioned above. Every person is a world. Musical preferences vary drastically, but personally it is a headphone that I like and it is worth it...if you equalize it, you may correct the few defects it may have, but I understand that this stock headphone can be an ideal complement when you feel like listening something like classical music on your couch on a Sunday afternoon.
It has received a lot of criticism for having an unorganic sound, sounding distant, and even poor technical performance...however I think that is not entirely the case.
It is a peculiar headset. It is not the typical V-shaped one that enhances the bass nor is it a completely neutral headphone. I consider that the original sale price was somewhat exaggerated but at the current price of about €500 it is a more than decent option.
It has a forward midrange sound, controlled bass, and smooth but detailed treble...something difficult to achieve. If this is accompanied by good dynamics, a competent scene and a fairly enveloping sound, the result is one of the best closed headphones available for less than €1000.
I recommend it, definitely yes.

I´m also on YouTube!
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMtfbMXFzOKe07X-ZstZ_Bg
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InvisibleInk
InvisibleInk
Owners will typically want to replace the cable, experiment with different ear pads, and use a headband cover during the course of their long ownership of this headphone. I say long ownership because they are built to last and they will. I'd start with the headband cover, because the underside of the headphone tends to get soiled in an unsightly way the more it is used.
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Enther
Enther
The cable I can use is the "new" version from Focal. Before, they had a thicker and more rigid cable by default.
Regarding the pads, I'm not a fan of that. And even less at these prices. Spending €500 or the €1000 it was worth to have to change the pads and experiment, I don't think it's fair. There will be those of us who will gladly do it but I don't see it well. The changes are very subtle.
Yes Yes. In the Focal Clear the top of the headband also gets stained.

Thanks for comment.

WILLJS

100+ Head-Fier
Pros: Great Design
Insanely Comfortable
Premium Build Quality
Great Sound Quality (Detail, Tuning, Instrument Separation
Better than average Soundstage (for a Closed Back)
Cons: Cons:
Cable is big and chunky, holds its shape after coiled to fit in case
A little Mid-Forward (easily remedied using basic EQ
Overview:
the Elegia was Focal first high end
closed-back headphone, followed by the Celestee and Stellia, selling for about $1400AUD ($900USD). The Elegia features a 40mm Focal aluminium M shaped inverted dome driver (rather than beryllium, which is what Focal use for their TOTL headphones such as the Clear and Utopia models, as well as in the tweeters of their high end speakers). They are reasonably easy to drive, at 35 Ohms, 105 dB Sensitivity, easily driven from all Phones, DAPs or Portable Headphone Amplifiers (even my FiiO BTR3K from TRS (unbalanced) output, Approx. 25mW).

Sound Quality:

The Elegias have an impressive sound, with excellent detail, instrument separation, soundstaging, and overall tuning (even better with a little EQ). I don't find that being a closed back held the Elegias back a great deal, only a little with soundstaging. The biggest issue with the Elegias is the tuning, slightly raised in the 200-2,000Hz range. This is by no means a major issue, with these frequencies only raised by around 2-3 dB, it is merely (in my opinion) the only negative to the Elegias sound (along with the upper mids and treble looking a little all over the place on paper).

Design and Build:

The design and build quality is typical Focal, sturdy and supremely comfortable, with a minimalistic yet luxury design.
The Elegias have a padded leather (or faux leather) covering on the headband, and solid aluminium yokes, attached to the earcups with sturdy supports, which can be the failings of many headphones, including the Hifiman HE400, HE400i, HE4XX, HE5XX, etc, which look flimsy, cheap and plasticy. My complaint about the build is the cable, which is a common complaint - it is very thick and keeps its shape after being coiled, making a zigzag shape. I personally don’t mind this, as it doesn’t affect my listening, as these are part of my desktop setup, but for a headphone designed for travel, this isn’t ideal.

Summary:

The Focal Elegia is an excellent closed-back headphone, with sound to match Focal’s high end open-backs, with the to added bonus of being able to travel on trains, planes or buses, without bleeding sound, or letting in outside noise, these are a premium headphone with sound to satisfy even the pickiest of audiophiles!

CephDigital

Head-Fier
Very fun but very weirdly tuned
Pros: Comfortable to wear even with glasses
Easy to power (only slightly so more than your typical IEMs)
Excellent in bringing out detail
Very open sounding despite being closed back
Passive isolation is VERY good (I can barely hear anything on the outside with these on)
Comes with a very nice carrying case
Cons: Stock cable is garbo
The tuning isn't for everyone
There's some weirdness with the treble
Needs some EQ (I quite like it without EQ but it does help)
Hi there!
I managed to pick up an unused, display model of the Elegia for £350 and this was practically new in the box. Zero indication it was ever picked up let alone opened. Couldn't resist, especially more after AB testing them against a Celestee in a store so I knew how good they were for me. I'll be comparing this to my Monolith M1570 (giant planars with Oratory's EQ), AIAIAI TMA-2 (current portable headphones, alcantara earcups and S10 speaker units) and Corsair Virtuoso SE (my gaming headphones). This is my first time making a proper review on a pair of headphones I own and I am by no means an expert with fancy measuring rigs, I'm just a dude giving his opinion based on his preferences and such.

Source - FiiO M11 Plus from downloaded FLACs (mix of 16 and 24 bit) with the PowerAmp app

Accessories - on the go goodies
This comes with a carry case, a dual 3.5mm TS to 3.5mm TRS cable and a 3.5mm to 6.5mm screw on adapter. Everything fits neatly in the carry case and can be stored very nicely away. The cable bloody sucks though, rubbing this against the slightest thing and you can hear it through the headphones. Get a custom cable ASAP.

Comfort
I'd place these as my 2nd most comfortable pair of headphones just behind the Virtuoso. This has excellent clamp force and the weight is nicely distributed across the headband. It's SUPER light compared to my M1570 but those things are gigantic and the worst for comfort. The TMA-2 feels lighter than the Elegia but the cushion around my ears feels much better on the Elegia than the TMA-2 so that puts the TMA-2 below the Elegia. The Virtuoso feels lighter on my head so that's why it's higher on my list. Bonus points to being easy on my glasses though, I'm wearing mine and don't feel any excessive force on the frames or it digging into my ears. I can wear them no problem lying in bed as well which is nice.

Isolation - WHY AM I TALKING SO LOUD?
Being closed-back, you want them to isolate you from the outside. This does that perfectly for me to the point people were telling me I was speaking too loud when trying to talk to someone with these on. The oval shape to the earpads makes it a better fit against my head with a better seal compared to the TMA-2 and Virtuoso which has circle earcups. I'd say the M1570 has a better fit against my head though as those earpads are angled but those are open-back so slightly less relevant when it comes to isolation. I sat about a meter from my sisters and started testing at what point they could hear my music. At my usual listening level (80 on low gain), they couldn't hear it. Only when I pushed it a bit higher to 90 did they start to hear it and these were pretty damn loud at that point. I'd say that makes them great for taking to the office to drown out your noisy coworkers without them hearing what you're jamming to.

Sound - weird, in a fun way (tested without glasses)
First of all, these things SING with the right amount of power. Give it enough power and the mids + treble come alive with clarity and detail which is about 85 low gain on my M11 Plus. These are headphones that lean more towards the mids and highs than the bass but that's not to say there isn't any bass, there definately is and I'd say it's enough, it's just not the focus.
The M1570 is more pleasing to me in the lows with extra kick but in the mids and treble, this takes the crown.

Now why do I call these headphones weird? There's something funky going on with the highs where certain things are definately more emphasised than others and it's pretty obvious. For instance, in Lost Boys by Aviators the drums are always there present in front of you whereas with my other headphones, they're more in the background. Whether or not this is bad I think is subjective. To me, I like it. It's a little bit of spice in my music and something different. These headphones were always pleasing to me when I first tried them and these little quirks give it a little bit of charm. It's a nice contrast to the TMA-2 which sounds pretty flat and neutral.

Now, I though planars are typically better at detail retrieval than dynamic so I thought I heard all the little things in my music I missed when I got my M1570. Then I heard the Elegia. Holy crap, I don't know if it's the weird tuning it has but it brings out random bits of detail from all over the place in songs you never realised whether it's in the bass, mids or treble and you don't expect it. Did the singer always sound like that at the end of his words? Was that airy-ness in that bass drop always there? Was that instrument always there? It's completely random what I'll manage to pick out because of these headphones when I least expect it. I thought I got all the things I missed in my music when I got the M1570 but here comes the Elegia smashing what I knew about my music. I think the best way to explain would be in Pressure by Draper where you can easily hear Laura Brehm inhale before singing without trying while the M1570 you have to focus on the lyrics to hear it.

Conclusion - not for everyone, but it is for me
I highly recommend you at least try them out before making a decision on these headphones to see if the weirdness is for you. I was stuck between the Celestee and Elegia until I actually got to try them out to make my decision. They're a fun and portable pair of headphones that you could take to the office that brings out the detail of your music without even trying. To me, they're a 4.5 / 5 but I dropped it to 4.0 because I know it's not going to please the vast majority of people.
CephDigital
CephDigital
Oh they definitely aren't the same size.
bassdad8
bassdad8
I am literally about to buy these for $390, but some of the earlier reviews have given me pause. I don’t care about “weird” tuning as I am looking for something different from the B&W px7 s2 and Sony xbr950n1s that I currently own and enjoy. I am not a full-on basshead, but I like to hear it when it’s supposed to be there. Since you have put up the most objective and very well detailed review, I have to ask, should I put my $400 on the Elegias or elsewhere?
WILLJS
WILLJS
definitely worth $390, but you could probably get them cheaper if you wait

mainguy

1000+ Head-Fier
Focal Elegia - A comparison to the Clear & P9
Pros: -Superb detail
-Slam
-Exciting sound signature
*Edit*
I'm deleting this review as it turns out I had a faulty pair, I will re-review these with the new pair.
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NickleCo
NickleCo
Any possibility a review will be posted? Quite keen on these!

sigi

New Head-Fier
4th time I am disappointed with Focal
Pros: Can be driven easily, portable. Can sound good when EQd slightly. Nice looks (sadly I don't care about that at all). Good comfort
Cons: poor build quality, stock cable is like a seismometer and even if it were not microphonic - it brakes within a couple of hours of use. The sound of these headphone is worth about half the price. Funky reverberation within the enclosed space. Sounds very plasticky.
I intended it to be a tool in the studio but only after a couple of hours of use I need to send them back...
The cable is not replaceable under warranty, the whole package needs to be sent back to the regional Focal service facility (I've been told that for central Europe it is somewhere in Poland)

Heapdhones that you paid for but are not spending their time with you are like headphones you don't own at all.

This is a product for the consumer market- made to spend most of its time on a headphone collectors shelf among other headphones that get very little playing time.

Another thing to add... there is a strange micro reverb in these cans - I have not heard this in other closed headphones. Granted I don't have much experience with closed headphones. This subtle reverb matches the material of the cans - sounds plasticky.
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cpurdy
cpurdy
Wow! Even worse than my experience!

How did the cable break? Mine is so stiff that I can't imagine it breaking! 🤣
S
sigi
the cable didn't break to pieces :) ... In my case it developed some contact issues somewhere near the left connection jack, it cuts the sound when not held in the right angle :)
OhMyGodPancakes
OhMyGodPancakes
Wow you nailed it! Just got my pair and the reverb is insane, I thought I was upgrading from my TR-X00s and while I did not have the cables issues was also disappointed.

descloud

100+ Head-Fier
Focal Elegia - Clearly not a closed-back Clear
Pros: - bass and treble extensions are good
- bass texture and impact are reminiscent of the Clear
- head stage width is great for a closed-back
- technicalities are also great
- EQ can be easily applied without noticeable audible problems
- packaging and included case gives a premium feel of the product
- build quality feel and aesthetics are top notch
- less creaking than the Clear I owned
- comfort is overall great despite having more clamp force than the Clear
Cons: - stock tonality is terrible (mid-forward with lack of upper midrange to treble balance) and needs EQ to sound remotely correct sounding
- requires EQ to have at least a close to correct sounding timbre
- cable is still awful, similar to the Clear cables
- choice of material colour on the headband opens up to easily staining
- lack of replaceable parts other than earpads questions longevity
Preface

By now, Focal is not new to anyone and is already an established name in the headphone community, with the success of some of their open-backs, namely the Utopia, Clear and Elear + Elex (ignoring the QC issues). I’ll admit, the first time I heard about Focal was with the Spirit One series (if anyone else remembers them). I recall Tyll giving a good review on their Focal Spirit Classic and Professional models, to which I’ve heard neither. What I have to say is that the Spirit One sounded ‘meh’ overall, with an uncomfortable fit because it’s mostly an on-ear sized cups and high-clamp force. That gave me a bit of a sour impression with Focal.

Since the debut of the Elear and Utopia, with Tyll posting reviews for both, it gave me enough incentive to notice Focal again. I started out late with Focal, but I got the Clear last year and found them overall great sounding. The tuning and technicalities are among the most balanced I’ve heard to date, but the price is something that’s hard for me to accept given its performance relative to the ones I owned at the time. That aside, it does not mean I cannot recommend the Clear, but rather I can recommend them if they can be had for under the $1k retail price. Now there are rumours (and teasers) of a new open-back that Focal is releasing this year, which might be the direct replacement to the Clear and could either be priced the same, or cheaper. I digress, take the last sentence for what it is, a rumour.

I’ll stop with blabbering about the Clear at this point. I just wanted to highlight the fact that Focal is not new to me, so I already have an expectation going into reviewing and owning the Elegia - which is technically their first closed-back since the Elear/Utopia era started. Looking at different forums, the Elegia seems to be among those headphones that split opinions, and there is this notion that the Elegia is supposed to be a closed-back Clear. So, I went into reviewing these with that mindset - is the Focal Elegia a closed-back Clear or not?

Do note that the Elegia have been discontinued since last year as far as I am aware, however, they come up pretty often on the used market. The limited edition Radiance and now released Celestee appear to be the direct replacement for them. Just something to note. Yeah yeah, I know I'm late to the review party for these.

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Accessories and Packaging

Focal has generally been packaging their products well. The Clear and Elegia are similar in packaging, and you tend to feel that you’re opening a premium product with how they’re packaged and the accessories that came with them The Elegia and Clear both come with their signature case, and unfortunately, the same terrible zebra striped Ikea lamp cable (a meme at this point). The Clear comes with two spare cables on top of the one inside the case, while the Elegia only comes with one.

Aesthetics, Build and Comfort
Aesthetics are signature Focal. I don’t think anyone in the community would be hard up in determining a Focal headphone at this point. Most of their models since the Elear are using the similar headband size and shape, as well as ear cup overall size and shape.

Build is unsurprisingly premium feeling, durability is a different question. Headband and earcup material seem very similar to the Clear in material used, whereas the Elegia is more black all around. One thing I noticed is that there’s less creaking sound when playing around with the Elegia, whereas the Clear I had tends to make creaking noises when you’re rotating the two cup handles. There is no creaking once you have it on your head though.

Comfort I would also rate as very good. Clamp force may be slightly higher than my preference, but the pads have good enough cushion that I can wear them for a few hours without feeling the pressure. I can’t say about an 8 hour work day though. My ears and head shape are average size I would say. I don’t feel any hotspots on my head either, so comfort is great for these, similar to the Clear.




Sound

I’ll start off by saying these don’t really need a dedicated amplifier. Their sensitivity rating is really high as they appear to be meant for portable use. That said, these should be fine with any source that doesn’t cap off its output power (i.e. Pixel 4A from what I’ve read around).

Listening volume is ~60dB - 75 dB for reference. Measurement reference as to how I hear it, but also using Crinacle’s graph for reference. Link to the graph can be seen here (https://crinacle.com/graphs/headphones-legacy/focal-elegia/)


Overall Signature

If I can sum up the stock tonality of these… is that they’re terrible. Yeah, terrible, you got that right. I think it’s just awful. I thought the Oppo PM-3 was already badly tuned overall given it’s blunted treble region mixed with slightly forward midrange area. These take it a level higher, and that it takes away the upper-midrange and lower treble, then cranks up the 1kHz midrange area. If the Beyerdynamic DT1990 Pro cranks up the 8kHz peak by 10dB, the Elegia is exhibiting a similar type peak, but in the 1kHz - 2kHz area.
I’ve seen comments around some forums who loathe this, and I can finally understand why. If I break it down to each region:

  • Bass - decent linearity and impact. Not much to complain, but it’s not near in the Clear’s bass presentation, which is well balanced and engaging
  • Midrange - try cranking up the 1kHz region with a low Q value by 5 dB, and you get the midrange presentation of the Elegia. Upper-mids are severely lacking, making any instrument and vocals in this region muffled sounding and to borrow Crin’s words - blunted. Timbre is severely affected and everything sounds like they’re coming from a poor sounding speaker you can buy off of Walmart.
  • Treble - lower treble to mid-treble region sounds like it has a shelf, but beyond 10khz seems to be just ok. The treble beyond 10kHz appears to have enough energy levels that prevents it from sounding ‘dark’.

One last note, these remind me somewhat of the stock tuning of the Shure SE535 LTD, which is strange. The only difference is that the Shure IEM still has a somewhat mellow midrange quality that gives them a decent bit of character, whereas the Elegia is just plain bad.

Overall, I would describe the stock tonality as a poorly done mid-forward neutral. I can understand why people like oratory simply hate these. No natural played instrument sounds correct on these, and that is a huge point against them. I find them almost unlistenable, not because they trigger my sensitivities, but because of how badly it’s tuned. I can see why Crin ranks them as a ‘D+’ in Tone grade. Feel free to disagree, but if someone tells me these sound ‘accurate’ or ‘correct’, I will politely disagree.

With that out of the way, I think these need EQ to sound good. With proper EQ (not exactly Harman, but modified to your HRTF), they can sound more correct. So for the rest of the review section about the technicalities, it will be after my EQ profile using AutoEQ points and tailored to my hearing.


Detail Retrieval (Resolution) and Dynamics

Great detail retrieval, probably slightly behind the Clear, but great nonetheless. It seems to do it slightly better than my Audeze Sine, but only slightly. There’s enough texture in the midrange that I can distinguish the pieces that are played. The drivers have enough speed to make out of the ‘micro-details’ in busy passages.

Dynamics is still something I can safely say Focal nails quite well. Overall dynamics is still excellent, close to the Focal Clear’s levels, but just slightly behind again. Do note I’m going by my memory of how the Clear sounds during the time I had them, so take it as you will. Low to high volume dynamics and transition are great. Bass impact and dynamics are reminiscent of the Clear.

One difference I find is that the Clear’s dynamics seems to be really good that when low volume pieces decay, they decay fast. This leaves (to my ears) holes in the presentation of songs at times, which I find odd as I don’t hear that with any other headphones I’ve heard. The Elegia doesn’t seem to exhibit this quality. Further, I don’t think a lot of people notice this particular trait, so you can simply ignore it if it doesn’t apply to you.


Head stage and imaging

Head stage is surprisingly wide for a closed-back, wider than how I remember the Focal Clear at least, and wider than the Audeze Sine. It’s not as wide as say the HE-500 or Beyerdynamic DT1990, but I find it slightly better than the Sennheiser HD6XX series. It has about average stage width overall.

Imaging is not something I take note off too much, but I don’t hear any noticeable flaws with instrument placing and such. Nothing also noticeable that would make it stand out in a way like the HD800, so imaging for me is ‘good’.


Timbre

In stock tuning, the overall timbre of vocals and instruments (i.e. guitars, drums) sounds wrong. There’s this muffled tone to it that makes the texture of the midrange awful. So, I can understand why this headphone’s stock tuning is very controversial.

With EQ applied, it fixes timbre for the most part, but not completely. Vocals and instruments sound more correct, but there is this slight echo quality that I can hear on vocals that can be annoying when I notice it. I can’t seem to remove it without severely affecting the pitch of some pieces in the midrange, not sure why, maybe it’s the limitation of how much EQ can be applied along with how Focal addresses the resonances and such.

However, with EQ applied, timbre is a pass for me. It’s correct enough sounding based on how I hear instruments in real life, though not exactly life-like in presentation like a few other headphones I’ve heard.



Comparisons

The only comparisons I’ll be making with these would be only two from what I’ve heard - namely the older brother (Clear) and my other closed-back competitor for it (Audeze Sine). I’m not sure if it makes sense to compare it to other open-back headphones given its nature of closed-back, whereas there have been multiple people asking for comparisons between the Clear and the Elegia (and if it’s worth the upgrade etc.).


Focal Clear

After going through the sound section above, do I find the Elegia a near enough sounding closed-back Clear? Sadly, no; not in stock tonality at least. The stock tonality does not represent the Clear’s tonality, and this probably shows the biggest obstacles of making a good sounding closed-back. The Clear is great sounding overall, and to have a similar presentation while closing off the back cups can be challenging.

I could be spoiled because I heard the Clear prior to the Elegia. I don’t know if my opinions would have been different if I started off with the Elegia then went to the Clear. In any case, you can make the Elegia sound similar to the Clear, but you need to properly EQ it to get there. If you were going for the Clear sound, you might want to look at the cheaper alternative - namely the Elex or Elear + Elex pads (QC issues notwithstanding). I haven’t heard either, but many I’ve seen claim that they’re similar to the Clear’s tonality.


Audeze Sine

I’ve been running the Audeze through different pads that makes them more comfortable and at the same time, doesn’t sound terrible in stock tonality. For now, I have the Skullcandy Aviator installed on them and they sound somewhat V-shaped. Listenable in stock tonality, but can be a bit better with EQ of course.

In terms of technicalities, they’re pretty close. The Elegia slightly edging it out in head stage width, bass impact, detail retrieval, and overall dynamics. Do note, it’s only slightly to my ears. In terms of tonality, the Sine is my preferred choice 10/10. It’s better balanced, has a more correct timbre, and more enjoyable to listen to. With EQ, it’s a bit neck-and-neck. If I were to compare, the Elegia is the more fun sounding, whereas the Sine is the better balanced sounding one. One last note, the Sine has the cipher cable option - so if you listen to iOS devices, then the Sine has that distinct advantage of applying EQ easily.

The Elegia is also more comfortable to booth. However, the Sine is easier to carry around given its smaller footprint, so is the more ‘portable’ option in that sense. On the other hand, the Elegia has a higher sensitivity rating, meaning they are easier to drive than the Sine - a counterpoint to the difference in physical size.




Final Remarks

In conclusion, I can see why they’re controversial and why notable people in the community simply do not mention this in their recommended list. And unfortunately, I will be on the criticism side. I cannot see this default tuning worth its original MSRP of $900 USD. With the wave of Adorama sales of $400 USD, I still can’t find this stock tuning as recommendable. The Audeze Sine is way better tuned than this (comfort notwithstanding). Heck, even the Oppo PM-3 is something I’d take in stock tonality over these, and the PM-3 also feels similarly premium and I feel is more portable than the Elegia.

It has a lot of potential though, which can be unlocked via EQ. With EQ, you can get a similar tuning of the Clear, with overall technicalities that may be just slightly behind the Clear. Timbre is passable upon EQ, but it also makes them overall ‘fun’ sounding because of the dynamics and bass characteristics mimicking the Clear.

Is the overall packaging and presentation worth $900? Maybe. Is the packaging and accessories worth $400? I would say yes. Focal seems to nail the “unboxing” and product presentation excellently. Build quality and premium feel of the materials used is also top notch. Durability and choice of materials that will have longevity, I have my doubts.

But the above points might be already moot. They have been discontinued for a while and have been replaced by the limited edition Radiance and recently announced Celestee. Those two should be the ones checked out if you plan to buy new.

Regardless, I’ll be grading them based on my metrics.

  • Stock tonality - 5.0 / 10
  • EQ’d tonality - 7.8 / 10
  • Comfort - 8 / 10
  • Technical Abilities - 8.3 / 10

The stock tonality is really the biggest gripe for me here. If it were tuned somewhat similar to the Clear, it would have been an easy recommendation from me. But the midrange characteristic makes everything just sound wrong and sounds like it's coming out of a crappy bluetooth speaker. When EQ’d, it’s a lot more listenable and an easy recommendation for me. So this is one of those headphones on my list that requires EQ to be something recommendable.

With EQ being a necessity for these IMO, it would get a 3 / 5 rating overall.

I’m keeping them in the meantime because they’re fun sounding when EQ’d, but I will eventually get the Celestee and see how much improvement it has in tonality over the discontinued Elegia.
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cpurdy

100+ Head-Fier
Good .. but not "Focal" good!
Pros: * Comfort (a very subjective thing)
* Reasonably light
* Closed back
* Great bass as the volume is dialed up
* Clear and clean SQ, particularly at higher volumes
* Great case and decent cable (although I use an after-market balanced cable for these)
Cons: * Not sound-tight (a fair bit of leakage for a closed back)
* Poor SQ at low volume
* Didn't magically regrow the hair on my bald spot
I do like these headphones. I use closed back headphones at work (my coworkers don't like the noise), and at home in bed (my wife likes to sleep). However, these do not have the high degree of sound seal that I expect from a closed back headphone, so if that's why you're considering them, then keep looking.

I also tend to listen to music at very low volumes. Sure, I'll boost the volume on a track for the fun of it, but generally, I like my volume really, really low. But I still want to hear all of the detail, and all of the color. I would say that these headphones provide the detail at low volumes, but totally lose the color.

Crank them up a bit, though, and they're amazing. (And of course, they'll leak noise.)

Frankly, these are overpriced for what you are actually getting. At $150, they'd be a no-brainer. At $250, it's debatable. At whatever-they-are-actually-going-for, the value for money just isn't there. (Of course, that can be said for a great many headphones.)

They're nice, though. They're just not great. (At least not for the things that I value.)
Puroplatino
Puroplatino
$250? Am I missing something?
cpurdy
cpurdy
I'm just saying, if I had only paid $250, I would be like "ok, not bad". But at $900? No, it's not a good price.
Puroplatino
Puroplatino
Gotcha. Yeah I agree. I’ve got em too and I’m disappointed.

Trasselkalle

100+ Head-Fier
Broke from daily use
Pros: Nice while they worked
Cons: Construction quality does not match intended use
While working, I was very happy with the Elegia headphones to complement my home studio monitors and for late night listening. Sadly, the plastic frame of the headband broke a couple of weeks ago, making the headphones unusable.

For me, they have been my closed back headphone pick and they have never left the studio even if they are marketed as an exclusive headphone for portable use. They have never hit the floor or anything like that, so the break comes solely from taking the headphones on and off.

Yes, I use them almost daily which also explains why I wanted to go with a higher end headphone that hopefully would stand up over time - in particular as it is even marketed for portable use where any headphone will take more abuse. I have not, however, been taking them on and off constantly during use - only on and off when starting sessions where I either could not use my monitors or wanted to listen to things through headphones to check.

After reaching out to the place I purchased them, who in turn reached out to Focal in France, I sadly got this reply from Focal:
This is a problem related to incorrect use of the product. It cannot be repaired. It is not covered by the warranty.

Not covered by warranty is a bummer in itself, but the fact that they cannot be repaired is mindblowing. In easily 20 years of similar use of headphones, no model or brand has ever had this problem for me. There is absolutely zero other wear on the headphones. Oh, and yes - I did swap out the cable as the original cable is silly stiff and broke in less than a month. I have been happily running a Beardynamics stock cable instead which is much more pleasant to use.

So, in essence: However happy with the sound quality I have been, the Focal Elegia cannot be recommended for studio use or any other situation daily use situation. That would include for the purpose of portable use, as that is likely even more of taking the headphones on and off. I would be extremely cautious buying any other Focal headphones, unless they have a metal structure inside the headband instead of the plastic frame that the Elegia have.

In the pictures below, you can see me pointing at the break, as well as holding them upside down so you really see how floppy the headband (ofc) gets as a result.

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goodleechanghwa
goodleechanghwa
I am sorry for your experience. I also heard about not-so-pleasant experiences with Focal's customer team, both from headphones and speakers community. Not to mention their $200 pads.. It looks to be either they take an absolute good care of you or not at all. What exactly happened to your headband though? I also accidentally smashed (!) my elegia a couple of times, but they remained strong without scratch which really impressed me.
Trasselkalle
Trasselkalle
Sorry for the slow update: The headband just broke when I put them on, and I had never dropped them or worn them on one ear or anything like that. There is a plastic piece between the actual frame in the headband and the sliding metal parts that hold the ear cups which broke. My head is slightly smaller than a normal head, so nothing strange there either. The plastic joint just broke, like it does on cheap throw-away headphones.
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Shrike~thrush
Shrike~thrush
I own a pair of Elegias. I came across this post after noticing how quickly the ear pads and headband was deteriorating. They are barely a year old, spent most of the time in their case and if I listen to them once a week for two hours I would be surprised. Incidentally the cable lost the left channel within a week and was replaced under warranty.
Last year a pair of NC headphones Bowers & Wilkins PX that I had used daily in my workshop for over two years snapped where the metal yoke connects the pivoting earphone. Although a couple of months out of the 2 year warranty B&W Australia replaced then instantly and without fuss.
I will have confidence to buy B&W in the future. Cannot say the same with Focal even though I enjoy listening to the Elegia

Gowla

New Head-Fier
Pros: Highly Detailed and Resolving, Fit and Finish, Mid Forward and Airy for a closed Headphone
Cons: Mid Bass Dip, Clamping Force, Cable Microphonics, Heat, Plastic and Build
Preface

I would like to start by stating this is my first headphone review and I have just released a video review that hopefully complements my written review. But I understand not everyone will be interested in a video and instead want to see read one



Summary

For those you who want to see just the major points please find them below, for more detailed thoughts please continue on.

Highlights:

  • Excellent detail retrieval.
  • Spring loaded cans insure a good seal/fit.
  • Open feel (not sound).
  • Mid forward, low bass presence.
  • Easy listening, no treble fatigue.
  • Good Materials and Unique Design.
Cons:
  • Poor cable and Micrphonics
  • Detail can ruin the experience for some tracks.
  • Lacking Mid Bass/Lower Tones and Vocals, almost veiled here.
  • Can get warm and pressure build up over longer listening sessions.

What's in the Box

Let's get started by what you see when you first recieve the Focal Elegia. Initially you will see a display box adorning the Focal name and product name. Apart from that it's rather minimal and not covered in marketing nonsense like some competitors.

burson (1 of 1)-11.jpg


Opening up the box we find a rather nice form fitting case with enough room for a small DAP or portable DAC, the quality of the case is very high and reminds you that the Elegia is a premium headphone. There's also the included cable (more on that later), screw on 3.5mm to 6.5mm and the usual product information.

burson (1 of 1)-13.jpg
burson (1 of 1)-22.jpg


Build and Comfort

The Majority of the external part of the ear cups are matte plastic with one gloss accent ring on a faux chamfer, there is of course the Focal logo which is metal and laser cut making the headphone ported. It does not leak sound much out of this if you were wondering and I've stood immediatley next to my brother who listened at a much greater level than myself when I let him try, I could barely hear anything and so these are more than suitable for office environments in that respect.

I would like to see the outer ring of the ear cup be made of alluminum and perhaps colour matched to the yokes. The rest of the ear cup I'm happy with being plastic.

The headband is mostly leather and has a reasonable range of adjustment, the underside is a grey fabric sort of suede like. The same is found oddly in the inside of the ear cups as well. In would prefer this to be black for concerns over wear or discolouring over time.

burson (1 of 1)-7.jpg


Moving onto the aforementioned cable, the included cable is a nice material with solid connectors. Two 3.5mm mini jacks for your stereo pair. Terminating in a 3.5mm which you can of course use the included screw on adapter with. However is very and I mean very sensitive to microphonics, slightest touch or rub of your shirt and you will hear it. It's also pretty short at 1m in length which maybe a concern for some users. It does straighten out but is very stiff and can have a mind of it's own.

The earpads are soft and a nice material, I would like to try leather but as another user mentioned pads are expensive. Here in the UK even dekonis are about £70 ($91). I have noted though over longer listening sessions can get a little warm though not enough to bother me yet. Your mileage may vary.

Likewise they exhibit a high clamping force that's great for fit and staying planted/sealed on your head but pressure can build up and become a little fatigueing.

Sound

Immense detail, can pick up pops and clicks that you maybe did not want to hear. Compressed music can begin to sound lacking and I found these benefitted from lossless CD quality or higher. But when presented with well recorded track they do shine and I appreciated the step up in detail over my previous headphones, the last of which being Hifiman HE5se.

Low impedance and high sensitivity means these are easy to drive for portables, do scale with better gear and can highlight the differences between equipment well. Resolving more details when used with my Burson Audio Playmate over HPA-2C.

burson (1 of 1)-18.jpg


Airy, but seal well. Ported at the back allows audio still to come in from surrounding environment. Does not feel closed in and boomy. Presents an intermit soundstage but wider than most closed I have listened to and more open sounding.

Some tracks where the artist has a lower voice can feel lacking or if there is a mix with heavy presence of mid bass, separation can be lacking. But as we approach the mid range they get boosted. Low bass is really impressive say below 80Hz and almost feels like a subwoofer at times when a track has a good kick to it. No sparkly highs here but treble is still present and feels neutral in it’s response, this makes long listening sessions easy as I have been known to suffer from treble fatigue.

burson (1 of 2).jpg


Final Remarks

Overall I am very impressed with the sound of the Focal Elegia, especially for a closed back headphone. I wanted a high performance closed headphone as I seldom used my open backs due to noise leak and worry about disturbing anyone.


It's clear that the Focal Elegia, is a well designed headphone with alot of thought gone into it. But it's not without it's shortcomings and perhaps those are the prices we pay for opting for closed back designs.

Also for those interest, there is a whitepaper on the focal elegia and Stellia that goes into great detail. Please find here.

I hope this useful to someone, any questions please feel free to ask.
iBo0m
iBo0m
@atahanuz True. However, the last three cons are questionable whether to include them in the sound evaluation, I guess :) In the overall evaluation, sure.
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ahmonge
ahmonge
Thanks for your informative review. Have you tested them with classical music? If so, how do they perform with this kind of music?
P
peezy210
Just wondering if you can eq the bass for a fuller sound.

gto88

Headphoneus Supremus
Pros: build quality is top
Cons: to bright to my taste
weak bass
clamp force
I got a new pair on great sale price.
When I received it, I put it on to start listening, and it confirmed all the reviewers'
comment about two drawbacks.
1. its clamp force makes me uncomfortable
2. this headphone has weak bass response, not only recess as others said, but also weak
3. it sounds brighter than all my other headphones that is not the SQ to my taste

And I have no interest to tweak the pad to rectify the clamp force because
of its SQ.

All are true and that is deal breaker to me, so I returned it.

Please note, this is my personal opinion, your mileage could very.

peterinvan

1000+ Head-Fier
Pros: Great sound quality. Wide sound stage, precise placement of instruments and vocals.
Cons: Comfort issues, but they can be addressed...
I have had my Elegias for three weeks, and feel they are nicely broken in.
I had comfort issues that some reported. With the clamping force and the perforated velour pads, my ear hit the top of the inner cup.

My solution was to purchase the Dekoni Audio Elite Fenestrated Sheepskin Earpads:
https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B07BYYJRL8/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

With a bit of gentle stretching on the headband the clamping force is now comfortable. Careful... this is a plastic headband.The pads from Dekoni are MUCH more comfortable. My ear does not touch any more. Still not comfortable lying on a pillow, but great sitting up in a chair.

Next I installed a 2.5mm balanced cable, and drive them from my HyBy R6 balanced out. Seldom set the volume higher than 50%.
Elegia DSCF1316.jpg

Now very happy with these headphones. I rate them as a slightly brighter sound than my LCD-2F. I really like the closed head-space, and do not find any problems with the bass at all. It is tight and meaty when challenged (e.g. Toy tracks). Whereas the LCD-2F bass has a bit more punch, the Focal bass is faster and more distinctive.

However heavy EDM bass fans will not get the really thumping bass they may be looking for.
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peterinvan
peterinvan
A year later... I put back the original velour pads because I perceive a slight improvement at the top end. Purchased a FiiO M11 Pro, and Meze 2.5mm balanced cable. Very happy:) Sold my Audeze LCD2F as I prefer the comfort and closed effect with the Elegia.

Voxata

Headphoneus Supremus
Pros: Build quality, detailed, easy to drive
Cons: Light bass, forward treble, short and stiff cable
Focal Elegia Review:

I want to start off giving thanks to Todd of TTVJ for putting these up for tour. He has offered all types of different equipment for us to experience and this definitely doesn’t go unnoticed in the community. My first experience with Todd was when on a tour for a quite pricey Audioquest power conditioner. I tried for the life of me but couldn’t rationally put a review on something in which I couldn’t tell a difference in my chain. Still, thanks to Todd I learned that in my situation I wouldn’t benefit from such a product and I am thankful for that.

This time around I’m very excited to actually have something in my hands to put words to. I’ve always wanted some extended time with a Focal product and that day has finally come. When I’ve visited CanJam given the show conditions, different setups and other factors I’ve never been able to really take things in at my own pace. These tour allow me the time to really take things in and make an educated purchase decision and develop my tastes further in audio.

I’ve been keeping an eye on the market for a closed back headphone and with Elegia in my budget and on my radar this tour has come at the perfect time. I’ve plenty of experience with closed back headphones ranging from my beat’em up DT770, Ether C 1.1 and Shure 1540’s. I’ll touch on a few key areas on the Elegia.

Comfort – The cups on these headphones fit with room to adjust to preference. Sound is not impacted heavily due to positioning thanks to the angled driver. Clamping force is present however given the metal yokes can be firmly adjusted if need be (I did not do this, it is a tour pair after all!) The headband is solid with perforated leather at the top of the head however pleather wraps the top of the headband which I’m not a fan of. Weight is however evenly distributed and I did not have any pressure spot issues. Isolation is not the best given the light velour pads with perforated inner section, however it wasn’t anywhere near as bad as the Shure 1540’s.

Durability - The Elegia cups are primarily plastic which is alright as it saves on weight. They have heft and feel great in hand. The only issue I’ve got here is with the pleather over the top of the headband. If this was to get worn it would get unsightly very quick.

Sound – For a closed back these sound quite decent. Easily besting the DT770’s of course and playing with the bigger contenders. However, for *my* preferences the treble comes in a little forward and the bass a bit shy in the lower mids. This was most noticeable on guitar plucks and drum hits however some genres this actually played quite nicely with. Vocals are portrayed with clarity and are engaging. Violins are crisp and the treble has great sparkle and expanse for a closed back headphone. These generally played nicer at lower volumes, anything much higher would bring forth fatigue.

Scalability – With gear changes the character follows suit however this is minor and these are very easily driven from just about anything. They saw little benefit moving up my ladder of gear which isn’t necessarily a bad thing as you won’t need $1,000 worth of equipment for the Elegia to sound great.

In closing you may think I’m pretty mixed on my impressions on the Elegia. Actually I’ve truly enjoyed my time with it and I’m quite curious what else Focal has to offer. Sadly, for my preferences this headphone is not what I’ve been looking for as I prefer a bit more laid back treble and neutral or very slightly lifted bass. I did however find quite a few songs that clicked well with the Elegia and when this headphone clicks it does so quite well. Some people stick to certain genres however my tasted vary wildly so strong all around performance is a must in my book. I'd give it a 3.75/5


Gear: For this review I used the following

iFi iDSD Silver

Grace SDAC+JDS Atom

Topping DX7S+THX789

Fiio X5iii
TheRealDz
TheRealDz
Given your sonic preferences, which closed back cans did you move on to?

FullBright1

Headphoneus Supremus
Pros: NA at this time.
Cons: NA at this time.
Ok,
i have to send these back..
The bass response went from less then zero, to grainy noise the more i played them.
Can't determine if its QC or some shipping issue, but nevertheless, i deleted my mini-review as its possible these were a malfunctioning set.




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gc335

Headphoneus Supremus
Pros: Fantastic, engaging and detailed sound. Accurate and wide soundstage (for a closed can).
Cons: Bass-heads should look elsewhere. Comfort issues for those sensitive to clamping force. Treble could be fatiguing over long listening sessions. Unforgiving to poorly recorded tracks.
Introduction:
First of all, I would like to thank Todd over at TTVJ Audio for the opportunity to spend some time with the Elegia in exchange for my honest impressions.

After I signed up for the review tour, I was very careful to avoid reading any reviews or impression threads of the Elegia in order to avoid coloring my impressions. I knew very little about the Elegia when signing up and absolutely nothing about their sound signature. I had recently spent some time with the Focal Clear and was seriously impressed. That headphone has probably some of the best bass in both quantity and quality that I’ve heard from an open headphone. The Clear and Elegia have similar drivers so I was expecting a serious bass cannon.

The first few seconds of the Elegia were shocking to say the least. There was no prodigious bass. It sounded thin and I was a little disappointed. I was using my DX150, so I dismissed it as needing better amplification. I was on a business trip and didn’t have much else to use as a source. I pressed on and kept listening. The more I listened, the more I started to like Elegia’s sound signature.

IMG_3926.JPG

Sources use:
iBasso DX150 (AMP6)
Chord Hugo 2
Schiit Asgard 2 (Hugo 2 as a DAC)

Some Tracks Used:
Old Love - Eric Clapton
Take Five - Dave Brubeck
Kangaroo Court - Capital Cities
For You - Angus & Julia Stone

Unboxing:
The Elegia has similar packaging to the Clear minus the extra box for the two addition cables. There is a nice exterior box that holds the Elegia inside their outstanding carrying case. While not compact, it is still easily transportable and keeps the headphones secure and protected. There is even room inside the case for the cable, 1/4” adapter as well as a smaller DAP. The brick like iBasso DX150 didn’t fit.

One definitely gets the feel that the Elegia is designed for portable use. The stock cable is short and is terminated to a 3.5 SE plug but there is a screw on 1/4” adapter included. The longer 1/4” and 4 pin XLR cable that comes with the Clear would have been a nice addition.

IMG_3940.JPG

Comfort:
The cups of the Elegia don’t articulate all that far and as a result I did experience a little more pressure than I would have liked in front of my ears. I’m a little sensitive to pressure in this area so most people probably won’t have an issue with it. It reminded me a little bit of a new pair of Sennheiser HD600s. It may improve with time.

Build Quality:
While they don’t feel substantial in the hand, the Elegia is very well build and every surface has a quality feel to it. The cable has a nice feel to it. Again, very similar to the look and feel of the Clear cable.

IMG_3930.JPG
IMG_3931.JPG IMG_3932.JPG

Sound:

Treble:
These are fairly bright headphones but I at no point felt like there was any sibilance or harshness to the highs. Cymbals have a nice metallic sound to them and sound like they should. Kangaroo Court is a track that sounds a little sibilant with my ESRs (with Spiral Dots). I thought for sure that the Elegia would be a little harsh here but it wasn’t at all. The highs went just high enough and were never uncomfortable.

Mids:

I would say that the mids are just slightly forward. Julia Stone’s vocals are very unique in my option and really shine with the Elegia. It’s a very engaging and seriously enjoyable listening experience. Again, the term natural comes to mind. The saxophone at the beginning of Take Five is just wonderful. You really feel like you’re there. Closing your eyes almost makes you feel like the person playing is in the room with you. I haven’t had this feeling with other headphones besides the HD800S. Extremely impressive.

Bass:
Here is where things become a little more of a mixed bag. With some genres, the bass is a little light. Bass-heads will want to look elsewhere. I found them a little thin with genres like EDM and hard rock. If you like classical, jazz, folk or anything instrumental look no farther.

What little bass there is digs very deep and after a while no longer left me wanting more. The sub-bass is very good. You really get the feeling that these drivers are different than your traditional DD headphone or planar.

Sound Stage:
The soundstage is wide for a closed can and also very accurate. On the track Old Love there is a cymbal at around the 3 o’clock position. It felt very precise as if I were listening to a live performance. It really stood out to me. I swapped to my Eikons (which I seriously like) and the specific instruments were not as easy to pinpoint. Very impressive. I stopped analyzing this track and just sat back and enjoyed it.

Drivability:
The DX150 had no issues powering the Elegia to uncomfortable volumes with headroom to spare. That being said, they do scale well. I noticed the bass is a little more present and digs deeper when hooked up to something like the Hugo 2 or Asgard. You also get more separation and depth to the sound. The Asgard 2 is one of my favorite amps regardless of price and really makes the Elegia shine. It adds a touch of warmth and musicality to many headphones including the Elegia.

Other thoughts:
Like the fairly bright ESRs, the Elegia is pretty unforgiving when it comes to poorly recorded music. The Elegia is a treat with well recorded music.

Focal stock pads are VERY expensive. At the time of writing this review, I was not able to find the cost of the Elegia pads. The Clear pads are almost $200 so I'm guessing they will be in the $150-$200 range. The pads will get nasty over time and will need to be replaced.

IMG_3937.JPG

Conclusion:
Like I said before, I didn’t like the Elegia at first but the more time I spent with them the more I liked them. I was sad to see them go because I definitely enjoyed the week I had with them. My experience with Focal headphones has been brief but I’m seriously impressed so far. My time with the Clear and Elegia really makes me want to try the rest of the Focal line up.

IMG_3929.JPG
xxAMAROKxx
xxAMAROKxx
The Sound description reminds me K701.
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cspersel
cspersel
I love the Elegia. It pairs beautifully with the balanced Schiit Jotunheim amp w/Multi-Bit DAC and a Moon-Audio Blue Dragon XLR cable. This setup gives you the bass you need and also creates a very liquid, and rich toned sound with the Elegia. It's now my desktop system while I'm working and can enjoy all day without any fatigue. Pure enjoyment.

ngoshawk

Headphoneus Supremus
Pros: Affordable.
Typical Focal open sound.
Vocals presented well.
Pleasant sound representation.
Cons: Missed a tremendous opportunity in my opinion.
Bass-light.
Cable.
Build not up to Focal standards.
Plastic looks cheap.
Headphone slider scratches...already...
Focal Elegia: $899. A Closed-back that opens new doors.

Rating = 3.75/5

LEQXaGp.jpg


Website: https://www.focal.com/headphones/elegia/
Spec sheet: https://www.focal.com/headphones/pdf/elegia_specification-sheet.pdf
TTVJ: https://www.ttvjaudio.com/Focal_Elegia_Closed_Headphone_p/foc9900001.htm


I want to profusely thank Todd from TTVJ for yet another stellar tour. A good portion of my gear has come about as a result of his tours, including a huge wish for the Apex Pinnacle 2, the finest piece of gear I have ever tested. He graciously offers his wares, for the betterment of the Head-Fi society, as well as to expand our own knowledge surrounding new products. I had a fantastic week, and it was another grand effort.


Initiale:


Upon finding out that Focal would make a closed-back headphone, I immediately started perusing the net looking for clues and reviews. Since I happily own the Elear, I quickly surmised that this could/would be a closed back version of them. Some had mentioned the sound was closer to the Clear. Having not heard the Clear, I relied upon the findings of others, and pulled my Elear back out. It was as sound as I recall, but now just one from my arsenal as opposed to being top dog. I did not mind, other than not being in the rotation as much; so this would make for a revisit to an old friend. Old friends rock.


th



There would be stiff competition in the house as I was graciously offered (and accepted!!!) @pinky powers superb ZMF Atticus, in Ash (1 of 20, so I treated them better than my wife…don’t tell her that…), my Campfire Audio Cascade (picked on up used since the new ones are sold out; superb bass from my review of Will’s wonderful set), and a newly acquired set of Mr. Speakers Ether-C Flow (used again, and turned out to be the bargain of the century, at least for me). So, one direct competitor, and two filling the tiers above. Not a bad week if I say so myself.

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Specs:

Elegia is an audiophile circum-aural closed-back pair of headphones from Focal. The ergonomic design makes them incredibly comfortable and offers excellent sound isolation, making these headphones the ideal solution for long listening sessions. Continuing its headphone development programme, the Focal R&D team has introduced several new innovations, all with incredible audio performance in mind. The full-range 'M'-shape aluminum/magnesium dome speaker driver provides a very high frequency response, which is the basis for Elegia’s supremely dynamic sound. In addition, the frameless voice coil, which is lightweight yet incredibly stiff, reproduces the minutest details that adds to the convincing all-round performance. With its incredible tonal balance combined with long-term comfort, the Elegia is a key reference in the high-end closed-back headphones sector.


Type

Circum-aural closed back headphones
Impedance: 35 Ohms
Sensitivity: 105 dB SPL / 1 mW @ 1 kHz
THD: 0.1 % @ 1 kHz / 100 dB SPL
Frequency response: 5 Hz-23 kHz
Speaker driver: 1.57" (40 mm) 'M'-shape Aluminium/Magnesium dome
Weight: 15.4 oz (430 g)

Cable provided: 3.94 feet (1.2 m) asymmetric cable (0.14" - 3.5 mm TRS jack). 0.14" (3.5 mm) to 0.25" (6.35 mm) stereo jack adapter.

Hard-shell carry case provided: 10" x 9" x 5" (250 x 240 x 120 mm)

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Gear used/compared:

Focal Elear (2.5bal cable)
Campfire Audio Cascade (2.5bal cable)
ZMF Atticus (2.5bal cable)
Mr. Speakers Ether-C Flow (3.5/6.3se cable)

*iFi Stack of: iTubes2/iDAC2, Micro Black Label*
MacBook Pro/iFi Stack
Thebit Opus #2
Macbook Pro/Burson Play
Questyle QP2R

Songs used:


Coldplay-All I Can think About Is You
Coldplay-A Message
Coldplay-White Shadows
Dona Onete-Sonos de Adolescente
Los Lonely Boys- Heaven (en Espanol)
twenty one pilots-Trees
twenty one pilots-Car Radio
twenty one pilots-Heathens
Damian Marley-Everybody Wants To Be Somebody
Damian Marley-So A Child May Follow
Damian Marley-The Struggle Discontinues
Ziggy Marley-Lighthouse
Ziggy Marely-See Dem Fake Leaders
Mark Knopfler-Laughs And Jokes And Drinks And Smokes
Santana w/ Mana- Corazon Espinado

twenty one pilots-Trench


Unboxing:

Coming in a traditional black rectangular box, the packaging is glossy but unassuming. Understated as expected from Focal. But, be careful…for the top comes off by standing the unit up. If you are not careful, the top WILL slide off and the rest of the box will fall. Luckily, I caught it, but not the best use of the box in my opinion. Whew! With specs on one side-end, and vertical pictures with horizontal writing about the uses on the other, there is not a whole lot. That’s OK, inside is what we are after.

The “bottom” portion reminds me of an old self-paced reading box, complete with u-shaped slot on the front so you can look at the Focal symbol on the fabric case. A nice addition is the formed foam on the bottom of that section, so the case sits cradled in protection.

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A slot on the back “wall” houses the quick start manual of brochure-type as well as a small booklet for the warranty in many languages. Tasteful.

Lifting the headphone case out, I marvel at the presentation. Dark gray glued fabric on the outside, headphone-shaped formed hard plastic, with a soft-touch graces the inside. With an elastic to hold the cable in place between the cups, the case is top notch. Embossed with Listen Beyond, a leather strap crosses both halves on top as well as a two-way zipper (two pulls of very high quality). This is good stuff.

Sitting inside, the silver, gray and black Elegia nestle safely inside. Almost belying the sturdy construction of the headphone, itself, the case takes on the look and feel of a caring parent to a baby. Overly dramatic description, but so be it.


Fit-n-finish:

Since I am familiar with the Elear build, I had no surprises since they look all but identical. What did take me back (even if I had read about that aspect already) was the plastic backing on the cup. With lightly cupped divots the pattern is regimented and formal. Again, what one would expect. What I did not expect was how cheap the plastic would feel. I could even discern a couple of “almost” finished gluing spots as well (see picture).

Using the same brushed aluminum finish, the yoke feels thinner to me upon first look. I also noticed on both sides of the headband where the yoke enters/exits for adjustment were subtle, but visible scuffing from the slider. I have done my Elear hundreds of times and have no such mark. So, for this to happen on a tour, even with many adjustments, is unacceptable. This should not happen at all on a $900usd headphone. Minor blemishes, yes but still visible.

Bendable aluminum (just like the Elear) allows for a semi-custom fit. I carefully bent my Elear to form my head. It took me about three days of carefully doing so. Based upon the sliders scratching, I did not try this. Covered with fine leather on top and a perforated, absorbent terry-like cloth underneath the feel and fit is good. Nicely embossed silver Focal logos grace each end of the pad/housing.

That same terry-like cloth is used on the pads, and I really do not mind. The same as the Elear, I would like to try leather pads to see the difference in isolation. Coming off easily to reveal the slanted driver, it is easy to change pads. The driver is angled for a reason. Focal decided that angling the driver forward gave a better sound presentation. 3.5mm jacks finish the bottom, which leads to a brief discussion of the cable…

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That cable…oh that cable. An audio appliance has not garnered this much discussion or hatred since the debate about cables themselves (don’t go there…). Shorter than normal, but still attractive to me; the cable is flat until the y-splitter, and it looks like a Zebra Mussel (Dreissena polymorpha). It is as hard as the Zebra Mussel’s shell, too. Very well built, with an innovative screw on 6.3mm jack the cable itself works very well to me, providing good sound. But there are pretty severe microphonics as well above the y-splitter. Plus, did I mention it was stiff? Since it has the same connectors as the Elear, I will be using my LQi cables (https://lqicables.com/) as well. I do like the look and performance of the cable, but I, like others, cannot get past the feel of it. Not the best option, Focal.

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To a Deeper Understanding (not really, but it sounds good…):


The Elegia is easy to drive. One would hope this is the case, since it is aimed not only at the top tier closed-back market; but more importantly the commuter/smartphone/office geek who must have their sound the whole while (I certainly do not fault that, as I often carry quality gear to use on my plan, so more power to us!!). While not foldable (like the Cascade), but what I would call a “transportable” (I first used that term with the iFi Black Label, and find it appropriate here as well) case, the Elegia can be fairly easily taken with you. I could see myself happily strolling down an Avenue in NYC (or Tokyo, THAT would be nice…) with the Elegia on. I might worry about the bling aspect, since the silver highlights are plain for all to see. Then again, the Wallyworld brands carry more bling so you might get away with it. Maybe if Focal made an off-gray/black for those who like to keep their gear incognito would be appreciated (like the Cascade or Flow). Then again, compared to the Atticus, this is downright humble, so there is that.

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Speaking of the Atticus, I mentioned in the comparison part (here as well) that I quickly became tainted by that sound. I won’t repeat the conversation I had with Caleb during that time, but suffice to say I was the one doing the talking….oh my. But, once I cleared my head (and thoughts), the Elegia grew on me. Part of that might be the ingrained nature of their sound due to my Elear, but part of it might be simply because the Elegia is good. Very, very good. Neutral is thrown about quite a bit, and as I stated in other reviews, I probably cannot tell you what that means, or reference for that matter. But, if I had to gander a thought on that (hard for me sometimes), the Elegia just might fit that mention. Nothing really stands out to me. Some mention that the treble is “cut off” at the top, but I would dribble that I am the wrong one to glimpse that query. The treble does sound a bit short.

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Going full neutral on the EQ setting, the treble does seem to stop short of the mountain top. But I must state that the view is just fine where it does. Clarity, conciseness and details revel from that position. This is one of the finer treble presentations I have heard of late.

Mids are hard for me to nail down (always have been, other than forward/recessed), but Aretha’s soulful Rolling In The Deep is a wonder to hear. Her voice can drive lesser cans to their knees with that reach and punch of sound. The Elegia acts like one of the support singers and adds that bit of flair needed to complete the song. Vocals are just about perfectly centered, and I will admit a bit tame. Not quite the thoroughness that the treble provides. This is verified on her seminal song At Last. Where the Atticus and Ether-C Flow drop ME to my knees with subsequent tears coming out, the Elegia does an adequate job, and quite decent. Just not sensual with full representation. Quite adequate, but I was expecting to be wowed.

Which of course brings us to what I feel is the real Achilles of the Elegia…a lack of far reaching bass. And this is where that reference to well “reference” or neutral sound comes in. I have what has been called a neutral/reference/studio sounding IEM right now, and the difference is stark. That IEM is one I would purchase to replace something in my stable right now. It has supreme detail, and clarity. The sublime way it presents sound is impeccable. And here is where I think Focal didn’t take that chance. They had a chance to make something truly special at the sub $1k market and it falls short. I expect this out of my Elear, since it is a semi-open, but not with a fully closed. I can EQ bass in for the Atticus and Flow, but they really do not need it to be special. The Cascade? Doesn’t need any more bass. Too much for some, I relish that bass and anytime I get to hear it.

Now, the above might come across as truly negative towards the Elegia. It shouldn’t. Focal has a sound, which is quite successful, and they should be lauded for that. I do love listening to my Elear to clear my thoughts, but I don’t want a closed-back version of the Elear. I want an Elear with better bass. MORE bass. Better control of that bass. When Laughs And Jokes And Drinks And Smokes comes on, I want the feel of that Irish pub in my bones. I want to be the one singing the song at the top of my lungs with the other patrons as we swig back that fine single-malt or stout. The way it is presented on the Elegia though is one for that quiet evening in your drawing room. Nothing wrong with that, but I WANT that kick from the song, and the Elegia doesn’t make it.

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Other rambling items:

So…if you are still with me (and I do so hope), fortunately this story does not end on that somewhat-sour bass note above. That clarity of sound is infectious, and some other manufacturers would do well to ask Focal how it is done. And some of those same corporations should be jealous of that as well. I find this to be among the best of late in those terms, and there is something to be said for a presentation that reminds you of what is there. Nothing else, but what is there. And the Elegia does it with aplomb. I can clearly hear where the percussive instruments are on Corazon Espinado, one of my all-time favorite test tracks. If this song does not scream sensuous to you, then I cannot help you. The drums are a bit laid back (those mids again), but Carlos man…goodness gracious. Succinct and ever so detail oriented, his solos are worth the price of any admission. That succinctness carries over to the vocal and percussive support. Clearly stage left and right can be discerned. And those layers. It is as if the audio engineers literally peeled each layer of tape (think old school) and precisely laid them over the others. No mismatch, no delay, just precise to a degree.

Followed by See Dem Fake Leaders, there is good quality of bass, just not that thump and rumble the song deserves (think Cascade). Ziggy’s vocals are the sounds of heaven, I am sure. And the Focal does that splendidly. The support horns slightly stage-left give the song that brassy edge, which is needed to offset the thump of bass guitar. With a bit of reverb built in, the song represents well.

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Comparisons:


Focal Elegia ($899usd) vs ZMF Atticus ($1100usd):

Had I listened to the Elegia first, I would most likely have been floored that Focal could take the wonderful sound of the Elear (I still love mine dearly, even though it is not the “flavor of the month” anymore) and all but turn it into a closed-back gem. It really is quite good, and a full review is forthcoming. But alas, I listened to the Atticus first, and that memory is burned into my cranial matter just like the evenly spaced venting slots. The Elegia wins the bass department. Better reach it all but rumbles. All but. The mids and treble are where it falls behind the Atticus. More of a forward nature presents itself well, but there is not nearly the air between notes on the Elegia. Nicely sparkled up top to a point, it just doesn’t sing like the Atticus. The velvet sound of Ella on At Last is a sound to die for. Oh…my…GAWD, that song is as sensuous as it gets. The Elegia presents it well. The Atticus lives it well. That is the difference.

On R.E.M.’s seminal Losing My Religion, the mids seem a bit hidden on the Atticus. Not quite as airy as other songs. A warm sumptuous presentation, which I can account for variation possibly due to the warm song of the iTubes2. On the Elegia, the mids are forward, presenting themselves front and center. Almost a bit too much. There is a lack of depth to the bass as well.

The velvety fit of the Atticus wins as well. You wear the Elegia, and rather tightly. You envision the Atticus.

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Focal Elegia ($899usd) vs Mr. Speakers Ether-C Flow ($1799):

The Ether-C Flow was a find, after borrowing Caleb’s Atticus. I was looking at several closed-back headphones (a step higher than the Cascade) and happened across a used pair on eBay. Shooting the dealer an offer, we agreed and (other than silly FedEx delaying) I had them in hand to compare. Suffice to say, THIS is the closed-back pair I have been looking for. To say they are marvelous would be an understatement. I have not heard detail on a headphone like this until now. Even the Atticus falls behind (in my mind) on a couple of options. That said, there is a very fine review, which includes all of the top “dog” closed-backs you really must peruse. Even after that (I disagree with the findings, duh) you really should make your own decision.

Where the Elegia has a more central mid, the Flow’s mids are more forward, and peaky to me as well. I feel the presentation of the mids are better in the Elegia, but quality is better on the flow. The high end belongs to the Flow, though. Sparkle in a high-end headphone is present and accounted for. I am in love with the treble presentation. But what truly separates the two to me (other than cost, duh) is the bass. On Ky-Mani Marley’s Love Over All, the bass guitar would make car windows rattle and possibly break on a top car audio system. On the Cascade, I can honestly feel the headphone vibrate (in a good way). While the Flow does not do that, the quality of which the sound is presented is exactly what I wanted from Focal in the Elegia. If they had come even close to the way bass is presented (not quantity), the Elegia would be the toast of closed-backs. And those of higher price would certainly be looking over their shoulders. I made the right choice.

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Focal Elegia ($899usd) vs Focal Elear (now $700-750ish):

As stated elsewhere, I rather enjoy pulling the Elear out for a run to clear my thoughts between reviews. I do this with my UM Mentor V3 on the IEM side as well. Popping the Elear on brought a smile back to my face. Man, these are good, and perfect for what I use them. Solo time and when I need to compare. Solo time is at a premium in our house, so this made me smile knowing I brought out an old friend. Better bass. Period. Better quality. Better quantity. From a semi-open. That defines the problem, right there. I will detail that in my finale suffice to say.

I will say that the Elegia treble is of a better quality to me. A bit more detail and sparkle (even if they cut it short), and this as I recall was one of the “flaws” mentioned by many when the Elear came out. Well, people overreact, and this would be one time it was unwarranted. The treble in the Elear is just fine. I laugh and dance with them on and to those who don’t like it so be it, that leaves more for the ones who like this sound. A bit darker of sound than the Elegia, but just fine in my book. Again, Corazon Espinado finishes it for me. Just sensual sound in nature does it for me. The Elear holds a very special place in my house, and it will continue to do so.


Focal Elegia ($899usd) vs Campfire Audio Cascade ($799):

Every time I listen to the Cascade, I chortle with mirth at the fact that something with such bass quantity (some would say it shouldn’t be considered a basshead headphone. I laugh in your general direction!) can sound overall so good. This is CA’s first attempt at a headphone, for goodness sake!!! My extended time with Will’s tarnished me to what a closed-back could sound like (deepened lately). Ever since then I looked to find one. It is a supreme example of what American mettle and work ethic can produce. While I don’t really care for the plastic surface, it is not meant to please me, but protect the Cascade. Making a truly portable top-tier closed-back, the Cascade can be likened to a tank. It can play Stravinsky as well as Santana. Dylan as well as Dobro music. It essentially knows no bounds in my humble opinion. The only place that the Elegia wins in my book is fit. Where the Elegia comforts your cranial, the Cascade clamps your cranial. It can be tight, too tight fitting for many. Throw in glasses, and it can become painful after an hour or so. Luckily you can order fixes, which aid that. Sound wise? The Elegia has better clarity and detail representation. So, if that is what you are looking for, then give the Elegia a try for it is good.

So…what the heck are we left with now?..

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Finale:

Through the last bit of comparisons and convections, you may surmise that I really did not care for the Elegia. Especially when compared to others. Well, that may be partially correct. Again, if I had heard the Elegia before the Atticus, my ears (and mind) would not have been tainted by that sweet melodious sound. From removal of that thought, I garnered that the Elegia slightly edge the Atticus out on detail. If you are looking for air between your notes, and represented honestly, then the Elegia does it in exemplary fashion. Somewhat better than the Atticus. But there is so much more to the overall package than air between notes and placement of instruments. So much more, and it is here that I think Focal missed the mark.

I believe they aimed for the Clear/Utopia sound, leaving their core behind (OK, non-Utopia coree…). There is little wrong with the Elear in my mind, and they had an opportunity to make a closed-back version, which raised the bar (the way they did with the air between notes) sound wise, while adding a killer bass sound. THIS would have set the world on fire in my opinion, and I do believe focal fell victim to persuasion. Internet persuasion.

Following the absolute success of the Utopia (even with its detractors, good lord give me a break…) was hard, extremely hard. How do you rightly bring down that stellar sound to a more affordable model? Well, you don’t. you make something a bit different, taking a chance. And in the Clear, they tried. They tried to “correct” what what wrong with the Elear, while bringing some of the aspects of the Utopia down. I will admit I have never heard the Clear, and it does get good reviews, so they must have succeeded. And this is where I think they could have taken a real chance with the Elegia. Go a different route (a bit) for the sound. Make a Utopia, which has such superb bass along with that air, and people would line up for days to purchase. TAKE A CHANCE, on something different. Don’t be cautious, with that caution we may have never had the Utopia, arguably one of the 4-5 best headphones in existence. All that said, the Elegia is good. Quite good. And it should receive serious consideration if you are looking for a superb closed-back sub-$1000.

Focal was aiming for a competent closed-back, with their usual stellar sound qualities’ and they did succeed. I just wish they would have taken that chance; much the way Ferdinand Pech did all those years ago. Look what that got us.


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I profusely thank Todd for a superb Christmas week with the Elegia. It was my honor to have it grace my house. I do like it quite a bit, but it misses too many marks for me to give it that wholehearted unabashed love that it should have received if done properly.

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cspersel
cspersel
I own both the Elegia and Atticus. They are very different headphones. The Atticus, in my opinion, is more resolving and dynamic. You sit up and take notice. The Elegia, is more detached, relaxed and liquid. Better for longer listening sessions. I get excellent bass extension with the Elegia using a Schitt Jotunheim amp w/multi-bit DAC and a Moon-Audio Blue Dragon XLS cable. The synergy is fantastic.

Sayed2020

Member of the Trade: Elise Audio
Pros: Very high sound quality, travel/carry case, build quality
Cons: Stock cable, not the most isolating, a bit of clamping/pressure
Hello all.

My audio connective trail and setup:

16 & 24-Bit WAV lossless files,

Foobar2000 with WASAPI event output,

Digital optical toslink cable,

Chord Qute Ex with a MCRU linear power supply,

a custom 6 core pure silver litz RCA cable,

Graham Slee Solo with PSU1.


Mine have been burned in for about 50 hours.


I’ll get the negatives out of the way first.


That stock cable.

It is a poor choice from Focal to include it with these stunning cans. I find it microphonic, too short and far too rigid and stiff.

Seriously, what where they thinking?!

Luckily I had a spare Beyerdynamic 2nd gen T1/T5/Amiron Home cable (article number 718637). Now that cable is highly recommended, just like a few other members mentioned in a thread. It is well made, has very good quality conductors, it’s longer, not as microphonic and nowhere near as stiff.

Also I find the Elegia a bit too clamping for my liking, so long listening sessions are a bit of an issue for me. A bit too much pressure is applied to my jaws, I have stretched them out a little over time. It is a little better but still not great to be honest.

The ear cups do not swivel horizontally, just vertically. If they did that, it would improve comfort and fit even further.

I don’t think the thick microfibre ear pads are the best choice for these cans, they are not the most isolating (which is an important factor with closed back cans). Synthetic leather or genuine leather ear pads would be better for that job from experience, I would prefer to hear these cans with perforated leather ear pads (but that’s just my preference). They block out sufficient sounds for me but something to consider...

Just like the Focal Utopia and Elear cans, these are not the most airiest or spacious sounding and they do not have a large soundstage.


Now the good stuff, and it is bloody good!


I really like the travel/carry case it comes in, superb materials and build quality. It exudes quality and class.

The build quality of the Elegia is very good, I feel it is an improvement from the Elear. I’ve not heard any creaking from the yokes/headband.

THESE CANS SOUND STUNNING!

I’m going to say something that I have not said before, these cans adapt to whatever music genre/type/style you are listening to. Be it a bright recording or a well mastered one. They are neutral sounding but have undeniable life and energy. They are not bright, they do not have recessed mids and do not have an emphasis on bass. They are very balanced sounding and coherent.

It is not harsh, it is not boring at all and I don’t find it analytical or clinical (I personally never found the Elear or the Utopia to be those things either).

They are very lively, engaging, punchy and very dynamic.

They are detailed and clear, resolving and defined. They image well and have good separation.

They have good attack and a slightly forward presentation.

The sound stage is quite wide with good depth but not great height.

The mids are just exceptional, really incredible to be honest. Meaty, textured, visceral and powerful.

Vocals are of the same calibre, mesmerising. Male or female singers. They sound authentic, realistic, intimate, and in no way thin. You can hear the emotion.

The lows are outstanding! Excellent impact and slam, superb depth and extension. So resolving, utterly smooth, full and warm. Not the fastest but it's luscious.

Negative resonance and reverberations can be heard when the drivers are pushed, which is off-putting and distracting but I believe that is a limitation of closed back cans. It is an infrequent issue to be honest.


So to sum up, if you are looking for a pair of very high quality closed back cans which is neutral in signature but fun, enjoyable and captivating then you have found it.

It’s the Focal Elegia, highly recommended from me but remember I did warn you about that stock cable.

Happy listening everyone : )
iFi audio
iFi audio
Very cool review!
Sayed2020
Sayed2020
Thank you so much : )
cspersel
cspersel
I use the Moon Audio Blue Dragon XLR cables with my Elegia and they sound fantastic.
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