rickydenim
100+ Head-Fier
- Joined
- Jan 23, 2015
- Posts
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- 144
I'm keen on getting a better cable for mine. Still looking at options but just sure dropping $200+ (AUD) on a cable is going to make THAT much of a difference.I am a new Elegia owner, having bought one recently because I was looking for a good closed-back headphone for a reasonable price. I do not often need a closed-back (apart from my Oppo PM-3 which I use on travel because of its good seal and its smaller form factor), so the Stellia (which I used to own too) is too expensive for a few dozens of hours of use per year.
I had the chance to test an Elegia already soon after its launch. At that time I liked it, but it did not fully convince me with the stock pads. I read that the Brainwavz HM5 leather pads would improve the sound without meaningfully changing its tonal balance. And yes, these ear pads imo really do make the sound slightly more balanced, with bass reaching a bit lower and, even more important, they enlarge the soundstage. The seller of my Elegia (who by the way went for the Stellia) advised me try the Elegia with an (expensive) OCC silver headphone cable. This reminded me that I still own a (much cheaper) OCC silver cable which I used for the Stellia before. The silver cable further improves the Elegia, tames the slight forwardness of the mids and improves both bass and treble. The Focal stock cable seems to have its own distinct sound, which I like in combination with the Utopia, but much less so with the slightly mid-centric Elegia. Now my modded Elegia is very close to the tonal optimum imho and I like it a lot.
The Stellia is still the king of closed-back headphones, faster and superior with very complex music, but the Elegia comes fairly close now. Focal could easily charge double the price for an Elegia with more synergistic ear pads and cabling.
Those interested in measurements of the Elegia with stock pads vs. Brainwavz leather pads may take a look at the following review (in German language):
https://www.miniklangwunder.de/arti...sener-high-end-kopfhoerer-der-referenzklasse/
Cheers,
Bernie
P.S. My Elegias with the leather brainies:
Keen to hear a silver cable though...I would like to hear those characteristics for sure.
I was looking at the Forza Audioworks Claire hybrid but yeah might try a cheaper silver vers first maybe.