[Kammerat Rebekka]

I was switching back n forth between my hd580 and the Elex yesterday evening and night...might have spent a little too long as it was nigh morning when I turned in.
The Elex does really sound like a true upgrade. The tonality and all around presentation is very much like the classic Sennie...yet at the same time far removed from the very same.
What is immediately clear when going from the Sennie to the Focal is the increase of clarity and detail. That much is certain. It is actually rather extreme when you put on some wellrecorded albums.
Next thing is the sub bass....wow...and this is in a can that is even more open than the Sennheiser...something I had absolutely no idea about when I first bought it. It is perhaps the most open can I’ve ever owned..maybe alongside the cult classic F-1.

Head to head the Sennie gets left in the dust with regards to technical prowess and the finer acrobatics, yet I can fully understand why some folks will prefer it over the Focal. It’s the same reason many prefer the 650 over the new kid on the block, the 660. The old classic Sennie line-up has a smooth almost creamy character to it. It’s the same proponent that gives off the infamous veil...yet what it also adds to any recording is lush cream and a romantic aura enveloping the music that is wholly missing from today’s flagships.
Though usually when I’ve come across headphones that both sound clearer and more nuanced than my hd580 they also come with earshrilling treble that slice through some of my favourite but subpar produced recordings like a kamikazebull through a chinashop. Thankfully the Elex doesn’t portray less than stellar production in such fashion which is wonderful.

Biggest surprise as of yet though? The spectacular clarity. I’ve certainly never heard this level of cleanliness in a headphone outside of estats and that is saying a lot.
Those looking at these as a potential upgrade from the hd580/600 would do themselves a great favour in auditioning this baby before purchasing...or maybe try out the new 660 that harnesses some of the same clarity in it’s delivery. If you don’t care for the increased level of detail retrieval as well as the almost glassy and see-through nature this facet brings to the presentation...well then skip this new badboy altogether.

 

[441879]

I was switching back n forth between my hd580 and the Elex yesterday evening and night...might have spent a little too long as it was nigh morning when I turned in.
The Elex does really sound like a true upgrade. The tonality and all around presentation is very much like the classic Sennie...yet at the same time far removed from the very same.
What is immediately clear when going from the Sennie to the Focal is the increase of clarity and detail. That much is certain. It is actually rather extreme when you put on some wellrecorded albums.
Next thing is the sub bass....wow...and this is in a can that is even more open than the Sennheiser...something I had absolutely no idea about when I first bought it. It is perhaps the most open can I’ve ever owned..maybe alongside the cult classic F-1.

Head to head the Sennie gets left in the dust with regards to technical prowess and the finer acrobatics, yet I can fully understand why some folks will prefer it over the Focal. It’s the same reason many prefer the 650 over the new kid on the block, the 660. The old classic Sennie line-up has a smooth almost creamy character to it. It’s the same proponent that gives off the infamous veil...yet what it also adds to any recording is lush cream and a romantic aura enveloping the music that is wholly missing from today’s flagships.
Though usually when I’ve come across headphones that both sound clearer and more nuanced than my hd580 they also come with earshrilling treble that slice through some of my favourite but subpar produced recordings like a kamikazebull through a chinashop. Thankfully the Elex doesn’t portray less than stellar production in such fashion which is wonderful.

Biggest surprise as of yet though? The spectacular clarity. I’ve certainly never heard this level of cleanliness in a headphone outside of estats and that is saying a lot.
Those looking at these as a potential upgrade from the hd580/600 would do themselves a great favour in auditioning this baby before purchasing...or maybe try out the new 660 that harnesses some of the same clarity in it’s delivery. If you don’t care for the increased level of detail retrieval as well as the almost glassy and see-through nature this facet brings to the presentation...well then skip this new badboy altogether.

My Elex is probably the headphone I listen to the most. The excellent soundstage, dynamics and bass being the primary reasons. Not so much for clarity though. Compared to the similarly priced MrSpeakers Aeon Flow Closed it isn’t as resolving or detailed. The Aeon Flow Open is also more detailed, but the gap is smaller. That said, the difference on detail is small enough that I generally prefer the Elex

 

[adeadcrab]

I agree with the above couple posters, the Elex has been my go-to headphone lately. I find that the midrange is a little bit too aggressive, with the peak at 5.75Khz making voices and instruments sound... hollow? Nasally? I have been using a tube amp for the last couple of days which has knocked that peak down a little, and also smoothed out the valley at the 1-2Khz mark. Sounds really not bad. The imaging and soundstage is something else on tubes.

I would say the Elex is tonally balanced, but on the more aggressive side of neutral. Whereas the Koss ESP/95X (for those who have heard it) is also tonally balanced, but on the 'polite' side of neutral. With a little more sparkle in the very high end too.

 

[441879]

I agree with the above couple posters, the Elex has been my go-to headphone lately. I find that the midrange is a little bit too aggressive, with the peak at 5.75Khz making voices and instruments sound... hollow? Nasally? I have been using a tube amp for the last couple of days which has knocked that peak down a little, and also smoothed out the valley at the 1-2Khz mark. Sounds really not bad. The imaging and soundstage is something else on tubes.

I would say the Elex is tonally balanced, but on the more aggressive side of neutral. Whereas the Koss ESP/95X (for those who have heard it) is also tonally balanced, but on the 'polite' side of neutral. With a little more sparkle in the very high end too.

I run mine from a tube hybrid and have swapped the pads for Dekonis, which probably why I don’t hear the treble peak. IIRC that fatiguing nature of that peak is why I switched to the Dekonis

 

[Kammerat Rebekka]

I guess we’ll have to agree to disagree Will. I also own the AFO and have demo’d the closedback version and to these ears it is a very clear win for the Elex, when it comes down to detail/plankton/the finer grains of salt.
Oh well who cares when the headphone plays like this! I personally prefer it out of my Valhalla 2 that adds yet another dimension to the already impressive soundstage. I really dig the difuse and dreamy character it adds to an otherwise extremely clean delivery. Sort of adds the same qualities to the proceedings as when I use it with my Sundara. Both cans with a highly clean and detailed expression and they benefit immensely from the tubes imo.

The only thing that isn’t necessarily an upgrade from the hd580/600 is the treble. Sennheiser still comes out on top regarding smoothness and overall natural expression compared to the Focal....but it isn’t as detailed or extended mind you.
The only major concern of mine is the ridiculously priced replacement pads. Paying what effectively is the price of a brand new headphone...for a pair of pads is verging on the insane. Tbh I find it rather tasteless and greedy. My brain keeps wanting to sell it off solely because of this pad dilemma.....but I’ve got at least a good year of usage before that becomes an issue.
What do they make the pads of anyway? Sapphire wool? Stitched up by Christian Dior’s old sowing instructor - bathed in milk and Mozart music. Bad Focal, bad!
Great headphone though

 

[441879]

I guess we’ll have to agree to disagree Will. I also own the AFO and have demo’d the closedback version and to these ears it is a very clear win for the Elex, when it comes down to detail/plankton/the finer grains of salt.
Oh well who cares when the headphone plays like this! I personally prefer it out of my Valhalla 2 that adds yet another dimension to the already impressive soundstage. I really dig the difuse and dreamy character it adds to an otherwise extremely clean delivery. Sort of adds the same qualities to the proceedings as when I use it with my Sundara. Both cans with a highly clean and detailed expression and they benefit immensely from the tubes imo.

The only thing that isn’t necessarily an upgrade from the hd580/600 is the treble. Sennheiser still comes out on top regarding smoothness and overall natural expression compared to the Focal....but it isn’t as detailed or extended mind you.
The only major concern of mine is the ridiculously priced replacement pads. Paying what effectively is the price of a brand new headphone...for a pair of pads is verging on the insane. Tbh I find it rather tasteless and greedy. My brain keeps wanting to sell it off solely because of this pad dilemma.....but I’ve got at least a good year of usage before that becomes an issue.
What do they make the pads of anyway? Sapphire wool? Stitched up by Christian Dior’s old sowing instructor - bathed in milk and Mozart music. Bad Focal, bad!
Great headphone though

No hurt feelings on my side. My ears are old and it’s entirely possible you’re hearing more than I am. Headphone perception is very subjective thanks to differences in hearing, head shape, etc.

The main reason I haven’t gone and spent mega bucks on a TOTL headphone and amp combo is because I’m not at all certain the sound would be any better and I might just believe it’s better because it’s more expensive.

 

[Kammerat Rebekka]

It’s all good - my head feels old and worn so it may as well be my hearing playing tricks on me
Either way I am not that bothered by details or lack of them these days. Much more into the visceral power I get from music and how it’s presented via X headphone.
I’m not sure I am able to fully enjoy music if I’m also trying to sniff out differences between gear. Gets to be this neverending wine tasting test...and you never get to drink the damn stuff!

 

[441879]

It’s all good - my head feels old and worn so it may as well be my hearing playing tricks on me
Either way I am not that bothered by details or lack of them these days. Much more into the visceral power I get from music and how it’s presented via X headphone.
I’m not sure I am able to fully enjoy music if I’m also trying to sniff out differences between gear. Gets to be this neverending wine tasting test...and you never get to drink the damn stuff!

I just realized you’re from Denmark. I’m going to be in Copenhagen next week. Any good places to listen to headphones?

 

[Kammerat Rebekka]

Off the top of my head.

Hifi Klubben: Denon, Audioquest and maybe Sennies.
Lydspecialisten: Focal, Grado and Beyer.
4Sound: Beyer, Sennie, Audio Technica, Yamaha, Adam Audio plus a lot of other makes...but it really comes down to inventory methinks. I figure all these shops sell more online, so there may not be a whole lot to chose from.
Then again, I live at the other end of the country. Maybe our capital sports more joy for the headphone connoisseur?
Make sure you pop by Christiania btw
Such a wonderful and colourful place.

 

[441879]

Off the top of my head.

Hifi Klubben: Denon, Audioquest and maybe Sennies.
Lydspecialisten: Focal, Grado and Beyer.
4Sound: Beyer, Sennie, Audio Technica, Yamaha, Adam Audio plus a lot of other makes...but it really comes down to inventory methinks. I figure all these shops sell more online, so there may not be a whole lot to chose from.
Then again, I live at the other end of the country. Maybe our capital sports more joy for the headphone connoisseur?
Make sure you pop by Christiania btw
Such a wonderful and colourful place.

Thanks! Sounds like the opportunities are better than here in Alaska. Definitely planning to visit Christiania.

 

[adeadcrab]

First off I am liking the Elex sound. Coming from the Koss ESP/95X, the Elex's low-end dominates the midrange and the upper midrange / treble is more forward, but it's still tonally balanced and very fun to listen to. I got a wool clip-on for the headband (vegans look away!) and it's generally very comfortable.

I just tested out, for fun, what happens when I play the Elex as loud as I can on my system. I'm powering it from an early audio-gd amp being fed signal from the Topping D50.

I had the amp on high gain, the volume past 3 o'clock, and the Topping D50 at 0db (full volume). At that point I noticed the clipping issue. I didn't have the headphones on, they were sitting on the desk and drowning out my quiet 'actual' speaker setup (a combo guitar amp in mono output from the PC )

Now, considering I keep the Topping D50 at -40db to -25db and listen at volumes to my ears at <70db to 85db, if you are playing music this loud for an extended period you are listening way too loud. If you get this clipping at reasonable levels I would consider asking for a replacement. I have only replicated this clipping / driver excursion twice now. Both times instantly after cranking the D50 up to maximum volume possible for my system and somewhere around 110db!

 

[chimney189]

Which bass has more weight and hits harder.. the Elex or the Elear?

 

[hanouk]

I would say Elear, but I only heard the Elear 30 minutes in a store.
The Elex has enough midbass for me, and great extension for a dynamic open-back. Still plenty of rumble around 30-40hz. Good planars like LCD2 or HE6 will beat the Focal below 30hz though.

I'm stil sad that Massdrop isnt announcing a future drop for Elex pads. Only remaining option would be Clear pads, which are $200 - just a stupid price. Other pads deteroriate too much stock tonality.

 

[powit]

Just got an elex and I don't even want to use it that often because MD won't release these pads. Sad

 

[kith86]

Just got an elex and I don't even want to use it that often because MD won't release these pads. Sad

Same here, i use dekoni instead... the original pad's too expensive, i want massdrop pads instead