Massdrop x Focal Elex Review & Measurements

[adeadcrab]

Dekoni fenestrated sheepskin here.. sound is a little too reflected as stock (stock dekoni pads), I reamed the fenestrations with a torx screwdriver and it sounds similar to stock Elex pads, with a more natural full low-end, and less fatiguing top end brightness.

 

[thesheik137]

It haven't tried any additional pads, but I would assume velours would be most similar to stock?

 

[adeadcrab]

Stock Elex has fenestrations across the surface, and a more open situation right next to the where the driver and the earpad meet.

Velour is just velour and memory foam, no fenestrations so likely much more bass heavy.

Fenestrated sheepskin is getting closer to stock pads, but they bounce the sound around like crazy which gives way more bass and low-mids than you might like. Modding them to make larger fenestrations help the sound escape from inside the earpad and sound closer to the stock pads.

These measurements were done with Elear but they give you an idea - https://dekoniaudio.com/so-you-want-some-focal-measurements-with-the-dekoni-audio-ear-pads/

 

[MacMan31]

Just bought a pair of these used off Canuck Audio Mart for $750 CAD. I'm running them off the THX789 and balance SDAC. These are being compared to my HD6XX and 58X. Soundwise these beat both of those overall. Detail, imaging and separation are all better on the Elex over the 6XX and 58X. The ear cups are deeper and more roomy with the Elex as well. My only real gripe is with the comfort for long sessions. For my experience so far these have less clamp than the Sennheisers and are also heavier. I can definitely notice the weight after a while with the Elex. Plus overall they are bigger so I notice that as well. If I do end up deciding to keep these I most likely will buy a different balance cable. The included one is longer than I need plus it is pretty stiff as others have mentioned.

 

[eeagle]

@MacMan31 I have a similar set up to yours, and agree the Eliex, trumps my Sennheiser HD600 and HD58x. I have a THX AAA™ 789 that a use primarily to drive my planar HPs.and have kept my Elex plugged into my LCX & AIRIST AUDIO R-2R DAC, a combo I have grown to prefer. The AIRIST AUDIO R-2R DAC does warm the sterile sound of the 789 as well, but the LCX is just nicer to my ears. The Elex clamp is less than the Senn's as you mention; have not noticed the weight difference. I like that the Elex drivers are tilted to align with ones ears too, a thing that likely adds no sonic difference, but is just good design IMO. The 789 is well documented as not being a true balanced amp and does not benefit from a balanced DAC; the LCX is supposed to be a better choice for a balanced input, being balanced back to front without going SE in the circuit.

 

[MacMan31]

@MacMan31 I have a similar set up to yours, and agree the Eliex, trumps my Sennheiser HD600 and HD58x. I have a THX AAA™ 789 that a use primarily to drive my planar HPs.and have kept my Elex plugged into my LCX & AIRIST AUDIO R-2R DAC, a combo I have grown to prefer. The AIRIST AUDIO R-2R DAC does warm the sterile sound of the 789 as well, but the LCX is just nicer to my ears. The Elex clamp is less than the Senn's as you mention; have not noticed the weight difference. I like that the Elex drivers are tilted to align with ones ears too, a thing that likely adds no sonic difference, but is just good design IMO. The 789 is well documented as not being a true balanced amp and does not benefit from a balanced DAC; the LCX is supposed to be a better choice for a balanced input, being balanced back to front without going SE in the circuit.

Are you referring to the Liquid Carbon X amp from Massdrop? I was considering that amp before purchasing the 789 but some have said that the SE headphone output is pretty weak compared to the balance output. I do not yet have SDAC-B connected via balance into my 789. I still need to get the cables for that.

 

[eeagle]

Are you referring to the Liquid Carbon X amp from Massdrop? I was considering that amp before purchasing the 789 but some have said that the SE headphone output is pretty weak compared to the balance output. I do not yet have SDAC-B connected via balance into my 789. I still need to get the cables for that.

Yes, the Drop Liquid Carbon X. I run the balanced output to the Elex most of the time, but you are correct, the LCX SE out is about 1/4 the power output of the balanced so somewhat lower than the general rule of 1/2 the power of the balanced outs. Grace makes a nice DAC, I doubt you will see much difference going balanced into the 789, my LCX does have the SE SDAC built in as well, and I still prefer the R-2R DAC when doing an AB with the selector switch. I make use of the pass through outs to input the R-2R to the the 789 as well.

 

[MacMan31]

Yes, the Drop Liquid Carbon X. I run the balanced output to the Elex most of the time, but you are correct, the LCX SE out is about 1/4 the power output of the balanced so somewhat lower than the general rule of 1/2 the power of the balanced outs. Grace makes a nice DAC, I doubt you will see much difference going balanced into the 789, my LCX does have the SE SDAC built in as well, and I still prefer the R-2R DAC when doing an AB with the selector switch. I make use of the pass through outs to input the R-2R to the the 789 as well.

Yeah perhaps I won't notice much difference going balance from the SDAC-B to the 789 but I figure if I'm going to have these things I may as well use them to their full potential. I did consider buying the LCX + SDAC combo but everyone seems to be raving on the 789 so I wanted to know what all the hype was about. It's certainly much better than the Fiio K3 I was using before and I really liked that little dac/amp. I do wish the SDAC-B was USB-C. Seems the tech and PC industry are not as quick to adopt it as they were back when USB first debuted in the late 90's. I have not heard the DAC you are using so I don't know if it would be noticeably better than the SDAC-B I have.

 

[thegurge]

Has anyone got suggestions for longer cables (1/4" / 6.3mm) for the Elex? A cable that is great but won't break the bank. I can live with what I have but longer would make my setup a bit better.

 

[441879]

Has anyone got suggestions for longer cables (1/4" / 6.3mm) for the Elex? A cable that is great but won't break the bank. I can live with what I have but longer would make my setup a bit better.

How strong is your bank?

 

[thegurge]

How strong is your bank?

Ha, the bank's not too bad. I'm open to suggestions.

 

[adeadcrab]

Periapt.

 

[441879]

Ha, the bank's not too bad. I'm open to suggestions.

I personally like LQI. They start around $159 or so.

 

[cactus_farmer]

Lots of people mention hearing driver clipping with the Elex... I notice the driver is pretty much completely exposed from the inside of the earcup (there is no cloth or other membrane covering it up like there are on most other headphones). It would seem pretty easy for small debris (like hairs) to make it onto the surface of the driver membrane and start rattling about? Has anyone experienced that?

Also, if the clipping is experienced, does that mean that the actual driver is being damaged as the clipping is happening, or does it just sound bad without actually causing damage to the driver?

 

[CoFire]

Lots of people mention hearing driver clipping with the Elex... I notice the driver is pretty much completely exposed from the inside of the earcup (there is no cloth or other membrane covering it up like there are on most other headphones). It would seem pretty easy for small debris (like hairs) to make it onto the surface of the driver membrane and start rattling about? Has anyone experienced that?

Also, if the clipping is experienced, does that mean that the actual driver is being damaged as the clipping is happening, or does it just sound bad without actually causing damage to the driver?

Because the Elex has a different dynamic driver design (see webpage), the travel of the driver is much more than the standard design resulting in its dynamic response and signature.

The result of this is that if the headphone is played too loud (subjective) the driver will hit physical limits that make it sound like it's clipping. This is not supposed to damage the driver but be a limit for your hearing and to prevent driver damage. I have never hit this limit but I also know I on average listen at lower volumes friends that compare headphones.

I think this may actually be a European design feature and is common to this Focal line (Elear, Clear and Utopia). European headphones often have "governors" for hearing protection.