Focal Elegia Circumaural Closed-Back Audiophile Headphones

JayDee917

May 29, 2023 2:48 PM

774 Comments

Joined Feb 2019

JayDee917May 29, 2023 2:48 PM

774 Comments

Decent deal. That original price is crazy, they're usually $399.

3

musaji

May 29, 2023 6:13 PM

622 Comments

Joined Jul 2013

musajiMay 29, 2023 6:13 PM

622 Comments

I wish to own focal speakers one day. Maybe I should just settle for a pair of cans ... 😂

3

2

jmacie

May 29, 2023 6:22 PM

15 Comments

Joined Sep 2014

jmacieMay 29, 2023 6:22 PM

15 Comments

is this the same ones that everyone was saying the headband breaks easy and they don't honor thw warranty about 2 weeks ago?

5

mbnine

May 29, 2023 7:11 PM

13 Comments

Joined May 2019

mbnineMay 29, 2023 7:11 PM

13 Comments

Our community has rated this post as helpful. If you agree, why not thank

Quote from jmacie

:

is this the same ones that everyone was saying the headband breaks easy and they don't honor thw warranty about 2 weeks ago?

Absolutely yes! I can't speak for the other models' failure rate in Focal's line as I've only bought the Elegia's from Adorama (but searching on this topic indicates YES). But 1 year and 2 months after I bought this model, the headband broke and there's nowhere to buy a replacement headband. I am now going to attempt to 3D print a replacement part but my hopes are not high. I did keep them hanging on a headphone rack but this shouldn't cause this failure to happen.
BOTTOM LINE: Don't waste your money on a product that will break because the mfr decided to bond plastic to metal with no mfr support. I couldn't imagine spending thousands on a Focal Clear or Utopia model only to have it break with normal use. Avoid this brand at all costs. I should've done my research first.

13

4

jmacie

May 29, 2023 8:01 PM

15 Comments

Joined Sep 2014

jmacieMay 29, 2023 8:01 PM

15 Comments

Quote from mbnine

:

Absolutely yes! I can't speak for the other models' failure rate in Focal's line as I've only bought the Elegia's from Adorama (but searching on this topic indicates YES). But 1 year and 2 months after I bought this model, the headband broke and there's nowhere to buy a replacement headband. I am now going to attempt to 3D print a replacement part but my hopes are not high. I did keep them hanging on a headphone rack but this shouldn't cause this failure to happen.
BOTTOM LINE: Don't waste your money on a product that will break because the mfr decided to bond plastic to metal with no mfr support. I couldn't imagine spending thousands on a Focal Clear or Utopia model only to have it break with normal use. Avoid this brand at all costs. I should've done my research first.

Thanks a lot I really have broken every pair of headphones I have had so don't want more of the same I appreciate it!

3

pfgiv

May 29, 2023 11:27 PM

522 Comments

Joined Nov 2014

pfgivMay 29, 2023 11:27 PM

522 Comments

Quote from musaji

:

I wish to own focal speakers one day. Maybe I should just settle for a pair of cans ... 😂

If you're serious, save up. It is worth it. I have focal Sopra No2 LR, Sopra center, Sopra No1 for surrounds, then 4x 300 series in ceiling for atmos. It's beyond amazing sound.

1

2

Mr.P707

May 29, 2023 11:31 PM

290 Comments

Joined Jul 2013

Mr.P707May 29, 2023 11:31 PM

290 Comments

These headphones have a very mid-focused tuning. If you are not into doing EQ and you enjoy a more v shaped sound I would pass on these even though the price is attractive. I got them a few months ago and ended up returning them because I just didn't love the sound

1

musaji

May 30, 2023 3:22 AM

622 Comments

Joined Jul 2013

musajiMay 30, 2023 3:22 AM

622 Comments

Quote from pfgiv

:

If you're serious, save up. It is worth it. I have focal Sopra No2 LR, Sopra center, Sopra No1 for surrounds, then 4x 300 series in ceiling for atmos. It's beyond amazing sound.

10k speakers???? I had been eyeing chora bookshelves which are said to be a good value for $$$.

1

TalentedDirt661

May 30, 2023 3:22 AM

59 Comments

Joined May 2018

TalentedDirt661May 30, 2023 3:22 AM

59 Comments

Quote from pfgiv

:

If you're serious, save up. It is worth it. I have focal Sopra No2 LR, Sopra center, Sopra No1 for surrounds, then 4x 300 series in ceiling for atmos. It's beyond amazing sound.

What amp do you use?

1

pfgiv

May 30, 2023 3:45 AM

522 Comments

Joined Nov 2014

pfgivMay 30, 2023 3:45 AM

522 Comments

Quote from TalentedDirt661

:

What amp do you use?

Here's my set up. Waiting to replace my rear surrounds with kanta bookshelves, and that's the last piece of the puzzle to my set up. I don't think I'll ever change my speakers again.

Home theater: LG OLED 77 C1, Panasonic DP-UB9000P1K, Anthem AVM70 8k, Monolith m8250x, 2x Apollon PNC1200 Monoblocks, 1x Apollon NCMP270, 7.2.4, Focal Sopra No2's x2 LR, Focal Sopra Center, Focal Sopra No1's x2 surrounds, SVS Prime Bookshelf, Focal 300 ICW8 x4, SVS PB 16 Ultra x2

5

4

shedeus

May 30, 2023 1:45 PM

360 Comments

Joined Dec 2013

shedeusMay 30, 2023 1:45 PM

360 Comments

Quote from Mr.P707

:

These headphones have a very mid-focused tuning. If you are not into doing EQ and you enjoy a more v shaped sound I would pass on these even though the price is attractive. I got them a few months ago and ended up returning them because I just didn't love the sound

Yes, so true. Sound absolutely amazing for vocal based performances but odd for others (some things like metal, instrumental jazz) because of tuning

That said, it's worth owning for this tuning imo because it's spectacular for things that benefit from "enhanced" mids

2

d3a1z

May 30, 2023 3:27 PM

712 Comments

Joined Nov 2006

d3a1zMay 30, 2023 3:27 PM

712 Comments

Quote from shedeus

:

Yes, so true. Sound absolutely amazing for vocal based performances but odd for others (some things like metal, instrumental jazz) because of tuning

That said, it's worth owning for this tuning imo because it's spectacular for things that benefit from "enhanced" mids

Check out the Sennheiser 660s2. If you look around you should be able to find a pair about ~$400 or so. Much more energetic than most of the 6 series. the thing I love about Senn's is in 10 years I will still own them. My 650's are approaching 12 years I believe. I have been wanting to try the Focal's for a while, but can't bring myself to spend $300 on something with well documented QC issues. Maybe if they hit $150 or so I will give them a shot knowing that they will break, but for me I much prefer not having to treat my headphone like glass.

1

zachary80

May 31, 2023 2:11 AM

1K Comments

Joined Jul 2007

zachary80May 31, 2023 2:11 AM

1K Comments

Quote from d3a1z

:

Check out the Sennheiser 660s2. If you look around you should be able to find a pair about ~$400 or so. Much more energetic than most of the 6 series. the thing I love about Senn's is in 10 years I will still own them. My 650's are approaching 12 years I believe. I have been wanting to try the Focal's for a while, but can't bring myself to spend $300 on something with well documented QC issues. Maybe if they hit $150 or so I will give them a shot knowing that they will break, but for me I much prefer not having to treat my headphone like glass.

I love Sennheisers, I've owned the 580/650/58XJ and listened to the 580 Jubilee and 600, as well as listened to the Clears and Utopias and neither was a good upgrade for me, definitely listen in person first. I think the 58XJ or 600 would be good enough for about everything. My main headphones are Stax or Audeze but if I simplified I'd probably just drop to just the 58XJ. Comparing these to closed headphones like the Elegia isn't really fair, but you mentioned open ones which I have more experience with.

BenitoF

May 31, 2023 12:23 PM

54 Comments

Joined Jul 2018

BenitoFMay 31, 2023 12:23 PM

54 Comments

Ordered a set! I also ordered the a Hart Audio 2.5 balanced cable and some sheepskin ear pads for them. I will be pairing them with a Qudelix-5K DAC Amp and will EQ them using Oratory1990 EQ preset. Apparently when you do all of that they become very close in sound to the $900 Focal Clear as internally they are pretty much the same except these are closed back headphones. I have had only one set of headphones/earphones in the last 8 years and that's the Shure SE846. If after burn in and a good week or two I don't like them I guess I can return them or sell them and should get pretty much my money back. I mostly listen to classic rock, metal and some pop music. Sometimes I do also listen to some 60's and 70's music and also but rarely I do also listen to classical music.

2

NorbRev

Jun 3, 2023 12:50 PM

350 Comments

Joined Jan 2009

NorbRevJun 3, 2023 12:50 PM

350 Comments

Sound wise, how do these compare to the Focal Clear OG? I really love the sound of those, but was hoping for a closed-back set to accompany them.

Focal Elegia Circumaural Closed-Back Audiophile Headphones

$299

$890

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