velasfloyd
Member
- Joined
- Dec 10, 2019
- Messages
- 84
- Likes
- 139
based on both reviews, seems like this one is better than the newer, more expense, Celestee..... may be Stelia killer as well?
Wow! Thank you. That's a great source of "what are unfamiliar artists that I should listen to?".I have not. Here it is:
Hi,This is a review and detailed measurements of the Focal Elegia closed back headphone. It is on kind loan from a member and costs US $543 on Amazon including Prime shipping.
Focal nails the luxury look and feel of their headphones:
View attachment 164442
It is a heavy headphone at 420 grams but felt quite comfortable on my head:
View attachment 164443
Drivers are angled so there is quite a lot of depth in the cup on that side (62 mm x 54 mm x 32 mm: height x width x depth).
By far the worst aspect of this headphone is the super stiff and short cable that I received with it. Yes, it is sturdy but if the idea is portable use, who wants to carry a stiff rod in their backpack or purse? It is also microphonic. Fortunately it terminates in mono 3.5 mm connectors so you can make or buy a replacement easily.
Note: The measurements you are about to see are made using a standardized Gras 45C. Headphone measurements by definition are approximate and variable so don't be surprised if other measurements even if performed with the same fixtures as mine, differ in end results. Protocols vary such as headband pressure and averaging (which I don't do). As you will see, I confirm the approximate accuracy of the measurements using Equalization and listening tests. Ultimately headphone measurements are less exact than speakers mostly in bass and above a few kilohertz so keep that in mind as you read these tests. If you think you have an exact idea of a headphone performance, you are likely wrong!
Fitment on the fixture was good.
Focal Elegia Home Measurements
Let's start with our usual frequency response:
View attachment 164444
This is a very wavy response. It is one thing to decide to have flat response in bass and midrange but why the ups and downs? I am also not used to seeing the sharp drops so low in frequency. Macro level picture is obvious with lack of bass to go with lack of lower treble:
View attachment 164445
Is it me or every Focal headphone I have tested has a different response?
Distortion measurements are good but not exceptional:
View attachment 164446
View attachment 164447
Since we need to boost the bass, I expect audible issues there at elevated playback levels.
Group delay says something is amiss at three frequencies that we had troughs in frequency response:
View attachment 164448
Zoomed version of our impedance measurement tells the same story:
View attachment 164449
View attachment 164450
Likely there is an out of phase resonance that causes cancellation at the upper two frequencies.
This is a very sensitive headphone despite its low impedance:
View attachment 164451
So you should be able to get good dynamics out of it even with low powered sources. Keep this in mind however as you do any AB tests against much less sensitive headphones. These may seem less dynamic without equalizing levels.
Focal Elegia Listening Tests
Per my past experience, lack of energy in a few areas translates to an uninteresting but non-offensive sound. The lower treble energy made my female vocals much less enjoyable. So I dialed in a few parametric filters in my Roon Player to compensate:
View attachment 164453
The difference as expected was dramatic. The sound opens up with very nice spatial effects. Deep bass is now easily heard and even felt at elevated levels. Alas, if you crank it up, the bass notes start to produce static. It is soft tone though and doesn't ever fall apart like Focal Clear did in my review. Turn the levels down a bit though and the deep bass is there without much of any distortion.
EQ combined with the comfort this headphone provides, allowed for very enjoyable experience.
Conclusions
The wild west of headphone design continues with the Elegia presenting yet another frequency response. I hope the industry starts to rally behind something -- anything is better than each headphone producing its own response gambling for some adoption. Fortunately equalization is incredibly beneficial on this headphone, elevating not only its tonality but also its spatial qualities.
I can't recommend the Focal Elegia without equalization. With EQ, it becomes very good to superb if you don't turn it up too high and cause static in the drivers.
----------
As always, questions, comments, recommendations, etc. are welcome.
Any donations are much appreciated using: https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/how-to-support-audio-science-review.8150/
Focal Elegia APO EQ Flat@HF 96000Hz
November102021-111655
Preamp: -2.4 dB
Filter 1: ON PK Fc 90.65 Hz Gain -3.00 dB Q 0.60
Filter 2: ON PK Fc 308.73 Hz Gain -5.33 dB Q 0.86
Filter 3: ON PK Fc 893.00 Hz Gain -5.04 dB Q 0.86
Filter 4: ON PK Fc 1653.86 Hz Gain -4.21 dB Q 3.22
Filter 5: ON PK Fc 4249.66 Hz Gain 3.16 dB Q 2.99
Filter 6: ON PK Fc 5468.94 Hz Gain -3.16 dB Q 5.99
Filter 7: ON PK Fc 14128.20 Hz Gain -8.09 dB Q 4.84
Focal Elegia RME EQ Flat@HF 96000Hz
November102021-111838
Preamp: -0 dB
Filter 1: ON PK Fc 92.31 Hz Gain -3.36 dB Q 0.60
Filter 2: ON PK Fc 308.73 Hz Gain -5.33 dB Q 0.86
Filter 3: ON PK Fc 888.00 Hz Gain -5.04 dB Q 0.86
Filter 4: ON PK Fc 1644.22 Hz Gain -4.21 dB Q 3.38
Filter 5: ON PK Fc 5538.66 Hz Gain -2.16 dB Q 5.99
Thanks for the track listing!I have not. Here it is:
you feel focal is a better value than dan clark at less?Excellent headphones.
Hard to beat in this price range with Oratory's EQ Settings + Dekoni Stellia Pads...
View attachment 164497
I had both.based on both reviews, seems like this one is better than the newer, more expense, Celestee..... may be Stelia killer as well?
I fully agree with you about the sound comparison of DCA and Elegia.I had both. The Stellia is more hi-fi and sounds more realistic. However, it has a major disadvantage compared to the Stellia. The bass has significantly less punch and slam. You can't compensate for that with the EQ ...
View attachment 164502
You have enough posts here for me to assume you know how to use search and find out that this has been asked and answered on many threads.Since this is audio SCIENCE review I assume that you use measurements to set up your EQ profile, and then do measurements after EQ to confirm that the EQ actually corrected the deficiency? I'd like to see the post-EQ curve plotted.
If you are doing the EQ by ear, then maybe this blog should be called "audio semi-scientific review." Just sayin'.
"Bass I Love You" on the list, amazing. Really didn't expect to see that one on the list, did you ever get anything out of the 8Hz burst in the track?I have not. Here it is:
I don't have the Stelia but for me the problem with DCA or most planars for that matter is the necessity of a good amp to drive them. It highly limit versatility, I have a good amp at my desk, but quite often the situation ask for plugging straight into an I Pad or laptop. Dan Clark will perform poorly at that. "value" is really something that depends on peoples needs.you feel focal is a better value than dan clark at less?
Drop + Dan Clark Audio Aeon Closed X Headphones | Closed-Back Audiophile Headphones
A planar magnetic favorite goes closed-back with our exclusive Drop + Dan Clark Audio Aeon Closed X Headphones. An open-back style sound stage with closed-back isolation that can't be beat.drop.com
There was a typo in my post.I had both.
The Stellia is more hi-fi and sounds more realistic.
However, it has a major disadvantage compared to the Elegia.
The bass has significantly less punch and slam. You can't compensate for that with the EQ ...
View attachment 164502
I am totally impressed that the flagship closed-back Focal headphone lacks one of the most characteristic attributes of Focal headphones, i.e. punch and slam!There was a typo in my post.
It should be called:
However, it has a major disadvantage compared to the Elegia.
Not to the Stellia
Mhm, mhm, punch, slam, getting kicked in the nuts, fairy dust floating all around and all that poorly defined, inconsistently used language...I am totally impressed that the flagship closed-back Focal headphone lacks one of the most characteristic attributes of Focal headphones, i.e. punch and slam!