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rdodev
632
Jul 9, 2018
To me the question about this pair is not whether these are good -- they certainly have the spec and Focal pedigree, but rather are they _substantially_ better than headphones costing hundreds less (Meze, HD650, B&O H7s, etc.). Seven flanklyns is nothing to scoff at.
rdodevI owned the Meze99/Neo (which I replaced with an AudioQuest Nightowl) and have the HD650/58X (as well as a bunch of others) and can say the Elex is hands down my best over-ear set. They are very fast, dynamic sounding and are musical while still conveying a lot of details. They do not have the largest soundstage but within it they pack so many macro/micro details I don't even care. They don't distort easily, at all, so all your music just comes over clean and clear. They're also not as heavy as the specs make them out to be and are incredibly comfortable. Throw in great build quality, and lovely box, and a balanced XLR cable and I would say they're well worth their dollar. And for all intents and purposes they fix a lot of the issues many had with the Elear and come off as more coherent but maybe a bit less dynamic (by comparison).
rdodev
632
Jul 9, 2018
jaydunndidditThanks for this. It certainly helps in making a decision.
rastus
1391
Jul 9, 2018
rdodevElex user here,, what jaydunndiddit said,, they do everything with such liquid ease... something they don't do well? Maybe look upstream signal... with a decent dac & amp + Elex you are now just mostly looking looking at finding the best recordings... at least I am for a while.,, I hope... want to get the vinyl hooked back up to try recording in DSD. Toying with using a Korg NuTube, a hybrid itself, as a phono pre, kind'a cyborg transformation device bridging technologies? Doing riaa stuff in software. Vinyl is one thing that I think they will have trouble getting the filter, quite ever so, right, to replace it, it itself is a pure analog filter, and we like it,, from when the first steel needle vibrating with all the energy and frequencies we can evoke as beings, drew itself through pliant, interpretative, warm wax... a musical instrument itself, is how I think of it;) We like filters, and the mixing therein.
So in short; until the budget becomes unlimited,, currently with the Elex,, I am enjoying listening to music for a while...
“The two things that really drew me to vinyl were the expense and the inconvenience.”

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rdodev
632
Jul 9, 2018
jaydunndidditThe NightOwls are serious business. So if you think these are objectively better than those, then it's definitely a strong endorsement.
rdodevI really enjoy the NIghtowl. On first listen, I found them very underwhelming and almost returned them. But, after getting more ear time and using different amps with them, they are truly great, especially at their current cost. With the right amp their bass hits incredibly hard and vibrates my head with ease. They're really quite fun and very resolving. Much clearer and larger than one would think for a closed back can. As musical and smooth as the Meze were, they just aren't as technically proficient or hit as hard. For another $100 the Nightowls were a no brainer for me since they are my sole closed back can at the moment. I have a TRX00 Ebony on the way but I'm sure it will scratch a different itch over the Nightowl.
Still, compared to the Elex, it can't match it's detail retrieval, speed, or imaging. The Elex has the tonality of my loudspeakers so that's a big reason I gravitate towards them. They capture what I enjoy hearing from large speakers and puts it all in a smaller package. If I had one gripe it'd be I wish the Elex had a touch more bass. What's there is good and textured well enough but I could go for more quantity. Again, that's being super nitpicky and EQ handles that well enough depending on my source.
Dpardon
1
Jul 10, 2018
jaydunndidditIt sounds like you have the same experience I have with Headphones, I also own the AQ NightOwls and HD650's. Which dac/amps do you ise with these? I am waiting for the funds to get a pair of Elex...eventually.
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