Focal Elegia Review | 93 Data compared

The Focal Elegia is a technically capable closed-back headphone that offers mixed real-world performance, especially given its original £899 launch price and subsequent drop to around £400. On the positive side, it features premium materials like suede and real leather, delivers an impressively wide soundstage for a closed-back model, and boasts pinpoint imaging perfect for orchestral music. Furthermore, its unique m-shaped drivers provide exceptional dynamics, punch, and top-tier resolution, earning it a perfect 10/10 score for pure detail retrieval. However, the headphones suffer from notable flaws in build, fit, and overall tonality. The construction feels fragile with a loose rattle, a known headband failure point, and a heavy 430g weight. A weak clamp force makes it difficult to maintain a tight seal on smaller heads, which completely guts the sub-bass frequencies and eliminates any sense of rumble. Additionally, while the mid-bass and midrange are well-articulated, the overall timbre sounds unnaturally metallic and robotic on vocals, an issue that persists even with software equalization.

The Focal Elegia is a high-end, closed-back headphone that delivers premium aesthetics and luxury build quality, weighing in at 420 grams with deep, angled ear cups designed for comfortable extended listening. Its standout mechanical strength lies in its high sensitivity despite low impedance, allowing it to easily deliver strong dynamics from low-powered audio sources without demanding specialized amplification. However, the headphone suffers from a highly uneven, "wavy" out-of-the-box frequency response characterized by a stark lack of bass and lower treble energy, resulting in unengaging female vocals and overall uninspiring tonality. Additionally, the stock cable is highly criticized for being exceptionally stiff, short, and microphonic, mimicking a rigid mechanical rod that transfers noise directly to the ear cups. The review concludes that the Focal Elegia cannot be recommended in its stock form, but it undergoes a dramatic transformation into a very good to superb performer when paired with Parametric Equalization (PEQ). Applying EQ dramatically corrects its deficiencies, opening up impressive spatial depth and revealing satisfying, punchy sub-bass frequencies. Listeners should exercise caution, however, because boosting the bass can introduce soft static...

The Focal Elegia is a closed-back, wired, over-ear headphone priced at £799/$899 that adopts the design aesthetic and technical DNA of Focal’s premium open-back models. It features an angled 40mm aluminum/magnesium driver positioned close to the ear to maximize dynamics and tonal balance. To combat the typical sonic drawbacks of closed enclosures, Focal implemented an optimized earcup geometry featuring two vents, internal diffusers, and EVA foam to successfully disperse energy and prevent unwanted standing waves. Its 35-ohm impedance and 105 dB sensitivity make it exceptionally easy to drive, delivering comfortable volume levels even when connected directly to a standard smartphone. The headphone earns strong praise for its high-quality construction, comfortable fit during long listening sessions, and excellent acoustic isolation that makes it suitable for quiet environments like libraries. Performance pros include excellent imaging precision with generous space between instruments and tight, well-extended bass control that mimics the natural behavior of an open-back design. However, cons include a slightly drier harmonic character where female vocalists lack overtone complexity and "chest sound". Additionally, while the soundstage provides a nice panoramic view, its...

The Focal Elegia is described as a highly capable, non-disruptive closed-back headphone featuring well-controlled internal cup resonances similar to the Sony MDR-Z1R. Key strengths include a warm "300B-like" midrange, precise transients in the highs, excellent passive noise isolation, and a flatter, less sterile sound compared to other closed-backs. Conversely, the headphone is criticized for having a damp, volume-lean bass that lacks the impact of top-tier models and a slightly restricted, closed-in soundstage compared to open-back flagships. Furthermore, the review notes the Elegia does not scale significantly with high-end amplification. Technical measurements confirm the Elegia matches the performance of the Focal Elex and Clear, featuring a laid-back midrange and reduced bass compared to higher-end options, with superior, dampened internal acoustics.

The Focal Elegia over-ear headphones are a premium pair of closed-back audiophile cans priced around $900 that deliver exceptional, detailed sound quality with an impressive soundstage for their design. Built with a beautiful black-and-silver aesthetic and a robust metal frame, they feature a unique dimpled ear cup design and angled 40mm drivers that mimic traditional speaker listening. Their standout positive attributes include outstanding high-frequency clarity, a dynamic and punchy midrange, a highly durable build, and deep memory foam padding that keeps them remarkably comfortable for extended listening sessions. On the downside, the review highlights that the headphones are still quite expensive and noticeably heavy, weighing in at 430 grams (nearly a pound). The bass response, while natural and accurate, feels slightly laid back and lacks the speed and precision found in Focal's higher-end models. Additionally, the package only includes a single audio cable, which critics note could have been longer for better versatility. Despite these minor shortcomings, the review ultimately awards the Focal Elegia the Gold Medal for offering top-tier standalone performance under the $1,000 threshold.

The Focal Elegia represents the brand's foray into high-end, closed-back audiophile headphones, featuring 40mm aluminum-magnesium 'M'-shape drivers in a design optimized for noise isolation. These 35-ohm headphones are easily driven by portable devices and offer exceptional comfort for long listening sessions due to refined headband geometry and breathable microfiber pads. While delivering a clean, detailed, and neutral sound with surprisingly wide staging for a closed-back model, the Elegia is noted for having a somewhat lean, less impactful bass response. Furthermore, the included 1.2-meter cable is described as stiff and prone to tangling.

The Audiophile Style review of the Focal ElegiaGo highlights these headphones as a clean, detailed, and competitively priced closed-back option with excellent tonal accuracy. While featuring a slight dip at 200 Hz for improved midrange separation, the design aims to blend open-back characteristics with closed-back isolation. Audiophile StyleAs a noted con, the Elegia lacks the expansive soundstage and extreme micro-detail of higher-end alternatives like the Sennheiser HD820. However, it is lauded for superior tonal realism and value, offering an overall superior, neutral sound profile. Ultimately deemed a benchmark for neutrality under $1,000, the Elegia is recommended for listeners prioritizing accuracy, outperforming competitors such as the MrSpeakers Aeon Flow Closed. The review concludes that while other options provide a warmer sound, the Elegia is the top choice for uncolored, neutral performance.

The Focal Elegia are discontinued premium, closed-back headphones originally tested at £799 / $900 that deliver a spacious, immersive soundstage with impressive width and depth. They boast an exceptionally classy, solid silver-and-black design built from high-end materials like aluminum, leather padding, and 20mm memory foam earcups for sofa-like comfort. Highly versatile for both home and portable listening, they isolate external noise effectively without active noise-cancelling and feature high-quality 40mm aluminum/magnesium inverted dome drivers alongside a premium detachable cable and a hard-shell carrying case. However, they are ultimately beaten by key rivals when it comes to absolute detail retrieval and rhythmic engagement. Their bass notes lack tight control, sounding softer than competitors, and a lack of timing precision can slightly compromise steady musical rhythms. Additionally, vocal reproduction lacks the immediate, intimate closeness found in other high-end options like the Beyerdynamic T1. While What Hi-Fi? awarded them maximum scores for comfort and build, their sonic shortcomings resulted in a 4 out of 5 sound rating.

The Focal Elegia are premium, closed-back headphones designed for neutral, critical listening, featuring robust build quality with aluminum yokes and comfortable microfiber ear pads. They offer exceptional, detailed sound reproduction with a remarkably wide soundstage for a closed design, while their 35-ohm impedance makes them easy to drive from mobile devices. However, the review notes a lean, inconsistent bass response that lacks deep impact, along with a bulky, non-foldable design and a stiff, microphonic cable.

The The Master Switch review highlights the Focal Elegia ($899) as the French company’s first-ever closed-back headphones, praising them for a light, clean, and balanced "house sound" that provides a massive sense of value. On the positive side, the reviewers are blown away by the spectacular midrange sound quality, which brings unmatched clarity and life to vocals and acoustic instruments, a rarity for closed-back models under $1,000. Additionally, the Elegia boasts an excellent industrial design featuring robust aluminum yokes, a microfiber leather headband, and memory foam earpads, alongside an innovative subtle exterior grille that creates a wider soundstage than traditional closed-back competitors. It is also highly praised for its low power requirements; with a 35-ohm impedance, it is incredibly easy to drive directly from a smartphone or digital audio player without requiring a massive external amplifier. However, the review outlines several notable drawbacks regarding physical comfort, stock accessories, and lower frequency response. The primary acoustic con is a recessed, underpowered bass that lacks sub-bass rumble, making the headphones highly unsatisfying for genres like hip-hop and EDM, ultimately losing out in...

The Focal Elegia ($899 USD) is a high-end, closed-back headphone designed to deliver audiophile-grade clarity and noise isolation. It features 40mm aluminum-magnesium drivers with an M-shaped profile and an innovative dual-venting system that acts as an acoustic tuning device. Built with luxury materials, it includes a leather headband lined with perforated fabric, velour earpads, and an aluminum yoke designed for a secure seal. The headphones come packed with a premium thermo-molded travel case, a 4-foot detachable cable, and a 3.5mm-to-6.3mm adapter. Despite its large profile, it has a low impedance of 35 ohms, making it highly efficient and easy to drive to loud volumes directly from a smartphone. The primary strength of the Elegia lies in its exceptional midrange and treble clarity, which makes vocals, saxophones, and pianos sound vividly detailed and free of sibilance. It successfully eliminates the common "boom and bloat" found in many closed-back designs and creates a remarkably large, spacious soundstage. However, its mid-forward tuning serves as its main drawback, as the bass and treble response feel softened and recessed, causing basslines and kick drums to...

The Focal Elegia, reviewed by Major HiFi, is a high-end closed-back headphone offering a warm, relaxed sound profile that excels with rock, hip-hop, and electronic genres. A major engineering advantage is their low impedance, allowing for excellent performance and easy driving from portable sources. The design inherits premium comfort while providing effective passive isolation, featuring precise, punchy bass and strong micro-detail. The main cons, according to the review, are a more limited soundstage compared to open-back alternatives and a specific, warmer sound signature that may not appeal to those seeking a neutral or lean audio experience.