De Focal Sound...?

As we have already shown a bit, the Focal Elegia sounds fundamentally different from the Elear. Or the Utopia. Now that makes sense, because a closed back sounds different from an open back.

Mid focused

Where the Elear has a layed back character, the Elegia is mid-focused and more ‘in your face’. You can hear that with any kind of music. Massive Attack, Steven Wilson, MUSE, Adele… the mid-focus is perceptible everywhere. Sometimes it works out well – EDM, house, electronic music – sometimes less: rock, vocal. Adele, for example, is very present. The Elear puts that a bit more in balance.

When it comes to imaging, we also hear big differences. The Elegia plays more in the head. The Elear – and also a Hifiman or Audeze – is more for you. And what bigger. Logical: the unit has freedom… That’s pure physics.

Now it is true that the Elegia demands immediate attention: this Frenchman demands the listener to listen. That’s not with the Elear… that’s more like a teddy bear. That’s what you sit down for with a glass by a fireplace. Nice chill. Cube of cheese… piece of sausage… enjoy. Chilling doesn’t really go with the Closed Back jump in the field. He’ll grab you by the throat and say, “Listen! Pretty cool, huh?

In the zone

What’s a big advantage of a closed model is the closure. With an open-back you always hear surroundings. That can be disturbing. By the way, this also applies to the surroundings, because the music leaks on all sides of course.

At the Elegia we hear almost nothing of the surroundings. And that makes for a real bubble… we’re all in it. Of course, that’s great if you want to listen undisturbed for a moment. Point is also… we’re missing all the calls and doorbells. But then again, too bad…