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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
The Antlion Kimura Duo earbuds are a midrange-priced option with good overall sound quality and an impressive gaming score, indicating low latency for interactive activities. They're suitable for calls and meetings and have a detachable cable, but aren't the best for exercise and lack active noise cancelling. The Focal Elex headphones are a high-end option with superior overall sound quality and an open-back design that provides a more spacious soundstage, making them excellent for music and TV. They aren't portable and have no noise isolation due to their open-back nature, making them less ideal for noisy environments or travel. Give Feedback
this description is based on the product variant with some specs and product variant with some specs. At the time of writing, the variant with some specs cost some dollars and the variant with some specs cost some dollars.
Advantages of the Antlion Kimura Duo
- Very good for music
- Very good for gaming
Advantages of the Focal Elex
- Very good for TV and video
- Good for podcasts and audiobooks
Key differences
Gaming
8.5
6.9
The Antlion Kimura Duo is very good for gaming, while the Focal Elex is only fair.
Phone Calls
5.2
4.3
The Antlion Kimura Duo and Focal Elex are both poor for phone calls, though the Antlion Kimura Duo is somewhat better.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
5.0
7.1
The Focal Elex is good for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Antlion Kimura Duo is poor.
TV and Video
7.8
8.3
The Focal Elex is very good for TV and video, while the Antlion Kimura Duo is good.
Noise Reduction
6.0
2.5
The Antlion Kimura Duo is only fair for noise reduction, while the Focal Elex is poor.
Cost
$150
$749
$50
$100
$150
$200
$250
$300
$350
$400
The Antlion Kimura Duo has a price of $150 and the Focal Elex costs $749.
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Key similarities
Music
8.0
7.7
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Antlion Kimura Duo to be very good for music, while the Focal Elex is good.
Build Quality
9.0
9.0
The Antlion Kimura Duo and Focal Elex both have excellent build quality.
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How the Antlion Kimura Duo and the Focal Elex compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Antlion Kimura Duo | Focal Elex |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$150 | $749 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Antlion | Focal | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | June 1, 2022 | December 1, 2017 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Earbuds | Headphones | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wired | Wired | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 8.1/10 | 7.8/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 5.3/10 | 4.4/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 8.6/10 | 6.9/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 7.8/10 | 8.4/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 4.4/10 | 4.3/10 | |
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | |||
Active Noise Cancelling | No | No | |
Noise Reduction Score | |||
Noise Reduction Score | 6/10 | 2.5/10 | |
Virtual Surround | |||
Virtual Surround | N/A | No | |
Mic Quality | |||
Mic Quality | 8/10 | N/A | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 9/10 | 9/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 8.4/10 | 8/10 | |
Size | |||
Size | Large | N/A | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 21.5 Grams | 450 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | Boom | N/A | |
Shopping
Antlion Kimura Duo
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Dig into reviews and images
Headphones Addict
Peter Susic | February 2023
"Antlion Kimura Duo aren’t packed with features, but the ones they offer, work incredibly well. Especially the boom mic delivers very clean call quality with no distortion. If you explicitly look for gaming in-ear monitors with a reliable microphone, Antlion Kimura Duo are your best option."
Focal Elex
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Golden Sound
Golden Sound | October 2021
"The Focal Elex are an excellent pair of headphones for the money and a great all-rounder that will suit many tastes. They’re an easy recommendation for anyone looking for something comfortable, well built, that looks good, and will work with just about any genre."
Get a great deal on the Antlion Kimura Duo or the Focal Elex
About Antlion
Antlion Audio is an American company based in Oregon. Founded in 2011 by Jimmy Console, an engineer and physician, in order to create and offer better solutions for voice communication, specifically a microphone which could be used with any set of headphones which materialized in the very popular ModMic. The company has since expanded to include a wide variety of wired and wireless products.
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This information was produced and vetted by the PerfectRec earbuds & headphones team. We are a product research and recommendation organization that meticulously reviews and evaluates the latest earbuds or headphones information and makes it digestible for you.
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About the Earbuds or Headphones team
Joe Golden, Ph.D
CEO and Earbuds and Headphones Editor
Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
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Chandradeep Chowdhury
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Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.
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Earbuds and Headphones Expert
Luis is a Mexico-based headphones expert. He’s been making headphone recommendations for five years and has close to 100 pairs in his personal collection.
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