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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
If you're willing to invest in high-end audio and prefer listening in a quiet space, the Focal Elex offers superb sound quality with an expansive soundstage suitable for an immersive music experience. However, this open-back headphone is not designed for outdoor use or noisy environments as it doesn't isolate sound well. On the other hand, if you're looking for a more affordable, versatile option, the Sennheiser CX300S provides good sound with excellent portability and noise isolation, making it suitable for use on-the-go, during exercise, or while traveling. Neither of these models has a microphone, so if you need to make calls or attend meetings, you may want to consider alternatives with built-in microphones. 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 Focal Elex
- Good for music
- Very good for TV and video
- Good for podcasts and audiobooks
Advantages of the Sennheiser CX300S
- Good for air travel
Key differences
Music
7.7
6.9
The Focal Elex is good for music, while the Sennheiser CX300S is only fair.
Gaming
6.9
6.1
The Focal Elex and Sennheiser CX300S are both only fair for gaming, though the Focal Elex is somewhat better.
Phone Calls
4.3
3.0
The Focal Elex and Sennheiser CX300S are both poor for phone calls, though the Focal Elex is somewhat better.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
7.1
4.7
The Focal Elex is good for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Sennheiser CX300S is poor.
TV and Video
8.3
7.3
The Focal Elex is very good for TV and video, while the Sennheiser CX300S is good.
Noise Reduction
2.5
7.0
The Sennheiser CX300S is good for noise reduction, while the Focal Elex is poor.
Cost
$749
$50
$0
$100
$200
$300
$400
The Focal Elex has a price of $749 and the Sennheiser CX300S costs $50.
Build Quality
9.0
8.0
The Focal Elex has excellent build quality, while the Sennheiser CX300S has very good build quality.
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How the Focal Elex and the Sennheiser CX300S compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Focal Elex | Sennheiser CX300S |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$749 | $50 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Focal | Sennheiser | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | December 1, 2017 | February 1, 2019 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Headphones | Earbuds | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wired | Wired | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 7.8/10 | 7/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 4.4/10 | 3.1/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 6.9/10 | 6.1/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 8.4/10 | 7.4/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 4.3/10 | 4.2/10 | |
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | |||
Active Noise Cancelling | No | No | |
Noise Reduction Score | |||
Noise Reduction Score | 2.5/10 | 7/10 | |
Virtual Surround | |||
Virtual Surround | No | No | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 9/10 | 8/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 8/10 | 7.6/10 | |
Size | |||
Size | N/A | Small | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 450 Grams | 12 Grams | |
Waterproof Rating | |||
Waterproof Rating | 0 | 0 | |
Shopping
Focal Elex
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Dig into reviews and images
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."
Sennheiser CX300S
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Major HiFi
Carroll Moore | April 2019
"Sennheiser offers impressive bang for your buck when it comes to the CX 300S. Built like a tank and sounding surprisingly good for such a budget-minded earphone, the CX 300S out-classes many of its would-be competitors. Functional but beautiful, it’s the perfect in-ear listening solution for anyone who wants to hear everything and look good doing it."
Get a great deal on the Focal Elex or the Sennheiser CX300S
About Sennheiser
A family-owned company, Sennheiser is a German, high fidelity, audio equipment manufacturer founded in 1945. Their consumer audio division is now owned by the Swiss hearing aid and cochlear implant manufacturer Sonova. Sennheiser offers a wide variety of, very high quality, audio equipment solutions, from headphones to earbuds, full sets of monitoring speakers, amplifiers and microphones. They also make what is widely regarded as the best, and most expensive, headphones in existence, the HE-1 Orpheus, costing a whopping $59,000 dollars.
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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
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Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
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