A comparison of specs, key information, reviews, and best pricing from top retailers
Last updated -- hours ago | Report incorrect information
Company ProductName Specs
Company ProductName Specs
What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
If sound quality is paramount, the Focal Elex, with its open-back design, offers a superior listening experience especially in terms of soundstage, but it's not suitable for use in noisy environments due to poor isolation. The Sennheiser HD 400S, being closed-back and less expensive, provides a good balance between quality and value, with better portability, and it's well-suited for calls and meetings due to a high mic quality. The HD 400S is also a more versatile choice for gaming, TV, and video with good imaging and lower latency. However, if you prefer the utmost audio fidelity and have a higher budget, the Elex may be more appealing, despite its lesser suitability for noisy environments and lower portability. Both require wires, so if wireless options are desired, neither would fit the bill. 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
- Very good for TV and video
Advantages of the Sennheiser HD 400S
- Very good for phone calls
- Very good for gaming
- Good for air travel
Key differences
Music
7.7
7.1
The Focal Elex and Sennheiser HD 400S are both good for music, though the Focal Elex is somewhat better.
Gaming
6.9
8.6
The Sennheiser HD 400S is very good for gaming, while the Focal Elex is only fair.
Phone Calls
4.3
8.2
The Sennheiser HD 400S is very good for phone calls, while the Focal Elex is poor.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
7.1
7.6
The Sennheiser HD 400S and Focal Elex are both good for podcasts and audiobooks, though the Sennheiser HD 400S is somewhat better.
TV and Video
8.3
7.6
The Focal Elex is very good for TV and video, while the Sennheiser HD 400S is good.
Noise Reduction
2.5
5.3
The Sennheiser HD 400S and Focal Elex are both poor for noise reduction, though the Sennheiser HD 400S is somewhat better.
Cost
$749
$50
$0
$100
$200
$300
$400
The Focal Elex has a price of $749 and the Sennheiser HD 400S costs $50.
Build Quality
9.0
8.5
The Focal Elex has excellent build quality, while the Sennheiser HD 400S has very good build quality.
Let Us Help Find Your Perfect Headphones
Find your new headphones
Give feedback
We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Focal Elex and the Sennheiser HD 400S compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Focal Elex | Sennheiser HD 400S |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$749 | $50 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Focal | Sennheiser | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | December 1, 2017 | January 1, 2019 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Headphones | Headphones | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wired | Wired | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 7.8/10 | 7.2/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 4.4/10 | 8.2/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 6.9/10 | 8.7/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 8.4/10 | 7.7/10 | |
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 | 5.3/10 | |
Virtual Surround | |||
Virtual Surround | No | No | |
Mic Quality | |||
Mic Quality | N/A | 8.5/10 | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 9/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 8/10 | 8.4/10 | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 450 Grams | 213 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | N/A | Integrated | |
Waterproof Rating | |||
Waterproof Rating | 0 | 0 | |
Shopping
Focal Elex
See more
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 HD 400S
See more
Dig into reviews and images
Headphone Dungeon
Jim | August 2022
"Sennheiser has done it again. The HD 400S performs well beyond its price range and is one of the better budget model headphones I’ve tried. It has very few bells and whistles and offers a simple means of listening that still delivers amazing clarity and quality. If you need a good first pair of headphones or need something that you can take out of the house, then the HD 400S is definitely for you."
Get a great deal on the Focal Elex or the Sennheiser HD 400S
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.
Give feedback
We're constantly perfecting our model
Earbuds or Headphones guides you might be interested in
More comparisons for you
FAQs
FAQs about earbuds and headphones
Why trust us
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.
By the numbers
108
Earbuds and headphones evaluated
11,340
Earbuds and headphones stats compiled
15
Proprietary Earbuds and headphones ratings developed
122,600
Recommendations made
18,390
Consumer hours saved
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.
Jason Lew
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Jason is a staff expert and software engineer that has been making laptop recommendations for 7 years and moderates one of the largest laptop subreddits.
Chandradeep Chowdhury
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.
Luis Torres
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.
Featured in
