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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated April 11, 2024·
If you value an immersive listening experience for music with a wide soundstage, the open-back Focal Elex headphones may be the right choice, but their open design is not ideal for noisy environments or commuting. They are also bulkier, require a cable, and might not be as portable. In contrast, the Sennheiser IE600 earbuds, although closed back and offering excellent overall sound quality, might not have as expansive a soundstage as the Elex, but they offer better portability and noise isolation, making them suitable for a range of environments. Neither option supports wireless connectivity or active noise cancelling, and both provide high build quality but lack a high-quality microphone, which could be an issue if you take many calls or meetings. 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 podcasts and audiobooks
Advantages of the Sennheiser IE600
- Very good for music
- Excellent for TV and video
Key differences
Music
7.7
8.3
The Sennheiser IE600 is very good for music, while the Focal Elex is good.
Phone Calls
4.3
3.5
The Focal Elex and Sennheiser IE600 are both poor for phone calls, though the Focal Elex is somewhat better.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
7.1
5.4
The Focal Elex is good for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Sennheiser IE600 is poor.
TV and Video
8.3
9.3
The Sennheiser IE600 is excellent for TV and video, while the Focal Elex is very good.
Noise Reduction
2.5
7.0
The Sennheiser IE600 is good for noise reduction, while the Focal Elex is poor.
Cost
$749
$500
$200
$250
$300
$350
$400
The Focal Elex has a price of $749 and the Sennheiser IE600 costs $500.
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Key similarities
Gaming
6.9
6.7
The Focal Elex and Sennheiser IE600 are both only fair for gaming.
Build Quality
9.0
9.0
The Focal Elex and Sennheiser IE600 both have excellent build quality.
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How the Focal Elex and the Sennheiser IE600 compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Focal Elex | Sennheiser IE600 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$749 | $500 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Focal | Sennheiser | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | December 1, 2017 | June 1, 2022 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Headphones | Earbuds | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wired | Wired | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 7.8/10 | 8.3/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 4.4/10 | 3.5/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 6.9/10 | 6.8/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 8.4/10 | 9.3/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 4.3/10 | 4.6/10 | |
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 | |
Mic Quality | |||
Mic Quality | N/A | 2.5/10 | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 9/10 | 9/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 8/10 | 8.4/10 | |
Size | |||
Size | N/A | Large | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 450 Grams | 6 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 IE600
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Soundguys
Jasper Lastoria | August 2023
"If you've got the bucks, the Sennheiser IE 600 is a nice, upscale set of in-ear monitors made of a lightweight metal with an unusual texture. It comes with a suite of extras, and performs well at virtually every task."
Get a great deal on the Focal Elex or the Sennheiser IE600
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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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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