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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated April 11, 2024·
If exceptional overall sound quality and an immersive music listening experience are your top priorities, and you primarily intend to use them in a quiet environment for activities such as listening to music or watching TV, the Focal Elex headphones are an excellent choice despite the higher price. However, they lack features like a microphone and are not suited for activities like exercise or travel due to their open-back design and poor isolation. In contrast, the Sony MDREX15AP earbuds are far more affordable, portable, and provide better comfort for extended wear, making them a suitable option for casual listening and travel, but they compromise on sound quality and build quality. The Sony earbuds are also sweatproof and have a better fit for exercise use. The decision primarily rests on what you value most in an audio product: the superior sound and open-back design of the Focal Elex or the affordability and portability of the Sony MDREX15AP. 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 Sony MDREX15AP
- Very good for music
- Excellent for TV and video
Key differences
Music
7.7
8.3
The Sony MDREX15AP is very good for music, while the Focal Elex is good.
Phone Calls
4.3
3.5
The Focal Elex and Sony MDREX15AP 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 Sony MDREX15AP is poor.
TV and Video
8.3
9.3
The Sony MDREX15AP is excellent for TV and video, while the Focal Elex is very good.
Noise Reduction
2.5
7.0
The Sony MDREX15AP is good for noise reduction, while the Focal Elex is poor.
Cost
$749
$20
$0
$100
$200
$300
$400
The Focal Elex has a price of $749 and the Sony MDREX15AP costs $20.
Build Quality
9.0
8.0
The Focal Elex has excellent build quality, while the Sony MDREX15AP has very good build quality.
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Key similarities
Gaming
6.9
6.7
The Focal Elex and Sony MDREX15AP are both only fair for gaming.
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How the Focal Elex and the Sony MDREX15AP compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Focal Elex | Sony MDREX15AP |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$749 | $20 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Focal | Sony | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | December 1, 2017 | March 1, 2014 | |
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 | N/A | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 9/10 | 8/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 8/10 | 8.4/10 | |
Size | |||
Size | N/A | Small | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 450 Grams | 3.1 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."
Sony MDREX15AP
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Make It Sound Great
Pete Anthony | June 2022
"At the ultra budget $10 price-point (and we’ve seen the no-mic version go for as cheap as $7), I’d say these are a decent option if you’re looking for a passable pair of earbuds for basic use that’s as cheap as possible. I wouldn’t say they feel or sound as good as some of the ultra-budget alternatives out there – of which there are a few at this point – but some might disagree. I will say though that the cable is a little bit nicer than those of that same competition."
Get a great deal on the Focal Elex or the Sony MDREX15AP
About Sony
Sony is a multinational corporation, based out of Japan, with over 75 years of experience in the consumer electronics industry. In the audio market, Sony has been a trendsetter several times throughout its history. In 1979 they released the first-ever portable music player, the Sony Walkman, followed by the Discman 20 years later. Today, Sony is one of the leaders in the wireless headphone and earbud market, especially in terms of Active Noise Cancellation technology.
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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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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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