Sennheiser HD 820 vs Focal Elegia: Which Headphones Are Better? - RTINGS.com

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Products

Sennheiser HD 820

Focal Elegia

Tested using Methodology v1.3.1

Updated Mar 05, 2026 08:49 PM

Tested using Methodology v1.3.1

Updated Mar 03, 2026 09:17 PM

Sennheiser HD 820 Picture

Focal Elegia Picture

TypeOver-ear

EnclosureClosed-Back

Noise CancellingNo

WirelessNo

TransducerDynamic

MicNo

TypeOver-ear

EnclosureClosed-Back

Noise CancellingNo

WirelessNo

TransducerDynamic

MicNo

Our Verdict

Sennheiser HD 820

Focal Elegia

Because of the disappointing performance of the Sennheiser HD 820 for their price, the Focal Elegia might be a better choice for most people. They are better-built than the Sennheisers and are as comfortable. On the other hand, the Sennheisers have better sound quality and perform closer to our target curve than the Focal, but at their extremely high price point, you could probably find something similar in performance, but at a cheaper price, like the Focal.

Variants

HD 820

Elegia (Black/Silver)

Review

See Sennheiser HD 820 Review

See Focal Elegia Review

Check Price

Standard

HD 820

Black/Silver

Elegia

Standard

HD 820

Black/Silver

Elegia

Standard

HD 820

Black/Silver

Elegia

Standard

HD 820

Black/Silver

Elegia

Standard

HD 820

Black/Silver

Elegia

Main Differences for

Mixed Usage

Threshold

0.10

Mixed Usage

0.0

0.0

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Full Comparison

Mixed Usage

0.0

0.0

Neutral Sound

0.0

0.0

Commute/Travel

0.0

0.0

Sports/Fitness

0.0

0.0

Office

0.0

0.0

Wireless Gaming

0.0

0.0

Wired Gaming

0.0

0.0

Phone Call

0.0

0.0

Design

Style

Design Picture 2

Sennheiser HD 820 Design Picture 2 Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Focal Elegia Design Picture 2 Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Type

Locked

Locked

Enclosure

Locked

Locked

Wireless

Locked

Locked

Transducer

Locked

Locked

Show Text

Comfort

N/A

N/A

Comfort Picture

Sennheiser HD 820 Comfort Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Focal Elegia Comfort Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Weight

Lock lbs

Lock lbs

Clamping Force

Lock lbs

Lock lbs

Show Text

Controls

N/A

N/A

Controls Picture

Sennheiser HD 820 Controls Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Focal Elegia Controls Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

OS Compatibility

Locked

Locked

Ease Of Use

N/A

N/A

Feedback

N/A

N/A

Call/Music Control

Locked

Locked

Volume Control

Locked

Locked

Microphone Control

N/A

N/A

Channel Mixing

N/A

N/A

Noise Cancelling Control

N/A

N/A

Talk-Through

N/A

N/A

Additional Buttons

N/A

N/A

Show Text

Breathability

N/A

N/A

Breathability After Picture

Sennheiser HD 820 Breathability After Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Focal Elegia Breathability After Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Avg.Temp.Difference

Lock °C

Lock °C

Show Text

Portability

N/A

N/A

Portability Picture

Sennheiser HD 820 Portability Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Focal Elegia Portability Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

L

Lock"

Lock"

W

Lock"

Lock"

H

Lock"

Lock"

Volume

Lock in³

Lock in³

Transmitter Required

N/A

N/A

Show Text

Case

N/A

N/A

Case Picture

Sennheiser HD 820 Case Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Focal Elegia Case Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Type

Locked

Locked

L

N/A

Lock"

W

N/A

Lock"

H

N/A

Lock"

Volume

N/A

Lock in³

Show Text

Build Quality

N/A

N/A

Build Quality Picture

Sennheiser HD 820 Build Quality Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Focal Elegia Build Quality Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Show Text

Stability

N/A

N/A

Stability Picture

Sennheiser HD 820 Stability Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Focal Elegia Stability Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Show Text

Headshots 1

Angled Picture

Sennheiser HD 820 Angled Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Focal Elegia Angled Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Side Picture

Sennheiser HD 820 Side Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Focal Elegia Side Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Headshots 2

Front Picture

Sennheiser HD 820 Front Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Focal Elegia Front Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Rear Picture

Sennheiser HD 820 Rear Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Focal Elegia Rear Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Top

Top Picture

Sennheiser HD 820 Top Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Focal Elegia Top Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

In The Box

In the box Picture

Sennheiser HD 820 In the box Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Focal Elegia In the box Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Show Text

Sound

Sound Profile

Frequency Response

Sennheiser HD 820 Frequency Response Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Focal Elegia Frequency Response Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Bass Amount

Lock dB

Lock dB

Treble Amount

Lock dB

Lock dB

Frequency Response Consistency

N/A

N/A

Consistency L

Sennheiser HD 820 Consistency L Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Focal Elegia Consistency L Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Consistency R

Sennheiser HD 820 Consistency R Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Focal Elegia Consistency R Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Avg. Std. Deviation

Lock dB

Lock dB

Show Text

Raw Frequency Response

Raw FR L

Sennheiser HD 820 Raw FR L Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Focal Elegia Raw FR L Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Raw FR R

Sennheiser HD 820 Raw FR R Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Focal Elegia Raw FR R Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Bass Accuracy

N/A

N/A

Bass

Sennheiser HD 820 Bass Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Focal Elegia Bass Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Std. Err.

Lock dB

Lock dB

Low-Frequency Extension

Lock Hz

Lock Hz

Low-Bass

Lock dB

Lock dB

Mid-Bass

Lock dB

Lock dB

High-Bass

Lock dB

Lock dB

Show Text

Mid Accuracy

N/A

N/A

Mid

Sennheiser HD 820 Mid Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Focal Elegia Mid Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Std. Err.

Lock dB

Lock dB

Low-Mid

Lock dB

Lock dB

Mid-Mid

Lock dB

Lock dB

High-Mid

Lock dB

Lock dB

Show Text

Treble Accuracy

N/A

N/A

Treble

Sennheiser HD 820 Treble Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Focal Elegia Treble Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Std. Err.

Lock dB

Lock dB

Low-Treble

Lock dB

Lock dB

Mid-Treble

Lock dB

Lock dB

High-Treble

Lock dB

Lock dB

Show Text

Peaks/Dips

N/A

N/A

Peaks/Dips Graph

Sennheiser HD 820 Peaks/Dips Graph Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Focal Elegia Peaks/Dips Graph Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Peaks

Lock dB

Lock dB

Dips

Lock dB

Lock dB

Imaging

N/A

N/A

Group Delay

Sennheiser HD 820 Group Delay Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Focal Elegia Group Delay Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Phase Response

Sennheiser HD 820 Phase Response Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Focal Elegia Phase Response Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Weighted Group Delay

Lock

Lock

Weighted Amplitude Mismatch

Lock

Lock

Weighted Frequency Mismatch

Lock

Lock

Weighted Phase Mismatch

Lock

Lock

Show Text

Soundstage

N/A

N/A

PRTF

Sennheiser HD 820 PRTF Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Focal Elegia PRTF Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

PRTF Accuracy (Std. Dev.)

Lock dB

Lock dB

PRTF Size (Avg.)

Lock dB

Lock dB

PRTF Distance

Lock dB

Lock dB

Openness

0.0

0.0

Acoustic Space Excitation

0.0

0.0

Show Text

Weighted Harmonic Distortion

N/A

N/A

Weighted Harmonic Distortion

Sennheiser HD 820 Weighted Harmonic Distortion Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Focal Elegia Weighted Harmonic Distortion Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

WHD @ 90

Lock

Lock

WHD @ 100

Lock

Lock

Isolation

Noise Isolation

N/A

N/A

Noise Isolation

Sennheiser HD 820 Noise Isolation Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Focal Elegia Noise Isolation Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Isolation Audio

Overall Attenuation

Lock dB

Lock dB

Noise Cancelling

Locked

Locked

Bass

Lock dB

Lock dB

Mid

Lock dB

Lock dB

Treble

Lock dB

Lock dB

Show Text

Leakage

N/A

N/A

Leakage

Sennheiser HD 820 Leakage Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Focal Elegia Leakage Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Leakage Audio

Overall Leakage @ 1ft

Lock dB

Lock dB

Show Text

Microphone

Microphone Style

Integrated

N/A

N/A

In-line

N/A

N/A

Boom

N/A

N/A

Detachable Boom

N/A

N/A

Mic

Locked

Locked

Show Text

Recording Quality

N/A

N/A

Microphone Frequency Response

Sennheiser HD 820 Microphone Frequency Response Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Focal Elegia Microphone Frequency Response Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Recorded Speech

LFE

N/A

N/A

FR Std. Dev.

N/A

N/A

HFE

N/A

N/A

Weighted THD

N/A

N/A

Gain

N/A

N/A

Show Text

Noise Handling

N/A

N/A

SpNR

Sennheiser HD 820 SpNR Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Focal Elegia SpNR Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Speech + Pink Noise

Speech + Subway Noise

SpNR

N/A

N/A

Show Text

Active Features

Battery

N/A

N/A

Battery Type

N/A

N/A

Continuous Battery Life

N/A

N/A

Additional Charges

N/A

N/A

Total Battery Life

N/A

N/A

Charge Time

N/A

N/A

Power Saving Feature

N/A

N/A

Audio While Charging

N/A

N/A

Passive Playback

N/A

N/A

Charging Port

N/A

N/A

Show Text

App Support

N/A

N/A

App Picture

Sennheiser HD 820 App Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Focal Elegia App Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

App Name

N/A

N/A

iOS

N/A

N/A

Android

N/A

N/A

macOS

N/A

N/A

Windows

N/A

N/A

Equalizer

N/A

N/A

ANC Control

N/A

N/A

Mic Control

N/A

N/A

Room effects

N/A

N/A

Playback Control

N/A

N/A

Button Mapping

N/A

N/A

Surround Sound

N/A

N/A

Show Text

Connectivity

Bluetooth

N/A

N/A

Bluetooth Version

N/A

N/A

Multi-Device Pairing

N/A

N/A

NFC Pairing

N/A

N/A

Line of Sight Range

N/A

N/A

Default Latency

N/A

N/A

aptX Latency

N/A

N/A

aptX(LL) Latency

N/A

N/A

Show Text

Non-Bluetooth Wireless

N/A

N/A

Non-BT Line of Sight Range

N/A

N/A

Non-BT Latency

N/A

N/A

Wired

N/A

N/A

Cable Picture

Sennheiser HD 820 Cable Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Focal Elegia Cable Picture Sample

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Analog Audio

Locked

Locked

USB Audio

Locked

Locked

Detachable

Locked

Locked

Length

Lock ft

Lock ft

Connection

Locked

Locked

Wired Latency

Lock ms

Lock ms

Show Text

PC / PS4 Compatibility

PC / PS4 Analog

Locked

Locked

PC / PS4 Wired USB

Locked

Locked

PC / PS4 Non-BT Wireless

Locked

Locked

Xbox One Compatibility

Xbox One Analog

Locked

Locked

Xbox One Wired USB

Locked

Locked

Xbox One Wireless

Locked

Locked

Base/Dock

N/A

N/A

Type

N/A

N/A

USB Input

N/A

N/A

Line In

N/A

N/A

Line Out

N/A

N/A

Optical Input

N/A

N/A

RCA Input

N/A

N/A

Dock Charging

N/A

N/A

Power Supply

N/A

N/A

Show Text

Check Price

Standard

HD 820

Black/Silver

Elegia

Standard

HD 820

Black/Silver

Elegia

Standard

HD 820

Black/Silver

Elegia

Standard

HD 820

Black/Silver

Elegia

Standard

HD 820

Black/Silver

Elegia

Sennheiser HD 820

Focal Elegia

Comments

Comparison

• Posted 2 years ago

Sennheiser HD 820 vs Focal Elegia: Main Discussion

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