This is a review and comparison of the five different types of aftermarket pads offered by Dekoni for the Focal full size headphone range. I will be using them on the Focal Clear MG, and all observations on the sound are based on that specific headphone. The results will be different with other Focal models.
Dekoni has established itself as the leading supplier of aftermarket quality headphone pads. Since the first batch of pads in 2016, they have been steadily expanding their product line and support an impressively large selection of headphone models, with several variations to choose from for each headphone model.
MATERIALS AND QUALITY
There are three main factors that define the sonic traits of an earpad. The shape, the padding, and the fabric (leather, velour, microfiber, protein leather, PU leather, etc.) all play a part.
The Dekoni pads are, as far as I know, all made using the same memory foam, thus the padding on all Dekoni pads have similar acoustic properties. The foam Dekoni uses is comfortable and durable.
Memory foam is foam that does not immediately come back to its original shape when pressure is released but rebounces slowly. The foam in the stock Focal pads are not memory foam, but it’s softer, so they compress more easily.
When it comes to the outer fabric, Dekoni mostly uses the same variants across headphone models. For the Focal they offer the following:
- All sheepskin
- All fenestrated sheepskin
- All velour
- Hybrid: fenestrated sheepskin on the inside, velour on the face, and full sheepskin on the outside.
- Stellia Custom: All sheepskin except for the inner part of the inside, which is mesh. Every stock Focal pad has this type of mesh on the inner half of the inside.
The material used on the stock Focal MG pads is some sort of microfiber material that feels like felt. The fibers slowly come loose, and the pads look quite shabby after a while. This is not an issue with any of the Dekoni pads.
The Focal headphones use a proprietary attachment system, and Dekoni has replicated this to perfection. They snap on and off at least as confidently as the Focal pads.
Dekoni is the only manufacturer of earpads that systematically measures the frequency response curves of their ear pads. You will find their graphs on the Dekoni website. For some strange reason, Dekoni has chosen to present their graphs in a way that is very unusual, and it makes all differences look a lot bigger than they are.
You can read about how Dekoni Audio came about in their first blog post here
If you’re interested in how they develop and test pads, you can read more here
DEKONI + FOCAL CLEAR MG LISTENING TESTS
In order to get a good impression of how the various pads sound on the Focal Clear MG, I made a short but carefully selected playlist and started listening. There was a lot of pad swapping involved. Luckily, the pads are easy to exchange.
I also used my Elear/Elex with Dekoni fenestrated sheepskin pads mounted as a reference throughout my listening sessions and will mention how the Clear MG compares to the Elex along the way. I have been using a pair of Dekoni fenestrated sheepskin pads on them for years, and I’ll not swap pads on the Elex throughout the comparison, only on the Clear MG. I will refer to the Elear/Elex as the “Dekoni Elex” because it sounds quite different from what it’s like with the stock pads; to my ears, it is significantly better sounding.
First, I will do a track-by-track session, describing each pad for every track. Later, I will summarize my findings for each pair of pads.
I mainly used my two workhorse amplifiers, a pair of Topping A90s. However, I also used the great Sparkos Labs Gemini hybrid tube amplifier and the excellent Mytek Liberty THX AAA Amp, both of which I find to bring out the best in Focal headphones. The choice of amplifier did not affect the pad preferences.
Jambi by Tool
Stock pads – The Elex with Dekoni fenestrated sheepskin is sharper, more sparkly, and slightly sibilant. The Clear MG is softer, more diffuse, and less aggressive sounding, with almost no trace of sibilance. They both have qualities that the other is a bit lacking.
Dekoni Fenestrated Sheepskin – These are the same pads that are on my Dekoni Elex. The Clear MG is still smoother sounding, but with these pads, it’s more focused and tighter sounding. It’s still not sibilant. The Elex is also here more aggressive sounding. With these pads, the Clear MG got the good qualities from the Dekoni Elex and kept the good things from the stock MG version. With the fenestrated sheepskin pads on both, I definitely prefer the MG over the Elex.
Dekoni Sheepskin Pads – With the full, non-fenestrated sheepskin pads, the MG gets a bit more bass than with the fenestrated pads. The treble is drawn a bit back, and it results in a slightly darker sound. It is not a dramatic change, but still significant.
Dekoni Hybrid Pads – With fenestrated skin on the inside, solid leather on the outside, and velour on the face, the hybrid pads should sound like a mix between the fenestrated and the solid skin pads. They indeed sound very similar to the fenestrated pads, especially. Fuller sounding than the Dekoni Elex, but not as full as the MG with sheepskins. I like it.
Dekoni Velour Pads – These are very comfortable. I like how they sound on this track—very smooth and full-bodied yet quite balanced. It’s far from sharp or bright; it’s bassy but not too bassy. The soundstage is intimate.
Dekoni Stellia Custom Pads – These are, like the velour pads, lusher and more mellow than both the stock pads and the fenestrated sheepskin. The vocals are quite laid-back, and the highs are very soft and mellow. There’s a huge difference between this and the Dekoni Elex.
Golden Age by Beck
Stock pads – The Dekoni Elex is crisper, especially noticeable with the guitar, but also with the vocals. The MG feels more polished and relaxed.
Dekoni Fenestrated Sheepskin – The two headphones sound more similar now. However, the Elex is still brighter and crisper, and the Clear MG is still warmer and smoother. With these pads, the MG is tighter, more precise, and has better imaging than with the stock pads.
Dekoni Sheepskin Pads – I think this sounds terrific. Very full-sounding with a punchy bass, clear yet smooth vocals, and a nicely rendered steel string guitar. The Dekoni Elex is more open-sounding; it’s crisper, but also a bit splashy and metallic.
Dekoni Hybrid Pads – The Clear MG sounds very good with these pads. The treble is less crisp and bright than the Fenestrated Elex, the bass is fuller, and the soundstage is more intimate, but I definitely prefer the Clear MG.
Dekoni Velour Pads – With this quite crisp sounding track, these pads make the Clear MG sound very good too. As with the other pads, it’s like a blend between the Dekoni Elex and the MG with stock pads, and I prefer this to them both. The Elex is sharper and brighter, the MG has more bass and is less crisp, but it is more focused than with the stock pads.
Dekoni Stellia Custom Pads – It sounds very nice. The bass is powerful and thick. The vocals are velvet-like.
Lazarus by David Bowie
Stock pads – Even though they sound very similar, the Dekoni Elex is again sharper and crisper, actually more defined, and has more precise imaging. The Clear MG has a softer and more polite sound.
Dekoni Fenestrated Sheepskin – The MG is still smoother than the Elex but is tighter and has better definition than with the stock pads. The Dekoni Elex is still crisper, but the difference isn’t as big as it was. I prefer the lusher and warmer tonality of the MG, although the Dekoni Elex definitely has a nice presentation.
Dekoni Sheepskin Pads – The MG is thicker, fuller, and lusher than with the previous pads. It’s a quite warm and dark-sounding headphone now. It’s very enjoyable; however, the Dekoni Elex sounds more open and crisper in a good way.
Dekoni Hybrid Pads – These pads make the warmth and fullness a bit less prominent than with the full sheepskin pads. Compared to the Dekoni Elex, the MG is again more laid-back in the mids, with vocals that are less energetic but still very present. The bass is also fuller, and the soundstage is more intimate. I personally like the MG a lot with these pads.
Dekoni Velour Pads – There’s a lot more bass than on the Dekoni Elex. It’s much darker and lusher sounding, much more than with the stock pads. I prefer the tighter sounding Dekoni Elex here.
Dekoni Stellia Custom Pads – The bass is very thick. Vocals are present and smooth. These sound very similar to the velour pads.
Come Away With Me by Norah Jones
Stock pads – The Clear MG is smoother and lusher. With the Dekoni Elex, the vocals are much crisper, with more upper midrange energy and more articulate overtones and texture. The piano is softer and gentler with the Clear MG.
Dekoni Fenestrated Sheepskin – Swapping pads on the MG, the vocals are still very different to how they sound with Dekoni Elex; the Clear MG sounds darker and velvet-like. However, the piano and percussion have more definition and sound crisper now compared to the stock pads. Again, I feel like these pads give me the best of both the stock Clear MG and the Dekoni Elex.
Dekoni Sheepskin Pads – The sound is lush and smooth with the sheepskin pads on the Clear MG. It has a very intimate sound, but all the details are there, and I find it to sound very good. The Dekoni Elex is again crisper and more open-sounding, but I prefer the MG; it sounds more natural and enveloping.
Dekoni Hybrid Pads – Norah Jones’ vocals are velvet-like and beautiful. The instruments are nicely rendered, and nothing feels like it’s missing. The Dekoni Elex sounds crisper, drier, more textured, and also more open. Despite these qualities, I prefer the intimate, warmer, and more “musical” way the MG presents this song.
Dekoni Velour Pads – Also here, the velour pads are significantly lusher and warmer than the stock pads. It is not without its charm, but it’s very dark-sounding, far from the Dekoni Elex, which is much crisper with more pronounced vocals and significantly tighter bass.
Dekoni Stellia Custom Pads – The Stellia-type pads resemble the velour pads; the vocals are much thicker and smoother than with the Dekoni Elex; it’s a huge difference, and I find it very coloured.
Yoshimi Fighting the Pink Robots – Part 1 by The Flaming Lips
Stock pads – The Clear MG sounds smoother and more relaxed, the Dekoni Elex is crisper with a slightly blacker background.
Dekoni Fenestrated Sheepskin – The Dekoni Elex is still brighter and crisper, but the MG is now just as tight yet with a warmer and more effortless sound. The Elex has a slightly metallic sounding timbre in the upper mids and treble, which are more natural and organic sounding with the Clear MG.
Dekoni Sheepskin Pads – I think the sheepskin pads really make the Clear MG sound good with this track, definitely better than the Dekoni Elex, which comes off as a bit too bright and crisp. The MG sounds delicious and warm without losing detail.
Dekoni Hybrid Pads – This track certainly benefits from warmer sound, and I prefer the Clear MG, finding the Dekoni Elex too crisp and bright.
Dekoni Velour Pads – There is no denying that these pads are adding a distinct colour to the sound. It sounds bassy and somewhat diffuse, with less clarity and articulation than the Dekoni Elex.
Dekoni Stellia Custom Pads – Sounds dark but quite good, as this track is quite bright. As with the velour pads, the bass is thick and a bit fuzzy, but in an enveloping and nice way.
Summer 3 – Vivaldi Recomposed by Max Richter
Stock pads – With the Dekoni Elex, the strings have more attack and bite, and the texture is more articulate. However, the timbre is a bit metallic sounding compared to the lusher and smoother Clear MG, which sounds more relaxed and effortless.
Dekoni Fenestrated Sheepskin – With these pads, the MG gets more articulated; the strings have more texture, and the imaging gets better. It’s still smoother, darker, and lusher sounding than the Dekoni Elex.
Dekoni Sheepskin Pads – With the sheepskin pads, the bass increases, and the general impression is darker and thicker than with the fenestrated pads. The sound stage is a bit smaller. The Dekoni Elex has more air and slightly better imaging.
Dekoni Hybrid Pads – With these pads, the Clear MG is not as thick and dark as with the pure sheepskin, it sounds quite close to how it was with the fenestrated pads.
Dekoni Velour Pads – At first, I found them to be very dull-sounding, but after a while, I just wanted to listen more and not take the headphones off.
Dekoni Stellia Custom Pads – These sound quite similar to the velour pads, but the bass is a bit off, quite fuzzy and diffuse, especially compared to the significantly tighter Dekoni Elex.
WRAPPING IT UP
CLEAR MG with Stock Pads
The stock Clear MG is relatively lush and polite sounding. When comparing it to the Dekoni Elex, it sounds a bit diffuse and soft. However, it has a nice laid-back tonality and a more natural timbre. The Dekoni Elex is crisper, tighter, and brighter, with more texture and bite. Even though the here’s a lot of fine detail, the MG can sound too polite, with significantly less energy in the upper mids, especially. The imaging is more precise with the Dekoni Elex.
Even though I end up preferring the MG all over, it is often a difficult choice because the Dekoni Elex showcases some major strengths over the MG.
CLEAR MG with Dekoni Fenestrated Sheepskin
When swapping the Clear MG‘s pads for the Dekoni Fenestrated Sheepskin pads, identical to those on the Elex, I basically got the perfect blend of the two headphones. Most of the good things from the Dekoni Elex were transferred in the right dose to the Clear MG without it losing anything significant.
With the Dekoni Fenestrated Sheepskin Pads mounted, I always preferred the Clear MG, even though the brighter and crisper sound of the Dekoni Elex still has its appeal.
MG with Sheepskin Pads
The full sheepskin pads take the MG even further in the direction of more bass and a thicker, lusher, and warmer sound. Mostly, I prefer it to the Dekoni Elex, but certainly not always. The full sheepskin pads can become a bit thicker and richer-sounding than I personally prefer. My first reaction was that it was a bit too much, and even though it sounds good, I do certainly prefer the MG with the fenestrated sheepskin pads.
MG with Hybrid Pads
The hybrid pads are, in sonic terms, the middle way between the fenestrated sheepskin pads and the full sheepskin pads. They are significantly warmer and more full-bodied sounding than the stock pads, but they also feel a bit tighter and have better definition and dynamics, albeit with a more intimate soundstage. I often prefer it over the Dekoni Elex, but not always.
MG with Velour Pads
With these pads, the MG becomes even darker. The midrange is very laid back and velvety, the bass is fuller and thicker, and the treble is more polite. Compared to the Dekoni Elex, there’s an even bigger difference than with the other pads. I prefer the stock pads over these.
MG with Stellia Custom Pads
These are also very thick and dark-sounding, they’re very similar to the velour pads. The Clear MG with the stock pads is significantly brighter, with crisper treble, clearer mids, and a tighter bass. I prefer the stock pads over these.
CONCLUSION
There are significant sound differences among the five types of Dekoni pads tested with the Focal Clear MG, as well as compared to the stock MG pads.
With my ears, my playlists, and the Focal Clear MG, I have found that I can simplify things a bit by dividing the Dekoni pads into three groups:
- Velour and Stellia Custom Pads: The Velour Pads and the Stellia Custom Pads have their charm, but get too dark and wooly for me with the already dark-leaning Clear MG. Sometimes, they are great in a smooth and velvety way; other times, they’re just dark and dull, lacking dynamics and detail. I personally will not recommend either of them for the Clear MG unless you are intentionally searching for that specific tuning. However, these pads do sound very good on the Elex/Elear, which is rather differently tuned and much crisper to begin with.
- Fenestrated Sheepskin and Hybrid Pads: These are my favourite pads. They both have fenestrated sheepskin on the inside, and seemingly that’s enough to make them sound very similar. I find that they are tighter sounding than the stock pads while at the same time sounding warmer, but not darker. The soundstage is less diffuse.
- Sheepskin Pads: The non-fenestrated sheepskin pads sound similar to the fenestrated but have more bass and a warmer tonality without getting too dull. The midrange gets a bit darker than with the stock pads.
All in all, the Dekoni pads that get my recommendation are the Fenestrated Sheepskin Pads and the Hybrid Pads. To me, they sound significantly better than the stock pads, and they will certainly last a lot longer.
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