Top positive review
5.0 out of 5 starsMind blowing sound quality for the money
Reviewed in the United States on September 11, 2017
i've worked in the electronics business for over twenty years, and as most people know, there are brackets of performance relative to your hard earned dollar.i'm an avid audiophile who's spent (entirely too much) time and money, plus connections and discounts on gear over the years lol
so i was surprised at first that Focal has a product in this price range ($200-$400), as they're really known for top shelf quality and outstanding, balanced sound.
i was really in need of closed back cans and there's not a lot out there considering my demands. i was resigned to buying the Oppo PM-3 at $400, as i passed on the AKG, Sennheiser, BeyerDynamic, Hi-FiMan, and Audioquest.
the Bose, Phillips, AudioTechnica, and Sony were out of the question. those were typically not enough for too much, but the Sony was the best of that bunch.
so i was *delighted* that the Focal were $250, i figured i'd spent as much on a bad weekend (especially if tickets were involved).
in general, any kind of speaker needs a "break in" (or Burn in) anywhere from 10 hours to 2 weeks, depending on how often they're played.
this headset, "Listen" by Focal, was impressive at first use. the headband is sturdy, but flexible, the ear cups are large enough to fit my jug ears (just barely) with very soft, very comfortable "magic stuff" memory foam or what have you. they are *not* sweaty. and the clamping force is firm, but not harsh, plus i have a big head.
all music i played was at 24/192, whether through the phone (ok, but not as good) or the laptop (drop jaw amaze). the Focals are not particularly hard to drive - the phone worked fine, but the fancy amp in the laptop was clearly better. but even on phones, other cans have the same or worse problems. these Focals are worth getting a small amp for just for that extra clarity and dynamics. i played the remastered "London Calling" by the Clash, Dire Straights "Love Over Gold", "Full Moon Fever" by Tom Petty, "Ex_EL" by 808 State, "Brown Sugar" by D'Angelo, "Station To Station" by David Bowie,"Deadwing" by Porcupine Tree, "Close To The Edge" by Yes, "West Ryder Lunatic Asylum" by Kasabian, "Things Fall Apart" by The Roots, "Talking Book" by Stevie Wonder, "More Songs About Buildings And Food" by The Talking Heads, "Tweekend" by the Crystal Method, and "Elephant" by The White Stripes.
there was *no* sibilance, harshness, or muddy bass.
the bass was rich but amazingly tight and supple. the overall tone was very balanced with zero added mid-bass bump...these drivers will go down deep, but not artificially so. perfect for budget mastering headphones.
if it's on the recording, the "Listen" by Focal will deliver it to you with more accuracy, clarity, and spaciousness than any headphone with cell phone controls under $400.00
sorry Oppo and Hi-FiMan, these are exciting and engaging with a similar performance for $150.00 less