There are a lot of good headphone companies out there along with a few bad ones. Why did we choose to bring on Focal as our favorite brand of headphone? A bunch of reasons but here's a few.
The Headphone Sound Signature
Got an e-bike and an analog bike? How about 2 cars? Longboard and shortboard? You might have different bikes, surfboards, cars and other wonderful objects BECAUSE you enjoy the different experience that these varied toys provide you with. If you have a Road House-style monster truck (not the horrible re-make but the 1980s version), it gets you to work the same way your Prius does BUT they are entirely different events.
If you love music, listening to your favorite tunes with headphones can be a completely different experience than enjoying the same content with your stereo system. Check out headphones for:
Exceptional imaging: Check out Depeche Mode's "Blasphemous Rumours" or Pink Floyd's "Money" to hear these tracks in a totally different way. You'll hear sound moving around your head and passing from ear-to-ear in a way that is virtually impossible with conventional speaker systems.
Amazing Clarity: Your listening room is a big factor in contributing to reduced clarity and incoherent vocals with music and movies. With headphones, you take the room out of the equation and may never utter "What did the guy say?" again when watching Netflix.
Fantastic Sound Quality and Clarity
Focal headphones are highly regarded in the audiophile and high-fidelity communities, and people generally buy them for a combination of reasons focused on premium sound quality, innovative technology, and luxurious craftsmanship. People like:
Proprietary Drivers: Focal uses unique, high-end materials and designs for its speaker drivers, such as Pure Beryllium or Magnesium 'M'-shaped domes. These materials are incredibly lightweight and rigid, which allows the drivers to move quickly and accurately, resulting in:
Exceptional Detail and Resolution: They are known for their ability to reveal subtle nuances and textures in music.
Wide Dynamic Range: The sound is lively and engaging, with impressive contrast between soft and loud passages.
Tonal Accuracy: Many models are praised for their natural and realistic sound signature, particularly in the midrange.
Premium and Luxurious Build Quality
"Made in France" Engineering: Ever watch "This Is England" and remember when the shoe salesperson says "These are special and they're from London...". Maybe that was a gimmick but the manufacture of these headphones is not. Many of their high-end models are designed and assembled in France, reflecting a commitment to strict quality control and acoustic research.
High-End Materials: Many of Focal's models utilize premium, durable materials like genuine leather, full-grain leather, forged carbon fiber and aluminum for the earcups, headbands and yokes. This ensures comfort, a luxurious aesthetic and pride-of-ownership.
Comfort: Despite often being heavier than consumer headphones, the ergonomic design and quality of the earpads (often perforated memory foam or microfiber) ensure comfort for long listening sessions. Got a big head? I have a big head. I have no problem or discomfort wearing these for long periods of time.
Varied Technologies Across the Lineup
Focal offers a range of headphones for different listening scenarios, from flagship open-back models to high-fidelity wireless ones:
Open-Back (e.g., Utopia, Clear MG): Known for a wide, airy soundstage that is more like listening to speakers in a room. Ideal for home, critical listening.
Closed-Back (e.g., Stellia): Designed to offer high-end, detailed sound while providing noise isolation and minimal sound leakage.
Wireless ANC (e.g., Bathys): Offers Focal's signature sound quality with modern features like Active Noise Cancellation (ANC), Bluetooth, and a built-in USB-DAC mode for high-resolution wired listening.
Key Models and Their Strengths
Utopia: Buy these if you have $$$ and want to hear every ounce of detail and clarity from your favorite artists. As our Project Manager Mark said "Listening to these, the music is in my head. With the step down models, it is on my head." Open-back design so best in a quiet room. Pure beryllium 'M'-shaped dome driver. Carbon yoke. Leather premium ear-pads and headband. Flagship sound. 5 Hz-23 kHz.
Stellia: Buy these if you have $$$, have 7 kids and want to hear wonderful detail and clarity from your favorite artists while shutting out the outside world and the requests of your 7 chlldren for a short time. Closed-back design to take you away from the world. Pure beryllium driver. Leather premium ear-pads and headband. Slightly more sensitive than Utopia. 5 Hz-23 kHz.
Clear MG: Buy these if you want to experience the clarity and realism of high-end audio on a headphone budget. These are at a spot in their line-up where we started saying "WHOA" when listening. Open-back. magnesium 'M'-shaped dome driver, excellent clarity and detail.
Bathys: Buy these if you want wireless headphones for your TV or mobile sources. Closed-back. Wireless with ANC and a built-in high-resolution USB-DAC.
In short, you buy Focal headphones if you are an audiophile or serious music enthusiast who prioritizes technical performance, revealing clarity, punchy dynamics and luxurious design in their listening experience. They are an investment in long-term, high-fidelity audio enjoyment. We love them and think you will as well!
We are Focal headphone dealers in San Diego and in the following local areas:
San Diego County - Kensington – Coronado - Hillcrest - Mission Valley - Fashion Valley - El Cajon - Blossom Valley - La Mesa - North Park - Balboa Park – Clairemont - Kearny Mesa - Mission Bay - Mission Beach - Pacific Beach - La Jolla - Ocean Beach - Point Loma - Downtown San Diego - North San Diego County – Carlsbad - San Marcos – Vista - Elfin Forest – Oceanside – Escondido – Encinitas – Cardiff - Solana Beach - Del Mar – Cielo - The Bridges - The Crosby - The Lakes - Torrey Pines - Alta Del Mar - Carmel Mountain - Carmel Valley - Fairbanks Ranch - Rancho Santa Fe - 4S Ranch – Santaluz -– Poway - Rancho Bernardo. Riverside County – Murrieta – Wildomar – Temecula – Fallbrook – Bonsall – Builders – Pardee - Shea – Lennar - Lars