Focal's new high-end headphones
French loudspeaker manufacturer Focal has unveiled three new circumaural (over-ear) headphone models that have been four years in the making. Utopia is the flagship model in the new lineup and is priced at £3,250. Said to be designed with the aim of bringing the sound and feeling of listening to the brand’s high-end Utopia loudspeakers, the reference open-back cans have a luxury lambskin leather headband and 40mm pure Beryllium M-shaped dome speaker drivers designed for natural sound in ultra-nearfield listening. It’s supplied with a 4m OFC cable, including a Neutrik 6.35mm stereo jack and two shielded Lemo connectors with self-locking bayonet system.
Next up, Elear costs £800 and is essentially the same open-back design as the Utopia but with 40mm aluminium/magnesium alloy M-shaped dome drivers and a leather headband. It comes supplied with a 4m OFC cable, a 6.35mm stereo jack and two 3.5mm self-locking jacks. Both Utopia and Elear models are built in France.
Lastly, Listen is priced at £150 and is a closed-back design fitted with 40mm Mylar cone with titanium-coated dome speaker drivers and a soft-touch headband. Supplied with a flexible carrying case and an aircraft adapter, a 1.4m cable is also provided with a 3.5mm jack and a bayonet connector locking device. It has an inline omnidirectional microphone and remote control. Find out more by clicking here.
Inside this month's issue:
Pro-Ject Debut EVO 2 turntable, Advance Paris sub-£500 X-i50 BT integrated amp, DALI's stunning Rubikore standmount loudspeakers, Triangle Capella wireless active speakers, EAT's Fortissimo turntable with F-Note tonearm, our headphone Group Test and much, much more... |