Focal launches new line of high-end headphones
French loudspeaker manufacturer Focal, renowned for its exclusive speaker driver technology, unveiled its Utopia and Elear headphones that features major innovations in acoustic components and mechanical design.
These headphones embody Focal’s core values, by combining Focal’s exclusive and innovative technology, audio performance and the brand’s own design codes. It coincided with the inauguration of Focal’s brand new production line at its site in Saint-Etienne, France which will be entirely dedicated to manufacturing Elear and Utopia headphones.
Focal challenged itself when it began conceiving the Utopia and Elear headphone project with the goal of offering an audio experience worthy of the brand’s high-fidelity loudspeakers and to do this, Focal designed the various components in these headphones very differently to other players in the market.
One can immediately sense is the extent of the open design of these two products. There is no perceptive change in terms of room size, creating a realistic sound from these two head- phones.
Ergonomically, Focal’s mechanical engineers and the designers made sure the user comfort for these headphones is a priority. For audiophiles who listen for many hours, comfort is an issue so Focal focused on designing a headband with a constant bend, regardless of the size of the user’s head size. This spreads the weight of the headphones evenly over the head to avoid the feeling of pressure on the head or ears, which is all too often the case with other products.
The yoke developed for these two projects is also very impressive, both in terms of purity of the design and in terms of comfort. This, the yoke doesn’t have traditional vertically rotating mechanics, as this has been integrated into the headband. In addition to this, the asymmetry of the attachment points connecting the yoke to the ear-piece improves the distribution of clamping pressure and ensures excellent sealing and great comfort.
Utopia headphones are Focal’s flagship product. The sound quality is striking in terms of realism, neutrality, dynamics and clarity. The user will forget the headphones are even there, and the reproduction of the audio signal is of unrivalled clarity. Particular attention has been paid to the design in terms of types of use, comfort and overall aesthetics. The true lambskin leather used for the ear cushions and headband emphasizes the sleek design, the high performance and the comfort of Utopia, and creates a sense of elegance.
Elear on the other hand, are considered as the brand’s audiophile headphones. In essence, they are the same as Utopia headphones when it comes to the loudspeaker design and mechanics. The solid aluminum yoke gives these headphones a remarkably smooth seamless design. The microfibre ear cushions provide the user with maximum comfort, an essential quality for long sessions.