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Author Topic: Focal Spirit Professional  (Read 7316 times)

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MuppetFace

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Focal Spirit Professional
« on: January 04, 2014, 12:45:32 PM »
When Focal first got into the headphone game with the Spirit One, I thought they had potential but was underwhelmed in the end. Now they have two new models, the Spirit Professional and Spirit Classic. They're marketed for studio use and as a flagship respectively.

I decided to try the Professional.



-> $350 (the Classic is $400?)
-> Sturdy construction, but not exactly luxurious. Has weirdly textured plastic. The Classic looks nicer to me.
-> Closed. Isolates decently, but nothing spectacular. Easy to travel with though. Easy to drive.
-> Comfortable. The Spirit One was notoriously small. These are bigger.
-> Packaged minimally, but nicely. Comes with a coiled and straight cable and travel pouch.
-> Their sound is fairly neutral.
-> I'm kind of on a darker kick (and prefer my 1st batch, white-driver HE-400 as a result). While these are more linear sounding to me, they aren't at all harsh. Probably the most well balanced sound in a CLOSED 'phone to my ears this side of the Paradox.

In short: Spirit Professional = win

YMMV, IMHO, WTFBBQ.

Now back to playing King's Field... eeeee, skeletons!


« Last Edit: January 04, 2014, 01:10:31 PM by MuppetFace »
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funkmeister

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Re: Focal Spirit Professional
« Reply #1 on: January 04, 2014, 04:53:29 PM »
That plastic texture looks just like the texture on my old Nikon camera.

I'm glad to hear that it sounds so balanced. Details extraction ability?
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Deep Funk

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Re: Focal Spirit Professional
« Reply #2 on: January 04, 2014, 05:58:27 PM »
350 seems a bit much.

I mean think of:
ATH M50
HD 25
HD 280
ATH D40fs
AKG K240
AKG K181/167/267
DT250-80/250
Etcetera...

What is Focal assuming here?
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MuppetFace

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Re: Focal Spirit Professional
« Reply #3 on: January 04, 2014, 06:20:44 PM »
Focal is assuming what plenty of other companies are assuming with their relatively new products, including B&W, B&O, NAD, KEF, etc. Also Sennheiser with their Momentums and AKG with their K550s. That is, that folks are willing to pay $250-400 for a pair of stylish closed headphones with an establish brand name.

And they're right.

They just happen to also sound really good, too. Personally I'd take a pair of these over an M50 or K240 or HD25 or Momentum or K550 in a heartbeat.

Detail extraction seems pretty good. Not sure how these scale with amplification, as I've been using them straight from my Walkman. I'm glad Focal didn't punch up the treble to make them seem more detailed.
« Last Edit: January 04, 2014, 06:32:43 PM by MuppetFace »
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Deep Funk

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Re: Focal Spirit Professional
« Reply #4 on: January 04, 2014, 06:38:09 PM »
Point taken. Value for money can also be value for more money.

Did one Focal Professional go to Innerfidelity?
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munch

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Re: Focal Spirit Professional
« Reply #5 on: January 04, 2014, 07:31:55 PM »
exciting, they look quite nice and sturdy to me. will these go out for purrin measurements?

thanks for sharing
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ader

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Re: Focal Spirit Professional
« Reply #6 on: January 04, 2014, 08:17:32 PM »
Quote from: Deep Funk on January 04, 2014, 05:58:27 PM
350 seems a bit much.

I mean think of:
ATH M50
HD 25
HD 280
ATH D40fs
AKG K240
AKG K181/167/267
DT250-80/250
Etcetera...

What is Focal assuming here?

What's every amp maker except Mayflower and JDS Labs assuming?  What's every shoe brand who doesn't sell to Payless assuming?

What is anyone here who isn't xnor assuming when they make a purchase?

(Sorry, I just find this train of thought annoying and unproductive >_> .  Especially since Mupps is clearly indicating they're quality and I'm prone to believe she knows quality...)
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CEE TEE

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Re: Focal Spirit Professional
« Reply #7 on: January 04, 2014, 08:30:14 PM »
Thanks for impressions, I have almost pulled the trigger on these a couple of times.  I have three pairs of closed phones that I might like to trade for a pair of these if they are as neutral as reported...would love to hear them!
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Maxvla

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Re: Focal Spirit Professional
« Reply #8 on: January 05, 2014, 12:36:34 AM »
Looks like the same round joints that liked to give out on the Spirit One.
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MuppetFace

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Re: Focal Spirit Professional
« Reply #9 on: January 05, 2014, 02:10:34 AM »
Quote from: Maxvla on January 05, 2014, 12:36:34 AM
Looks like the same round joints that liked to give out on the Spirit One.

These don't fold flat, so the joints are reinforced more than on the Spirit One. The build quality is definitely better, though it's still not "great." The Classic however looks really nice I think.
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