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Author Topic: Focal Spirit Pro  (Read 7000 times)

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Marvey

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Re: Focal Spirit Pro
« Reply #10 on: April 15, 2014, 05:16:48 AM »
Yup, that's how I heard them. Warmish laid back sound with the exception of a small area of forwardness at 5-6k. They sound a lot like the some of the big Focal speakers, for better or for worse. I know a few of you guys have heard the big Focal speakers, so that's why I mention them.


The comfort is horrible. In comparison the Momentums (which simply did not fit me), the FSPs do fit me, albeit in a very very painful way. These Germans and Frenchmen need to understand that most people from other nations around the world do not have small ears.
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CEE TEE

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Re: Focal Spirit Pro
« Reply #11 on: April 15, 2014, 05:39:21 AM »
We may need a clamping force mod.  Sorry if my approval of the FSP has smashed anyone's ears. I will be trying to figure out how to keep mine around! 
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mkubota1

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Re: Focal Spirit Pro
« Reply #12 on: April 15, 2014, 08:29:56 AM »
Quote from: TMRaven on April 15, 2014, 12:52:30 AM
I actually don't mind the comfort/clamp too much considering their small earcup size because of the memory foam pads (which get warm and mold to your ears over time).

I also found that warming up the pads helps quite a bit.  When I first got mine, I tried the ol' bending the headband (top rubber-coated part) a bit.  Although it feels like there is a metal band underneath there, the plastic on the outer sides sort of made me nervous.  The bending helped comfort a little bit.  My bigger issue is actually a hotspot from the thinly padded headband.  I find if I move it to a different part of my head (more forward), it's not that bad.

Here is what I did to stretch my HD600s that I just got.  I leave it like that for a day or two.  It also works for the 650 of course.



BTW, if I tap fairly hard on my left ear cup I can hear a vibration that sounds like a loose wire or spring.  Does anyone else get that?  I ran some sweeps through the headphones at various dbs and don't hear anything that sounds like it shouldn't be there.  So I'm not too bothered by it.  But you know...
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Hands

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Re: Focal Spirit Pro
« Reply #13 on: April 15, 2014, 10:11:38 AM »
I'm not sure I've found a single headphone that doesn't hurt the top of my head. This includes a softened-up HD598 that I also stretched out to nearly eliminate clamping force. CAL! also hurts, and it's almost too light to put pressure on the top of your head. I am broken.

Quote from: marvey on April 15, 2014, 05:16:48 AM
The comfort is horrible. In comparison the Momentums (which simply did not fit me), the FSPs do fit me, albeit in a very very painful way. These Germans and Frenchmen need to understand that most people from other nations around the world do not have small ears.

Hey now, my family heritage is almost entirely German, and we're tall with big ears. :P
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funkmeister

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Re: Focal Spirit Pro
« Reply #14 on: April 15, 2014, 11:07:35 AM »
Quote from: hans030390 on April 15, 2014, 10:11:38 AM
I'm not sure I've found a single headphone that doesn't hurt the top of my head.
That's 'cuz you haven't tried the AKG K 272 HD. Most comfortable I've ever put on my head. Though the HD598 wasn't bad and sounded more detailed and richer, the K272 has not been beat for me in terms of comfort.
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Thujone

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Re: Focal Spirit Pro
« Reply #15 on: April 15, 2014, 11:29:38 AM »
IME, reducing clamping pressure just increases pressure on top of the head.
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AustinValentine

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Re: Focal Spirit Pro
« Reply #16 on: April 15, 2014, 03:37:23 PM »
Quote from: mkubota1 on April 15, 2014, 08:29:56 AM
I also found that warming up the pads helps quite a bit.  When I first got mine, I tried the ol' bending the headband (top rubber-coated part) a bit.  Although it feels like there is a metal band underneath there, the plastic on the outer sides sort of made me nervous.  The bending helped comfort a little bit.  My bigger issue is actually a hotspot from the thinly padded headband.  I find if I move it to a different part of my head (more forward), it's not that bad.

The problem with doing a headband stretch is...well...the headband construction isn't that great. I opened the headband up on my Head-Fi review. http://www.head-fi.org/products/focal-spirit-professional/reviews/10488 The headband will snap at the seams if you try to spread them out too much.

Loved these headphones and I'm still trying to find a good mobile replacement. I just couldn't keep wearing them because of the fit.
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Hands

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Re: Focal Spirit Pro
« Reply #17 on: April 15, 2014, 05:22:08 PM »
Quote from: funkmeister on April 15, 2014, 11:07:35 AM
That's 'cuz you haven't tried the AKG K 272 HD. Most comfortable I've ever put on my head. Though the HD598 wasn't bad and sounded more detailed and richer, the K272 has not been beat for me in terms of comfort.

Is it comparable to the K702 65th AE? I actually think I remember that one being pretty good with comfort, but still got on my nerves after a couple hours. My skull must be part baby.
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mkubota1

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Re: Focal Spirit Pro
« Reply #18 on: April 15, 2014, 07:47:34 PM »
Quote from: AustinValentine on April 15, 2014, 03:37:23 PM
The problem with doing a headband stretch is...well...the headband construction isn't that great. I opened the headband up on my Head-Fi review. http://www.head-fi.org/products/focal-spirit-professional/reviews/10488 The headband will snap at the seams if you try to spread them out too much.

Oh, nice review!  I think what also made me nervous about bending the headband was reading something like that elsewhere.  Hmmm... so are you saying that even in the rubber part on top, there is plastic inside there?  That's where I did most of my bending with my thumbs.  When I do the bending, I try to avoid joints or connection points.  Luckily, it didn't take much bending to make them fit me.  I also agree that reducing the clamping force just increases the load on the other contact point- the headband.  I think I have a decent balance now.
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funkmeister

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Re: Focal Spirit Pro
« Reply #19 on: April 15, 2014, 08:41:10 PM »
Quote from: hans030390 on April 15, 2014, 05:22:08 PM
Quote from: funkmeister on April 15, 2014, 11:07:35 AM
That's 'cuz you haven't tried the AKG K 272 HD. Most comfortable I've ever put on my head. Though the HD598 wasn't bad and sounded more detailed and richer, the K272 has not been beat for me in terms of comfort.

Is it comparable to the K702 65th AE? I actually think I remember that one being pretty good with comfort, but still got on my nerves after a couple hours. My skull must be part baby.
The band on the AE isn't as broad as on the K27x phones. The effective area/wt yields nearly half the pressure on the K27x. One big consideration, though, is if you're bald or mostly so then the K27x's vinyl will have a different level of annoyance for sure. The shock band suspension is excellent. The K271 squeezes the ears more than the K272 because the former is a studio phone.

With headphones like the FSP or other studio phones like the K171 (AKG's on-ear studio phones) you're dealing with musical clamps so that you get predictable sound with minimum fiddling. The tradeoff is ear comfort. I find the K171 to have an awesome headband but my ears kill after a half hour. They smash my ears bad. I'm not too interested in the FSP for that same reason.

I'm pretty sure that when a headphone clamps hard on the ears, people pull it hard on the head as well. It basically hurts all around unless you have a massive pile of hair up top.
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