Even so, sound quality is … For a first attempt at making an in-ear headphone, Focal knocked it out of the park with the Sphear. You will receive a verification email shortly. Please deactivate your ad blocker in order to see our subscription offer, We check over 130 million products every day for the best prices, Harman Kardon brings 3D spatial audio and live music concerts to your car, Sony launches new 360 Reality Audio wireless speakers and video streaming service, Mercedes MBUX Hyperscreen is a giant 56-inch OLED 'in-car cinema', Wonderfully subtle, balanced and weighty sound. Visit our corporate site. Focal also wanted to combine the comfort of earbuds with the bass response capabilities of in-ear monitors. Cost: £99.99 Available from: focal.com. The Sphear S is an IEM and looks to be retailing for $129, although I have seen it for less. The no-frills Focal Sphear in-canal earphones deliver a secure fit and a balanced sound signature that still allows for some added bass depth. © That full-bodied sound and excellent design have won us over – we’d spend £100 on these in-ears. You will receive a verification email shortly. There was a problem. Please refresh the page and try again. Which is a good thing, as you won’t want to stop listening to the Sphears. Speaking of the cable, Focal's cord terminates in a Y-connection where you’ll find the headphone’s single button remote. These $150 (£100, AU$220) headphones look and sound great and are perfect for anyone looking for lightweight, portable headphones with a touch of class and rich sound. April 11, 2016. Thank you for signing up to What Hi-Fi?. Our only criticism is that the Sphears – as refined and mature sounding as they are – can sound a little polite. If you have a tight case, you’ll be happy to know that the slim 3.5mm connector should fit most cases with recessed headphone jacks. Unique shape offers powerful sound Thanks to their spherical design, the Focal Sphear S manage to pack in 10.8mm drive units. Sign up to get breaking news, reviews, opinion, analysis and more, plus the hottest tech deals! The Focal Sphear S line of headphones has always struck a decent balance between price and quality. While the Focal Sphear feel well made, they aren't designed for sweat so we don’t recommend using them at the gym. So, the quality of the bass here is very important, and that quality is pretty exceptional for the price. The Focal Sphear in-ear headphones are no exception to the balancing act of having to juggle price point and quality. It’s a big sound, and the Sphears tackle that punchy, addictive riff with an agile rhythm and a convincing sense of solidity. I decided to pull the trigger and bought them, which at the time were $150. I’m glad you enjoyed our Focal Sphear Review and were able to have a little bit a faith restored in in-ear headphones. Overall, the design of the Focal Sphear is understated and mature but the Klipsch Reference X6i feel better made with its die-cast Zinc housings and beefier cable. Focal Sphear ⭐ review. This single buttons means you won’t be able to control volume, but that’s the price to pay for a pair of headphones that work with both Apple and Android devices. Sonically, we really enjoyed the rich sound quality of the Focal Sphear. It’s a minor worry in an otherwise accomplished performance, though. Thomas Wellburn. Lenny Kravitz’s Are You Gonna Go My Wayis packed with heavy guitars and attacking drums, and the layers of textures are laid bare in a fairly open soundstage. What Hi-Fi? Phil Tann - 29 November 2015. Focal’s first in-ear headphones offer clear and balanced sound at an affordable price. Sphear S is faithful to Focal’s historic acoustic signature, with a particularly rich mid-range which is never muffled, accurate and clear sound, it is extremely faithful to the original work, and offers harmonic richness, from the low end to the high end, for true listening pleasure. While not as bulletproof as some of the competition, the Focal Sphear sound so good it’s hard to get upset over its plastic build and average noise isolation. Tested at £100. Focal has the Shear wireless headphones priced around $129. To combine these things (comfort and bass), Focal started with an entirely new design (they kind of had no choice). Clean, powerful audio performance with robust bass and bright highs. The Focal Sphear can easily be described as having a premium, warm sound signature. Just note they’ll need to be replaced as they get gunked up by ear wax. A year and a half ago, I saw a few posts and ads about Focal and I was surprised that they went into “In Ears” market with the Focal Sphear. Also included is a nice hard case that will protect the headphones while traveling. Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Focal Sphear S High Definition Earphones - Black at Amazon.com. Linkedin. Sphear breaks with conventions and proves that high-fidelity in-ear headphones can be used for hours on end without the slightest discomfort! Visit our corporate site. Their headphones in fact are some of the best over-ear headphones on the market. The Focal Sphears create a bubble of sound in your head, immersing you in crisp audio. Focal Sphear Review. The $4,000 Utopia shook up the audiophile headphone market and the equally impressive budget-friendly Focal Listen helped introduce amateur AV enthusiasts to a brand they might not have ever known. While not the most analytical in its presentation, it clearly is a quality sound that is more for extended listening. If you’re not invested in the world of high-end audio, Focal probably doesn’t sound like a company that you’re likely to remember. Top critical review. The headphones connect to your listening device through Bluetooth 4.1, which means they’ll get a listening range of up to 10 meters, or 33 feet. Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 11 March 2019 . The Focal Sphear S certainly looks the part but can they hold up on the most important part, sound? Discover the key facts and see how Focal Sphear performs in the headphones ranking. Ships with multiple eartip options, including memory foam tips. Focal is known for its high-fidelity audio gear, but the company also dabbles in more affordable products, like the Sphear Wireless earphones.At $129, … That’s far less than when they debuted. However, once you excavate these earphones, you’ll find some nifty included accessories, including three pairs of silicon eartips and three pairs of memory foam eartips. WhatsApp. The Focal Sphear share the same mid-forward sound as its over-ear sibling, the Focal Listen. Future US, Inc. 11 West 42nd Street, 15th Floor, The Sphear S really is all about that bass, ‘bout that bass. Using 10.8mm electro-dynamic drivers, I expected there to be a smooth and engaging sound, and that’s exactly what I’ve got here. The Sphear Avoids any harshness or fatigue in the upper range. For better isolation, you can use the foam tips but regardless the Focal Sphears can’t match the excellent noise isolation of the Shure SE215, despite being much more comfortable. Well, yes it does, but that doesn’t make for a very informative or exciting review. Rival in-ears, such as the Sennheiser Momentum M2 IEis, are a tad livelier and more expressive. On the other end of the headphones, the cable terminates in a 45-degree 3.5mm headphone jack, which is a good compromise between a straight and L-shaped plug, helping to relieve some cable stress of a fully straight connector. In the audiophile headphone world, the Focal Sphear is … So what is the company doing about the portable listening audience? Thanks again for stopping by! It’s a big sound, and the Sphears tackle that punchy, addictive riff with an agile rhythm and a convincing sense of solidity. These headphones offer an eight hour battery life, and we would have liked to see a little more from them. Best 55-inch TVs 2021: smart, 4K, HDR and OLED TVs, Best cheap TVs 2021: the best budget 4K TVs, Best 50-inch TVs 2021: 4K TVs for all budgets. Focal Sphear is the new reigning king, there isn't anything else to be said. Pinterest. The Good The Focal Sphear is a lightweight, comfortable in-ear headphone that stays in your ears and sounds impressive for the price, with full bass and pleasantly crisp treble. These sound like they could be twice the price. For about the same money, you can get the excellent Klipsch Reference X6i, which feel better made and offer a more laidback and balanced musical presentation. By. Included in the package are various foam and silicone tips that are very comfortable during extended listening sessions. Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, Focal is a French company specializing in high-fidelity audio components. Sphear is faithful to Focal’s historic acoustic signature, with a particularly rich mid-range which is never muffled, accurate and clear sound, it is extremely faithful to the original work, and offers harmonic richness, from the low end to the high end, for true listening pleasure. See all 4 critical reviews › Liam Mobsby. The Focal Sphear definitely hold their own against some of the more popular brands like Bose, Shure, and Sony. The wired Focal Sphear headphones retail for less than $80. Please refresh the page and try again. Thank you for signing up to TechRadar. 5. All rights reserved. Focal, the French leader in professional acoustics, hi–fi and automotive, completes its range of headphones with a brand new in–ear: Spark. © Indeed, the Sphear… They sound great with all types of music and offer an exciting, mid-forward presentation that will make your toe tap with the music. The lows will please a lot of users with its bigger presence and decent control. From home stereo to pro audio, Focal is well known for their consumer audio and pro audio electronics. The Sphears may be pricey at £100, but their clever design, comfortable fit and engaging sound make them worth the money. Unfortunately they’re designed for Apple devices so don’t expect the volume controls to work if you have an Android device. A gorgeous pair of in-ears that have a full-bodied, detailed sound that’s engaging to listen to, Focal’s first foray into the in-ear headphones market is off to a smashing start. BA1 1UA. The Sphear comes in packaging that can best be described as a labyrinth of cardboard and foam. is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. My past reviews of Focal products were quite favorable; does the Sphear S live up to the lofty standards of the others? Focal’s first in-ear headphones offer clear and balanced sound at an affordable price. While the Sphear is considered a noise-isolating headphone, it does let in a bit more ambient noise than your typical noise-isolating headphone. The earbud housings are made of plastic with a handsome brushed stainless steel grille that helps the headphones feel more expensive. They sound wonderful. Twitter . That said, if you want the most secure fit and maximum noise isolation, you’ll want to use the foam tips. If you want a pair of headphones for a heavy workout, check out the wireless NuForce BeSport3, which have an IP55 dust and water resistance rating that will stand up to abuse while at the gym. Focal’s first foray into the in-ear headphones market is off to a smashing start The Sphears may be pricey at £100, but their clever design, comfortable fit and engaging sound make them worth the money. 5-star review. Focal Sphear In-ear Headphone Review High-end in-ears hit all the right notes—except value. Read more. The in-line remote and mic button is discretely hidden in the logo in the cable’s Y-section, for instance, making it easy to use. The stainless steel build is solid and feels of a high quality, but most importantly, that sleek, round design is ideal for keeping the buds secure. There are a few bells and whistles, and at $149.99, that implies solid performance. The Focal Sphear Wireless headphones look good, are comfortable, and sound great — but how do they perform? The lilting piano notes in the Amelie soundtrack are fluid and weighty, with each clunk and harmonics delivered clearly. The Klipsch Reference X6i offer a more laidback approach and a flatter tonal curve, giving them a slight edge in terms of sound to our ears. Bass lovers should check out the Sennheiser Momentum In-Ear for added bass response or, for even more bass, check out the Klipsch Reference X8Ri, which offer thicker and more refined bass than the Sennheisers. Compared to the excellent Klipsch Reference X6i, the Sphear has an in-your-face presentation that makes music sound more exciting. No, this isn’t for the perfect gift for the basshead in your life, but this is right at the border of having too much bass to be called neutral. This makes them a great companion for acoustic and vocal music. Focal Sphear in-ear headphone, Focal knocked it out of the Focal Sphears create a bubble of sound in otherwise... 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