Focal Lensys Professional Closed-back Headphones

Build: Even though it's pretty much all plastic, they feel pretty solid in this price range.Comfort: This really depends. Everyone's head size is different. I've got a fairly big head. They fit on me just right. I would say the clamp force is a bit more than most headphones. But not to the point of discomfort.Sound: They don't sound like any other "work" headphones I've heard. Monitoring/studio headphones are usually fairly flat in FQ response. The Lensys have a noticeable lift in the lower FQ. But relatively neutral overall. I don't feel the upper mids are shouty which could be a common issue with some studio headphones. Extension on both ends are fairly good. Don't expect >$1k headphones kind of level. Soundstage is considered close but imaging is very good and coherent. One of the characteristics that impressed me the most is the macro-dynamic. Focal has always done a great job with their headphones on this. It makes listening pretty fun and engaging.Overall, personally, I'm a bit reserved with the $700 price tag even though I consider the Lensys as a pair of really good headphones in the sub $1k price range and in closed-back category. If these were $600, I think they might be able to sell more. I would be a bit reluctant to use these as a studio headphones for monitoring or mixing since the FQ response is not that flat. But they surely a pair of great studio headphones for enjoyment. If you have a little bit more money, I would go for these than the Azurys. Unless you really like darker, warmer, and relaxing sound signature.

The Bass is great on this headphone and very clear. This closed back sounds very good and probably one of the more open sound closed backs I have heard. The extension from the low end to the very top is pretty good and the treble is never too bright. The bass with volume is pretty linear and never takes over unless the song is made that way.It is a rather comfortable headphone for me as well, and this can depend on head shape.This headphone comes with two different cables.. One four foot and another longer one that is coiled. I don't like the coiled one too much as it gathers too much weight and pulls down on one side of the headphone too much given the headphone terminates to the left cup.Over all I really like this headphone, but there isn't too much I can say on value.

First, sound quality-wise these are stunning. They are the best headphones I’ve ever mixed with, and they just sound great. Balanced, 3D - everything you’d expect. However, the hardware team at Focal must not have the PhDs because the fit of these headphones and materials are not nearly up to the same quality standard as the speakers. First of all, the actual fabric of the headband and earpieces is very slick. It’s like it has Teflon in it or something cause all you do is move your head forward and the headband will slip forward. The clamp is not strong enough to compensate for this so if you are tracking guitar and start moving your head, the headphones will fall off. They are great for mixing, but don’t bend over to adjust the attack time on the compressor at the bottom of your rack without holding on to your headphones. For the amount of money I spent I really, really expect a better fit. These things should be as comfy and solid as my M40x’s. For sure they should be. I am keeping them because they are useful, but if I find another pair of phones by another other brand that sounds as good and stays on my head, I will sell these in a heartbeat. Secondly, while it may not seem like a big deal, the length of the cord from the phones is really too short. Focal shrugged me off and said there are 3rd party cords I can buy, which I did. But I now have a Hosa 1/8” cable on top tier headphones. They obviously never tried tracking with guitar or bass with their headphones on. If are average height, and you plug into an extension cable in your tracking space with these headphones on, the connection to your extension will be right about at your ankle. So you have this plug banging against your ankle, and pulling down on the headphones which already want to fall off your head. It is, simply put, silly that something so expensive and lovely can be ruined by things that are inexcusably easy to fix in production/testing.I own Focal Twin6 Be monitors. They are unabashedly excellent in all ways. These headphones sound as good, but the rest is disappointing. It’s like owning a Porsche with cardboard seats.

While there are some good things about theseFocal Lensys headphones, IMO there is far too much bass. I don't mind a little bump in low-end in a headphones frequency response but this is too much for me. Also, I only tried the straight cable, and not the coiled , but the straight cable is not good IMO - it is very springy and doesn't want to lay flat and is pretty microphonic so when touching it, or if it rubs against your shirt, shoulder or whatever you hear that light thumping through the headphones. It shouldn't be that difficult to include a decent cable with a $700 headphone. You may like this headphone if you prefer a lot of bass and it does have some good things about it but it's not for me.