Focal makes some of the world's best audiophile-quality headphones that were inspired by the company's revolutionary loudspeaker technologies. Focal headphones feature stellar sound, eye-catching designs, and amazing comfort. Use this guide to find the Focal headphone that's right for you.
Focal Utopia Headphones
Focal's top-of-the-line flagship open-back headphone delivers amazing clarity and detail and full-range speaker-like sound. The Utopia's sound is smooth, clean, highly resolute and articulate, with a spacious and wide presentation. Think of these headphones as miniature ported speakers with the most amazing sound you can put on your head. Read our Utopia review.
Technical specs:
Loudspeaker: 1.58" (40mm) pure Beryllium “M” shape dome
Impedance: 80 Ohms
Sensitivity: 104dB SPL / 1mW @ 1kHz
THD: < 0.2% @ 1kHz / 100dB SPL
Frequency response: 5Hz - 50kHz
DAC/amp required? Yes
Stock cables:
• 4ft (1.2m) OFC 24 AWG cable with 1/8" (3.5mm) TRS jack connector
• 10ft (3m) OFC 24 AWG cable with 4-pin XLR connector
• 1 x jack adapter, 1/8" (3.5mm) female – 1/4" (6.35mm) male
Features:
Headphone type: Circum-aural, open back
Weight: 17.3 oz (490g)
Sound signature: Analytical/detailed/resolute
Ideal for: Home/critical listener
Ear pads: 20mm-thick memory foam cushions covered in Pittards leather-microfiber material
Yoke: Carbon fiber
Headband: Pittards leather
Upgrade the Utopia with a Dragon Premium Headphone Cable
We typically recommend the Black Dragon Premium for the Utopia. While the Utopia does not have sharp issues to the top frequencies, it is a little on the forward side. The Black Dragon provides the right balance to the sound with more musicality to the top end. It also reinforces the wonderful vocal midrange of these headphones and provides more weight to the bottom end. However, the Silver Dragon is a good choice for more analytical listeners who like to pick out every detail of their audio. It will really open up the soundstage and energy of the Utopia.
Focal Stellia Headphones
The Stellia is essentially a closed-back version of the Utopia, featuring the same smooth, clean, sound and amazing build quality. The Stellia delivers every detail of every piece of music without compromising tonal balance. The soundstage on the Stellia tends to be a bit taller than it is wide, whereas the reverse is true on the Utopia. Read our Stellia review.
Technical specs:
Loudspeaker: 1.58" (40mm) aluminum-magnesium 'M'-shaped dome
Impedance: 35 Ohms
Sensitivity: 106dB SPL / 1mW @ 1kHz
THD: 0.1% @ 1kHz / 100dB SPL
Frequency response: 5Hz - 40kHz
DAC/amp required? No
Stock cables:
- 4ft (1.2m) OFC 24 AWG cable with 1/8" (3.5mm) TRS jack connector
- 10ft (3m) OFC 24 AWG cable with 4-pin XLR connector jack adapter, 1/8" (3.5mm) female – 1/4" (6.35mm) male
Features:
Headphone type: Circum-aural, closed back
Weight: 15.3 oz (434g)
Sound signature: Analytical/detailed/resolute
Ideal for: Home or office/Detail-oriented listener
Ear pads: 20mm memory foam covered in full-grain leather
Yoke: Solid aluminum
Headband: Full-grain leather
Upgrade the Stellia with a Dragon Premium Headphone Cable
We typically recommend the Black Dragon Premium for the Stellia. While the Stellia does not have sharp issues to the top frequencies, it is a little on the forward side. The Black Dragon provides the right balance to the sound with more musicality to the top end. It also reinforces the wonderful vocal midrange of these headphones and provides more weight to the bottom end. However, the Silver Dragon is a good choice for more analytical listeners who like to pick out every detail of their audio. It will really open up the soundstage and energy of the Stellia.
Focal Clear Headphones
The Focal Clear is a great-sounding reference open-back headphone under $2,000. The magnesium driver provides a warmer sound signature than the Utopia, but you still gets lots of detail and resolution at less than half the price.
Technical specs:
Loudspeaker: 1.58" (40mm) aluminum-magnesium 'M'-shaped dome
Impedance: 55 Ohms
Sensitivity: 104dB SPL / 1mW @ 1kHz
THD: 0.25% @ 1kHz / 100dB SPL
Frequency response: 5Hz - 28kHz
DAC/amp required? Yes.
Stock cables:
- 9.8ft (3m) balanced cable (XLR 4-pin)
- 9.8ft (3m) unbalanced cable (1/4" [6.35mm] TRS jack)
- 3.9ft (1.2m) unbalanced cable (1/8" [3.5mm] TRS jack)
- 1/8" to 1/4" stereo jack adapter
Features:
Headphone type: Circum-aural, open back
Weight: 15.9 oz (450.7g)
Sound signature: Warm side of neutral
Ideal for: Home critical listener
Ear pads: 20mm memory foam cushion covered in a perforated microfiber fabric
Yoke: Solid aluminum
Headband: Covered in leather and perforated microfiber
Upgrade the Clear with a Dragon Premium Headphone Cable
The Clear is already a very detailed headphone, so we typically recommend a Black Dragon Premium cable to add warmth, musicality, and more bass impact. However, everyone hears differently. If you prefer a more analytical sound and love hearing details in your music, then the Silver Dragon Premium Cable pairing is perfect for you.
Focal Clear Professional Headphones
Focal Clear professional headphones are suitable for the most demanding mixing and listening professionals. These open-back headphones incorporate a remarkable evolution of the speaker and an extremely open design aiming to make the headphones disappear, for the benefit of the sound.
Technical specs:
Loudspeaker: 1.58" (40mm) aluminum/magnesium 'M'-shaped dome
Impedance: 55 Ohms
Sensitivity: 104dB SPL / 1mW @ 1kHz
THD: 0.25% @ 1kHz / 100dB SPL
Frequency response: 5Hz - 28kHz
DAC/amp required? Yes
Stock cables:
- 16.4ft (5m) unbalanced cable (1/4" [6.35mm] TRS jack)
- 3.9ft (1.2m) unbalanced cable (1/8" [3.5mm] TRS jack)
- 1/8" to 1/4" jack adapter
Features:
Headphone type: Circum-aural, open back
Weight: 15.9 oz (450.7g)
Sound signature: Warm side of neutral
Ideal for: Mastering engineer
Ear pads: 20mm memory foam cushions covered with a perforated microfiber fabric
Yoke: Solid aluminum
Headband: Leather and perforated microfiber
Upgrade the Clear Professional with a Dragon Premium Headphone Cable
The Clear is already a very detailed headphone, so we typically recommend a Black Dragon Premium cable to add warmth, musicality, and more bass impact. However, everyone hears differently. If you prefer a more analytical sound and love hearing details in your music, then the Silver Dragon Premium Cable pairing is perfect for you.
Focal Radiance Headphones
Crafted with the finest luxury in mind, the Radiance is a limited-edition closed-back headphone created in partnership with NAIM and Bentley Motors. The Radiance features a re-tuned version of the Elegia driver, and has a warm, natural sound. The bass is deep and impactful; the midrange is balanced; and the treble is mellow and linear. Read our Radiance review.
Technical specs:
Loudspeaker: 1.58" (40mm) aluminum-magnesium "M" shape dome
Impedance: 35 Ohms
Sensitivity: 101dB SPL / 1mW @ 1kHz
THD: < 0.1% @ 1kHz / 100dB SPL
Frequency response: 5Hz - 23kHz
DAC/amp required? No
Cable: 4ft (1.2m) OFC 24 AWG cable with 1/8″ (3.5mm) unbalanced TRS jack connector; 1 x jack adapter, 1/8″ (3.5mm) point socket – 1/4″ (6.35mm) point plug
Features:
Headphone type: Circum-aural, closed back
Weight: 15.3oz (435g)
Sound signature: Warm
Ideal for: Home or office music lover
Ear pads: Covered in full-grain Pittards leather
Yoke: Solid aluminum
Headband: Covered in full-grain Pittards leather
Upgrade the Radiance with a Dragon Premium Headphone Cable
The Radiance is on the warmer side compared to other Focal models. If you are looking to augment that warmth and musicality while adding more bass impact, the Black Dragon Premium is the right cable upgrade. The Silver Dragon Premium, on the other hand, will provide a nice counterbalance to the Radiance's warm sound. This cable will add detail and clarity and lend some top-end sizzle while opening up your music and expanding the soundstage. (Note: These cables are also compatible with the Focal Elegia, and Elear.)
Pair your Focal headphones with the Focal Arche Headphone Amplifier
Arche combines a digital-analog converter as well as two pure class A amplification modes designed especially for headphones. Ideal to sit between the digital sources and your audiophile headphones, Arche is the perfect solution to fully enjoy your headphones while benefiting from the performance delivered by the converter to drive high-fidelity loudspeakers. Arche is an all-in-one solution that offers presets for every set of Focal headphones to make sure you get the absolute best from this ultimate combination.
Additional Focal Headphones
Focal Elear Headphones (Discontinued 2019)
Utopia's "baby brother," the Elear has a clean and detailed sound that isn't overly analytical. Read our Elear review.
Technical specs:
Loudspeaker: 1.58" (40mm) aluminum-magnesium "M"-shaped dome
Impedance: 80 Ohms
Sensitivity: 104dB SPL / 1mW @ 1kHz
THD: < 0.3% @ 1kHz / 100dB SPL
Frequency response: 5Hz - 32kHz
DAC/amp required? Yes
Cable: 9.8ft (3m) OFC cable 1/4" [6.35mm] stereo jack; 2 x 1/8" [3.5mm] jack with self-locking system
Features:
Headphone type: Circum-aural, open back
Weight: 15.9 oz (450.7g)
Sound signature: Warm side of neutral
Ideal for: Home music lover
Ear pads: 20mm memory foam cushions covered in microfiber
Yoke: Solid aluminum
Headband: Covered in microfiber
Dragon Cable recommendation: Silver Dragon Premium Cable for Focal Elear
Focal Elegia Headphones (Discontinued 2020)
The driver from the Elegia has been re-tuned and repurposed for the 2020 Focal Radiance. Read our Elegia review.
Technical specs:
Loudspeaker: 1.58" (40mm) aluminum-magnesium "M"-shaped dome
Impedance: 35 Ohms
Sensitivity: 105 dB
THD: <0.1% @ 1 kHz / 100dB SPL
Frequency response: 5Hz - 23kHz
DAC/amp required? No
Cable: 3.94-ft (1.2m) asymmetric cable
(0.14" - 3.5 mm TRS jack);
0.14" (3.5 mm) to 0.25" (6.35 mm)
stereo jack adapter
Features:
Headphone type: Circum-aural, closed-back
Weight: 15.1 oz (428g)
Sound signature: Neutral, flat
Ideal for: Mastering engineers
Ear pads: 20mm memory foam cushions covered with microfiber fabric
Yoke: Solid aluminum
Headband: Covered in leather and perforated microfiber fabric
Dragon Cable recommendation: Black Dragon Premium Cable for Focal Radiance