Focal Lensys Professional Headphones - Your Next True Friend
by Tomaz
8th October 2024
Sponsored by Focal
The Headphones Factor
It’s not uncommon for us now to see the biggest names in the music industry mixing in their bedrooms, home-studios, offices, or even on planes between gigs with the bands they work for, and is fair to say that the answer from engineers when approached by beginners or youngsters with that same question has changed. Now, more and more people tell not only beginners and students but also many older musicians who have just started the arduous task of self-producing about the importance of a good pair of closed-back headphones. These often should be flexible enough to handle different tasks, meaning rugged for the road and live performance while lightweight for hours-long mixing at the same time, not to say those should always offer the best affordable sound quality in order to reproduce the smallest sonic details, even in an immersive sound environment.
In a time when most of the musical content produced is being listened to through earbuds connected to digital streaming platforms (and those earbuds are getting fancier, smaller and cheaper) - a good pair of headphones has become an essential tool for getting steps ahead of the audience, not just for the entertainment business hardworking fellows looking to perfect their art, but also for beginners and hobbyist musicians still building their auditory memory and reference.
Focused Innovation
One company that has certainly followed this familiar story over time is the French firm Focal. Originally founded as 'JM Lab' in the late 1970s in Saint-Etienne after the initials of Jacques Mahul, a man with a mechanical engineering background and a personal love for audio technology. The brand mirrored its founder's desire for innovation, constantly pushing technological boundaries and providing cutting-edge products to its customers. At that time, Focal was little more than a research and development company, with Mahul also developing drivers for other manufacturers, while JM Lab manufactured and sold fully assembled loudspeakers.
One of the most successful projects from the early days of Focal-JM Lab was the DB 13, a bookshelf speaker capable of matching larger and more powerful models of the time in terms of low-frequency energy and overall volume. This loudspeaker illustrated the company's commitment to modern techniques, such as the production of polykevlar cones, a material derived from the combination of kevlar and polyethylene that would allow for faster driver movement with lower harmonic distortion due to its light yet rigid characteristics. Polykevlar also proved to be more resistant to temperature and humidity variations, offering greater durability compared to the paper cones commonly used in other speakers.
Mid-1980s DB 13 Loudspeaker
Focal continued to pursue its founder's passion for technology and classic cars, establishing itself in the late 1980s as a leading brand in high-quality speaker manufacturing for car installations. Today, they develop customizable kits compatible with the world's top car manufacturers. Focal loudspeakers are recognized for their sonic detail, wide soundstage, and use of cutting-edge materials, and in the mid-1990s, the Grande Utopia line received widespread international media coverage while becoming a massive success among what the French call 'mélomanes'—which loosely translates to ‘music lovers’, better known to the english speakers as audiophiles.
This line of speakers not only won over the world for its technologically advanced design but also for its bold aesthetic. The second generation employed the first pure beryllium drivers, as well as designed by Alain Pineau, who created projects for other sophisticated brands like Maserati, Bentley Motors, and Givenchy.
After dominating the audiophile world, the path was clear for the company to launch the Focal Professional Department, concentrating on more realistic solutions for audio professionals to have access to what the company could offer in terms of technology and sound quality. In 2002, Focal began producing its range of professional reference monitors. Among the successful models released since then is the very popular Trio6 Nearfield Monitor, which you can read more about right here in Gearspace’s Articles section.
Since the establishment of Focal’s Professional department it seemed It was just a matter of time for the company’s next steps naturally land on the headphones manufacturing, this expansion was signaled with the release of the Spirit One headphones, an affordable closed-back model that paved the way for what would become one of the company’s flagship products.
Focal Utopia headphones
Inheriting not only the cutting-edge technology but also the name of its most famous range of high fidelity loudspeakers, in 2016 the Focal Utopia Headphones were born, placing the company alongside the world’s top headphone manufacturers. Not uncommonly hailed by the specialized media as the best pair of headphones ever made, Utopia features 40mm drivers equipped with pure beryllium cones, a material known for being both lightweight and rigid, allowing rapid speaker movement due to its low mass. This combined with its exclusive 'M-Shaped' cone design ensures all frequencies to be reproduced with rich detail and virtually free from harmonic distortion. Since its release, the Utopia headphones have won numerous awards, marking Focal's excellence in yet another sector while opening the doors to a series of professional headphones, culminating in the company’s latest release—the Lensys Professional.
Focal’s latest release - The Lensys Professional Closed-Back Headphones
Keeping Things Professional
Focal’s development philosophy has always centered around the belief that technology must be at the service of art. As stated on their website: "Listen to your music, not your loudspeakers or headphones". This mantra can be felt across its entire professional range - from the most accessible nearfield Alpha Evo monitors all the way up to the fanciest 7.1.4 Dolby Atmos Speaker System. Now, joining Focal’s professional range of headphones alongside the Clear MG Professional and the Listen Professional headphones, the Lensys Professional fits right in as a closed-back, circum-aural headphones designed for flexible performance and to achieve a cost-effective and "close to perfection" balance between sturdiness and sophistication. The lightweight headband provides extra comfort for hours of mixing, while its closed-back construction can handle loud live-performance environments. Its M-Shaped Aluminum/Magnesium drivers can reproduce the natural tonal impartiality and spatial depth that immersive and binaural audio demands today, thus meeting all the modern sound engineer's needs mentioned at the beginning of this article. Let's dive into some of the high-tech features that will make these headphones a very friendly addition to your studio.
‘M-Shaped’ refers to the diaphragm's geometry, as Focal’s patented M-profile membrane resembles the letter "M" in its sectional view. This M-Shaped type of membrane adds structural rigidity to the diaphragm. This increased stiffness helps reduce deformation (or flexing) of the diaphragm during movement, keeping in mind that any unwanted flexing can introduce distortion to the headphone drivers. The M-Shape has been painstakingly tested indoors and used in the field for some time - we can see it in use among other Focal high-end products, such as the Utopia headphones. All those years of research have led to the conclusion that the format “combines the three criteria needed to create the ideal loudspeaker: "rigidity, lightness, and damping", as stated on the manufacturer’s website. The shape is also credited for reducing harmonic distortion and improving sound dispersion.
A Multi-Purpose Companion
Anyone with experience using different types of headphones knows that some models aren’t suited for certain situations. Open-back headphones, for example, can be great in controlled environments but are nearly impossible to use in noisy places, not to mention they are often more fragile in its construction, as they’re designed for indoor use. High-impedance headphones, on the other hand, require external equipment to deliver the volume levels necessary for detailed audio perception. Lastly, the average sound quality of closed-back headphones—commonly used for live performances or tracking—can often fall short when used for mixing and mastering. Additionally, most models on the market haven’t taken immersive audio sources, such as Dolby Atmos or binaural sound, into consideration.
The Lensys was designed to be a versatile, on-the-go pair of headphones that can handle noisy environments, built tough enough to take on tour and fit in a backpack, while still delivering the sound quality you need. A pair of headphones with excellent precision when it comes to the closed-back architecture, natural tonal balance and great clarity either you’re tracking, mixing, immersive mixing, and/or mastering, no matter where you are or when you need them.
Now that we know a little more about the headphones’ construction and purpose let’s see what all this tech put together delivers by analyzing its specs.
Meaningful Specifications
A Friend That Can Not Lie
A good, well-maintained pair of headphones will certainly last longer than most of the digital gadgets we constantly buy, or think about buying. Hearing with clarity and detail gives you the chance to expand your internal sound and timbre library by revealing new dimensions in mixes you thought you knew, new tones in instruments you believed you had memorized, and revealing the flaws and successes that otherwise go unnoticed in our productions (and later picked up by others before you get the chance to fix them!) Even outside the professional environment, there’s nothing better than enjoying your favorite music while discovering new nuances that only deepen your appreciation for great work. So, the next time someone asks you what equipment to buy first, you know the answer, right?
For more information on Focal and their products please visit: https://www.focal.com/
The Headphones Factor
It’s not uncommon for us now to see the biggest names in the music industry mixing in their bedrooms, home-studios, offices, or even on planes between gigs with the bands they work for, and is fair to say that the answer from engineers when approached by beginners or youngsters with that same question has changed. Now, more and more people tell not only beginners and students but also many older musicians who have just started the arduous task of self-producing about the importance of a good pair of closed-back headphones. These often should be flexible enough to handle different tasks, meaning rugged for the road and live performance while lightweight for hours-long mixing at the same time, not to say those should always offer the best affordable sound quality in order to reproduce the smallest sonic details, even in an immersive sound environment.
In a time when most of the musical content produced is being listened to through earbuds connected to digital streaming platforms (and those earbuds are getting fancier, smaller and cheaper) - a good pair of headphones has become an essential tool for getting steps ahead of the audience, not just for the entertainment business hardworking fellows looking to perfect their art, but also for beginners and hobbyist musicians still building their auditory memory and reference.
Focused Innovation
One company that has certainly followed this familiar story over time is the French firm Focal. Originally founded as 'JM Lab' in the late 1970s in Saint-Etienne after the initials of Jacques Mahul, a man with a mechanical engineering background and a personal love for audio technology. The brand mirrored its founder's desire for innovation, constantly pushing technological boundaries and providing cutting-edge products to its customers. At that time, Focal was little more than a research and development company, with Mahul also developing drivers for other manufacturers, while JM Lab manufactured and sold fully assembled loudspeakers.
One of the most successful projects from the early days of Focal-JM Lab was the DB 13, a bookshelf speaker capable of matching larger and more powerful models of the time in terms of low-frequency energy and overall volume. This loudspeaker illustrated the company's commitment to modern techniques, such as the production of polykevlar cones, a material derived from the combination of kevlar and polyethylene that would allow for faster driver movement with lower harmonic distortion due to its light yet rigid characteristics. Polykevlar also proved to be more resistant to temperature and humidity variations, offering greater durability compared to the paper cones commonly used in other speakers.
Mid-1980s DB 13 Loudspeaker
This line of speakers not only won over the world for its technologically advanced design but also for its bold aesthetic. The second generation employed the first pure beryllium drivers, as well as designed by Alain Pineau, who created projects for other sophisticated brands like Maserati, Bentley Motors, and Givenchy.
On the left side the first generation of Grande Utopia loudspeakers released in 1995, on the right side the Grande Utopia EM EVO designed by Alain Pineau.
Since the establishment of Focal’s Professional department it seemed It was just a matter of time for the company’s next steps naturally land on the headphones manufacturing, this expansion was signaled with the release of the Spirit One headphones, an affordable closed-back model that paved the way for what would become one of the company’s flagship products.
Focal Utopia headphonesFocal’s latest release - The Lensys Professional Closed-Back Headphones
Keeping Things Professional
Focal’s development philosophy has always centered around the belief that technology must be at the service of art. As stated on their website: "Listen to your music, not your loudspeakers or headphones". This mantra can be felt across its entire professional range - from the most accessible nearfield Alpha Evo monitors all the way up to the fanciest 7.1.4 Dolby Atmos Speaker System. Now, joining Focal’s professional range of headphones alongside the Clear MG Professional and the Listen Professional headphones, the Lensys Professional fits right in as a closed-back, circum-aural headphones designed for flexible performance and to achieve a cost-effective and "close to perfection" balance between sturdiness and sophistication. The lightweight headband provides extra comfort for hours of mixing, while its closed-back construction can handle loud live-performance environments. Its M-Shaped Aluminum/Magnesium drivers can reproduce the natural tonal impartiality and spatial depth that immersive and binaural audio demands today, thus meeting all the modern sound engineer's needs mentioned at the beginning of this article. Let's dive into some of the high-tech features that will make these headphones a very friendly addition to your studio.
- Immersed in Sound
(Circum-aural and Closed-Back)
- Strong But Subtle
(M-Shaped Aluminum/Magnesium drivers)
‘M-Shaped’ refers to the diaphragm's geometry, as Focal’s patented M-profile membrane resembles the letter "M" in its sectional view. This M-Shaped type of membrane adds structural rigidity to the diaphragm. This increased stiffness helps reduce deformation (or flexing) of the diaphragm during movement, keeping in mind that any unwanted flexing can introduce distortion to the headphone drivers. The M-Shape has been painstakingly tested indoors and used in the field for some time - we can see it in use among other Focal high-end products, such as the Utopia headphones. All those years of research have led to the conclusion that the format “combines the three criteria needed to create the ideal loudspeaker: "rigidity, lightness, and damping", as stated on the manufacturer’s website. The shape is also credited for reducing harmonic distortion and improving sound dispersion.
A Multi-Purpose Companion
Anyone with experience using different types of headphones knows that some models aren’t suited for certain situations. Open-back headphones, for example, can be great in controlled environments but are nearly impossible to use in noisy places, not to mention they are often more fragile in its construction, as they’re designed for indoor use. High-impedance headphones, on the other hand, require external equipment to deliver the volume levels necessary for detailed audio perception. Lastly, the average sound quality of closed-back headphones—commonly used for live performances or tracking—can often fall short when used for mixing and mastering. Additionally, most models on the market haven’t taken immersive audio sources, such as Dolby Atmos or binaural sound, into consideration.
The Lensys was designed to be a versatile, on-the-go pair of headphones that can handle noisy environments, built tough enough to take on tour and fit in a backpack, while still delivering the sound quality you need. A pair of headphones with excellent precision when it comes to the closed-back architecture, natural tonal balance and great clarity either you’re tracking, mixing, immersive mixing, and/or mastering, no matter where you are or when you need them.
Now that we know a little more about the headphones’ construction and purpose let’s see what all this tech put together delivers by analyzing its specs.
Meaningful Specifications
- The new Lensys Professional has an impedance of 26Ω, meaning it can deliver high sound pressure levels while connected to virtually any device, from the smallest media player to professional systems.
- How high? Its sensitivity allows for 100dB SPL / 1mW @ 1kHz, not enough to irreparably damage your ears, but more than the recommended average sound pressure level if you need it louder.
- 23dB(A) of ambient noise isolation might be just enough to sleep through a crying baby on the back of a plane, even with the music turned off.
- The frequency response ranges from an incredibly low 5hz to 22,000 Hz, delivering sounds beyond the human hearing spectrum—but please don’t try it on your pets.
- Weighing 306g (approx. 0.67lb) and supported by a comfortable and flexible headband, these headphones feel lighter than many other things around our heads these days.
- It comes with a 4ft (1.2m) straight cable for home-studio enthusiasts, so you won't entangle it with your coffee mug, and a 10ft (3m) coiled cable for studio owners to reach the 1176 on the other side of a 64-channel console.
- The Focal Lensys Professional also comes with a 1/8” to 1/4” (3.5mm to 6mm) screwable jack adapter and a 9½" x 8¼" x 2¾" (24x21x7cm) carrying case for convenience.
A Friend That Can Not Lie
A good, well-maintained pair of headphones will certainly last longer than most of the digital gadgets we constantly buy, or think about buying. Hearing with clarity and detail gives you the chance to expand your internal sound and timbre library by revealing new dimensions in mixes you thought you knew, new tones in instruments you believed you had memorized, and revealing the flaws and successes that otherwise go unnoticed in our productions (and later picked up by others before you get the chance to fix them!) Even outside the professional environment, there’s nothing better than enjoying your favorite music while discovering new nuances that only deepen your appreciation for great work. So, the next time someone asks you what equipment to buy first, you know the answer, right?
For more information on Focal and their products please visit: https://www.focal.com/
