[whatisitsci]

I got the FSP about a week ago and I really REALLY like them. I don't have any super high end stuff so my early comparisons have been to the my Alessandro MS1 and Philips Fidelio L2. Impressions so far have been good, a lot of detail and I'm very happy with the flat response, may be the headphones I'm looking for. Really reveal the quality of the recording and I might even say quite revealing with lossy vs lossless (depending on song). Noise isolation is pretty good too - far better than the ms1 (obviously) and better than the L2. Just for reference, I've been listening on a dx50 and an iPhone 5s solo and through a hrt microstreamer. Thanks for the motivation guys!

 

[M-13]

I got the FSP about a week ago and I really REALLY like them. I don't have any super high end stuff so my early comparisons have been to the my Alessandro MS1 and Philips Fidelio L2. Impressions so far have been good, a lot of detail and I'm very happy with the flat response, may be the headphones I'm looking for. Really reveal the quality of the recording and I might even say quite revealing with lossy vs lossless (depending on song). Noise isolation is pretty good too - far better than the ms1 (obviously) and better than the L2. Just for reference, I've been listening on a dx50 and an iPhone 5s solo and through a hrt microstreamer. Thanks for the motivation guys!

Congrats and welcome to the club!

FSP is a very nice headphone

 

[Hapster]

Woohoo! My FSC just arrived, gonna give it a listen

 

[Hapster]

First thing I notice is honestly how small they are. I'm only 5'6" and my ears a̶l̶m̶o̶s̶t̶  Barely fit inside. Removing the pads if possible would be great, they'd be very comfortable.
 
will put first impressions in soon:

 

[Greggo]

Tried the B&O H6 at the Apple store and wow, they are really good but have a really hefty price tag. Neutral, amazing vocals, natural sound. I did not expect that. I didn't like the Bower and Wilkins full size they had. Anyone know how the Focal Spirit Pros compare?

 
I have owned the H6 for around 3 or 4 months now.  I have been extremely pleased with this purchase and hear them the same way you do.  They have also held up very well and still managed to get a bit more comfortable every time I wear them.  A fantastic design and IMHO one of the best examples of the B&O house sound even when thinking back many years to the many HiFi products that I have heard.  I don't find B&O or Dynaudio to be the last words in perfection, but I love each of them as I am a big fan of their sonic sensibilities and priorities that are evident in most all of their products.
 
Having said that, I have had the FSP for 3 or 4 days now, and if I could only live with one, I would surrender the H6.  It pains me to say this, because I didn't really want to like the FSP that much... I just felt obligated to give them a spin for the home studio I share with my teenage son.  I was very concerned about build quality, ear pad size, clamping pressure, and perhaps too much of the Focal sound.  I am very familiar with Focal studio monitors and home HiFi speakers but have never been compelled to own them for myself.  The FSP captures everything that I think most fans of Focal studio monitors really value.  Detail, balance, and coherence are all there, but there is more going on here for me.  I hear a more full bodied midrange and extended bass than I was expecting.  I have a small to average head, and larger than average ears.  I knew the FSP would be an on-ear for me right out of the starting gate.  I also expected to have trouble adjusting to the heavy clamp pressure (I tried to like V-Moda M100, but bass emphasis and clamping was just too much for me).  But none of these things are issues for me, so I am pleasantly surprised.  And even more surprised by the sonic excellence I am hearing from the FSP.  I am so glad I pulled the trigger on these headphones.  The ear pads, while small, are the best fitting and feeling of any closed headphones I have tried.  Yes, the Shure SRH-1540 feel gentler and much lighter, but I just like the feel of the FSP, like a nice pair of gloves.  I don't want to give them the win over the H6, but I do, and IMHO it really isn't that close of a call, the FSP is a clear winner in music and technicalities, but the fit and build quality will strike each of us a bit differently, YMMV.

 

[Hapster]

I'll have to give myself a few days with these, ouch! The earcups are small, which has been covered a million times. The clamping force can be solved eventually, just by stretching them out, but the headband has almost no cushioning. I've always been sensitive on the top of my head to headphones and I'm not afraid to get rid of them. (last 3 pairs I owned...)
 
So comfort, it gets a 1/5.
 
Sound is pretty interesting, they're a lot different than my Denon Ah-d600. The sound stage seems to be much smaller, and reminds me more of my T-Peos H-300. However, they are accurate, and they seem fairly neutral. I don't need reference headphones, so honestly I could care less.
 
I don't want to be a Debby Downer, so on the upside, they look great, and they really are a good pair of headphones, being not only more accurate, but more detailed, less rolled off, and more forward than my D600s.
 
It may have something to do with the genres that I listen to (Trance, EDM), but the D600 seems to go better. I was looking for an upgrade, and although it is in most technical aspects, except maybe bass resonance, the comfort is far worse than the D600 which is the most comfortable headphone I've ever felt to date.
 
I will spend a few more days with them, possibly write a full review and either sell them or keep them. I'll put a classified up now, if anyone's interested.

 

[Hapster]

Currently on the road to making them sound good. I wasn't expecting it, but the mids do sound recessed to me. So with a little help with the EQ I've managed to resolve that almost entirely.
 
Right now, I'm at
 
+4db - 20hz
+2db - 64hz
+2db - 1khz
+3db - 2khz
+5db - 4khz
+3db - 8khz
+4db - 20khz
 
They sound much more forward and are much more fun to listen to, not sounding quite as laid-back.  I Would recommend trying this preset and seeing what you think. (This is for the Focal Spirit Classic).

 

[P701]

Yes, I feel the same, the mids are a bit missing in FSC.

My first couple of weeks with the headphones I got so frustrated with the clamping force too, because it started to hurt my ears within an hour or two of use. The clamping force is now a lot better after some use (as in a bit loosen up). The best way to speed up that process is to leave your headphones on to something that stretces them a bit, I used my PC case every now and then for that.
And yes the headpand... well it could/should be a bit softer. I think there is no cushion between your head and the metal other than the leather topping, and in longer use it might hurt, for me it does.

Also, I felt these phones had a bit mid-bass hump, but sounds like it has gone after some time of use.
I also read on gearslutz that people had same impressions with this.

For the sound itself, I cant complain much. The bass quality is perfect. the treble is also very accurate/fast.

 

[uelover]

Missing mids on the FSC... I mean, really?

 

[P701]

Missing mids on the FSC... I mean, really?

 

Somewhat yes. Not that it bothers me really. The mids are pretty fine
But for example, I like the mids alot on my HD598's, the female vocal specially, that something from it is missing in FSC.

 

[UnityIsPower]

I tried the FSP but was stuck waiting for the bass kick.... EDM is not something I would enjoy on those phones.

 

[Hapster]

I tried the FSP but was stuck waiting for the bass kick.... EDM is not something I would enjoy on those phones.

Basically. Rock sounds pretty sweet though. Unfortunately, most of my library is trance, so they don't really fit.

 

[zackzack]

It's truly great sounding but I find the Classic more musical. Did u try out the Classic before buying the Pro?

 
You own tons of headphones and most of the reviews show similar preference as mine.
But there is no way the Classic trumps the Pro. Tested again & again at various shops:
the Classic has an impressive dynamic & clarity that the Classic simply lacks.
In fact the Classic, other than looking very...classy with the luxurious leather headband,
sound like a lot of mass market Japanese brands. Most of which has that muddy treble
and lethargic sonic character.
 
 
Re: your review of T1
Beyerdynamic T1 should be near top of your list for imaging & resolution alone.

 

[UnityIsPower]

Basically. Rock sounds pretty sweet though. Unfortunately, most of my library is trance, so they don't really fit.

Agree.

 

[plakat]

  Currently on the road to making them sound good. I wasn't expecting it, but the mids do sound recessed to me. So with a little help with the EQ I've managed to resolve that almost entirely.
 
Right now, I'm at
 
+4db - 20hz
+2db - 64hz
+2db - 1khz
+3db - 2khz
+5db - 4khz
+3db - 8khz
+4db - 20khz
 
They sound much more forward and are much more fun to listen to, not sounding quite as laid-back.  I Would recommend trying this preset and seeing what you think. (This is for the Focal Spirit Classic).

 
While I'm personally apposed to using EQs for my personal music listening (i.e. public performances / professional setting with appropriate equipment is another thing), I'd suggest you subtract 3dB from each setting, it should overall sound better.
 
Reasoning behind that is that EQs (and especially home-use or simple digital EQs) are quite a mess with regard to how they do accentuation. Staying around the 0 line keeps things more in check and should yield a more even output better representing your intentions. You'll have to adjust the overall output level accordingly of course.