The Focal Spirit Classic does everything I've asked of it very, very well.
For the past few weeks I have been using it on an almost daily basis with either my PS Vita or my computer music set up. Out of curiosity I have even listened to it on my phone a few times and they have proven very easy to drive. Using them with a headphone amp, I would recommend one with switchable gain, really tightens all of it's sonic aspects up.
I have been playing, "Thomas Was Alone" on my PS Vita (straight out of the headphone jack) and these headphones really pull you into the game. Visually, the game is very simple, but the combination of the games soundtrack with the visuals is really something special.
When using these with audio files on my computer I have been constantly impressed. They are closed headphones, so the sound stage isn't going to be anything incredible, but that should be obvious. Regardless of the type of music you throw at these you will, most likely, be very happy with the results. Treble seems to be a little rolled off, but the mids and bass seems to be represented in even parts. There are times which I feel like they are a little veiled sounding and this is most likely because of the mildly rolled off treble. It doesn't bother me at all, but there are times that it is very apparent. My other headphones are Q701's and UE Triple Fi. 10s, both of which I consider to be very bright and detailed. I think that the FSCs are definitely in the opposite direction of bright and are right on the cusp of being veiled. The people who work at Focal did a great job straddling this divide and the result is a headphone that is very pleasant to listen to for long periods of time. I have spend upwards of 3 or 4 continuous hours using them without any issues, albeit I am a very low volume listener. After you get a seal, which is a little difficult for me sometimes, they sound great and provide a good deal of isolation. I would say they provide about as much isolation as a set of thin silicone IEM tips.
The included accessories are also very useful. One short cable, which I use most of the time and one long cable, which I use when i sit in the listening chair farther from my computer, are included. Both have cable management rings so that you can store them when not in use and they are both very sharp (these are very nice, focal branding, very useful and easy to wrap the headphones up and store them). Another nice added touch are little o-rings at the base of the plug that force you to push down on the 1/4" adapter before you screw it on. This creates a very tight connection between the 1/8" plug and the 1/4" adapter. Does it sound better than other 1/4" adapters? Probably not, but it shows that focal has a great attention detail and a willingness to invest a little bit more time and effort into the creation and manufacturing of their product. This is obvious in the packaging and the built quality of the headphones.
The only reasons I gave this headphone 4 stars and not 5 are the fact that it takes me a few tries to get a good seal when I wear them and I think it would have been great to include an impedance adapter separately or just build it in to the longer cable. This could have easily been a much worse, maybe it is better to say polarizing, headphone if the engineers are Focal hadn't done such a great job. Personally, I think the Focal Spirit Classic have the perfect amount of detail to not be fatiguing. Depending on your personal preference you may consider them veiled, but for me it is right on. I also feel that the ear cups could be a tad bit bigger to accommodate people with larger ears. Personally, it is a snug fit, but not uncomfortable to wear for hours at a time, but I imagine if you have larger ears this will not be the case.
There are many options around the $300 mark for a pair of closed headphones and The Focal Spirit Classic check almost every box. Focal has made a pair of headphones that looks great, sounds great and has paid attention to all of the details along the way. It is also worth noting that at this price point you probably won't find a pair of headphones that looks this good or is made of out the same quality of materials as the FSC.
For the past few weeks I have been using it on an almost daily basis with either my PS Vita or my computer music set up. Out of curiosity I have even listened to it on my phone a few times and they have proven very easy to drive. Using them with a headphone amp, I would recommend one with switchable gain, really tightens all of it's sonic aspects up.
I have been playing, "Thomas Was Alone" on my PS Vita (straight out of the headphone jack) and these headphones really pull you into the game. Visually, the game is very simple, but the combination of the games soundtrack with the visuals is really something special.
When using these with audio files on my computer I have been constantly impressed. They are closed headphones, so the sound stage isn't going to be anything incredible, but that should be obvious. Regardless of the type of music you throw at these you will, most likely, be very happy with the results. Treble seems to be a little rolled off, but the mids and bass seems to be represented in even parts. There are times which I feel like they are a little veiled sounding and this is most likely because of the mildly rolled off treble. It doesn't bother me at all, but there are times that it is very apparent. My other headphones are Q701's and UE Triple Fi. 10s, both of which I consider to be very bright and detailed. I think that the FSCs are definitely in the opposite direction of bright and are right on the cusp of being veiled. The people who work at Focal did a great job straddling this divide and the result is a headphone that is very pleasant to listen to for long periods of time. I have spend upwards of 3 or 4 continuous hours using them without any issues, albeit I am a very low volume listener. After you get a seal, which is a little difficult for me sometimes, they sound great and provide a good deal of isolation. I would say they provide about as much isolation as a set of thin silicone IEM tips.
The included accessories are also very useful. One short cable, which I use most of the time and one long cable, which I use when i sit in the listening chair farther from my computer, are included. Both have cable management rings so that you can store them when not in use and they are both very sharp (these are very nice, focal branding, very useful and easy to wrap the headphones up and store them). Another nice added touch are little o-rings at the base of the plug that force you to push down on the 1/4" adapter before you screw it on. This creates a very tight connection between the 1/8" plug and the 1/4" adapter. Does it sound better than other 1/4" adapters? Probably not, but it shows that focal has a great attention detail and a willingness to invest a little bit more time and effort into the creation and manufacturing of their product. This is obvious in the packaging and the built quality of the headphones.
The only reasons I gave this headphone 4 stars and not 5 are the fact that it takes me a few tries to get a good seal when I wear them and I think it would have been great to include an impedance adapter separately or just build it in to the longer cable. This could have easily been a much worse, maybe it is better to say polarizing, headphone if the engineers are Focal hadn't done such a great job. Personally, I think the Focal Spirit Classic have the perfect amount of detail to not be fatiguing. Depending on your personal preference you may consider them veiled, but for me it is right on. I also feel that the ear cups could be a tad bit bigger to accommodate people with larger ears. Personally, it is a snug fit, but not uncomfortable to wear for hours at a time, but I imagine if you have larger ears this will not be the case.
There are many options around the $300 mark for a pair of closed headphones and The Focal Spirit Classic check almost every box. Focal has made a pair of headphones that looks great, sounds great and has paid attention to all of the details along the way. It is also worth noting that at this price point you probably won't find a pair of headphones that looks this good or is made of out the same quality of materials as the FSC.
