I just received the Radiance a few days ago and you will be very happy with the bass. The mid-bass is fantastic and the earpads seal so well you get a great sense of impact. To me these are my endgame closed backs
Hi all,
I’ve spent a few hours with the Focal Radiances now, and while they might still be breaking in (they should have about 40-50 hours on them), they sound really good, so I will let it be and just enjoy. In case it’s helpful to fellow closed-back enthusiasts:
My physical impressions:
- Build is excellent, similar to the Elears, with higher-quality headband and pads, of course.
- Pads are the most comfortable I’ve felt, and clamp force is about right for me.
Sound impressions:
- Impressive, textured bass/sub-bass. Not as deep as the LCD-XCs, but very good and plentiful for genres that need it (trip-hop, pop, rap). More than a “neutral” set of cans would have, and I’m fine with that. No bass overhang or plodding nature- this is fast, precise bass for dynamic drivers!
- Less crystalline highs than the LCD-XCs or Elears, but this is preferred for me as I’m treble-sensitive, and there is still a fair amount of treble detail. Well-recorded chimes and cymbals shimmer nicely.
- Punchy, speedy dynamic sound, a commonality with the Elears (and part of what I love about them). I’m a PRaT (pace/rhythm/timing) fan- hence a Naim amp in my two-channel setup- and the dynamics help this a great deal. Huge “jump factor” when you couple this level of dynamics and detail- some recordings with in-studio noises (doors closing, chairs/stools shifting) literally had me looking over my shoulder
- Very clear, organic midrange. Is able to keep less well-recorded tracks from sounding piercing and hard on my ears.
- Intimate, yet clearly delineated soundstage. In this there seems to be a strong similarity to the LCD-XCs, which is really nice.
So all in all these are winners for me- I was looking for “Closed Elears with deeper bass” and these seem close enough to that goal to be keepers, and with glove-like, elegant finishes to top it off.