The day before last, UPS finally delivered my Focal Spirit Professional, and, yes, I'm so happy, I could dance an Irish Jig. People, these headphones are amazing—amazingly neutral that is.
I heard all the talk, read all the testimonials, watched all the video reviews (there weren't many actually), and now I can testify to the jury, under the penalty of death: these are the most neutral cans I've heard in many moons. Are they perfectly neutral? Probably not. But then again, I have no idea what “perfectly neutral” sounds like. Compared to the Focal Classic, yes, they are notably more balanced and linear. The Classic’s sound-signature is warmer and more bass-centric. A quick comparison between these headphones indeed stresses the “laid-back” nature of the Classic. The FSP sounds immensely more open and airy--so open and airy, in fact, that from time to time, I can’t help but ask myself, “Are these really closed-back headphones?” And yet, despite all their differences, the Classic and the Professional share a strong family resemblance, sonically and aesthetically speaking.
But let me focus on what I like most about the FSP: its midrange clarity.
The Professional’s midrange soars; it’s as clear as a blue sky in early spring; it's vibrancy and liveliness personified. Ever put on a pair of amber-lensed sunglasses? Well, these headphones are their sonic equivalent, imbuing my music with a sort of hyper-clarity, tinged with an amber warmth. I guess what I’m trying to say, folks, is this: the FSP genuinely favors no frequency range (um, save, maybe the upper midrange).
And this means that the Professional’s bass never attempts to steal the show, never attempts to impress you, and thus allows the midrange to shine at all times. Don’t get me wrong: if a recording demands thump and slam, the bass always steps forward and delivers with aplomb. Sometimes, I get the sense that the bass is lurking in the background of my music, biding its time, waiting to pounce, and when it finally springs forth, it always does so with surprising impact. If I had to describe the FSP's bass in two words, I would choose, “taut” and “impactful.”
The FSP's treble, conversely, is well-behaved and never draws undue attention to itself. And yet, I'm still tempted to call these headphones "energetic," mostly because Focal didn't short-change, or otherwise shelve the upper registers. But here's the key point: the treble is so finely tuned that words like "bright" simply don't apply. Moreover, The Pro, like the Classic, exhibits no nasty treble peaks, no strident or off-key tonalities. That said, I can understand why some folks might find these headphones a little fatiguing for longer listening sessions. They are fairly forward in the presence region, and sometimes, I find this a bit fatiguing myself.
Mr. Potato head, be warned: the FSP, like the Classic, is fairly uncomfortable. Errr. Actually, "uncomfortable" is probably a little euphemistic, but I'm reluctant to call these headphones painful, but some people will rightfully call them that, or worse. So check your hat and ear-size before buying. But let's not dwell on this: I have a bigger bone to pick.
For some reason, Focal decided to enclose the FSP's glorious drivers in cheap plastic. Actually, everything about the FSP's build feels flimsy. (I really hate saying this.) Come on, Focal! Aren't these headphones supposed to be workhorses? You know, headphones for rough and careless studio folks. Headphones, for burly, thick-fingered sound-engineers. Seriously. Why compromise the build quality with such cheap plastic? I’m perplexed. Genuinely perplexed.
Sigh. All that aside, I don't mind saying, "I love these headphone." They sound amazing. I heartily recommend them, despite possible problems with comfort and durability. Cheers.
I don't like too lush midrange of HE-500 too, balance is the key. In terms of balance, it's almost impossible to do better than Paradox, IMHO - I could listen to them 24/7, already miss them 
, but FSP is very close...
