Apologies, I’ve not been clear. I suspect Focal might be unwilling to compromise the aesthetic for a reworked headband (for now). I assume it’s not hurting sales in a way that is making them change. A look through the entire Focal catalogue shows as you ascend the performance ladder you gain more and more distinct styling. A feast for the eyes as well as the ears, as it were (regardless of anyone’s personal style preferences).
It’s like the fabric wrist bands packaged with some luxury watches - the look incredible until they stain with sweat or anything else. But people still use them. Why? Because they look incredible. I do know a few people who decided on Focal headphones because of how they look. For those people the sound of lots of headphones were completely acceptable so they went on style and comfort. Nothing wrong with that at all.
When people buy luxury products (my weakness is dress shoes) they expect outstanding construction and outstanding style. There’s an acceptance that the product will, over time, begin to wear. When it comes to shoes I take the best possible care with the leathers and very much enjoy the look of a well looked after 10 year old shoe; the developing patina, the creases put there by my own feet, specific to me, that speak to the history of the thing at hand and my relationship to it. For me, a shoe isn’t just a disposable utility.
I feel the same way about my hifi. It’s a collection of gear I’ve arrived at after nearly thirty years of a journey. Every piece speaks to a design aesthetic, sometimes to the individual who made it with their hands, to innovative technologies, or to personal milestones. To me, that’s what luxury items can bring.
I can see people being frustrated by the replacement cost of the headband, but not me (’d be sad to have to pay it though). I look after this (expensive) headphone, it’s leather, it’s moving parts, it’s storage, because I want it to be with me for ten or more years. I don’t handle it without washing my hands. I’ll wipe it clean if my head is a bit sweaty or my hair oily. When I’m finished it gets put away out of the light and dust. Luxury is a beautiful thing worth preserving. In our house we believe in owning fewer things and things we do own being worth the effort to preserve.
So you can see I don’t consider my hifi as just a means to an end. Were I more utilitarian I’d probably think differently. In the end, my point is, for all the reasons above, a luxury item is there for much more than its functionality. Take away its beauty and aesthetic purpose and it’s no longer a luxury product. Compromise its industrial design and the same happens.
And it sounds fricken wonderful.