The Spirit One-S
It isn’t that I am not fond of this version, few headphones around this price point can match it in clarity…it is just that I feel like it is intended only to be a filler model: something that bridges a gap or plays to those on a budget for no other reason than to be sold as a cheaper alternative. That is great and all, but I feel like this one is really out of place. Despite that, it sounds very nice.
Tonality
The One-S is probably the most popular Focal model out there, it actually sounds more similar to the Classic than the Professional. I have gripes with it because it is such a nice all arounder, a general good performer with no real flaws. That to me at this point in the game seems a bit needless, since we have dozens of portables that are similarly tuned and setup. This is a safe headphone with good “everything”, but nothing very good. In today’s market, most headphones offer something unique or boast something special about them that sets it apart from most other headphones. In this case, the One-S is a good, generic headphone. Side by side with my favorite headphone in the price tier, the AKG K267, the One-S sounds lacking in engaging qualities due to its relatively flat and neutral upper end, as well as its low end. Where the K267 shimmers unlike any other headphone with regard to treble ( True, the Classic comes pretty close ) the One-S seems like it is the can do it all headphone of the trio. So, why do I consider it the most boring of the three? I am not sure if it was set up that way and specifically tuned to be so well rounded.
As with most exceptionally well rounded headphones like this, the sound signature can generally be extremely linear, as it would have to be for me to consider it a proper “well rounded headphone”. The forwardness can’t be too forward, nor relaxed. It would need to be middle ground and on the nearer edge to the realm of forwardness, as this is the sweet spot for headphones to properly react and replay relaxed tracks as well as highly intimate tracks. All three of the Focals here feel like they are in the same playing field: moderately forward, moderately engaging but with the ability to sound relaxed if the track called for it. With that in mind and combined with the equal parts, bass, mids and treble, the headphone ended up sounding too linear for me. I know a lot of people who love this sound! But, I am not one of them and this is purely subjective. I prefer very engaging sound, which is something the great treble of the Classic and the dark background effect of the Professional offer. Those siblings have that niche, that one or two qualities that stand out that end up enticing you and providing solid engagement, but this One-S is the most linear of the bunch so I cannot consider it engaging anywhere. That isn’t a bad thing, in fact as mentioned it might be highly desirable to most audiophiles out there.
Treble
The reason I am scratching my head is that the tonality is similar to the Classic, it is colored and a bit brightened in the background coloration, the bass is definitely warm and yummy, but the midrange and treble are relatively flat and don’t offer that hint of brightness and swagger that I found in the Classic and Professional. So, I feel like the One-S is a mixed bag, maybe that is exactly what Focal wanted? If that is the case, that is awesome. Treble clarity by comparison to the sibling models is inferior by a noticeable degree, however the headphone is not muddy nor unclear anywhere. Despite not being up to par in clarity to the other two models, it is still one of the most clean sounding headphones I’ve ever reviewed sub $300. This headphone is again set up similarly to the Classic headphone and feels like it is its true little brother, striving to be as good as its older brother.
Bass
The bass feels a little more loose and less focused than the Professional and Classic, but I found it highly relaxing and it would be the one of the trio that I would prefer to use with Jazz or slower paced tracks. It lacks that firmness and quick snap of the Professional and tends to linger on ( decay factor ) in a similar way that the Classic portrays the low end of most bassy tracks. Where the Professional was snappier, precise and more focused, the One-S is slower, more forgiving and more musical. It also does not dig nearly as deep as the Classic and tends to lose some control factor around +4dB bass boosting. You can feel the shakiness start to flood into the cups at this point and actually tickle your ear a bit. I feel like a deeper earpad would solve that problem, something more like the Sony 950BT.
Mids
The mids feel like firm and solid, more rounded and with a tendancy to feel a bit shaky by comparison to its siblings, however and again, it is still more clean and clear than my AKG K267, which is my top pick for the most clean midrange in the sub $350 tier before reviewing these Focals. What bothers me most here is the treble experience, which is just too neutral and flat, too linear to provide any engagement. As mentioned, the tone of the headphone is musical and in turn I’d want a little brighter appeal to the upper end, but the One-S delivers a very safe treble experience. It also isn’t at all sibilant, plenty clear and shocking more clean than the likes of my Vmoda M100 and the AKG K550. Quality aside, which again is good, the upper end is reflective of how it should have been tuned when you consider the highly musical tonality the headphone gives off everywhere else. It leaves me just wanting more, if I get more, I’d end up with the Classic on my head as it is the most obvious and direct upgrade to this type of sound found in the One-S.
Final Thoughts
All things considered, I am positively shocked by how good these headphones are. I never thought any $350 headphone could dethrone my AKG K267, but the Classic sure did. I also never thought I would enjoy a studio monitor in the Professional, but I did. I hate studio monitors, but the tuning job and setup of the Professional is perhaps the best and most well thought out “monitor” headphone I’ve ever used. Compared with the Shure 840, one headphone most users insist are great monitors ( they aren’t ) you can easily hear how whacked out the Shure 840 is by comparison and how “not accurate” and “unresponsive” the Shure 840 is by comparison. The Classic is a mini version of the Audeze LCDXC, yet one that is comfortable with a higher end appeal not really found in most portables anymore, something akin to that Ultrasone Edition 8 look, which is damned sexy. The One-S is just two steps down from the Classic and retains a good sense of clarity across the board despite that, it is still a top player in this tier.
Focal really surprised me here, there is no reason to keep my Edition 8 anymore and I’ve already listed it for sale. The Classic destroyed it in clarity, fun factor and especially so in responsiveness. I really enjoyed the Classic the most, but I really want a redesign with a new headband. It is too thick and bulky, also not conforming enough to the normal shape of human heads, which is something that really upsets me. A simply, elegant design would fit better with the similarly elegant exterior cup design. One of these headphones is a great studio monitor, the others are musical titans that really gave the middle finger to neutrality and colorlessness.
I am so happy when I listen to the One-S and Classic, as so many audio companies forgot that music is supposed to be musical, that artists don’t want you to miss those micro details in texture and tone of their instruments. Gosh, if you went back decades and told Jimi Hendrix that people are going to listen to his music on gear that is lifeless and neutral, he would probably be saddened by that. I know I would be, I want that warmth and color of instruments to be heard and felt when I play, the Classic and the One-S have that covered. I also want that monitor tone when recording and practicing through my guitar amp, the Professional has that covered without sacrificing quality or becoming painful. Focal has done a great job with these models, I am very excited to see what they would do with a Summit level flagship in the $1000+ tier. Focal, make it happen!
Price:
- Spirit Classic ( $350 )
- Spirit Professional ( $300 )
- Spirit One-S ( $250 )
Links:
Technical Specifications
Spirit Classic
- over-the-ear, closed-back design provides exceptional noise isolation so you can hear more details in your music
- soft memory-foam earpads for long-lasting comfort
- 40mm Mylar/titanium drivers deliver detailed, dynamic sound
- frequency response: 5-22,000 Hz
- sensitivity: 102 dB
- impedance: 32 ohms
- detachable 13-foot cable for home listening
- detachable 55-inch cable with in-line remote and microphone for mobile listening and calls
- 1/4″ plug adapter included
- folding design for easy storage
- includes carrying bag
- weight: 15.4 ounces
- warranty: 1 year
Spirit Professional
- over-the-ear, closed-back design provides exceptional noise isolation for studio use and music listening
- 40mm Mylar/titanium drivers deliver detailed, dynamic sound
- soft memory-foam earpads for long-lasting comfort
- scratch-resistant textured black finish
- frequency response: 5-22,000 Hz
- sensitivity: 102 dB
- impedance: 32 ohms
- detachable 13-foot coiled cable for recording and home listening
- detachable 55-inch cable with in-line remote and microphone for mobile listening and calls
- 1/4″ plug adapter included
- folding design for easy storage
- includes carrying bag
- weight: 9.8 ounces
- warranty: 1 year
Spirit One-S
- over-the-ear, closed-back design helps block out external noise
- 40mm Mylar/titanium drivers deliver detailed, dynamic sound
- enhanced bass response for better tonal balance during on-the-go use
- detachable 55-inch cable with universal in-line remote and microphone for controlling music and phone calls on your smartphone
- soft memory-foam earpads for long-lasting comfort
- 1/4″ and airplane adapters included
- folding design for easy storage
- hard-shell travel case and carry bag included
- frequency response: 5-22,000 Hz
- sensitivity: 104 dB
- impedance: 32 ohms
- weight: 9.9 ounces
- warranty: 1 year
