Focal Spirit One S
It isn’t that I am not fond of this version. A few headphones around this price point can match it in clarity making it feel like a filler model or something that bridges a gap or plays to those on a budget.
That is great and all, but I feel like this one is really out of place. Despite that, it sounds very nice.
Sound Impressions
The Spirit One S is probably the most popular Focal model out there, it sounds more similar to the Classic than the Professional.
I have gripes with it because it is such a nice all-around, a generally 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 set up.
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 them apart from most other headphones.
In this case, the Spirit One S is a good, generic headphone. Side by side with my favorite headphones in the price tier, the AKG K267, the Spirit 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 concerning treble ( True, the Classic comes pretty close ) the Spirit 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.
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 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 Spirit 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 headphones are not muddy nor unclear anywhere.
Despite not being up to par in clarity with the other two models, it is still one of the cleanest-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 looser 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 a 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 Spirit 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 +4 dB bass boosting.
You can feel the shakiness start to flood into the cups at this point and 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 firm and solid, more rounded, and with a tendency to feel a bit shaky by comparison to its siblings.
However, again, it is still cleaner and clearer than my AKG K267, which is my top pick for the cleanest 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 headphones is musical and in turn, I’d want a little brighter appeal to the upper end, but the Spirit 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 V-Moda 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 Spirit One S.
My Verdict
All things considered, I am positively shocked by how good these headphones are. I never thought any $350 headphones 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 are perhaps the best and most well-thought-out “monitor” headphones I’ve ever used.
The Classic is a mini version of the Audeze LCD-XC, yet one that is comfortable with a higher-end appeal not found in most portables anymore, something akin to that Ultrasone Edition 8 look, which is damned sexy.
The Spirit 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 has done a great job with these new Spirit Series headphone models, I am very excited to see what they would do with a Summit-level flagship in the $1000+ tier. Focal, make it happen!
Focal Spirit Series 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
- 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
