Focal Sphear S High Definition Earphones - Black

I was wondering when someone was going to de-throne the Sennheiser Momentum M2 In-Ear as the top in-ear headphone in the sub £100 price range. I wasn't expecting it to be Focal, who are more known for their speakers than their headphones. But boy, the Focal Sphear does clean up in this bracket. I've been A/B testing the Focal and the Sennheiser M2s and the Focal comes out on top in every aspect.BACKGROUNDThe mic on my Sennheiser M2 Momentum In-Ear broke, so I was looking for the best in-ear headphone under £200 I could find.THE COMPETITION- Since I needed headphones that would work on Android, that ruled out RHA T20, since the only version with a mic is for iOS. Ditto for B&W C5 s2, iOS only. If you're looking for a headphone for iPhone, I'd add those two options to the shortlist. If you're using Android...well, your options are fewer.- The Bose QC 20 come in just under £200, but since I own multiple noise cancelling headphones, including the Bose QC 25, I didn't feel the need for yet another NC headphone. If you don't have a noise cancelling headphone, have £200 to spare and would use them for travel - the Bose QC 20 are a no-brainer.- I was looking for a well-sounding headphone that does the music justice, giving as life-like representation as possible (can you see how much I'm trying to avoid using the word "audiophile"?). My search limited it to Sennheiser's M2 Momentum In-Ear (to replace the pair I have), or to try the Focal Sphear. After reading many very positive reviews, I decided to give Focal a shot. A decision I'm extremely happy with now.COMPARED TO SENNHEISER MOMENTUM M2 IN-EAR(I'll compare with the Sennheiser M2 as a reference, since they've been considered the top model in the £100 segment for years)- Handles detail much better. A/B testing the intro on Aerosmith's "Janie's got a gun", where there's so much happening...that's when the difference became very apparent. The Focals are talented, very talented.- Big sound stage, remarkably bigger than others in this price range.- Power output: due to larger driver size, these can go much louder than my other IEMs. This is especially important if you're using an Android phone (less so on iPhone which has better power output). On my Nexus 6P, the Sennheiser M2s some times can't go loud enough. The Focals are easy to drive, couldn't go full volume.- Balanced sound that has plenty of power in high, mid, lows...without being fatiguing. In comparison, the M2s are a bit too aggressive in the mids and highs (in Crowded House's "Weather with you", the S-sounds in the vocals became annoyingly harsh).- Transparent, neutral & lifelike sound: I usually test with Fleetwood Mac's "Rumour", since it's such a well-produced album that it reveals many flaws of headphones. The Focals did so well here, that for a moment I forgot I was using in-ear monitors.- Engaging: one of the drawbacks with neutral sounding headphones, is that they can sound a bit...bland, for the lack of a better word. The Focal Sphear is on the contrary very engaging. It made "How to disappear completely" from Radiohead's 'Kid A' album sound so great and full, that I forgot I was testing the headphones and got lost in the music.- Comfortable: these don't go as far in as other IEMs, so they're really comfortable to wear for longer stretches. Comes with 6 different tips (3 silicon and 3 memory foam...I love the latter).FINAL VERDICTI've loved the Sennheiser Momentum-line (their over-ear model is my go-to for regular outdoor use). The M2 in-ear has been the top rated model by What Hi-Fi in the below £100 price range for a few years now. Sooner or later there comes a time when the torch needs to be passed on. Focal Sphear is the new reigning king, there isn't anything else to be said. These sound like they could be twice the price.

Firstly, the delivery service was excellent. The free service managed to have the product promotly delivered within 4 working days.Onto the product, the previous reviews are accurate in stating that the fit is very comfortable. There are 3 different silicone or foam tips separately. The noise isolation with the silicone tips are more than sufficient. There is minimal sound leak from the environment. Meanwhile, I do a fair amount of walking to work. I do not plan on being ran over.The sound quality is very good. The mids and highs are very crisp. The bass is weaker than some other headphones. This does not bother me at all due to personal preference in the sound desired and the style of music which I prefer. That being said, it would be unfair to suggest that these do not do justice to any genre of music.One thing to be clear is that these are very high quality in terms of the sound quality. They are certainly performing above their price brackets. I have had Klipsch, Shure and B&W headphones previously. These are, without a doubt, the best in value. There is one drawback - I am now hearing a lot of details which I had never noticed in some tracks that I own. Guess it has changed my opinion on some of these tracks. Be warned. Ha ha.

Firstly I might say I am a pretty big Focal fanboy having Focal Elite K2's in my car, so I looked forward to the Sphear's arrival. I've owned them a couple of months now, I've lost them once already and panicked I'd lost £90 ear buds, only for them to show up a few days later. I really love the sound. My musical taste is primarily EDM - specifically Deadmau5, but I go all the way thru the spectrum to country, classical, opera, jazz, and metal. The Sphears pull off a great sound no matter what they're asked to deliver. You feel the bass, highs and mids are quality too. My only gripe is they're too big and honestly don't fit comfortably. I like to push them way into the ear canal - and I can't seem to get these in close enough. Forgiving this, they still sound amazing and are definitely worth the money.

Sound quality is decent but the remote doesn't work properly every time (sometimes the start/stop doesn't work) and there's no volume on the remote control which is poor.

To są słuchawki mało popularne ale wybitne dzwięk jest genialny i ta jakość te słuchawki to po prostu jakość i dzwiękPolecam serdecznie

Tengo varios de marcas reconocidas, después de probarlos me pareció un sonido demasiado plano tirando a frío, por precio no me convencieron y los devolví sin ningún problema.

Sorprendentemente buone.Da tempo ero alla ricerca di cuffie che 1)fossero comode 2)non cadessero continuamente dalle orecchie e 3)suonassero bene. Il mio orecchio ha una conformazione particolare e non sopporto l'effetto tappo che danno le in-ear normali.Devo dire che queste cuffie, dopo aver selezionato i giusti adattatori fra le 6 paia a disposizione (3 in silicone e 3 in un particolare materiale a memoria di forma che non ho trovato in nessun altro modello), si avvicinano molto al mio obbiettivo.Qualita' costruttiva buona, suono equilibrato e ben definito, bassi profondi quanto basta, comode anche se portate a lungo, "effetto tappo" modesto e tollerabile grazie soprattutto agli adattatori a memoria di forma.Anche per l'uso telefonico nessun problema: c'e' un microfono di buona qualita'. I comandi sono ridotti a un unico pulsante che comunque permette di rispondere alle chiamate o skippare avanti/indietro i brani musicali con 2/3 pressioni come si usa su android (presumo anche su iphone). Manca il controllo di volume.

En me basant sur les avis et la réputation de la marque je me suis orienté sur ces écouteurs Focal pour mon baladeur xDuoo X3 et je dois avouer que le couple marche très bien. J'ai testé sur du DM, du Kraftwerk, et DJ Shadow en wav et tout ressort bien du grave à l'aigu sans grave étouffant ou d'aigu sifflant. Les timbres de voix sont justes, les détails sonores ressortent bien, la dynamique est là aussi, ainsi que la stéréo. Face à mes Beyerdynamic DT770 32ohms et DT150 250ohms il s'en sort très bien, juste un petit peu moins d'ampleur dans les basses et un haut médium un poil plus présent, mais ça swingue dans les oreilles, très content!Bref pour à peine 88€ on a un bon casque, il est livré avec une petite sacoche pour le ranger à l'occasion, et des embouts de rechange mais ceux montés sont parfaits. Moi qui suis sensible des oreilles je ressens qu'une faible douleur au bout d'une heure et demi, un miracle!!

The Focal Sphear's are one of the better sounding pair of headphones I have bough (somewhat close to my HD600's). I primarily use these while working on my laptop and sometimes use it with my phone. These headphones are easily powered and are plenty loud at half volume for most phones.Pros:Extremely comfortable. I have never had a pair of headphones where I used the buds that come already installed on it.Sound is very linear and clear. Mids and Bass and exceptional with highs being very good but is the only thing I would say it not on par with my Hd 600's (still very good though).The 60-70 degree angle on the plug is something that I found to be quite convenient. It doesn't bend from direct force from any direction unlike a right angle or straight one would.The case it very nice and just the right size.The control buttons in the middle of the headphones is perfect. Not only does it add additional rigidity to the splitting part but also makes it so it doesn't weigh one side of the split part more than the other (annoying if you run with headphones)The mic sounds decent.Cons:The looks are OK if that matter to youSound isolation is not as great as some other buds I have used but almost seems more open. The symbol on the outside of the drive is a mesh which you can move air through. I prefer an open design so perhaps it enhances the quality of the sound.The cable is a little flimsy and not terrible thick but I haven't had any problems with it.I do not like how you have to use the controller buttons (1 click pauses, 2 next song). No volume button's.Overall, for the money, these headphones are quite exceptional even with the very few nitpicky flaws the sound is outstanding.