amzn_assoc_design = "enhanced_links"; Focal, the French leader in professional acoustics, hi–fi and automotive, completes its range of headphones with a brand new in–ear: Spark. This newsletter may contain advertising, deals, or affiliate links. Initially, I listened to several hours of classical music followed by classic rock and pop. The remote is a typical three-button design, with a central multifunction button for playback and call management, or summoning Google Assistant or Siri when held down. Most Bluetooth in-ears offer weak Bluetooth mic clarity, but this is below average quality. amzn_assoc_region = "US"; Focal just released Sphear Wireless, an around-the-neck Bluetooth earphone for $129. What the Focal Sphear Wireless lack in features they more than make up for in sound. Magic: The Gathering War of the Spark – Our Favorite Common Cards, Power Rangers Beast Morphers Gold Ranger revealed, Avengers Endgame’s expectations are the movie’s true big bad, Riverdale heads to the prom and back to the boxing ring, Star Trek animated series gets the green light at Nickelodeon, Men in Black: International trailer gives Tessa Thompson an origin, Bond 25 cast revealed at press event, but still no title, Amazon one-day game sale sees board games massively discounted. PCMag.com is a leading authority on technology, delivering Labs-based, independent reviews of the latest products and services. amzn_assoc_asins = "B07NJ1MGJF"; French audio company Focal has been creating acoustic equipment since 1979 in the home … While the Sphear Wireless earbuds don’t come with any hardware specifically for keeping them in ears during activity, they feature a magnetic clip to ensure they won’t fall down if they do fall out. There’s also an airplane adapter, … A smooth tonal balance and a comfy fit distinguish the Focal Sphear from the competition. The control module has a USB Micro port covered by a rubber flap, and plugging it in will charge the headphones up in about two hours. Focal is known for its high-fidelity audio gear, but the company also dabbles in more affordable products, like the Sphear Wireless, The remote is a typical three-button design, with a central multifunction button for playback and call management, or summoning Google Assistant or Siri when held down. Contributing Editor Tim Gideon has been writing for PCMag since 2006. Your subscription has been confirmed. Product review: Focal Sphear S headphones. Moving from Neutral mode to Loudness mode, the drums suddenly get some notable depth, and the mix sounds a little more anchored in the lows. At $129, the Sphear Wireless headphones offer a really nice balance of good sound and solid battery life. When picking out any pair of headphones, you’re making a compromise of some kind between price, features, … The Focal Sphear Wireless earphones deliver a good audio experience, with two useful EQ modes, for a reasonable price. Aside from that, the headphones offer a few nice features. While they’re not K-Mart cheap, they are cheaper than I would have expected from Focal. Sonically, the earphones sound fantastic and offer two useful EQ modes. I was really impressed by the feeling of space the Sphear headphones gave me. So Loudness mode is subtle when there isn't much bass depth in the mix to begin with, but certain tracks that pack added depth will sound more dramatically boosted. amzn_assoc_placement = "adunit"; Sphear S is faithful to Focal’s historic acoustic signature, with a particularly rich mid-range which is never muffled, accurate and clear sound, it is extremely faithful to the original work, and offers harmonic richness, from the low end to the high end, for true listening pleasure. The mic offers weak intelligibility. In both modes, the vocals are clean and clear, though there's a hint of added sibilance. Keep an eye on your inbox! Th… 8.2 Overall Design 9 PCMag Digital Group. They cost £89, just £30 more than the wired version. The outer plus/minus buttons adjust both volume and, when held for longer, track navigation. I think most listeners will dig the clear sound and solid isolation. You can answer calls on it, and it sounded acceptable, though this isn’t a feature I use frequently, admittedly. One note before, though—switching between the two modes when the volume is high results in an audio prompt that is almost painfully loud, so make sure to lower the volume first. Focal claims the earphones gets roughly eight hours of battery life, but your results will vary with your volume levels, and likely your usage of the Loudness mode, as well. It’s a big sound, and the Sphears tackle that … I wish the headphones had USB Type-C instead of USB Micro – both because I think it’s a studier connector and because I think that rubber flange could break off in time and USB Type-C has splashproof options. Without that, these are good in-ears for music lovers, but they're not terribly versatile. The highs are bright and clear, allowing the acoustic guitar strums and higher percussive instrumentation some extra presence in the mix. AirPods Max vs. AirPods Pro: What's Apple's Best Pair of Noise-Cancelling Headphones? The set that Focal sent me for this review are olive green. Apple's AirPods Max Over-Ear Headphones Are Here, and They're Expensive, Getting Static or Crackling in Your AirPods Pro? And although they may be wireless, these headphones will not fail to … When picking out any pair of headphones, you’re making a compromise of some kind between price, features, and quality. Godzilla: King of the Monsters trailer – So many Kaiju! Available in black, blue, olive green, or purple models, the Sphear Wireless earphones have a neckband connecting two somewhat large, orb-shaped earpieces with flattened outer metallic panels. The display of third-party trademarks and trade names on this site does not necessarily indicate any affiliation or the endorsement of PCMag. Dampen the Din: Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 vs. QuietComfort 35 II, Pre-Order Bose's Sport Open Earbuds for $200, Samsung Reveals Galaxy Buds Pro Name on Canadian Storefront. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. I didn’t ever feel like they were going to pop out during use, but more active users might be able to shake them loose. This time, we’re trying out Spark Wireless ($99), the Bluetooth version of Focal’s entry-level headphone range. Disclaimer: We received a review unit from the manufacturer and spent about 30 hours using the headphones before starting this review. Focal is known for its high-fidelity audio gear, but the company also dabbles in more affordable products, like the Sphear Wireless earphones. The lilting piano notes in the Amelie soundtrack are fluid and weighty, with each clunk and harmonics delivered clearly.. Lenny Kravitz’s Are You Gonna Go My Way is packed with heavy guitars and attacking drums, and the layers of textures are laid bare in a fairly open soundstage. The Focal Spirit Professional is one of my favorite headphones, but I will probably never buy the Sphear. amzn_assoc_ad_type = "smart"; Will these updates see them take the prize again? In either mode, the earphones deliver bright, clear audio. The overall sound profile is loud and sharp. The other included accessories are a short micro USB charging cable and a black velvet drawstring pouch. A smooth tonal balance and a comfy fit distinguish the Focal Sphear from the competition. They’re an excellent set of earbuds that can defeat even the Shure SE215 in audio quality. The Sphear Wireless earbuds are banded wireless headphones. Share This Post For me, that made it tough to remember which ear was which without looking at the headphones first. In neutral mode, the drums sound natural and full, but not at all thunderous—it's Callahan's baritone vocals that command the most richness in the mix. Focal Sphear Wireless Earbuds Review . It can be tough for earbuds to give a sense of space. And that Focal logo on the buds acts as the bass reflex port, which is pretty clever. You may unsubscribe from the newsletters at any time. On Jay-Z and Kanye West's "No Church in the Wild," the kick drum loop receives an ideal level of high-mid presence, allowing its attack to retain its punchy edge. The first thing you’ll notice about the Focal Listen Wireless headphones is their design, and they look very nice. The Focal Sphear Wireless earphones deliver solid audio in a crowded field of quality Bluetooth in-ears, but offer little excitement otherwise. The Focal Sphear definitely hold their own against some of the more popular brands like Bose, Shure, and Sony. I really enjoyed the way songs like “Man in the Box” by Alice in Chains and “Of Wolf and Man” by Metallica showed off how much punch the headphones can add to the bass of the former and the drums of the latter. © 1996-2021 Ziff Davis, LLC. Apple AirPods Max vs. Bose NC 700 vs. Sony WH-1000XM4: Should You Pay More for AirPods? amzn_assoc_linkid = "8c4a182df5aea9b1bbcad92c4e18ad32"; TechnoBuffalo LLC (dba TheNerdy.com) has affiliate partnerships with various companies. Music sounds vibrant and lively – especially acoustic stuff and bass guitars. The French hi-fi company spent two years developing their debut in-ear headphones, and they certainly seem to have given plenty of careful thought to the Sphears’ design. October 9, 2017; New products; French speaker makers Focal has updated their award-winning Sphear in-ear headphones. What’s more, their innovative spherical design provides unrivalled comfort for hours of undisturbed listening. This website uses cookies to improve your experience. The Focal Sphear is a pair of earphones geared toward serious music lovers. These do not at any time have any influence on the editorial content of The Nerdy. Overall, the design of the Focal Sphear is understated and mature but the Klipsch Reference X6i feel better made with its die-cast Zinc housings and beefier cable. The Sphear S is missing that fullness and warmth you get from the midrange, which gives the overall sound a brighter sheen. My pattern for headphone reviews includes long-term listening sessions combined with travel use. The headphones feature a sleek black design save for the Focal logo on each ear cup, and we really liked the look. Focal Sphear Wireless combine high quality listening, comfort and freedom of movement with 8 hours of listening time. On tracks with intense sub-bass content, like The Knife's "Silent Shout," the bass depth is delivered with a fullness and richness that isn't over the top, and is complemented well by bright, clear highs. I’m glad you enjoyed our Focal Sphear Review and were able to have a little bit a faith restored in in-ear headphones. Hasbro unveils its Spider-Man Far From Home line of toys, Spider-Man: Far From Home ends MCU phase 3, not Endgame, Curse of La Llorona wins the weekend at the box office, The 20 best JRPGs of the 2010âs: Part 2, Mpow H5 Headphone Review – Not worth the headache, Supernatural wraps up season 14 in new episode photos. 5. In the sub-$150 range, we're also fans of the Jaybird X4, the JLab Epic Sport Wireless , and the Beyerdynamic Soul Byrd. The in-line remote and mic button is discretely hidden in the logo in the cable’s Y-section, for instance, making it easy to use. As mentioned above, there are two listening modes: Neutral, which applies no EQ, and Loudness, which is intended for noisy environments or for boosting bass response when listening at moderate volumes. The love only grows when I remember the price. We also wish there was a vocal prompt to tell you which mode you're in (though it's often obvious). At $129, they're priced to compete with some of our favorite neckband-style in-ears, though unlike most of the competition, they aren't intended for working out. The Focal Spark Wireless earphones feature an eight hour battery life, making them ideal for commuting and listening on-the-go. We're always fans of memory foam tips, as they tend to provide a better seal and block out more surrounding noise; the seal also tends to provide an enhanced sense of bass depth. The controls of the Focal Listen Wireless are nice and large, but the placement of the playback controls on the upper half of the front-side of the ear cup paired with the volume and pairing buttons on the lower half of the back-side of the ear cups makes it difficult to press one control without accidentally pressing the … They’re not enough to shake me off my Shure SE535s, but that’s not a fair contest. Like many other Focal buds and phones, the Sphears are capped off with the logo on a steel end cap. The stainless steel build is … They’re light and comfortable, and will last a day before needing a charge. Focal. The Focal Sphear Wireless headphones look good, are comfortable, and sound great — but how do they perform? From a design perspective, they're a bit bland and lack useful safeguards like water resistance which makes them less versatile, even if you aren't planning on taking them to the gym. They came with three sizes each of these and silicone tips. They follow the original Sphear (wired) in-ear headphones first released in 2015. At maximum, unwise listening levels, the drivers don't distort, and at moderate levels, the bass seems full, but not overly boosted. PlayStation 5 reveal deep dive – what’s in store. The headphones connect to your listening device through Bluetooth 4.1, which means they’ll get a listening range of up to 10 meters, or 33 feet. All Rights Reserved. Using the Voice Memos app on an iPhone 8, we could understand every word we recorded, but the audio quality is among the worst we've heard in awhile—fuzzy and distorted. Internally, Focal employs an electrodynamic sandwich diaphragm driver with a frequency range of 15Hz to 22kHz in each earpiece. I can’t wait. Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Focal Sphear Wireless Earbuds with Three-Button Remote and Microphone (Blue) at Amazon.com. Whether in Neutral mode or Loudness mode, the bass isn't boosted much on these tracks, primarily because they lack as much super-deep bass presence. It helps that Focal includes three pairs of silicone eartips, as well as three pairs of memory foam eartips, in small, medium, and large sizes for both sets. Apple AirPods Pro vs. Bose QuietComfort Earbuds: Which Noise-Cancelling True Wireless Earphones Are Better? Even so, at $129 these are great earbuds that I’d recommend to anyone digging around in that price range. Orchestral tracks, like the opening scene from John Adams' The Gospel According to the Other Mary, sound most natural through the Sphear Wireless. What's missing is an IP rating for water resistance that would make us more comfortable suggesting the earphones for the gym and other uses. The fit is secure and the overall design is comfortable and easy to use. These headphones offer an eight hour battery life, and we would have liked to see a little more from them. amzn_assoc_ad_mode = "manual"; amzn_assoc_marketplace = "amazon"; At the same time, though, I did find some downsides. When it comes to IEMs, I'm mainly interested in high-end CIEMs. The headphones are built largely out of plastic, but in this case that doesn’t seem to be such a bad thing. It is hard to believe, but at the beginning of this year, I had never laid ears on any head or earphone from the French company known as Focal.. 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