Focal Listen Professional Closed-Back Headphones

Overview

Listen Professional is a closed-back monitoring headphone particularly suited to quiet environments. They offer outstanding isolation which, combined with good tonal balance, facilitates equalization of tracks and registers. Its unique transducer combines a Mylar/Titanium alloy and offers incomparable low-frequency articulation for closed studio headphones.

Key Features

Lively, Dynamic Sound

The sound is lively, akin to listening with semi-open-back headphones coupled with the isolation of closed-back headphones. Made in France, the loudspeakers are equipped with a Mylar/Titanium membrane, offering a solution that respects the dynamics of the original signal, while accurately reproducing the details of the recording, across the entire audio spectrum.

Comfort and Design

The design of the headband combines comfort, strength and torsion-resistant articulation. Its constant profile, whatever the size of the head, ensures even weight distribution on the head, avoiding pronounced pressure points during long work sessions. The earcups’ structured black coating offers excellent resistance to shocks and scratches, while the thermosensitive, high-resilience memory foam provides excellent coupling to different face shapes.

Running-In Period

These headphones need a running-in period to reach full performance. This will happen naturally after several hours of listening. If you wish to accelerate the process, we recommend that you play them for at least 24 hours at a relatively high volume level, on tracks rich in low frequencies. This will stabilize the loudspeakers and enable you to enjoy your headphones to the full.

Advanced Technologies

Engineered Ear Cushions: Optimal Insulation

The earpad volume has been sized for very balanced acoustics, with two materials in studied proportions. The microfiber allows for linearization of the bass register and sound diffusion, while the acoustic fabric combines absorption and linearization capacities of the 3-9 kHz register. When listening, the low frequencies and the low-midrange benefit from remarkable balance and excellent articulation. The mid-high range is extremely precise. The thermosensitive and high-resilience memory foam used offers excellent coupling to different face shapes.

Mylar Suspension: Lightness at the Service of Sound

The driver suspension is made of 100% Mylar, while the central dome is made of a Mylar-Titanium alloy for greater rigidity and an ever-wider response in the high end of the spectrum. This keeps the moving assembly extremely light, allowing the transducer to exceed 22 kHz on a baffle plane. We have paid attention to the management of the bass and sub-bass register. The lowest possible tuning frequency is thus combined with an extremely low distortion rate (0.3% at 1 kHz 100 dB).

Specifications

Design

• Weight: 280 g / 0.61 lb

Sound & Acoustics

• Product Type: Closed-back headphones
• Frequency Response (+/- 3dB): 5 Hz 23 kHz
• Harmonic Distortion Rate: 0.3 % @ 1 kHz / 100 dB SPL
• Impedance: 32
• Sensitivity: 122dB SPL @ 1kHz / 1VRMS

Included Accessories

• Carrying Case: Included
• Carrying Case Dimensions: 212 mm (W) x 111 mm (H) x 239 mm (D) / 8.34″ x 4.37″ x 9.43″
• Cables Provided: 16.5 ft (5m) coiled asymmetric cable (1/8″ – 3.5mm TRS jack), and 4.5 ft (1.4m) straight asymmetric cable (1/8″ – 3.5mm TRS jack)

Listen Professional circum-aural closed back headphones are the essential work tool for music production. Their tonal balance and precision in terms of audio spectrum make them perfect to evaluate the sound work quality. In addition, their comfort and accessories will make them very attractive for people travelling on business trips. The sound quality and the dynamics of these headphones are very surprising considering that this quality is usually found on more expensive items.

The attention to detail of these headphones can be also shown thanks to the various patents and technologies which belong to Focal. Hence, a brand new driver membrane was developed. The main goal was to propose a solution which would keep all the dynamics from the original track while reproducing accurately every single detail on the whole audio spectrum. Even if Listen Professional headphones are closed, they produce a very lively sound, giving the feeling of semi-open headphones while still providing the isolation of closed headphones.

Features:

• The speaker driver has been given a 100% Mylar suspension, whereas the central dome is composed of a Mylar-titanium alloy to provide more rigidity and extended frequency response in the upper end of the spectrum. Thus, the moving part is extremely light, enabling the transducer to exceed 40kHz on a flat baffle. The reproduction of the bass and sub-bass registers also received a great deal of attention. The team of engineers managed to combine two factors which are hardly compatible: a tuning frequency which is as low as possible and extremely low distortion (0.3% at 1kHz 100dB).
• The size of the ear cushions (height, width and depth) gives them a volume which makes it possible to achieve a great tonal balance. Microfiber provides a more linear bass response providing a better acoustic output, whereas the acoustic tissue, which is closer to the speaker driver, offers great absorption and linearity in the 3-9kHz register. The bass and lower mid-range sections benefit from remarkable tonal balance and excellent articulation: where compression and frequency response generally suffer on closed-back headphones.
• Listen Professional is also equipped with a headband boasting a unique design to ensure comfort and durability. Its curve remains consistent, regardless of the shape or size of the users head. Combined with the layer of silicone underneath the headband, this ensures that the weight is spread out evenly over the head, preventing the user from feeling any pressure in certain areas, which can be very uncomfortable during long working sessions. The horizontal and vertical rotation of the ear cups operate thanks to one single part: a joint integrated into each one. The ear cups also feature a black structured covering, making them resistant to impacts and scratching.
• Rigid carrying case. Thermoformed shell in the shape of the headphones. Can store one cable and an iLok key (not provided), all within its compact dimensions. Two OFC copper 24AWG cables with a very low resistance.

  A 5m spiral for domestic use
  A 1.2m cable fitted with a 3.5mm stereo jack connector
  3.5mm and 6.35mm jack adapter