Following the success of their Bathys wireless headphones, Focal has expanded their mid-fi lineup with two new offerings: the open-back Hadenys and the closed-back Azurys. The Focal Azurys enters a highly competitive market segment, facing stiff competition from established players like DCA Aeon 2, Beyerdynamic 1770 Pro, and Audeze LCD-2C. Let’s dive deep into what makes these Focal headphones stand out in this crowded field.
Design and Build Quality
The Azurys clearly draws design inspiration from the Bathys, but its sound signature carves its own distinct path. At the heart of these headphones lies Focal’s renowned 40mm aluminum/magnesium “M-Shaped Dome” driver, a technology that has proven its worth across their product range.
Technical Specifications:
– Frequency Response: 15 Hz – 22 kHz
– Harmonic Distortion: <0.3% @ 1 kHz / 100 dB SPL
– Impedance: 26 Ω
– Sensitivity: 100 dB SPL
– Cable: 3.5mm to 3.5mm (4 foot/1.25m length)
The swivel cup design mirrors the Bathys, making these headphones particularly suitable for on-the-go listening. While you can easily drive the Azurys from a phone or computer thanks to their high sensitivity (which I found slightly higher than the reported specifications), they truly shine when paired with a quality portable or desktop amplifier.
Comfort and Ergonomics
Focal has made significant strides in comfort with the Azurys. If you enjoy the Bathys’ fit, these will surprise you with even better comfort. The updated memory foam earpads offer supreme softness, though they do sit relatively thin with drivers positioned close to the ears. The cloth cover, while perhaps not matching the premium materials of higher-end models, actually enhances comfort for me.
The clamp force mirrors the more expensive Celestee and other high-end Focal models, striking a nice balance between security and comfort. While the headband features slightly less padding than the Bathys, the difference proves minimal in practice. The overall comfort level approaches that of comfort champions like the Meze 99 Classic and DCA Aeon 2, making these an excellent choice for listeners who prefer traditional headphone fit and feel.
Sound Quality
Soundstage and Imaging
The Azurys exhibits Focal’s characteristic revealing intimacy in its soundstage presentation. Like most closed-back headphones, it creates an accurate soundstage with precise imaging, though it maintains the expected “in-your-head” sound typical of closed-back designs.
When listening to “Punish” by Ethel Cain, the spacey vocal reverb comes through with distinct clarity, though it maintains that characteristic closed-back intimacy. The medium width soundstage offers some vertical dimension, but you’ll notice a clear boundary where the staging ends. This makes the Azurys particularly suitable for monitoring applications, where its accurate imaging and controlled soundstage help pinpoint specific elements in the mix.
Bass Response
The bass performance stands out as one of the Azurys’ most impressive characteristics. It delivers tight, responsive low frequencies with remarkably linear sub-bass extension. Rather than overwhelming the listener with excessive bass, the Azurys provides a clean, warm timbre through a slight bump in the high bass region.
This tuning creates some of the most resolving bass I’ve heard in this price range, offering fantastic clarity while maintaining musical engagement. However, bass enthusiasts seeking massive impact might want to consider alternatives like the Denon AH-D5200. The Azurys instead aims for versatility, handling both bass-heavy mixes and stripped-down acoustic music with equal competence.
Midrange Performance
The midrange takes center stage in the Azurys’ frequency response, though it approaches this crucial region differently than some competitors. Unlike the HD600’s prominent upper midrange emphasis, the Azurys offers a more controlled boost that sounds more natural and less forward.
This tuning creates a full-bodied sound that works wonderfully for various content types:
– Vocals maintain excellent clarity and presence
– Podcasts and movies benefit from the natural vocal reproduction
– Music across genres comes through with proper tonal balance
– Gaming applications work decently, but excel with slight bass reduction
The midrange doesn’t particularly favor any vocal range, instead providing adequate resonance across the spectrum to create a full, balanced sound.
Treble Response
The treble region might generate the most discussion among listeners. The Azurys features a notable peak around 3.5kHz that increases clarity and enhances imaging, though some users might want to apply EQ to tame this region. If you like brighter cans, this isn’t going to be a problem. If you want to utilize this Harman-style tuning to mix or monitor with, I’d definitely recommend some EQing in the treble region.
When testing with “Prepare for Payback” by Sworn Enemy, the combination of sharp vocals and bright cymbals can become intense on this naturally bright track. The tuning reveals some similarity to Focal’s higher-end models like the Celestee and Stellia, particularly in its resolving character, though the enhanced high bass sets it apart from the traditional Focal house sound.
For listeners who appreciate extra clarity in their neutral headphones without sacrificing bass response, the Azurys offers a compelling solution. The treble emphasis helps create excellent separation and detail, especially after applying some strategic EQ to taste.
Value Proposition
The Azurys makes a strong case for itself in the competitive mid-fi closed-back market. While it faces stiff competition from established players, it brings several unique strengths:
– Excellent build quality and comfort
– Precise imaging and accurate soundstage
– Highly resolving bass response
– Natural midrange reproduction
– Detailed, if somewhat bright, treble
Practical Applications
These headphones excel in several use cases:
– Critical listening and monitoring (with EQ adjustment)
– General music enjoyment across genres
– Podcast and movie watching
– Gaming (with minor EQ adjustments)
– Mobile listening thanks to high sensitivity
Conclusion
The Focal Azurys represents a thoughtful entry into the mid-fi closed-back market. It successfully combines Focal’s expertise in loudspeaker technology with practical features for everyday use. While the treble might require some adjustment for sensitive listeners, the overall package offers exceptional value for those seeking a versatile closed-back headphone.
The Azurys manages to maintain Focal’s reputation for detail and clarity while establishing its own identity through its unique tuning choices. Its combination of comfort, build quality, and sonic performance makes it a worthy contender in its price bracket.
For listeners seeking a closed-back headphone that balances neutrality with engaging sound, the Azurys deserves serious consideration. It proves especially appealing to those who appreciate accurate bass reproduction and clear midrange presentation, though potential buyers should consider their tolerance for bright treble before making a final decision.
The Azurys demonstrates Focal’s ability to create compelling products at more accessible price points while maintaining their commitment to sound quality. Whether using them for critical listening, general entertainment, or professional applications, these headphones offer a compelling mix of performance and practicality that many users will appreciate.
