Focal unveils two new sets headphones Hadenys and Azurys

Combining sonic performance and French charm.

May 7, 2024 – Focal introduces Hadenys and Azurys, open- and closed-back headphones, making the purity of high-fidelity sound accessible to as many people as possible. Born from the French brand’s distinctive expertise in sound and made in France, these passive headphones combine patented speaker driver technologies, comfort and sophisticated aesthetics to deliver sensational listening, at home or on the go.

HADENYS,

open-back headphones for the home

These open-design, passive headphones are intended for use at home. They offer an enveloping sound experience, capturing every musical nuance with great richness. Inspired by The Hadean, an eon in which the Earth was first formed, their brown color evokes a return to source, giving the headphones an organic, timeless style.

Added to this are patented Focal technologies and strong design codes, one of the brand’s signatures: honeycomb grilles, genuine leather and breathable woven fabric headband and yoke for even greater comfort and lightness. With Hadenys, listening at home is precise, dynamic and warm.

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AZURYS

closed-back headphones for multi-purpose use

Azurys passive headphones have a closed architecture, which makes them suitable for use at home or on the go. They are aimed at all music enthusiasts and lovers who want to enjoy Focal sound through an accessible product. Featuring the same design and the same premium materials as Hadenys – genuine leather, woven fabric, aluminum, magnesium, etc. –

Azurys stands out for its unique blueish hue, inspired by Azurite, a semi-precious stone of many virtues. This shade gives the headphones a unique, mesmerizing effect, highlighting their appealing aesthetics.

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Exlusive Focal speakers drivers

The Hadenys and Azurys headphones feature speaker drivers that are designed and crafted in France at Focal’s workshops in Saint-Étienne. These speaker drivers are the same as those found in the Bathys headphones, which were launched in October 2022 as the brand’s first wireless headphones with active noise-cancelling technology. The Bathys headphones have received worldwide acclaim for their exceptional performance. These 15/8″ (40mm) speaker drivers with aluminum/ magnesium ‘M’-shaped dome have been perfectly adjusted to fit these passive headphones and deliver detailed, warm and dynamic high-fidelity sound. Paying meticulous attention to every detail, Focal provides each set of headphones with a matching colored carrying case and necessary cables.

Listening impressions

HADENYS

The Focal Hadenys headphones are the entry ticket to the brand’s open-back headphone series. Τhey boast a rich, detailed sound signature. Listening to tracks such as Billie Eilish’s “Billie Bossa Nova”, the artist’s voice was perfectly brought to the fore, while every note, from treble to bass, presented great clarity. The bass delivered a striking dynamic that brought the music to life. Thanks to their open design, these headphones offered a pleasant feeling of space.

In addition to revealing every detail of the music, the Focal Hadenys headphones presented a wide soundstage, giving the impression that the artists were performing in front of us.

On Hans Zimmer’s “"Now We Are Free" (Gladiator), each instrument was perfectly positioned in a harmonious soundstage, making the track sound very realistic and natural. We felt as if we were right at the heart of the movie, thanks to an incredibly vast soundstage. The Focal Hadenys headphones faithfully reproduced every nuance and crescendo, creating a balanced, authentic listening experience of remarkable intensity.

AZURYS

Focal’s closed-back headphones are ideal for use at home or on the move. Although the soundstage was not as wide, the Focal Azurys headphones focused more on sound isolation, which enabled us to enjoy the music no matter the situation. Their sound signature placed more emphasis on the midrange and bass. On the track “Feeling Good”, Nina Simone’s haunting voice benefited from great clarity. Brass instruments were perfectly embodied, while the highest notes of the violins and piano were crisp and detailed.

Electro, Jazz, Blues, Pop, Rock… The Focal Azurys headphones were comfortable with all these musical genres. Bass was deep and dynamic, and also descended a little lower than the Hadenys model.

The microphone integrated into the cable of Focal Azurys headphones ensures clear communication despite relatively low voice volume, but with excellent attenuation of ambient noise.

Conclusion

With their refined designs and remarkable sound quality, the Focal Hadenys and Focal Azurys headphones guarantee an immersive and accurate listening experience, tailored to the needs of the most discerning music lovers. Whether you’re listening at home with the Focal Hadneys or on the move with the Focal Azurys, they excel in their field and demonstrate the French brand’s expertise at the right price.

AthensProAudio Team ©