Focal – New Listen Professional Headphones

Focal today debuted their new “Listen Professional” headphone model built for music production.

Like the new Focal Clear Professional headphones, Listen Professional is also equipped with a head- band boasting a unique design to ensure comfort and durability.

Besides their indisputable acoustic performance, the headphones also provide maximum comfort.

Its curve remains consistent, regardless of the shape or size of the user’s 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 any specific area, which is often very uncomfortable during long working sessions.

Professional headphones are synonymous with frequent and intense use. Therefore, extensive research was undertaken prior to the design phase in order to guarantee high mechanical reliability.

Proof of this is the headband’s capacity to withstand all sorts of strain on all of the 53 components.

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.

‘Listen Professional’ headphones give a nod to the brand’s monitoring loudspeakers when it comes to tonal balance and its color code.

The black structure combined with the burgundy on the ear cushions and under the headband is reminiscent of the famous finish of the Focal Solo6 Be, Twin6 Be and Trio6 Be loudspeakers.

Focal’s numerous exclusive patents and technologies are proof of the extreme attention the French manufacturer pays to designing its speaker drivers.

The transducer in ‘Listen Professional’ headphones proves this as they have been given a newly developed cone.

The goal was to provide a solution, which respects the dynamics of the original signal, while reproducing the details of the recording with precision, whether in the low end or the high end.

Combining these three criteria into professional headphones in this price range was a true feat. And to succeed, Focal drew its inspiration from the research it carried out when developing its Elear and Utopia headphones on a real miniature full-range speaker driver.

The goal with ‘Listen Professional’ was to meet the demands of sound engineers and music producers, whether they are used for every day studio work or during a business trip.

For this reason, a rigid carrying case is supplied with the headphones. Relatively compact, it ensures a high level of protection against impacts.
There’s also room for a cable and an iLok® key.

Two low impedance OFC cables are also supplied with ‘Listen Professional’. The 16ft (5m) coiled cable with 3.5mm jack plugs at each end is the ideal cable for professional use.

A 3.5 mm to 6.35 mm jack adapter is also provided for using the headphones on a mixing console or audio interface.

A second, straight cable (4.5ft / 1.4m) equipped with a multi-function remote control and an omni-directional microphone is supplied for using Listen Professional with a smartphone. Both of these cables feature a locking mechanism to prevent the cables from accidentally becoming disconnected.

Pricing & Availability

The ‘Listen Professional’ headphones are expected to be available in March, 2018, for $299.

For more information on Focal Professional headphones, please visit the Focal website.