French audio manufacturer, Focal, has hit another home run with their Sphear high-resolution in-ear headphones. These audiophile-quality headphones are noise isolating, provide excellent sound quality, and come with all of the accouterments you’d expect from a high-end set of headphones. Equipped with an in-line remote control button and separate in-line microphone, these versatile headphones can be yours for around $149.
What first impressed me about the Sphear headphones was the sleek high-gloss black design with stainless steel accents. You can tell that a lot of time went into the design of these headphones, both in the aesthetically and in the sound design. The 3.5mm headphone plug is angled so that the cord isn’t easily pulled out of your mobile device.
The build quality of the Sphear headphones is also superb; they feel very sturdy and could last a long time with good care. The main cord is thick, which helps avoid tangles. At the Y-junction, where the headphones split towards each ear, is where the in-line remote control button is installed. The single button is compatible with iOS/Android/Windows phone devices and is able to play/pause or answer/end a call with one click, skip one track forward with two clicks, and skip one track backward with three clicks. Further up on the left headphone cable is the in-line microphone, which is used to make phone calls. The microphone is well positioned, as it’s close to your mouth so you don’t have to lift it for clearer communication.
Each earphone is equipped with a 10.8mm electryodynamic driver and impedance is rated at 16 ohms. The sound quality produced by these drivers is excellent. Treble is crisp and detailed, while the midrange is full and pure. While bass performance was good, if you’re into bass-heavy music, you may want to look elsewhere. Vocal performances sounded natural and clear, which is impressive for headphones at this level.
Focal’s Sphear in-ear headphones come with a nice zipped carrying case for travel, an airline adapter, and a total of 6 different earpiece types in two materials: silicone and memory foam in small, medium, and large. I found that the memory foam earpiece helps the headphones stay in my ear for long periods of time and reduced ear strain significantly over other in-ear headphones I’ve used in the past.
After my testing, I would absolutely recommend the Focal Sphear in-ear headphones to anyone who’s shopping in the $150 range who cares about audio quality, good design, and portability.
You can purchase the Focal Sphear headphones on Amazon.com!
Source: The Focal Sphear Headphones were provided by the manufacturer as a review sample.
What I Like: Exceptional sound quality; Great aesthetic design; Comfortable; Lightweight; Comes with carrying case and ear tips for custom fit.
What Needs Improvement: Bass performance was good, but not great.