Made in France since 1979, Focal Speakers have a passionate following in the recording industry of creators that are totally devoted to the brand. Their professional headphone line includes three different premium headphones, the Listen Professional, Lensys Professional, and Clear MG Professional. The most accessible are the Listen Professional which are a closed-back circumaural monitoring headphone intended for recording, mixing, and mastering. They offer excellent isolation and have a satisfying feel in relation to build quality. At 0.61 lbs, they are light, and they mold tightly to your head with the aid of red microfiber covered memory foam thermosensitive earpads. Its unique transducer combines a Mylar/Titanium alloy designed specifically for this model.
Designed for recording studios, at $329 they are half the price of the ultra-high-end Focal Lensys Pro headphones that were profiled by MC in our March 2025 New Toys column yet share many characteristics. Both are closed back designs that offer an extended frequency response of (+/- 3dB) 5 Hz – 23 kHz. And both share the harmonic distortion rate 0.3 percent at 1 kHz / 100 dB SPL, but from there, their specifications deviate. The Listen Professional offers a highly efficient sensitivity of 122dB SPL @ 1kHz – / 1VRMS compared to the sensitivity of 100 dB SPL/1 mW at 1 kHz for the Lensys Pro. This makes sense when viewed through the context of what role each are likely to play given their distinct price points. The Listen Professional are likely to be used more for tracking when a louder headphone may be needed. That said, the Listen Professional are still a premium set of headphones that are useful for any critical listening application such as mixing and mastering. Coupled with a 32Ω impedance, the efficient Listen Professional can get extremely loud with both high and low powered headphone amps.
It’s important to note that like many high-end speakers, the Listen Pro headphones require a break-in period to reach their intended sonic potential. Focal recommends, “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.” MC utilized the accelerated “run-in” process described here as on first audition; the headphones were unusable for any critical listening. However, that was not at all the case after the break-in process had been accomplished as they improved dramatically.
The Listen Professional comes with a very nice hard case and two cables. Most useful in the studio is the 16.5 feet (5m) coiled asymmetric cable (1/8” - 3.5mm TRS jack). The 4.5 feet (1.4m) straight asymmetric cable (1/8” - 3.5mm TRS jack) also features a microphone, which is a nice addition and not a feature you might expect for a studio headphone. The length indicates that this shorter cable is intended for laptop or device use. Build quality on everything is good.
The Listen Professional are a versatile set of headphones that can be used in any capacity within a recording studio. Priced above where the casual listener might want to spend, they are not hyped with high end sizzle or “smiley face rock ‘n’ roll” curve with a scooped midrange and have a firm low end that will appeal to many. The midrange is not particularly exaggerated, and the treble is detailed and non-fatiguing. They have a tight stereo image that is controlled but not expansive. Some users might find the Listen Professional to be a bit tight on their head, and as headphones are a highly personal studio device, finding your favorite set is a very individual choice. $329
