New Headphones Day - Focal Sprit One

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Bardagh
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New Headphones Day - Focal Sprit One

Post by Bardagh »

In my current recording setup, I can't use my 10" subwoofer and the placement of my 5" monitors is just not that great, so I need to augment my listening options with some quality headphones. I already had some decent Sennheisers (the HD 280 Pro's) but while they are very revealing in the upper mids and high frequencies, I find that they get fatiguing pretty fast, and worst of all for my situation they are lacking in the low mids and some of the bass frequencies. The latter areas are where I have always had the most trouble and in my current setup it is even worse.

Enter the Focal Spirit One: http://www.focal.com/en/mobile-headphones/298-spirit-one-3544051725002.html

These are actually more of a general purpose, hi-fi headphone, but I had read good things about using them for mixing as they are non-fatiguing and having a linear response with good low mids and clear bass. I was able to get a new pair on ebay for about $200, which was considerably less than other headphones I was considering, so I bit the bullet and so far I am very happy I did.

While the upper frequencies are not as wide open as with the Sennheiser cans, I am more than happy to trade that for the lack of ear fatigue, a far better overall balance and finally being able to hone in on the troublesome low mids. If I want some surgical precision in the mids and high frequencies, that is the one area my monitors really shine in the first place. As with any headphone of this type, you aren't going to hear down into the subs, but the bass is nice and clear and I can actually do some sculpting in that area for the bass and kick now. Sound staging is actually shockingly good for headphones, too. It still can't totally replace a pair of monitors, but it is the best I have tried anywhere near this price range, and the best in a closed-back pair of cans by far. I'm sure with some of the pricier open-backed Sennheisers you can get even better, but that is at at least twice the price and giving up any real sound isolation.

In short - great, great headphones for monitoring if you're in the situation to need them. I haven't bothered using them for casual listening or anything, but whatever. :thu:
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ajaxlepinski
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Re: New Headphones Day - Focal Sprit One

Post by ajaxlepinski »

Thanks for the review! Those are some expensive cans -they must be nice!!! $275 at B&H Photo... $375 for the Pro model.
Just wondering what monitors you're using?
Last edited by ajaxlepinski on Thu Sep 26, 2013 4:19 pm, edited 1 time in total.
1969 Sunn Solarus ● 2x 1980's Randall RG-80 ● 2013 Hi-Tone HT103-DG (Best Rig 2014) ● 2015 Mortatone 12/15 Cab w/EV SRO's ● 2017 Jubilee ● 2019 Ceriatone Model Tee ● 2019 Randall Diavlo ● 2020 VHT D50 Dumble Clone
Walt wrote:But when the hour is nigh, and the lights are low, and I got a little toothpick of a shwag joint in my teeth, and my friends want to hear me play "Into the Void", or "TNT", "or "Cemetery Gates"...I plug my 600 dollar guitar into my 150 dollar amp, and I am a Rawk gawd.
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Bardagh
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Re: New Headphones Day - Focal Sprit One

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Well they aren't nearly as expensive as some of the higher end open-back Sennheiser cans, I can tell you that! My monitors are nothing to write home about, just the JBL LSR2325's. They aren't bad and actually do have really good midrange and treble detail. While they do have decent low end extension for their size, I have found them lacking in the low mids, which causes issues in a dense mix like you often have with metal. My current room situation is pretty shitty too, so for things like EQ I will probably be relying a lot more on the cans for a while.

I have thought about picking up a used pair of an even smaller monitor like the KRK VXT4 or one of the smaller desktop Adam or Dynaudio sets, since my current setup doesn't have enough room to position the JBL's very well. I really can't wait to build out my basement studio, but I gotta sock away some more ducats for a while to make that happen...
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ajaxlepinski
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Re: New Headphones Day - Focal Sprit One

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Yeah man! Recording gear is a deep rabbit hole for sure!

I've been doing basic tracks with a cheap pair of Sony headphones that don't sound bad, which is OK because, I'm still working on basic tracks.
After a few hours, I get gang green in my ears from the pressure. I know that you're talking about sonic fatigue, but I need blood flow to my ears!

I just started building my digital recording set up in March and I'm trying to keep the cash flow under control too, so I haven't pulled the trigger on monitors yet. I'm not ready to do any heavy mixing yet.
The JBL's are nice. I had a pair of JBL 4312's back when I had my analog studio... wish I had kept them! They were great for mixing. I've been eyeballing M-Audio BX8's - they're reasonably priced 8" monitors that go down to 38Hz. I'm thinking about saving for something better but, we'll have to see... if I get impatient trying to save up, I'll probably wind up with the BX8's.
1969 Sunn Solarus ● 2x 1980's Randall RG-80 ● 2013 Hi-Tone HT103-DG (Best Rig 2014) ● 2015 Mortatone 12/15 Cab w/EV SRO's ● 2017 Jubilee ● 2019 Ceriatone Model Tee ● 2019 Randall Diavlo ● 2020 VHT D50 Dumble Clone
Walt wrote:But when the hour is nigh, and the lights are low, and I got a little toothpick of a shwag joint in my teeth, and my friends want to hear me play "Into the Void", or "TNT", "or "Cemetery Gates"...I plug my 600 dollar guitar into my 150 dollar amp, and I am a Rawk gawd.
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Bardagh
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Re: New Headphones Day - Focal Sprit One

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The BX8's are really not bad. Some people find them to be a bit hyped in the low end but depending on your room this may be true or not. I have had more of a problem with lack of low end from the different monitors and spaces I have used than the other way around. It all just depends...

As far recording being a money pit...oh yes, and once I sock away enough cash I'm gonna dive in head first. :love: Of course most of my expense will just be in finishing my basement in the general sense, but plenty will go to building out and treating my mixing and live rooms, and only then comes some new gear...
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ajaxlepinski
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Re: New Headphones Day - Focal Sprit One

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Nice! I am envious of your available space!
I'm back in the bedroom after a 14 year run in my old, 30' x 120' analog studio (1984-1996 RIP).
Luckily, I was able to sell off all the analog gear because none of it would fit in my bedroom!
At least my g/f of 8 years puts up with all my crap and lets me record in the bedroom.
Actually, I'd seriously think I'd have to dump her if she made be choose between her and my gear! :heartbr:
1969 Sunn Solarus ● 2x 1980's Randall RG-80 ● 2013 Hi-Tone HT103-DG (Best Rig 2014) ● 2015 Mortatone 12/15 Cab w/EV SRO's ● 2017 Jubilee ● 2019 Ceriatone Model Tee ● 2019 Randall Diavlo ● 2020 VHT D50 Dumble Clone
Walt wrote:But when the hour is nigh, and the lights are low, and I got a little toothpick of a shwag joint in my teeth, and my friends want to hear me play "Into the Void", or "TNT", "or "Cemetery Gates"...I plug my 600 dollar guitar into my 150 dollar amp, and I am a Rawk gawd.
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Bardagh
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Re: New Headphones Day - Focal Sprit One

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ajaxlepinski wrote:Nice! I am envious of your available space!
I'm back in the bedroom after a 14 year run in my old, 30' x 120' analog studio (1984-1996 RIP).
Luckily, I was able to sell off all the analog gear because none of it would fit in my bedroom!
At least my g/f of 8 years puts up with all my crap and lets me record in the bedroom.
Actually, I'd seriously think I'd have to dump her if she made be choose between her and my gear! :heartbr:


Ha, I feel your pain. I have two amps and all my recording shit in my master bedroom right now, which my wife is cool with since she knows that me without music is like Jack Nicholson in The Shining. It also ensures that she has a stake in getting the basement finished sooner if she would like to reclaim some of her space... :cop:
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ajaxlepinski
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Re: New Headphones Day - Focal Sprit One

Post by ajaxlepinski »

Bardagh wrote:
ajaxlepinski wrote:Nice! I am envious of your available space!
I'm back in the bedroom after a 14 year run in my old, 30' x 120' analog studio (1984-1996 RIP).
Luckily, I was able to sell off all the analog gear because none of it would fit in my bedroom!
At least my g/f of 8 years puts up with all my crap and lets me record in the bedroom.
Actually, I'd seriously think I'd have to dump her if she made be choose between her and my gear! :heartbr:


Ha, I feel your pain. I have two amps and all my recording shit in my master bedroom right now, which my wife is cool with since she knows that me without music is like Jack Nicholson in The Shining. It also ensures that she has a stake in getting the basement finished sooner if she would like to reclaim some of her space... :cop:



Yeah man! All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy! LOL!
I was becoming really dull indeed and I needed to get back into it... got Pro Tools last March and now I gotta squeeze my new Hi-Tone amp and 2 cabinets in.
It's a good thing that we have an extra bedroom for her shoes!
1969 Sunn Solarus ● 2x 1980's Randall RG-80 ● 2013 Hi-Tone HT103-DG (Best Rig 2014) ● 2015 Mortatone 12/15 Cab w/EV SRO's ● 2017 Jubilee ● 2019 Ceriatone Model Tee ● 2019 Randall Diavlo ● 2020 VHT D50 Dumble Clone
Walt wrote:But when the hour is nigh, and the lights are low, and I got a little toothpick of a shwag joint in my teeth, and my friends want to hear me play "Into the Void", or "TNT", "or "Cemetery Gates"...I plug my 600 dollar guitar into my 150 dollar amp, and I am a Rawk gawd.
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