Focal Azurys Review

Focal is a renowned audio manufacturer in both the speaker and headphone spaces. Their Clear Mg and Utopia headphones are modern classics. But what about beginner audiophiles who want a mid-fi taste of Focal’s sound without jumping right into high end territory? Now you can find that option in their new Hadenys and Azurys headphones. The Hadenys is Focal’s mid-fi open-back option, the counterpart to the closed-back Azurys which we’ll be discussing today. At $549, the Azurys represents a closed-back option in a price-range that is ripe for more competition. But, how does Focal’s new headphone actually sound? Find out in this review. 

What’s in the Box:

• Azurys Closed-back Headphones
• Carrying Case
• 4ft cable with remote control and microphone, 3.5 mm jack
• Focal Warranty

Build

Crafted in France with a blend of genuine leather, breathable textile, and memory foam, the Azurys offers both elegance and lasting durability. The headband is wrapped in premium leather, and the memory foam earpads ensure extended comfort and excellent noise isolation. The magnesium yoke provides a lightweight yet robust structure that minimizes strain during prolonged listening sessions. Visually, the Azurys is inspired by the semi-precious stone azurite, featuring a striking blue finish that embodies both modernity and timeless style, reflective of Focal’s meticulous design philosophy. Aside from the color, though, it follows the general design language we’ve seen across the board from Focal. In terms of wearability, the headphones are light and comfortable, and they come with a matching blue case for taking them on the go. 

Design

The Azurys uses Focal’s proprietary 40mm aluminum/magnesium “M” dome drivers. These drivers utilize an innovative blend of aluminum for increased rigidity and magnesium for effective damping, achieving clarity and precision across the audio spectrum. The design enables a balanced sound profile that highlights deep bass, smooth treble, and clear vocals, offering a high-resolution and immersive sound experience. It’s a pretty easy headphone to drive with its 26 ohm impedance and 100dB SPL. Still, I found some improvement in performance when utilizing a DAC/amp dongle. 

Sound Impressions

Low End: 

In my opinion, the Azurys takes Focal’s hallmarks in sound and adds a tinge of coloration to make them have a broader consumer appeal. The biggest beneficiary of this approach is the bass. It has that classic sense of Focal dynamics, with an emphasis on subbass speed and attack. Indeed, the subbass can really extend, and paired with a refined midbass, you get a fairly neutral response, with a kick. I’d say that the subbass steals the show with its transience and precision.

I do notice a bit of warmth in its timbre. Where you get a true commitment to neutrality on higher end Focal headphones, there’s a slight elevation and warm coloration to the bass. I think this makes the Azurys a bit more fun and pleasant to listen to. It’s not as concerned with reflecting every detail, so much as it’s trying to present the bass in the most pleasing manner possible. 

Mid Range:

The mids follow a similar approach as the bass, but with less emphasis. The mids are slightly forward but generally neutral. This slightly forward presentation warms up the headphone just enough on the low end to make for a fun and engaging listening experience. That said, the upper mids get exposed for their somewhat compressed presentation of information. In busier passages, these upper midrange frequencies can sound harsh and claustrophobic. Clarity is great in terms of vocal presentation, but micro-details like instrument separation get clouded by that upper midrange quirk. The midrange still features great dynamics and ultimately gets the job done while the bass and treble keep things exciting.

Top End:

Speaking of which, the treble is another bright spot on this headphone (no pun intended). It’s clear and precise, offering some much needed room for detail. It feels well balanced relative to the rest of the sound signature, giving ample headroom to the frequency range of the headphone. I never noticed any sibilance or a feeling of a veil. During my listening, it always seemed to be the north star of the Azurys’s frequency response.

Soundstage:

As far as soundstage goes, the Azurys is pretty good. I don’t think Focal has ever been known for terribly wide soundstages on their headphones, but the Azurys provides enough room to make sure you’re hearing solid stereo width. It’s not quite holographic, but for a closed-back headphone in this price range, it’s hard to complain. Imaging is also solid, doing a valiant job of placing instruments in their proper locations. 

Final Thoughts:

The Azurys is a welcome entrant into the mid-fi price bracket. Its sound is enjoyable and fun. While it’s not perfect, at this price, nothing ever is. Its look is really nice with its blue color and inventive use of materials. I would call this more of a lifestyle headphone for audiophiles. It’s a great option for someone getting into a mid-fi sound but also wants some versatility in how they use them. It looks great for on-the-go use – I’d even dare to call it fashionable. If that sounds like the right use case for you, then they’re definitely worth a try. 

You can find the Focal Azurys at Audio46.