Focal Spirit One S Review | 93 Data compared

The Focal Spirit One SGo is a closed-back headphone designed for portable use, featuring a secure fit, a replaceable cable with an Apple-compatible remote, and a generous accessory package including a travel case. Sonically, the review praises its balanced, transparent soundstage and tight, well-defined bass that avoids excessive boominess, with particularly natural and present mid-range vocals. Sound & However, the headset's high clamping force can lead to discomfort during long listening sessions. While superior in detail to some competitors, the Spirit One S offers a more forgiving, consumer-friendly sound profile rather than absolute forensic accuracy, and it can struggle with sonic transparency during complex acoustic passages.

The Focal Spirit One S is a mobile, circumaural headphone designed to offer an improved, budget-friendly alternative to the manufacturer's higher-end models by borrowing sound characteristics from the Spirit Classic. Built primarily of plastic with a supportive metal skeleton, these large headphones are tailored for commuting, successfully providing excellent passive noise isolation and a forgiving, bass-leaning sound profile that masks outside distractions. Equipped with 40mm drivers, they deliver high volume with minimal distortion and preserve musical detail even at lower levels, making them excellent for handling wide dynamic ranges and spacious soundstages. The package is complete with a removable mic/remote cable, an airline adapter, and both a protective hard case and a soft carrying bag. Pros and Cons Pros: Outstanding sound profile that rivals more expensive models, low audio distortion, highly comfortable synthetic ear cushions that prevent sweating, great passive isolation, and the inclusion of both a high-quality hard case and a carrying bag. Cons: Notable temple pressure makes them uncomfortable for extended listening sessions, the overall large frame can be cumbersome for mobile use, there is no wireless Bluetooth...

The Focal Spirit One S over-ear headphones deliver a balanced, smooth, and laid-back sound that does not overemphasise any specific frequency range. The audio performance is highly accessible and provides decent detail and timing accuracy, injecting a strong sense of life into your music. Built specifically for on-the-go "nomadism," these headphones are lightweight yet sturdily constructed, ensuring they can withstand a good bashing during daily travel. While they lack extensive folding and swivelling capabilities, they come packaged with both a cloth bag and a chunky hard case for convenient storage. However, at the £150 price point, the headphones are held back by a character that feels a little too relaxed and lacking in overall thrust or "oomph". The treble feels somewhat closed-in, preventing the presentation from feeling spacious, open, or having the desired clarity and sparkle. Additionally, the lightweight materials used in construction fail to feel particularly luxurious for the cost. Ultimately, while they offer an entertaining and easy listen, you should not expect too much excitement or a punchy sonic delivery from them.

The Focal Spirit One S headphonesGo are lauded in the AVForums review as a value-driven upgrade, offering a £50 price reduction to £150 compared to their predecessor while delivering a lively, balanced, and engaging sound. They feature exceptional build quality, improved comfort with plush padding for long listening sessions, and high-quality construction. However, the review notes minor drawbacks, including a bass response that can occasionally feel too enthusiastic for some listeners. Additionally, the inline remote now uses plastic rather than metal, and the microphone placement is less than ideal, with some minor noise leakage occurring at higher volumes.

The Focal Spirit One S is reviewed as an impressive evolution in Focal’s portable closed-back headphone lineup, matching the premium performance of its pricier sibling, the Spirit Classic, while being more affordable than the original Spirit One. Engineered specifically for use on the go, it stands out with a highly energetic and punchy sound signature, boasting a significantly deeper soundstage, better instrument separation, and longer, more natural decay than previous models. The review highlights its standout performance across energetic genres like rock and electronic music, while surprisingly excelling in vocal and instrumental tracks due to its explosive transient attacks and tactile, full-bodied presentation. In terms of specific pros, the headphone offers good overall build quality, an excellent price-to-performance ratio, and superior comfort compared to all previous Focal models thanks to its larger, softer ear cushions. Sonically, its primary strengths include an exceptionally deep, punchy, yet tightly controlled bass that never bleeds into other frequencies, alongside lush, textured, and well-extended midrange vocals. Conversely, the review notes a couple of specific cons: the headphones lack a pure audio cable without an integrated...