Focal’s new headphones take different approaches to immersive audio

Luxury audio brand Focal is returning to its roots by launching two new pairs of wired headphones: the Hadenys and the Azurys. At a glance, they appear to be direct follow-ups to the Bathys wireless headphones from 2022. The upcoming models house the same 40mm “M-shaped dome speaker drivers”, so you can at least expect similar audio quality, if not identical output. We praised the Bathys for its “stunning musical clarity, depth, and space.” All three even have comparable designs sporting “genuine leather”, a headphone with breathable woven fabric, and cups covered in a honeycomb grill.

Each device has its own style, however, the Azurys is the most similar to the previous model.

You see, the Azurys is a closed-ear pair of headphones. For those who don’t know, a closed-ear design means the device is better at blocking outside noise. Sound from other sources won’t leak in and the content you’re listening to won’t leak out. This makes the Azurys the best option for use in an office or other noisy environments. It’s important to mention that neither pair supports active noise canceling, according to a company representative. They don’t have the feature, meaning outside sound may interrupt your music to some extent. Although with the closed-off design, its effects shouldn’t be too impactful.