The Focal Radiance was announced yesterday by Focal. It’s a new limited edition closed-back over-ear, wired headphone made in partnership with Bentley. Also announced was the Naim Mu-SO limited edition which you can see partially in the background of the picture above.
The Radiance comes in at $1290 making it technically the cheapest Focal high-end headphone in production with the discontinuation of the Elear and Elegia.
From Focal
The Radiance headphones, under licence of Bentley Motors, complement the range of Focal closed-back headphones. With their ultra-sophisticated design and fine materials (full-grain leather, aluminium, etc.), they draw on the codes and signature of the Bentley brand. The luxury car manufacturer’s “Diamond” effect is found on the headband, the grille of the ear pads and the cable connectors of the headphones. The “Bentley wings” are also present on Radiance, in addition to an elegant copper finish.
These high-end headphones are packed with the latest Focal technologies for an astonishing, dynamic listening experience. They are equipped with a full-range speaker driver and a 15/8" (40mm) aluminium/magnesium “M” shape dome. The bass is deep and impactful, the midrange is balanced and the treble is mellow and linear: you’ll never look back!
• 1 x 4ft. (1.2m) OFC 24 AWG cable with 1/8" (3.5mm) unbalanced TRS jack connector & 1 x jack adapter, 1/8" (3.5mm) point socket – 1/4" (6.35mm) point plug
We are in line to receive one of the first review units in North America which will unfortunately have to get sent back to Focal pretty quickly since they review units are very limited but keep a look out for @Resolve’s impressions, review and measurements in the near future.
In the meantime, what do you think of the Radiance?
It’s none available character is nothing I‘d get excited for, if soundquality and tuning are matching price and presentation.
Though, good for those, who can get their hands on.
If it’s closer to the Elegia vs the Stellia tuning, it would be my searched for closed back.
Based on @andrew’s call with Focal’s North American marketing manager, it sounds like it will be similar to the Elegia with more low-end and some extra isolation due to the leather pads. I’d definitely be happy to grab a pair for myself if that’s the case. Really liked my Elegia when I had it but the extra bass would be useful when I’m commuting to the Headphones.com office.
They discontinued the Elegia so is this the replacement? I have the Elegia, but extra bass presence would be great. And those looks! Looking really classy and sharp. Tempting…
This is not the Elegia replacement as this is just a limited run headphone. For some people it could be a replacement for the Elegia depending on how they turned out to be tuned but it is not an official replacement in Focal’s line-up for the Elegia.
Looks nice. Unfortunately my friends aren’t impressed by Bentley. Heck, most of them won’t roll out of bed unless they can be shuttled to the bathroom in a Bugatti Chiron.
Seriously though… That limited run concept confuses me. Are they going to do a “normal” version of this, only cheaper and without the copper bling later on? I guess I’m wondering why this exists like it does.
Good. Their stock cables have left a lot to be desired, from my experience. That barrel connector thing on Utopia is neat, but a serious PITA at the same time.
I’ve been considering the Dekoni Elite sheepskin pads (the solid ones I assume) for my Elegias as an alternative to the stock pads. So other than more bass, what other insights do you have about them?
I don’t have any measurements, but I’d sure the benefits are more low end, better seal (I never understand using closed backs with less dense pads), same good comfort as stock, and of course much less expensive than stock.
