$650, focal.com
Focal’s continued efforts in the headphone world are not going unnoticed. MusicTech has awarded almost every pair of Focal headphones a 9/10 in our reviews, and the brand’s newer pairs are often fawned over by producers and audiophiles alike. Unsurprisingly, the Lensys Pro continue this trend with ease.
My trusty pairs of AIAIAI TMA-2s and Sennheiser HD 400 Pros get me by for mixing, DJing and casual listening, and are easy on the bank balance. You probably have similar pairs that you’re happy with already. But, for the past couple of months, I’ve been reaching for the Lensys Pro before any other pair for all of the above tasks and more — I’ve actually had to force myself to use other pairs to compare and mix it up.
At $650, they cost a little more than the average pair of headphones, for sure. But, for the price, you really do get supreme comfort, impeccable build quality, and superbly articulate sound quality.
So what’s wrong with them? Let’s find out.
Lensys Pro’s design
The Lensys Pro are closed-back headphones designed for producers in the studio and on the move. To this end, their earcups fold to fit the cans neatly into an included case, which fits easily in my backpack alongside my laptop and other essentials. Plus, with 26 ohms of impedance and 100dB SPL sensitivity, you won’t need an external amp to get the most out of them, and you can plug them into most audio outputs. The attached eighth-inch cable also comes with a quarter-inch adapter.
The protective and portable case is a nice touch, but, honestly, the nylon aesthetic is a little drab and dull; I expected something a little more fashionable. Still, this is a minor complaint, considering the high quality and sturdiness of the case’s interior, which gives me a ton of confidence that the Lensys’ elegant earcups won’t break in transit.
There’s plenty to love about the earcups and what’s inside them, but a quick note on their exterior design: these hard plastic cups take heavy inspiration from the Focal Bathys, the brand’s $700 wireless headphones. Apart from the wireless and USB-C features, you might notice a lot of similarities here. Generally, I’m a fan of the design, though Headphones.com said it was a “strange” decision — you can be the judge on that.
Are the Lensys Pro comfortable?
In the several months I’ve been using the Lensys Pro, I’ve listened to hundreds of hours of audio. Some days, I’ve worn them for entire work days while writing and listening to music. Some reviewers, such as Headphonecheck, have reported “slight pressure during prolonged periods of listening,” but I’ve experienced nothing but comfort.
The thick, nylon-coated memory foam earcups are perfect for me; they feel snug and comfortable, and they’re super helpful for sound isolation, too.
I’ve barely noticed the headband on my head during long sessions, too. The inside of this is also aerated memory foam, with a plush leather on the outside of the headband — this is actually the only leather part of the headphone.
As for weight, they clock in at 306g, which is a little heavier than my 240g Sennheiser HD 400 Pros, but half the weight of the mighty HEDDPhone Two. In use, they don’t feel heavy, but you will obviously notice the weight if you’re coming from a cheaper, more lightweight pair. As a consumer-level reference, they’re lighter than the 384g Apple AirPods Max — the AirPods honestly feel a lot lighter in their design, but less comfortable in longer listening sessions..
How do the Lensys Pro sound?
OK; the Lensys Pro look good and feel good, but the sound is arguably what we’re really here for.
The sound in one word? Beautiful. But…I mean, is it too beautiful?
While mixing and producing, my real tester headphones are the Sennheiser HD 400 Pros. When I use these, I realise my low-end is too loud, that the high-mids aren’t sparkling like they should, and generally just find blind spots in the mix. To be sure, the Lensys Pro give me a solid idea of all of those things, too, and often do it better.
But, weirdly, everything I play through them just sounds…great? Even half-baked ideas and tracks have come back to life with a fresh listen through the Lensys Pro.
My go-to reference track for headphones, Dreams by Fleetwood Mac, sounds stellar as ever. The Lensys Pros boast a wide soundstage and stunning detail on everything from Lindsey Buckingham’s acoustic guitar to the delicate reverb tails on Stevie Nicks’ vocal. Still, the headphones aren’t accentuating anything they shouldn’t be, or trying to compensate in certain areas — it’s easy to appreciate the mix as is.
Listening to Skee Mask’s Session Add, meanwhile, is a trip. The Lensys Pro suck me into every layer of texture, every low kick drum and every warm synth pad.
Focal’s superb expertise in audio is oh-so present in the Lensys Pro. Inside each earcup is a 40mm aluminium-magnesium driver with Focal’s signature ‘M’-shaped dome. Focal says this design is what ensures low distortion while improving stereo imaging and frequency dispersion. The drivers are angled inside the cups, which is a unique move from Focal, and is designed to mimic the stereo field of nearfield monitors. It’s fooled me.
The frequency response extends from a low 5Hz to 22kHz. That sub-bass presence is audible but definitely not exaggerated. Kicks hit with control, and low-end elements don’t get muddy. The high frequencies are detailed but seldom harsh, even at louder volumes, which is impressive for a closed-back design.
Focal says the Lensys Pro are also suited to spatial audio and binaural formats. I’ve run some binaural audio through them, with convincing results, but haven’t made these features the focus of this review.
In short, these are headphones that make everything sound good, but not at the cost of accuracy. You can easily spend hours listening to your favourite music for pleasure, as I have, and seamlessly transition into creative and mixing work in your DAW. I’ll still always pick up my AIAIAIs and Sennheiser’s though, just to be sure that the Lensys Pros aren’t just making everything sound more alive!
Should you buy the Focal Lensys Pro?
The Lensys Pro’s price tag is fair, but the price bracket it sits in is tough. At $650, these are an investment, not an impulse buy. But if you’re a serious engineer or producer who wants full fidelity and articulation, you might look to an open-back, planar magnetic pair from Audeze, or the audacious HEDDPhone Twos. I’ve experienced both models and can attest to their excellent articulation, as can our reviewers.
However, if you’re more budget-conscious, that $650 could get you a whole music production setup, or a new instrument, even a set of powerful studio monitors.
But the Lensys Pros punch well above their weight with premium drivers, serious comfort, beautiful sound, portability, and an elegant design. They’re a joy to use, whether it’s mixing, hi-fi listening, or even gaming. If you’ve got the cash to drop, you won’t be disappointed, especially if you can get them on a sale. They’re my new favourite headphones and they might just become yours, too.
Read more headphone reviews.
Key Features
- Closed-back headphones
- 40mm aluminium/magnesium ‘M’-shaped dome driver
- Impedance: 26Ω
- Sensitivity: 100dB SPL
- Frequency response: 5Hz – 22kHz
- Weight: 306g
- Ambient noise isolation: 23dB(A)
- Cables: 1.2m straight, 3m coiled, 3.5mm to 6.35mm adapter
Sam is the Commissioning Editor at MusicTech, where he’s helped shape the publication’s editorial voice since 2019. With nearly two decades of music-making and a degree in music technology behind him, his focus is on the stories behind studio gear and the artists who use it. He’s spent way too much time sampling disco records.
