Focal Radiance, Closed Back For Bentley

So I love these when comparing them to the Elegia but they are ugly. They also don't sound as dark as the Elegia!

 

I've had them for the past couple days as a loaner and they are probably the worst Focal headphones that I've tried (others being the Elex, the Elegia, and the Utopia [albeit only briefly]). Outside of the Utopia (undecided due to listening to them for only 5-10 minutes), I disliked the other two. To me, the Radiance sounds more hollow than the Elegia, like it sounds more closed-back. There's bloom in the bass of the Radiance making it flabby, undefined, and thus, unrefined. To further add insult to injury, its mids and treble sound thin and dry on my setup. Instruments and vocals, particularly between the bass and mids sound disjointed. Hell, the dryness of the Radiance makes my Arya's sound lush on my setup. The LP tempered the "metallic timbre" of the Radiance, but that Focal signature is readily apparent on my THX AAA 789. To me, for the Radiance, Focal overcompensated when addressing some of the criticism levied against the Elegia (bass-light from improper seal and boring sound). To me, the Radiance is bottom of the barrel compared to the Elegia and the Elex. Still, I have to admit that the Radiance looks and feels great, shame about its sound though.

Chain: Musicbee (FLAC) (WASAPI) > Bifrost 2 > LP or 789.

 

I can’t keep track of all these snobby Focaaaal names. (I just recently learned this is how it’s pronounced ). I think they all look atrocious.

 

I preferred the AirPods Max to the Radiance.

These Focals seem to be fairly well tuned, HD650esque almost.. or not. They also have good aggressive dynamic typical for Focals, resolving and detailed - these traits are high quality.. but - imaging and space sucks, they’re in your face. They have a metallic tinge in the treble which highlight sibilance - I hate that. These should cost around 500$ and even then I would think twice as the sound is not my cup of tea.

AirPods Max have some smearing and dynamics are not as explosive in comparison, as expected but are still quite resolving, and they have a more polite tuning that doesn’t offend - sibilance is controlled which I like. The bass is pillowy sub bass focused and less defined but I like it as it’s like a fluffy cloud supporting the rest up top. The biggest improvement over the Radiance is more accurate and wider imaging.. in general the AirPods sound more delicate to my gentle treble sensitive ears.

For sure the AirPods are not TOTL but they try very hard to balance all aspects of audio quality whilst not offending - no metallic tinge, no sibilance, no mid bass bloat and work hard to provide some imaging, and their dsp is very transparent again not offending. I get the feeling Apple audio engineers poured some sweat on this one to provide the most delicate audiophile experience possible given the constrains of wireless design. I suspect Focal slapped on the Bentley logo and didnt spend a great deal of effort on the other parts.

*on the AirPods I use accessibility Headphone Accommodations - audiogram setup, on my iPhone measured specifically for my ears and the AirPods, which makes the max more neutral (less u shaped). I like that I have two option: U shaped laidback or more neutral (close to hd650) depending on my mood.

 

A little surprised about the mixed to more negative leaning views on the Radiance as I personally think they are quite good. I bought a pair for sub $900 for use as my portable pair. Commutes, walks, travel, work desk, etc.

The main chain and what it works best on:
Cowon Plenue S BAL > Plussound x8 > Focal Radiance
I use the excellent dsp and EQ on the Cowon. It helps more of the stock sound of the DAP over the headphone. I also now own an NPAudio modded S that is better in almost all ways.

Other chain used:
Lumin U1 > Mojo Mystique v2xa > BHC + SB (warmed over with light mods)


The Good:

• This is mainly used for portable and the isolation is the best I have experienced from any headphone, with the note I have not tried anything with a tive noise cancelling. On walks trucks have snuck up and startled me. Really need to keep the head on a pivot.
• While it is a closed back there are times that things tend to be reaching from beyond the established boundaries giving you the look over your shoulder moment to check if things are really there.
• Mids are very nice, still not senn hd6## series. But acoustic sets and 90s rock is really good. Alice in Chains Unplugged is amazing. I only have a bad mp3 rip but i listen to Nutshell every session. It is very easy to get lost in the timbre and texture of guitars.
• Bass is elevated. Dont think of it as fostex hard hitting and slamming but it is definetly turned up. While this started very square punching it did soften up and round out over time. It never got flabby and stayed pretty neat. On the modded cowon it regained some of that hard slam. Still not bass cannons but i wouldnt ask for more bass quantity at this point,... Well maybe some sub bass rumble.
• Treble is... there. It has good detail and outline it just is literally recessed. As in singers and violins sound like they are down a long empty hallway down. The hallway is clear and you can hear everything clearly but it is just not center stage. EQ will bring this forward to where you expect it. It will add air and some crispness, but without it it seems the treble had its volume and presence dials turned down.
• Tactility. While the stage isnt huge i feel like the Radiance conveys a lot of the "touch" you get when hearing things in person. The scratch from fingers going over steel strings, the plink of raindrops, the rip of the bass section. These help throw the 3d imaging into place as things reach out from the black background.
• Comfort and aesthetics. These are real comfy, i know focal has a basic setuo they use for everything but the leather on these are plush as hell and they fit my big square head. I also like the black and copper colorway.

The Bad

• The treble. If you dont have something to bring it up it may not suit many. But even if you do or have brighter source gear you need to make sure it is not too much. The treble can get glassy and glary. Kind of like the finger going around the rim of a glass, youll start hearing the ooooo. This is looking at the hiby r6 2020.
• Bass. With the wrong gear it can be flabby or just downright too much for some. I tend to like a tighter more textured bass and this is just on the right aide of acceptable. It is not overly textured or visceral, but it gets the job done.
• Aesthetics. Honestly f**k the Bentley branding.
• The cable. Holy f**k is it bad. And some say other focals are worse? Why? It keeps it's shape and it just fights you. It will pull on your headphone and dap. I demoed a plussound and it was eons better and led me to ordering my own.

The Muddled Middle:

• While i dont think this is source gear picky it may be very mehh on things that dont match well.
• Stage size. It is more intimate. I kind of learned to really like and prefer the focal stage shape but not everyone like the intimacy. It is a little deeper than it is tall and wide. I have heard much much smaller. On the bhc it does feel like things are being squished and contained a little as the notes seem to want to fight and bulge out.
• Technicalities. They all seem to be in line with the $900 price point these are going for. They have a lean towards the macro side but it all seems "appropriate". Things like detail and resolution scale a little bit but dont expect a grower like the HD series.
• Portability. It is light enough and portable enough but it doesnt fold up and the carry case is basically a purse/murse. The carry case does fit 2 cables and the cowon dap.

All in all i really enjoy these. It works very well on the Cowon which is a degree or 2 warmer than neutral. It is much calmer compared to something like the Atrium, but it is not as laid back, smooth, or relaxed. It is better extended, resolving, detailed, and reaches deeper into the mix than my HD6XX, but is softer in some ways, and the Senn just keeps proving its worth on the BHC while playing classic rock. With the niche it fills for me it is spot on. Exciting and dynamic enough to distract me from the world, non fatiguing and agreeable that it wont break my brain after long days of work or travel.

 

I got these bright and early Tuesday. I have been going through all my closed backs with a plan to thin the herd. Before the Radiance arrived I had already decided that the LSA HP-2's would be leaving, as would the T60 Argons. I was also not loving my Elegia's as much as I thought I did.
I found the HiFiman HE-R9's comically bassy and they are a hoot. My favourite closed backs of the five were the CFA Cascades.

Then the Radiance headphones arrived and I am blown away. They are far and away my the best closed backs I have ever heard or owned.
The bass is solid, but not bloated or over-done to me.
The mids are typical Focal and sweet to my ears.
The high end are as good as I need. I am not a treble head by
any means, but you do need high end to have a full range.
They also have very good isolation and are, to me, beautiful.

I cannot spot a flaw, but that may be my ignorance. I am not an audiophile, do not have experience with higher end gear and I am old (62 yesterday).

I LOVE these things.

1) LSA HP-2's has great mids and above, but little bass. I think of them as a closed back Grado. I love my Grado's, but that is not what I look for in a closed back. Sold to a guy in British Columbia.
2) Focal Elegia's. Bought the Dekoni Stellia pads which improve them, but they are FAR below the Radiance. Of course Much cheaper too. Traded for a Rebel amp.
3) T60 Argon's. Compared to the competition, nothing really special. For sale on CAM now.

Going to run the Radiance against the R9's and the Cascades. See which one compliments the Radiance in some way and sell the other.

My music is new rock, classic rock, a bit of pop, blues and horn jazz. I am a quiet listener that never goes above 75Db's.

Five days of the Radiance has been bliss.

 

After many hours, I really love these headphones. They are my closed back keepers, along with the Cascades, which make me giggle.
My HiFiman HE-R9's and my T60 Argon's are up for sale. For now, I am set for closed backs.

 

Hello again. I prefer open-backs so these don't see a ton of use. Now that summer is here the deck door is always wide open, the cats bang around and my wife Loves to talk. So I put the Radiance headphones in and I forgot A) How much I love them and B) How much bass they have.
They sound good on every amp, regardless of genre. It is a pretty balanced sound with some good, strong bass.

In the Focal way they have, to me great treble, mids and bass. Imaging is good as is isolation. And they are without a doubt the prettiest headphone that I have ever owned. And also, the most expensive.

I am thinking that tomorrow will be live Miles Davis, in different configurations, all day long with these little pretty boys.

 

Got these recently and, after a brief listen, initial impressions are that (having the Elear, Clear and Utopia) these are definitely a more in your face and less voluptuous experience. Nothing wrong with the tuning as long as one doesn't mind the 'in your face' 3kHz energy. Nothing revolutionary either. Ether CX impressed me more. CX need a good bass / subbass boost for my taste, while the Radiance gets away with just a mild subbass rise. After that... the Ether CX just kills it all the same for medium loud to loud volume listening. What can I say... I'm really impressed with the CX.