DENVER, CO. – Focal is proud to today announce the launch of Elegia, the very first high-end, closed-back headphone from the French acoustics leader. Just like it’s three high-end open-back predecessors, Utopia, Clear and Elear, Elegia is uncompromising when it comes to sound. Elegia features speaker drivers integrated directly into the closed-back headphones, without making any concessions on the reproduction of the lowest frequencies. Elegia is an invitation for audiophiles to make a date with absolute sound whenever and wherever they want, to dive into an intimate sound bubble without worrying about a noisy environment interfering with moments of pure musical bliss.
AN EXCLUSIVE SPEAKER DRIVER
Whether it’s the motor, the voice coil, the surround or the dome, Focal has chosen skillfully created cutting-edge technologies true to their brand, developed and assembled in their own workshops to ensure the very best is put into these innovative circumoral closed-back headphones.
Elegia incorporates a new generation of exclusive and low compliance electrodynamic transducers capable of operating in a small inner environment while ensuring exceptional dynamics, the most precise sound reproduction, and a linear, extended frequency response of 23 kHz. Just like the construction of the Elear, Clear and Utopia speaker drivers, Elegia is fitted with a dedicated surround of 110 microns: the geometry of this new, half-roll NBR surround guarantees a lightweight moving part that is always under control, even at the lowest frequencies and the highest volumes.
Focal’s exclusive frameless, copper voice coil measuring 4 mm high is also very lightweight in relation to the traction capacity of the moving part, which reproduces the signal perfectly. These exceptional headphones would not be complete without an exceptional dome, which is why the “M” shape inverted dome, a major innovation in open- back headphones, is also used for Elegia. Made from an aluminum/magnesium alloy, this dome offers an ideal combination of lightness, high rigidity and excellent damping. Its “M” shape gives it a larger emissive surface area for a sensational listening experience. Finally, when combined with portable source equipment, Elegia guarantees remarkable listening quality thanks to its low impedance of just 35 Ohms. This promotes mobility without sacrificing technological performance.
INNOVATION AT THE SERVICE OF SOUND AND PERFECT SOUNDPROOFING
Loading a speaker driver into a “small room” makes it extremely sensitive to its environment. Focal’s forty years of expertise in manufacturing allowed for a focus on the vents in a way that wouldn’t limit the frequency response in the low-range, and as a result, properly manages the air flow. Because of this, the Elegia’s full-range speaker driver includes a vent to manage the balance between the bass and the midbass.
A second vent, located at the back of the ear cup, picks up the rear wave coming from the center of the motor to avoid any compression and extend the frequency response of the speaker driver. Focal accomplished this by ensuring a connection between the center of the motor and the outer part of the ear cup located beneath the Focal logo. The speaker driver’s response in the bass-reflex acoustic loudspeaker is extended to the lowest frequencies, while providing remarkable linearity and bass articulation. With Elegia, there is no resonance or unwanted additional sound signal to disturb the listening experience, while the closed ear-pads round off the remarkable soundproofing. The realism and naturalness of the diffused sound is striking even from the very first seconds of listening, whether at home or outdoors, using the 1.2 m cable fitted with a 3.5 mm stereo jack connector and the 3.5 mm female jack adapter to 6.35 male jack, provided with the headphones.
DESIGN, COMFORT AND ELEGANCE: FOCAL’S SIGNATURE
A citizen of the world, Focal doesn’t just create high-performance acoustic solutions, they go “beyond” with designer features and comforts to champion an exceptional way of life. Elegia is no exception to this rule. With its well-mastered geometry, the headband molds perfectly to the head, providing optimal grip for on-the-go use. The memory foam microfiber earpads and the yoke also mold perfectly to the wearer’s face, and are both key contributors to the headphones’ supreme comfort. On top of this, the sophisticated, noble materials used, such as leather, microfiber fabric and solid aluminum give Elegia its elegant style, design and timelessness.
To protect the craftsmanship of Elegia, a thermoformed, rigid carrying case in the shape of the headphones is included. Practical for storing and carrying Elegia, this carefully finished case provides excellent protection.
FROM DEVELOPMENT TO INDUSTRIALISATION
Focal has always strictly overseen every stage in the creation of its high-fidelity products, from the development process to industrialization.
With Elegia, the extreme light weight of the moving part composing the full-range speaker driver means it is necessary to strictly control the quantities of glue used on the surround-dome/dome-coil connections. A new robot was developed to implement this priority, as well as bringing exceptional repeatability and stability to the production process.
In a manufacturing process where every detail matters, the result is headphones that boast speaker drivers providing identical frequency response curves of +/- 0.5 dB. Acoustic performance, excellent soundproofing and optimal comfort make Elegia a key reference in closed-back audiophile headphones for $899.
Key Features
- High-end closed-back headphones for home and on-the-go use
- Exclusive full-range speaker drivers with an “M”-shape aluminum/ magnesium dome (patent pending)
- Incredible tonal balance, reproduction of the tiniest sound details at both very high and very low frequencies.
- Excellent performance when connected to a portable audiophile player.
- Optimal ambient noise soundproofing.
- Comfortable and ergonomic
Elegia will be available in October 2018 from select retailers.
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For more information, visit Focal.com/us or contact Focal@MaxBorgesAgency.com
About Focal: For more than 35 years, Focal has been recognized as a leader on the global stage for its high-fidelity products. This French company based in Saint-Étienne (Loire department) manufactures speaker drivers, home audio and multimedia loudspeakers, car audio systems, monitoring loudspeakers and audiophile headphones. Some of our loudspeakers and technologies have become world-renowned references in the Hi-Fi industry.
All Focal products are designed and developed in France: they benefit from 35 years of innovation in exclusive and patented acoustic technologies. We have chosen to continue manufacturing products ‘Made in France’, where the quality and high standards of French craftsmanship place the brand above its competitors. A market leader in France, Focal exports more than 80% of its production, mainly to Europe, North America and Southeast Asia.
In 2017, Focal merged with Naim Audio Limited, the leader of high-end electronics in the U.K. Vervent Audio Group, the resulting holding company, has a turnover of over €92 million.
