The wired Focal Spark earphones deliver a rich, full bass response but could use a little more presence in the higher frequencies to balance things out. Recently, these models have seen dramatic price drops with the Focal Spark found for as little as $19.99, the wireless for $35, and the Sphear for $65 on many popular online marketplaces. Here, the drums definitely get an extra helping in the bass department, but it's not enough to send things into ridiculous thunder territory. The sub-bass synth hits that punctuate the beat are delivered with some serious presence. Discover the key facts and see how Focal Spark performs in the headphones ranking. The pinhole mic, located on the opposite side of the remote control compartment, offers excellent intelligibility. That said, all the other controls work as advertised. You’ll normally find their name attached to high end monitor speakers and headphones, including the $4000 Utopia headphones which have been touted as one of the best ever made. Callahan's baritone vocals also get a heavy dose of low and low-mid presence, bringing out their richness even more than might be necessary. They offer a surprisingly bass-forward audio experience, given Focal's typically more balanced, accurate approach. You can pause or play music by clicking the middle multifunction button, skip to the next track by double clicking it, access your phone’s voice assistant by holding it down, and adjust the volume via the up and down buttons. For some reason earbuds shaped like this always fit my ear perfectly, I didn’t even need to switch out the ear tips to get a great seal, they worked great right out of the box. The French audio brand Focal has been busy of late, expanding its quality lineup to include more affordable earphones to complement offerings like the Utopia, a $4,000 pair of headphones. If it stopped there, it would’ve been fine. Whether I was trying to talk on the phone or access the voice assistant on my phone I just couldn’t get it to work. The Focal Spark, at $69, represents the opposite end of the the Focal pricing spectrum, a no-frills, wired in-canal pair with an inline remote. Now with a pair of headphones like the Utopia in their line-up, you might expect Focal to take the same route towards near perfection with the Spark but the truth is it has a much more of a mainstream sound signature to it. Keep an eye on your inbox! But I feel like there’s a right way to do it, and Focal didn’t get that balance right with these. The in-line controls work fine but if you’re on Android you’ll miss out on the ability to return to a previous track. The wired Focal Spark earphones deliver a rich, full bass response but could use a little more presence in the higher frequencies to balance things out. After Sphear in 2015, the first high–end in–ear headphones, Spark will satisfy a mobile, young and connected target. Our expert industry analysis and practical solutions help you make better buying decisions and get more from technology. The Focal Spark can indeed be considered a solid contender for the best wired in-ear headphones in its price-range. 3:57. This newsletter may contain advertising, deals, or affiliate links. When the design of a pair of headphones or a speaker perfectly matches its function, that product usually gets a high score from me in terms of design. Dampen the Din: Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 vs. QuietComfort 35 II, Pre-Order Bose's Sport Open Earbuds for $200, Samsung Reveals Galaxy Buds Pro Name on Canadian Storefront. The Spark looks good and is competitively priced, although the earpiece fit could be improved. At top, unwise listening levels, the drivers do not distort, and at more moderate volumes, the deep lows still have a strong presence, balanced somewhat by the high-mids and highs. Our particular example is the silver version. I know it’s not really a big deal, but I can’t be the only one who cares about this. The Focal Spark, at $69, represents the opposite end of the the Focal pricing spectrum, a no-frills, wired in-canal pair with an inline remote. Our review unit of the Focal Spark arrived in a relatively compact, brown corrugated cardboard box from the company's public relations firm in Miami, Florida, USA. Overview – Focal Spark Wired Earphones Review Overall, the Focal Spark Wired Earphones are a great earphone for the price. PCMag, PCMag.com and PC Magazine are among the federally registered trademarks of Ziff Davis, LLC and may not be used by third parties without explicit permission. The Focal Spark, at $69, represents the opposite end of the the Focal pricing spectrum, a no-frills, wired in-canal pair with an inline remote. The earphones ship with three pairs of silicone eartips in small, medium, and large sizes, and the in-ear fit is lightweight and secure. You may unsubscribe from the newsletters at any time. Powerful bass response that never distorts. Just don't expect to be blown away. The French audio brand Focal has been busy of late, expanding its quality lineup to include more affordable earphones to complement offerings like the Utopia, a $4,000 pair of headphones. Luckily, the French brand doesn’t only hang out in the high end. Their entry level Spark earbuds cost way less than $4000, but are they any good? This is can be heard in the Disney piece “Paperman” by Christophe Beck where the melodic strings that come in at about the 35 second mark seem to fall behind the bass. Focal’s Sphear Wireless are a sleek and simple pair of banded Bluetooth earbuds with exceptional sound and an affordable price. The French audio brand Focal has been busy of late, expanding its quality lineup to include more affordable, How to Free Up Space on Your iPhone or iPad, How to Save Money on Your Cell Phone Bill, How to Find Free Tools to Optimize Your Small Business, How to Get Started With Project Management, Read 1More Triple Driver In-Ear Headphones Review, Read Klipsch Reference XR8i Hybrid Review, AirPods Max Too Expensive? Video Review The Spark buds are beautifully-built | The Master Switch Design: Focal (pronounced Fo-CAL, by the way - they’re French) sent us two models: the Spark, and its wireless cousin. The Focal Spark Wireless headphones are well-designed, great-sounding, and reasonably comfortable. I don’t want to be a walking advertisement every time I go to the grocery store. Without a doubt the best in-ear headphones in their category, they open the way for fans of streaming music who want to enjoy their favourite songs on the move. The Focal Spark Wireless don't cost too much more than the £60 of their wired equivalents. They keep the sleek metallic look found on the original Focal Spark headphones, though obviously the cable instead wraps around your neck. Sign up for What's New Now to get our top stories delivered to your inbox every morning. Inside the earpieces, audio is delivered via electrodynamic 9.5mm mylar drivers, with a 15 Ohm impedance. So too, is the Wireless Spark here. The body of the headphones is made from sleek, durable, great sounding aluminum. At first glance I was sure this would be one of those instances, but then I took the headphones out of the box and was smacked in the face with branding. The low end is given a nice prominence that makes itself known in songs that you might not expect them to. The Spark Wireless are basic earphones - a narrow cable connects the two earpieces and a couple of junction boxes on the cable house the electronics. The earphones sound more balanced on orchestral tracks than with any other genre, but there's still some added bass push. Contributing Editor Tim Gideon has been writing for PCMag since 2006. This is a look at Focal’s every day, let’s say, entry-level Focal Spark Wireless in earbuds. The in-ear unit itself is a basic silver cylinder, and on the end of each unit you’ll find the Focal logo, under which is a small grill. After reading a lot of reviews, bought the Focal Spark Wireless headphones. © 1996-2021 Ziff Davis, LLC. An inline remote control and microphone compartment is located along the left ear's cable at roughly chin level. Apple Will Fix It for Free. Whether I was casually walking around running errands or actively shaking my head like a wet dog to test the fit, I didn’t have any issues with these falling out. In that same piece however the highs have a nice air around them that never becomes harsh even when it gets much louder towards the end. Try These Headphones Instead, The Best Earbuds (In-Ear Headphones) for 2021, Cheap AirPod Alternatives: The Best True Wireless Earbuds Under $100. Apple AirPods Pro vs. Bose QuietComfort Earbuds: Which Noise-Cancelling True Wireless Earphones Are Better? Verified Purchase. The drums on this track can sound overly bass-heavy on earphones that boost the deep lows too much. It can be both a good and a bad thing with the bass notes in “Home Again” by Michael Kiwanuka being given a warm presence, but the ones in “Fall Creek Boys Choir” by James Blake being a little too much for my taste. The Focal Spark in-ears are solid and will get the job done, which is about all you can expect at this price point. That said, I’m willing to bet this is an isolated incident since I haven’t seen that complaint anywhere else so I have to assume it’s just my bad luck. In the box you’ll get the headphones, a small hardshell carrying case for storage, three sets of extra ear tips, and the instruction manual. The display of third-party trademarks and trade names on this site does not necessarily indicate any affiliation or the endorsement of PCMag. The headphones come in three color options — silver, black, and a nice rose gold. I don’t find it dry at all, nor overly potent. Focal Spark Wireless Earphones Review - Duration: 3:57. Besides my obvious hatred of the branding on these headphones my biggest problem with the way these headphones were built and designed is the control module. COPYRIGHT © 2021 SoundGuys, All Rights Reserved. - Duration: 26:01. Your subscription has been confirmed. The Focal Spark, at $69, represents the opposite end of the the Focal pricing spectrum, a no-frills, wired in-canal pair with an inline remote. Focal Spark Wireless – Review. Part way down the left cable, you’ll find a small remote, which features a volume u… Orchestral tracks, like the opening scene in John Adams' The Gospel According to the Other Mary, get an added bass presence, but not nearly to the extent of modern mixes that feature more sub-bass content. Our brand new earphones, Spark, are our entry-level model, giving customers access to the Focal sound. Besides this stealthy black color option you can also get them in a white/silver color way that looks a little bit cleaner as the branding isn’t as noticeable. The remote is of the three-button variety, with a central button devoted to playback, call management, and track navigation, depending on how many times you tap it. Available in black, blue, and silver-and-white models, the Spark's design is simple and clean. For one, the earbuds have a small bullet-like shape to them that reminds me of the original Xiaomi Piston headphones which I absolutely loved. Full Review: https://www.themasterswitch.com/review-focal-spark Bill Callahan's "Drover," a track with far less deep bass in the mix, gives a better sense of the general sound signature. Focal says that the Spark is aimed for a young, mobile, connected audience — we think its sound signature is well-matched for that goal. It’s not a bad thing but to be honest it was slightly disappointing. They work best with folk, jazz, and singer-songwriter music. There's nothing wrong with the added bass depth, as it's never over the top, but the earphones could use some added high-mid presence to give things more definition and clarity in the highs. Focal might not be the most well-known audio brand to your average consumer, but anyone who has spent time in a professional studio might recognize the name. PCMag Digital Group. Like I said, I’m a huge fan of anything minimal. The Spark's boosted bass is not unpleasant in the slightest, but it's missing its counterpart in the high-mids and highs—if we're abandoning the idea of a flat, accurate response, we need sculpting everywhere, not just in the lows, to achieve a sense of balance. Instead of a sharp attack, we get more thump, with the sustain of the hits beefed up in the lower frequencies. Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 vs. Sony WH-1000XM4: Which Pair Is Better? We’ll be tackling the latter in another review, but for now, let’s talk about the wired version. Apple's AirPods Max Over-Ear Headphones Are Here, and They're Expensive, Getting Static or Crackling in Your AirPods Pro? AirPods Max vs. AirPods Pro: What's Apple's Best Pair of Noise-Cancelling Headphones? But on close inspection, they don’t look or feel anything out of the ordinary - the price doesn't immediately seem any sort of bargain. 0 Comment Report abuse. Impedance 16 Ohms But that shouldn’t be mistaken for “bad”. The vocals on this track are delivered clearly, but again, we are missing the high-mid treble edge that would help them stand out more against the bass-dense backdrop. Branding is important to any company that wants to sell their product. Following up on our review last year of the very impressive Focal Sphear in-ear headphones, we now take a look at Focal’s 2017/18 lineup: The Sphear S, Spark and Spark Wireless earphones.. Read on for our review. The Focal Spark happens to be a really great pair of in-ear headphones; that they are so inexpensive is just icing on the cake. For $69 the Spark in-ears get plenty right, and some things wrong. One major problem that I had with these was the microphone. The cabling joins into a single cable around mid-torso, culminating in a 3.5mm connection. Using the Voice Memos app on an iPhone 6s, we not only understood each word clearly, but microphone quality was exceptional, delivering crisp high mids and an ideal level of bass response. I built a guitar out of a shelf during lockdown ! Focal has designed Spark to make quality sound accessible to as many people as possible The design of Spark has been studied to make it a stylish and lightweight product Silicone earplugs, flat anti-tangle cable and the rigid carrying case make it easily accessible and very practical to use The Spark Wireless comes with the same accessories as the Spark — three sizes of silicone ear tips and a carry case — plus the a short micro-USB charging cable and magnetic shirt clip. (This logo, coincidentally, looks quite a bit like the logo of audio manufacturer MartinLogan, only shifted on its side.) It performed as expected in many areas and was a bit of a letdown in others, but it was never great at any one thing. Spark's design is at once fashionable and timeless, and they are a pleasure to use and to wear. If you have more room in your budget and want some excellent-sounding wired in-ears, the Bowers & Wilkins C5 Series 2 remain one of our favorites. 0. It could’ve been that I had high expectations going into this review but I feel like the Focal Spark didn’t floor me in any way. By Simon Wilce. But we've tested similarly priced models that deliver more high frequency definition … Focal Spark Wireless in-ear headphone review: Audiophile sound at a budget price The French manufacturer's in-ear-headphones will bathe you in intoxicating audiophile sound … This is a sound signature that leans toward the lows and the low-mids, with some definition in the highs, but not as much as we'd prefer. Jarl. This time, we’re trying out Spark Wireless ($99), the Bluetooth version of Focal’s entry-level headphone range. Focal's recent headphones have exercised a little more restraint in the bass department and focused more on accuracy. But now that we’ve got the negatives out of the way let’s focus on some of the things these headphones get right, because it does do a good job at almost everything else. The Spark’s 9.5mm drivers are tuned for the V-shaped presentation; boosted bass and treble pairs well with today’s popular music, but recessed midrange leaves metal and rock music sounding a little dull. Focal does treble well, the Elear’s best quality was its sublime upper end. There’s not much ceremony here, although in use the se… We've heard earphones boost the lows far more intensely than this, but what's missing here is a little bit of added high-mid presence to balance it out and keep things crisp. Inexpensive Published on 12 October 2018. Look, I get it. The Focal Spark earphones have made this decision a little easier, because the Sparks are attractive, priced right and are offered both wired and wireless. Focal Spark Review Introduction In their rather short foray into the headphone market, Focal has become my favorite brand for personal music enjoyment. Still, I guess that was just my personal bias slipping in because when I handed off the headphones to my friends to try they loved them. French audio company Focal has been creating acoustic equipment since 1979 in the home audio, headphones, car speakers and monitor fields. The Good The Focal Sphear is a lightweight, comfortable in-ear headphone that stays in your ears and sounds impressive for the price, with full bass and pleasantly crisp treble. Decent "popular" sound Branding is everywhere. The first thing you’ll notice about the headphones is their design, and they look great. I used this product three times a week for my commute to work. It has a good sound, although I got better tips from Comply, and it improved the bass response a bit. Other than a tiny black zip-up protective case, there are no additional accessories. Inline remote with exceptionally clear microphone. So much so, that we think these are the best casual-listening in-ear wireless headphones at this price point." The Focal Spark wired headphones retail for $69, and they are available from Amazon [affiliate link] and other retailers. As far as connection goes there’s only one option here: a good ‘ol 3.5mm jack. PCMag.com is a leading authority on technology, delivering Labs-based, independent reviews of the latest products and services. The Focal Spark wireless is a winner! Source: Manufacturer supplied review sample It could’ve been that I had high expectations going into this review but I feel like the Focal Spark didn’t floor me in any way. Helpful. At $100, the Focal Spark Wireless earphones offer a secure fit and powerful bass response. Sure, it might not have the best detail but it gets the point across without being painful which is a great thing to have when the drivers are literally sitting in your ears. Focal, the French leader in professional acoustics, hi–fi and automotive, completes its range of headphones with a brand new in–ear: Spark. Not for those seeking an accurate sound signature. First you get the small F logo on either earbud which I don’t mind one bit. Just open the box and you’re ready to go. If big bass without crisp highs appeals to you, the Spark won't disappoint, but if you're looking for a little more definition in this price range, consider the RHA S500i, the Klipsch Reference X6i, or the 1More Triple Driver In-Ear Headphones. The Focal Spark Wireless earpieces are all-metal, with a two-tone black-on-silver look, and they’re chunky look fits well with the style of cable. Focal Spark Review (Page 2 of 4) Page 2 - Physical Look - Hardware. But I digress. For those who like visual simplicity for a clean appearance, the Focal Spark has you covered. Their line of higher end over-ears are excellent sounding and well-built tanks and I’ve enjoyed each one I’ve tried. If you click an affiliate link and buy a product or service, we may be paid a fee by that merchant. Focal Spark and Focal Spark Wireless Headphones Review Updated on Nov 1, 2017 by Tuan Do Focal is a very well-known brand in the audiophile world as they have some great high-end loudspeakers. But that shouldn’t be mistaken for “bad”. We’re reviewing the silver pair, which has a white cable, but the headphones also come in black. The Focal Spark Wireless in-ear headphone comes with the following items in the box: 1 Spark wireless in-ear 3 pairs of silcone tips (S/M/L) https://www.pcmag.com/reviews/focal-spark. He specializes in reviewing audio products, and is obsessed with headphones, speakers, and recording gear. Flat, linguini-esque cabling descends from the earpieces, which feature metallic outer panels emblazoned with the Focal logo. I find the tone and texture of the top end to be very appealing, interesting and nicely tuned for musicality. But then you get the name “Focal” stamped in white across the side of the earbud, as well as on the black control module hanging out on the wire, as well as the 3.5mm connector, and even on the small piece of metal at the Y-split. Gavin's Gadgets 1,649 views. The outer two buttons are dedicated volume up and down controls that work in conjunction with your mobile device's master volume levels. The cable is also a flat one which helps to avoid tangles which is super helpful if you’re like me and just end up stuffing your headphones in your pocket when you’re done using them. It performed as expected in many areas and was a bit of a letdown in others, but it was never great at any one thing. More restraint in the lower frequencies the song already has powerful thumping bassnotes and. Gideon has been writing for PCMag since 2006 headphones come in three color options silver! Wireless do n't cost too much more than the £60 of their wired equivalents plenty. 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