Focal isn’t exactly the new kid on the audiophile block. They’ve been handcrafting high-end loudspeakers and headphones in France since 1979—because of course the French would make luxury audio an art form. Their signature M-shaped dome driver, found in nearly everything they build, has become a calling card for clarity and detail, whether you’re listening to a $400 pair or something that costs more than your car.
Lately, Focal has been shrinking things down a notch. The wildly successful Bathys wireless headphones kicked off a new line of more compact, travel-friendly designs. Same DNA, just less suitcase space. That experiment clearly worked, because they’ve now followed up with the Azurys (closed-back), Hadenys (open-back), and Lensys (aimed at the pro crowd). All wired, all based on the scaled-down Bathys chassis.
Rounding out this mid-size family is the recently released Bathys MG—Focal’s updated wireless model with a magnesium driver. Think of it as the “oh, you liked that? here’s more” version. Altogether, this new lineup balances form and function in a way only the French can get away with—by making practicality feel just a little bit indulgent.
With five models now sharing the same mid-sized chassis, Focal has turned to color to set each one apart—because nothing says “audiophile taxonomy” like a designer paint job. The Azurys, their closed-back wired option, comes exclusively in a distinctly French shade of light blue. Très sérieux, but make it fashion.
Azurys Unboxed: Blue, Branded, and Blessedly Organized
The Azurys arrives in a book-fold box with a magnetic clasp—clearly aiming for the “premium retail” look, and mostly pulling it off. Inside, you’ll find a blue zippered hard case that holds everything in a layout suspiciously reminiscent of a fish—cable coiled in the middle, earcups kept apart like squabbling cousins at a family dinner.
The blue theme isn’t subtle. From the divider to the cable, pads, and headband, everything’s dipped in the same color-way, making it clear Focal had a palette and stuck to it. The cable itself is a practical 4-foot 3.5mm affair, and there’s a 3.5mm to 6.35mm adapter included for when your setup demands something a bit more serious.
The Azurys headphones combine grey magnesium alloy gimbals, grills, and headband adjusters with a stainless steel headband hidden inside a two-tone blue padded band. The outer side of the headband has a leather-like finish, while the inner side is lined with cloth. The ear pads match the inner band with the same cloth covering, and the anodized metal cups mirror the outer blue tone of the headband, giving the headphones a cohesive and refined look.
Each cup features a large, centered Focal logo—consistent across the brand’s lineup—surrounded by concentric acoustic ports that are larger toward the rear and smaller toward the front. Inside the cup, the inner grill matches the blue outer band, allowing color to show through the silver-gray exterior.
The Azurys are lightweight at just over 11 ounces (307 grams), but with nearly all-metal construction—aluminum, steel, and magnesium alloys—durability isn’t a concern. Add in Focal’s three-year warranty, and the brand sets a high bar for build quality and support.
The included cable is a 3.5mm TRS that connects to the bottom of the left ear cup. While a locking mechanism would have been a welcome touch, the connection is firm enough to stay put during use. That said, the proprietary design limits compatibility with aftermarket or balanced cables, so users looking to upgrade will need some DIY skills.
Inside each cup is a 40mm aluminum/magnesium “M”-shaped dome driver, mounted at a slight rearward angle. With a nominal impedance of 26Ω and a listed sensitivity of 100dB/mW, the Azurys are easy to drive and compatible with a wide range of source devices.
This driver is also used in the open-back Hadenys and the closed-back wireless Bathys, offering a unique opportunity to hear the same core driver in three different configurations. The consistent cup design across all three models further helps isolate the effects of enclosure type and DSP on the driver’s performance.
Fit for a Marquis, or at Least Someone Who Hates Ear Fatigue
Having spent time with the Focal Bathys, I had a fair idea of what to expect from the Azurys—and sure enough, they deliver a very similar comfort profile. At just over 11 ounces, they’re light enough to wear for extended sessions without feeling like you’ve strapped a small anvil to your head. The padded headband does a solid job distributing weight, and the clamp force strikes a Goldilocks balance: firm enough to keep the headphones in place, but not so tight you’ll start plotting rebellion.
The cloth pads and inner band help manage heat well—just don’t expect much in the way of isolation. Sound does leak, so if you’re planning to wear these in bed, you might be gently (or not-so-gently) exiled to the couch. For better seal and bass retention, Dekoni offers solid sheepskin pads, though that’s a detour for those who need more quiet—or more thump.
The cups do make slight contact with my ears, but it’s more of a polite tap than a rude jab—no pressure, no discomfort. Even with glasses, the fit avoids that common pinch on the temples, which means you can actually enjoy long sessions without feeling like you’re being punished for having vision.
Listening: Yes, They Travel Well
With easy-to-drive transducers and a closed-back design, the Azurys are clearly built for life beyond the desk. I used a mix of portable sources alongside my usual desktop rig, the RME ADI-2 RS FS Black Edition. I also paired them with the Drop + xDuoo TA-84 to see if a bit of tube warmth and liquidity would complement the Azurys’ more neutral tendencies.
On the portable side, I rotated through the Activo P1, Cayin N3Pro, Astell&Kern KANN Ultra, and Sony WM1A. All of them drove the Azurys comfortably, with headroom to spare. I didn’t bother with my flagship desktop or high-end DAP setups—because let’s be honest, nobody’s realistically pairing a $469 headphone with a $5,000 chain unless they’re doing it for science, or for Instagram.
Bass: Tight, Textured, and Just a Touch Elevated
True to their closed-back design, the Azurys deliver bass with good depth and a quantity slightly above neutral. What might catch some off guard is the quality of that bass—sub-bass comes through with impressive texture and speed, while the overall bass remains tight and focused despite its mild boost. This results in a warm tonal foundation that adds weight without overwhelming the rest of the spectrum.
Mid-bass offers satisfying slam and maintains good detail, though it doesn’t quite match the sub-bass in sheer presence. The overall effect is a bass response that leans just a shade above neutral, providing extra warmth and punch—perfect for electronic music fans who want some thump without sacrificing clarity or muddying the mix.
In particular, the sub-bass stands out as the Azurys’ strongest suit, boasting some of the best sub-bass quality I’ve heard at this price point. It’s enough to satisfy all but the most extreme bassheads, making these headphones a solid choice for those who want controlled, high-quality low end.
Midrange: Detailed, Clear, and Just a Touch Lively
The mids deliver detail on par with the bass but stay closer to neutral in level. There’s no noticeable bleed from the mid-bass into the lower mids, allowing vocals and instruments in that range to remain distinct despite the lack of any particular emphasis.
Lower vocals have solid intonation and note weight, sounding natural without feeling heavy or fatigued. Vocal clarity is strong, with voices positioned slightly forward in the mix, giving them good presence without overshadowing other elements.
These headphones clearly favor popular music styles—guitars have a sharp, well-defined tone, and toms ring out cleanly through their decay. Strings come with good energy, though the upper mids and highs may be a touch more forward than some listeners prefer. It’s lively enough to engage most, but if you’re sensitive, like my wife, it could border on fatiguing. Either way, the Azurys tread that fine line carefully, just at the edge.
Treble: Sparkling Clarity Without the Sizzle
The lower treble follows the upper-mid lift before tapering off around 6kHz, with the strongest emphasis between 3 and 4kHz. This gives the headphones snap and vocal presence, though those sensitive to treble may want to take note.
Cymbals sound realistic, with hi-hats delivering a pleasing shimmer—a detail many headphones struggle to capture accurately. Focal deserves credit for avoiding the easy route of dialing down treble into polite dullness. Instead, the Azurys offer clarity and enough air at the top end to prevent any sense of enclosure, adding sparkle without harshness.
At times, you might even forget you’re listening to a closed-back design—and that’s a compliment the Azurys earn with ease.
Soundstage: Realistic, Well-Defined, but Not Expansive
The Azurys don’t deliver a huge soundstage—that’s never been Focal’s focus. Instead, they offer a well-proportioned and realistic space with enough width and depth to comfortably seat an orchestra, plus enough height for sounds to bounce around naturally.
Clarity plays a big role here, enhancing instrument separation and making placements on stage tightly defined. Imaging is equally strong, with precise tracking of movements and easy localization of sounds in space.
The limits of the stage size show up on tracks like “So Lonesome” (Cowboy Junkies, Trinity Sessions), where the echoes don’t extend as far back or wide as on some other headphones. It’s no surprise for a closed-back design, but still worth noting in an otherwise very capable model.
The Bottom Line
Focal’s reputation in both loudspeakers and headphones means the Azurys’ detailed musical signature and excellent bass performance shouldn’t come as a shock. What might surprise some is just how good that bass response is—especially from a sub-$500 headphone.
The rest of the sound signature meets expectations, though I’d still argue it sounds more spacious than most closed-backs in this price range. The treble may be brighter than some prefer, but for those like me, it adds a lively, engaging edge.
Combine that with excellent build quality and a generous three-year warranty, and the Azurys should find plenty of fans. Easy to drive, they’re equally at home hooked up to a laptop or gaming system, or out and about paired with a DAP or phone dongle.
For anyone shopping a mid-priced closed-back headphone, the Azurys deserve a spot on the shortlist—they set a strong benchmark for bass and detail in the $500 class.
Pros:
- Highly resolving, textured bass
- Excellent build quality and comfort
- Competitive pricing
- Generous 3-year warranty
Cons:
- Bright top-end may be fatiguing for some
- No balanced cable option available
Where to buy:
Related Reading:
- Focal’s Bathys MG Might Shatter The Wireless ANC Headphone Performance Ceiling
- CanJam NYC 2025 Headphone Highlights: HiFiMAN, Meze Audio, Audeze, Focal, Pud And More
- Give In To The Dark Side With The Focal Bathys Deep Black Edition Wireless Headphones
- Podcast: The Focal Revolution: How A French Hi-Fi Manufacturer Is Revolutionizing Your Music Listening Experience
Anton
May 29, 2025 at 5:14 pm
Good to see Jennings back. Missed his in-depth reviews and easy to understand technical analysis of the technology and how they compare to the competition. Price doesn’t suck either.