Focal
Saint-Étienne, Loire (Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes), France · founded 1979
Focal is one of the most respected French high-fidelity makers and a benchmark in dynamic (non-planar) flagship headphones, having brought its in-house Beryllium and magnesium 'M'-dome driver technology from loudspeakers into headphones. Its Utopia is widely regarded as a reference open-back dynamic headphone.
Focal is a French premium audio manufacturer founded in 1979 by engineer, hi-fi enthusiast and technology journalist Jacques Mahul, who began building loudspeaker drivers in a workshop in the Saint-Étienne area. Operating as Focal-JMlab, the company designs and manufactures home loudspeakers, car audio, professional studio monitors, and (since 2012) high-end headphones, with most production based in the Saint-Étienne region of France. Its headphone line is best known for pure Beryllium and magnesium ‘M’-shaped inverted-dome drivers, used in models such as the open-back Utopia and Clear MG, the closed-back Stellia, and the wireless ANC Bathys / Bathys MG.
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At a glance
- Type
- Manufacturer
- Founder
- Jacques Mahul
- Founded
- 1979
- Headquarters
- Saint-Étienne, Loire (Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes), France
- Price range
- Premium
- Makes / sells
- over-ear headphones, wireless headphones, in-ear monitors, home loudspeakers, car audio, studio monitors, headphone amps/DACs
- Known for
- beryllium M-dome drivers, magnesium dome drivers, dynamic open-back headphones, closed-back headphones, French design and manufacturing, wireless active noise cancelling
- Website
- www.focal.com
Notable products
- Utopia (2022) — Flagship open-back reference headphone with a pure Beryllium 'M'-shaped dome driver; 5 Hz–50 kHz, 80 ohm, ~490 g.
- Clear MG — Open-back headphone using a pure magnesium 'M'-dome diaphragm; more accessible flagship-tier open-back.
- Stellia — Closed-back reference headphone with pure Beryllium M-dome drivers, sharing Utopia headband/yoke mechanics.
- Bathys / Bathys MG — Focal's first (2022) high-end wireless Bluetooth ANC headphone; Bathys MG (2025) adds a magnesium driver, ~$1,299 USD.
- Azurys / Hadenys — More accessible '-ys' line — Azurys is closed-back, Hadenys open-back, at lower price points than the flagship models.
Sources: Focal — Our history (official) · Focal-JMLab — Wikipedia · Barco to acquire VerVent Audio Holding (press release) · Barco completes acquisition of Focal and Naim (Barco news) · Barco to acquire high-end audio firm VerVent for €135m — AV Magazine · Focal Utopia — official product page · Focal Bathys MG — official product page · Focal Headphones product-line guide — Audio46