The Focal Azurys headphones are the high-end audio company's latest entry-level headphones. They're available to purchase for $549. These headphones have a luxurious feel and look while offering a clear and sophisticated sound.
They compromise modern technological features for high-end sound, making them less practical than similarly priced headphones. Headphones have significantly improved recently, showcasing noise-canceling properties, Bluetooth connectivity, and battery longevity improvements. Sometimes, however, all of these things are, well, annoying.
Unreliable tap-and-swipe controls, hard-to-find buttons, laggy Bluetooth connections, and dying batteries can be the bane of your listening experience. Also: The best wired earbuds: Expert reviewed Finding headphones with an analog yet elevated audio experience can be like finding a needle in a haystack. Fortunately, the new Focal Azurys are a headphone-shaped needle.
These headphones are as simple as they get -- no buttons or companion apps -- simply plug in and listen. Are they worth it? Read on to find out. I won't bury the lede -- these headphones are not cheap.
To be fair, Focal manufactures a $300 headphone stand, so you can see what we're working with. Focal produces high-end, high-fidelity luxury headphones, and the Azurys are the company's bid at garnering the attention (and money) of people who don't want to pay upwards of $5,000 for its other offerings. Also: The best music headphones: Expert tested and reviewed.