Focal - Azurys

Honestly, I don't care too much for closed backs myself. If you had to look, some alternatives I can say are well regarded are the Audio Technica ATH-M50x, DT 700 Pro X, MDR-M1, if you have a burning hole on your wallet and want to again spend a lot then Focal Azurys I can recommend as ive actually tried it, but its msrp is around 500. Really the best thing you can do is just go and try on a bunch.

There are a lot of layers to this, so I’ll try to keep it super simple: Studio headphones, first and foremost, seek to be accurate, not fun. So they’re “better” in that they are more accurate but it necessarily “better” as in “you’ll enjoy them more.” They won’t be BAD for music—lots of people love them—but enjoyment is not generally their first priority. Too much coloration will ruin a mix. There are other headphones that are mean to be more fun: they offer extra coloration to the music like extra bass, for example, or a more relaxed frequency response that sacrifices one thing or another within the sound. That said, if you’re asking which would be “better” from a representation perspective then the wired headphones you mentioned will be better: wired headphones will, in general, be better than wireless headphones I quality. (And then there’s the whole open back / closed back debate.) If you’re asking which you’ll enjoy more… no one can tell but you. You mentioned two very bass-focused headphones (QCU, XM6) and two less bass-focused and more neutral headphones. These are two very different kinds of sound, so the best bet would be for you to test them. I would recommend you go to a high end audio shop near you, if you have one, and see if you can try some out To compare. Often, these shops will stock both high end wireless (Sony, Bose, Bowers & Wilkins) and wired headphones. Maybe not the exact ones you’re looking for, but close enough to answer this question. Personal opinion: Go for something fun. Your genres benefit from a fun, V-shaped signature. Wired headphones are generally better than wireless for other areas of sound outside of frequency response, like articulation and staging. The Sony MDR M1 might be a good option for you. My personal recommendation: the Focal Azurys and the FiO FT1 in think will match you what you listen to well.

Hi, I received both the Hadenys & Azurys. I must say that the Hadenys is incredible and outstanding value. The Hadenys outshines my Sennheiser 800S without doubt as the sound signature is more dynamic, fun and the bass is present yet controlled, right and detailed. I think this is the best value headphone I have ever experienced. The Azurys are great too but I'd keep them for more noisy environments or on the go as they are inferior to the Hadenys but still amazing for a closed back and even more surprising for their low price point. If you're hesitant on the Hadenys, trust me they are crazy good and when you apply the Oratory1990 EQ, even better. I did not expect them to surprise me that much!

Could be a lot of things that you don't like about them. Personally I find that dynamic drivers sound warmer, more natural and smoother which is more pleasant some of the time. It could be that, that's a big factor for you. The Aria Stealth are planars. And then, the aria is open back so it's going to have less bass because the sound is allowed to escape, deliberately. The aria are undoubtedly giving you more detail, both spatial and technical the XM4s but they're a different type of headphone delivering a different type of experience. If you want an upgrade from the XM4s in a closed back, wired planar, you might want to try something like the Focal Azurys.

I’ve spent way too much money chasing the perfect sound, and after burning through a pile of headphones and IEMs, I think I’m finally there. The headphone path went: Sundara → HD600 → HD650 → Edition XS (good but too sharp and sibilant) → Focal Azurys (Did not get the hype here) → Audeze MM-500 (good but painful clamp). On the IEM side I tried the Kiwi Ears Astral, Moondrop x Crinacle Dusk (didn’t understand the here either), Moondrop Hype 4, and DUNU Brain Dance. Brain dance was my favorite until I randomly tried The Campfire Moon Rover, though, which has become my IEM of choice for a reason I’ll explain later. For over ears, eventually I gave Dan Clark Audio a shot. First the Noire X, then the Noire X Open… and wow. The Noire X Open is the first headphone I’ve heard that delivers incredible detail without stabbing me with harsh “s” and “t” sounds. It can be just a touch energetic above 10k, but a simple high-shelf EQ at -3 dB takes care of it instantly. I also like adding a +2 dB bass shelf, which rounds out the sound beautifully. What really surprised me is how perfectly this same EQ profile works on the Campfire Moon Rover as well. It feels like they were made to share it, and having one tuning that works seamlessly between both is a huge win. I’ve saved the preset on my HiBy R4, so switching back and forth between the XO and the Moon Rover is effortless. So at this point, my perfect setup has become the Moon Rover for IEMs and the Noire X Open. Ironically, the gear I’ve ended up loving the most has all been from American brands which I didn’t expect. I know endgame is a dangerous word in this hobby, but right now this feels like it. Has anyone else had that moment where you put something on and thought… yeah, this is it?

I personally like the DCA Aeon X Closed at $499 better than the Fiio FT1, but not three times more. That said, I basically don't use the FT1 anymore because I have a few things I like better. If you can find one, I personally think the Focal Elegia is the best closed back I've ever heard. They're not as prominently bassy as a lot of closed backs, but they have just the right amount for me. They've been out of production for a few years, but they're frequently available used for right around $300. For me: Focal Elegia > Aeon X Closed > FT1. There's not much on the market that I would consider worth listening to, and I've definitely tried! Folks really like the Focal Azurys, but it's just not for me, as much as I like their wireless brother, the Bathys.

These or the Azurys would be my recommendation too. They seemed to not like the open backed nature of the 600s...

I just picked up a set of Focal Azurys. I really like them. If you are going out and about, they have decent isolation and are easy to drive. If open back is an option, I’d prefer a 6xx, but that’s just me.

I'm a little sensitive to clamp pressure, they started to get uncomfortable after some time. The Azurys seemed to have slightly more compliant pads so I found myself wearing those longer. Honestly, I'd be okay with the Hadenys as my only pair of over ears but when given the choice I'd take my EQ'd 800s every time.

From best to worst: Mdr-z1r - Best bass I've heard in a headphone and thebest soundstage I've heard in a closed back. Fun treble and a decent mid range. Mezes lyric 2 - absolutely beautiful, made extremely well. Sounded pretty good, decent bass, nice midrange, just the treble was a little wonky. Focal Azurys - fun punchy little headphones. They just felt a bit too cramped for me and the treble didn't sound wrong or anything I just didn't find it interesting. Hd 660s2 - could go either way between these and the Azurys tbh. These are very close to neutral for being a closed back and have the best midrange out of anything here. Sounded about as cramped as the Azurys though and the bass wasn't as fun. I liked the treble and isolation more though, for the price they're really good.