Use : I'm using the Focal Listen Professional for both recording as well as mixing purposes. I lost my previous headphones, which literally fell apart from old age and extensive use, and with a recording and mixing job within three days of losing them, I needed a quick replacement. Luckily, I had already done my research, and pulled the trigger on these. It didn't disappoint.
Sound : After having been used to the sound of my old Sony V700DJ phones, I didn't know what to expect. What I got, was a pair of cans with a great sonic balance. The bass response, which often is too overbearing in closed back phones, is present and well defined. Mids are clear enough to judge mixes by, no mean feat for phones of this price range. And the highs are clear, articulate and never too shrill. The overall sound doesn't tire out my ears. On the contrary, it makes me eager to put them on and work with them. If I had to use one adjective to qualify the sound, it would be 'natural'. Closed back headphones design clearly has come a long way since I last bought a pair.
Comfort : Before ordering, I read in some reviews how the cups didn't quite fit people's ears. I'm happy to report that I'm not experiencing this discomfort. The cups fit my ears perfectly, and the whole thing sits comfortably on my head. The plastic used on the head rest feels a bit cheap, but it does its work well and never feels unpleasant, not even after long stretches of recording. And the overall build quality is much, much more superior to that of my old Sonys.
All in all, these headphones are an absolute sonic delight, which will see a lot of action and, because of their excellent build quality, will probably outlast my previous headphones by a long time.
