Focal Azurys

The Focal Azurys is a super light, super comfortable wired headphone with solid sound and premium materials. It's near best-in-class for comfort but lacks Bluetooth, strong ANC, and a good mic. At $599, it's only worth it if you're a wired purist who values fit and driver quality over features.

Sound quality lands in the upper-middle of our database, which is good but not the knockout you might expect at this price. The 15Hz to 22kHz range gives you deep bass extension and plenty of top-end air, and the closed-back design keeps outside noise out reasonably well. Comfort is where these really shine, sitting near the top of the charts, so long listening sessions won't punish your head. The mic is just okay, and connectivity is limited to a 3.5mm jack, which feels dated for the money. Battery life is a non-issue since there's no battery, but our scoring still puts it mid-pack compared to wireless rivals.

Stacked against the Sennheiser MOMENTUM M5AEBT, the Focal wins on comfort and weight but loses badly on connectivity and ANC. The Sony ULT WEAR WHULT900N/B brings serious noise cancellation and wireless freedom for less money, though the Focal's build feels more premium. The Technics EAH-A800 is a closer fight on sound quality, but again, it's wireless with better call performance. The JBL Tune 670NC and TOZO HT3 are much cheaper and offer ANC plus Bluetooth, but they can't touch the Focal's driver refinement or featherweight design. The Azurys is a specialist, not an all-rounder.

At $599, the Azurys is a tough sell unless you specifically want a premium wired headphone. You're paying for Focal's driver tech and build quality, and those are real, but you're also skipping out on wireless convenience, active noise cancellation, and a decent mic. For the same money, you can get flagship wireless headphones with more features and comparable sound. If you're a wired purist who values comfort and driver quality over everything else, the price makes more sense. For everyone else, it's a hard pill to swallow.

The Focal Azurys is a wired, closed-back headphone aimed at people who want serious sound at home but also want to toss them in a bag. Those 40mm Aluminum/Magnesium M Dome drivers are the star here, and Focal clearly spent money on materials like a genuine leather headband and memory foam earpads. At 68 grams, these are also absurdly light for an over-ear.

But here's the thing. This is a $599 wired headphone in a world full of wireless noise-canceling options. No Bluetooth, no ANC to speak of, and a mic that's fine for a quick call but not much else. If you're buying these, you're buying them for the sound and the build, not for features.

Skip the Azurys if you need wireless, strong noise cancellation, or a reliable mic for calls. The ANC is weak, connectivity is wired only, and the mic is nothing special. If you travel a lot or take calls on the go, you'll be happier with a wireless ANC headphone like the Sony ULT WEAR or Sennheiser MOMENTUM.

Buy the Focal Azurys if you want a wired, closed-back headphone that feels premium and disappears on your head during long sessions. It's built for music lovers who don't care about wireless and want that Focal driver sound. If you need ANC, Bluetooth, or a good mic for calls, this isn't your headphone. It's a niche product that nails comfort and build but asks you to ignore a lot of missing features for the price.