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French-Made Luxury at Its Best in a HeadphoneLess than three years after the launch of the Utopia open-back headphones, Focal returns to center stage with a new product destined to become the leader among high-end closed-back headphones: Stellia. Equipped with the brand's very best technology, incorporating numerous innovations and delivering excellent soundproofing, Stellia perfectly illustrates the renowned manufacturer's refusal to compromise on quality. This is French-made luxury at its best. Exceptional Speaker DriversThe Stellia concept is simple: the adaptation of the Utopia headphones to create a closed-back version. Unfortunately, acoustic laws dictate that a transducer's design depends very heavily on the associated load type and inner volume of the headphones. Stellia therefore integrates a new generation of exclusive electrodynamic speaker drivers, capable of working at low acoustic load while offering an extremely extensive frequency response (5Hz – 40kHz). The new 110-micron NBR surround offers low compliance and a geometry that is developed entirely in relation to its inner volume. The elongation of the moving part is thereby preserved and ensures exceptional dynamics for closed-back headphones. Cutting-Edge TechnologySimultaneously, the frameless 100% copper voice coil (exclusive to Focal) offers an extremely reduced mass which, combined with its magnetic coupling to the motor, is able to reproduce the tiniest nuances with great precision, whether bass articulation or the highest frequency details. The crowning glory of these exceptional speaker drivers is the 'M'-shaped pure Beryllium dome. Focal's signature innovation, this cutting-edge technology offers three major benefits. Its very low mass (seven times lighter than titanium of identical rigidity) enables an extraordinary acceleration factor to be obtained, ensuring unfailing adherence to the original audio signal. Its rigidity ensures both impressive elongation and a high sound level, while preventing distortion of the dome. Finally, the damping level provided by the Beryllium lends it a flawless neutrality, for voices and trebles of astonishing realism. The Purest SoundLoading a speaker driver into a small inner volume makes it highly sensitive to its environment. The Stellia's full-range speaker driver therefore includes a vent to control the balance between the bass and the midrange. A second vent, located at the back of the ear cup, picks up the rear wave coming from the center of the motor to avoid any compression and extend the frequency response of the speaker driver. How? By ensuring the connection between the center of the motor and the outer part of the ear cup located beneath the logo. The speaker driver's response in the bass-reflex acoustic loudspeaker is thus extended to the lowest frequencies while providing remarkable linearity and bass articulation, all without any dynamic compression. As for the higher frequencies, these are absorbed through an EVA foam pad inside the ear cup, behind the speaker driver. Finally, the presence of acoustic diffusers inside this ear cup achieves two objectives: they break up standing waves by uniformly diffusing residual energy throughout the space. The diffusers are also an additional material, making the "cabinetry" even more rigid and, as a result, inert. As such, only the speaker driver generates the sound reproduction, without interfering, adding or removing information from the sound signal. The Earpads, or the Acoustic Treatment of the RoomThe ideal acoustics for a listening space, beyond its dimensions, lies in its reverberation time controlled by the quantity of its absorbent materials (acoustic foam, etc.). The Stellia earpads are a perfect illustration of this: 50% of their height is designed to diffuse sound through a non-perforated full-grain leather; 50% absorbs the audio signal through an acoustic cloth which covers the memory foam. This solution also provides a linear frequency range, between 1 and 10kHz. Comfort and EleganceStellia uses the headband and yoke mechanical features originally developed for the Utopia headphones. The consistent curve between these two elements offers flawless comfort, regardless of the shape and size of the listener's face and head. Stellia boasts two more impressive key features: its soundproofing capacity, which has been further enhanced by its closed design; and its comfort, guaranteed by the high-resilience memory foam used in the earpads. Each component has been developed with optimal acoustics in mind, without compromising on style. The two cognac and mocha finishes truly showcase each element and are testament to the meticulous attention paid to each and every detail. Equally Impressive AccessoriesFor high-end headphones, a high-end pack. Stellia is presented in a cognac and mocha faux-leather case. A storage case houses two high-quality cables with the same materials and finishes. The first 3-metre cable is ideal for use at home on a high-end amplifier, thanks to its symmetrical 4-pin XLR connector. The second is designed to be portable: measuring 3-3/8 feet (1.2m) with a 1/8" (3.5mm) stereo jack, it is the perfect solution for connecting Stellia to a portable audiophile player. Stellia's voice coil offers extremely low impedance at 35 Ohms, making the headphones very easy to drive through the output of a mobile audio source. The rigid travel case, in cognac and mocha woven finishes, provides effective yet stylish protection for Stellia when you are on the move. Focal's Industrial ExpertiseFocal strictly oversees every stage in the creation of its high-fidelity products, from the development process to manufacturing. With Stellia, the extreme light weight of the moving part composing the full-range speaker driver means it is necessary to strictly control the quantities of glue used on the surround-dome/dome- voice coil connections. A new robot was developed to implement this priority, as well as bringing exceptional repeatability and stability to the production process. This is a manufacturing process where every detail matters, at all times, producing headphones equipped with speaker drivers that deliver identical frequency response curves at +/- 0.5dB. The performance tradition is a 100% Focal design, showcasing innovation in technology, materials and tools. Overview
"...if you want the privacy and isolation provided by a closed-back design, the Stellias are a slam dunk. They offer a combination of tonal balance, dynamics, comfort, looks, and sheer musical enjoyment that, as I found and now you've read, is hard to beat." - Alan Taffel, The Absolute Sound, May/June 2022 "...the Focal Stellia rank as a top-tier closed-enclosure headphone that delivers on all its promises – great sound, beautiful design, excellent comfort, premium parts, high compatibility with a wide range of headphone amplifiers, a full complement of cables supplied with the headphones, and a price commensurate with this level of excellence. So, if you can afford them, enjoy! I know I did during my time with the most excellent Stellia headphones." - Steven Stone, Hi-Fi+, January 20, 2021 "The Focal Stellia are one of the finest closed back headphones available on the market. These cans are the total package, with stunning looks, artisan level build quality, and cutting-edge engineering and materials. The Stellia transcend the stereotypical limitations of sealed headphones by having an expansive and refined soundstage. The level of detail and resolution is truly breathtaking!" "The Stellia also build on the traditional strengths of close back phones, as the bass region is powerful, tight, and transparent. Furthermore, these headphones have a primal aspect to its makeup, capable of channeling the ever-changing eddies of energy and dynamic contrasts within a song. If you are seriously considering a pair of top of the line closed back headphones you should give the Stellia a serious audition. Every aspect of these phones has been carefully designed, and you appreciate this attention to detail when you first slip them on your head. When the music starts, I do believe you will get lost in some incredible sound." - John Hoffman, Positive Feedback Issue 113, January 4, 2021 2022 Recommended Components - Stereophile"...very high level of relaxed and refined sound, with no beryllium metallic-ness." "Focal's Stellia closed-backs produced vital, exciting sound." - Herb Reichert, Stereophile, September 30, 2020 "The Focal Stellia and Arche's sound production can't be described with individual statements like 'sweet bass', 'warm mids', 'crisp highs' or 'huge soundstage', but rather, they are: 'exactly how the original music is supposed to sound.'" - David Herbert, International Business Times, September 4, 2020 Best Audiophile Headphones 2020 - What Hi-Fi?"Sonically, they're refined and mature, and handle dynamics with authority." - What Hi-Fi? magazine, July 2020 "Coming from a well-established brand, the quality of the Stellia are as expected and second to none." "...with its fantastic build and engineered look along with the balanced frequency response, it would be hard to forgo an audition of these." - Audiosolace, March 22, 2020 "After a fitting break-in period, the noble Frenchman was able to fascinate the audience with its sound. The attention for detail, the ability to reproduce even the finest sounds of the saxophone in several perfectly balanced nuances in the 'Pink Panther Theme' has to be experienced. Compared to many other high-quality headphones, it is as if more notes were played at the same time, as the Stellia clearly chisels out details. However, it doesn‘t leave it at musical nitpicking, but convinces just as much if not more with dynamic challenges as 'Keith Don‘t Go' – a song that we have, in fact, heard far too often at this point. It is nevertheless extraordinary how emphatically Mr. Lofgren sings and maltreats his guitar on this not quite audiophile recording. Although it might be a challenge, you have to be careful not to tap the cables with the beat, as this unfortunately creates disturbing background noises – something Focal should revisit in the future. On the other hand there's absolutely nothing to complain about with the usually most difficult discipline for closed headphones: bass reproduction. Lightning fast and clean, with realistic mediation of swinging fur, a drum in 'The Fokie' by the Chieftains is depicted – great. Even complex sounds of all kinds do not seem to be any obstacle, are, instead, presented in a clean and detailed manner and make time with the Stellia an exclusive experience." - Michael Lang, Stereo Magazine, August 19, 2019 "There’s nothing we don’t like about the sound quality." - Chris Haslam, Wired, April 1, 2019 "What a beautiful product is the Focal Stellia! Both the finish and the sound is really top-notch. Now we are usually not so impressed by closed over-ear models, but the Stellia is an exception. This over-ear definitely sounds well balanced. And that's what the measurements show. Very good Focal!" - Jaap Veenstra, Alpha-Audio, March 28, 2019 "...the Stellia is simply a stellar pair of headphones." - Napier Lopez, TNW "...impressive sound, fantastic details, and a premium presentation..." - Carroll Moore, MajorHiFi, February 27, 2019 "The luxury audio made in France." - Stuff, February 17, 2019 |
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