Guide for Focal Stellia

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Focal promises superior style and spectacular sound, but are the Stellia really stellar?

I’ve come to a disappointing self-realization. It’s quite possible I may not be cool enough for these headphones.

The Stellia are TOTL French-made headphones that absolutely epitomize high-end style. They are the gorgeous runway model, the sublime supercar, or the imposing mansion of the headphone world. And, strangely enough, they are closed-back and efficient, so they are intended to be worn outside. Where people can see you.

I don’t own enough scarves. Or attractive enough shoes. And my jawline isn’t chiseled enough for me to stand staring into the near distance while coolly listening to something profound. But, once I broke the news to the Stellia that they were stuck with plain old me, we started to make friends.

BOTTOM LINE

The Stellia provide a detailed and energetic listening experience. They’re engaging and resolving, and have a low-end weight and warmth that is fun and non-fatiguing. Dynamics are impactful and transients are notably quick. They are likely the most spacious closed-back pair of headphones I’ve encountered. They’re intimate without being claustrophobic, and unless you only like an exaggerated sense of space, are likely to please most listeners.

WHAT WE LIKE

Exquisite design, materials, and build quality

Dynamic and full sound

Warmth with no loss of clarity

Fast, controlled, tight bass

WHAT WE DON'T LIKE

Somewhat intimate soundstage

Not the most extended high-end

Expensive

Cables not quite of the same quality as the headphones

Sporting enough gorgeous brown leather to make even the Fonz’s iconic jacket jealous, the Stellia fit right into Focal’s lust-inducing lineup. Focal has made a name for itself by producing some of the most beautiful and best-sounding headphones in the world. The open-backed Utopia epitomize everything we picture a flagship pair of headphones to be. So, when Focal announced the launch of the multi-thousand-dollar Stellia, it wasn’t immediately obvious where this pair of super-cans fit in.

Flagship headphones are more often open-backed and intended to be connected to high-end desktop systems for home use only. A closed-back design typically has sonic drawbacks with a smaller soundstage and more boosted bass than an open-backed design. However, they usually have good isolation and are easy to drive, so closed-backs are the go-to choice for folks on the move or in a noisy environment. But who uses headphones this expensive in public?

Does it make sense to wear the Stellia in anything other than a fashion magazine advert? Are the Stellia only for those who already own the Utopia and want that sort of quality outside their home? Or can the Stellia stand on their own and be the perfect pair of flexible do-it-all headphones that provide everything to the most discerning of audiophiles?

I can’t wait to find out.

Company Overview

Founded in 1979 and located in Saint-Étienne, France, Focal specializes in high-end audio loudspeakers and headphones. They develop all their products on-site and perform the majority of manufacturing in-house as well.

Focal states their ultimate goal is to reproduce the artist’s work as faithfully as possible by crafting products capable of ultimate audio fidelity. All the while, they maintain a stunning design culture that is distinctively Focal. “Flawless performance with a distinguished style.” – Focal

Technical Specifications

Form: Circumaural, closed-back headphones

Drivers: 40mm dynamic driver with pure beryllium M-shaped dome

Impedance (Ohm): 35 Ohms

Sensitivity (dB): 106dB SPL / 1mw @ 1khz

THD: 0.1% @ 1khz 100dB

Frequency Response (Hz): 5Hz – 40kHz

Removable Cable: Y

Source Jack: 3.5mm, 4-pin XLR (6.35mm adapter included)

Cup/Shell Jack: 2x 3.5mm

Weight (g): 435g