If you want closed-back headphones for focused music listening and flexible home or on-the-go use, choose Focal CELESTEE Closed Back; if you need an open-back design with a planar-magnetic driver, choose HIFIMAN XV Open-Back Over-Ear. For webinars, I’d lean toward the Focal because its closed-back construction better suits listening around other people, though neither model lists a microphone or wireless connection.
• Focal CELESTEE Closed Back: Closed-back design, 40 mm dynamic drivers, and a stated frequency range of 5 Hz–23 kHz; the trade-off is a wired connection with no listed noise control.
• HIFIMAN XV Open-Back Over-Ear: Open-back design, planar-magnetic drivers, and a stated frequency range of 8 Hz–50 kHz; the trade-off is that its open construction is less suited to keeping headphone sound contained around others.
• Focal is the more natural fit for people who want closed-back headphones for home and on-the-go listening.
• HIFIMAN is for listeners specifically drawn to an open-back planar-magnetic design and its stated driver and diaphragm features.
The Focal CELESTEE is a wired, closed-back, over-ear headphone built around 40 mm aluminium/magnesium dynamic drivers. Its stated frequency range runs from 5 Hz to 23 kHz, and the product description emphasizes extended bass alongside precise treble and high-mid reproduction. That combination makes it a compelling option for someone who wants music listening to feel full and detailed without choosing an open-back design.
Its 35-ohm impedance is a practical consideration for portable audio players, according to the product information. The design also uses leather-covered earcups, a stainless-steel grille, and semi-aniline leather earpads, with a leather-and-microfiber headband. Navy Blue with Soft Copper details gives it a more distinctive look than a plain, all-black headset.
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We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-10-22 · 6 min read · Independent comparison
For webinars, the closed-back construction makes the Focal the more sensible of these two if you want to listen while sharing a room or working near other people. But it is not presented as a conferencing headset: the listed features do not include a microphone, and the connection is wired. If you need a built-in mic, wireless listening, or specified noise control, this product’s listed features do not meet those needs.
The HIFIMAN XV is a wired, open-back headphone with planar-magnetic drivers. Its listed frequency range is 8 Hz–50 kHz, and its design combines an enhanced magnet structure with a second-generation Neo Supernano diaphragm. HIFIMAN says that diaphragm is 60% as thick as the first generation. Those details will matter most to a buyer who is specifically interested in the driver technology, not someone simply seeking a general-purpose headset.
The XV also has a composite headband with rotatable hinges. The product description says the headband reduces weight by 20–30 grams compared with the preceding design, while the listed headphone weight is 452 grams. Its impedance is 12 ohms and its sensitivity is 92 dB. The supplied 3.5 mm cable is replaceable, which is useful if you want a cable that can be changed rather than treated as a fixed part of the headphone.
The open-back design makes this a less suitable choice when you need to keep sound contained in a shared room or want a private listening setup around other people. For webinars, it can serve as a wired listening option, but the listed specifications do not include a microphone. I would skip it if your priority is a closed-back headset for calls, or if you need wireless use or documented noise control.
• Best fit for home and on-the-go listening → Focal CELESTEE Closed Back. Its product information specifically describes it for both settings, and its 35-ohm impedance is intended to support use with a portable audio player.
• Best fit for planar-magnetic drivers → HIFIMAN XV Open-Back Over-Ear. It uses a planar-magnetic driver and pairs it with an enhanced magnet design and second-generation Neo Supernano diaphragm.
• Wider stated frequency range → HIFIMAN XV. Its listed range is 8 Hz–50 kHz, compared with 5 Hz–23 kHz for the Focal. That specification alone does not establish which headphone will sound better to you.
• More contained design → Focal CELESTEE. It is closed-back, while the HIFIMAN is open-back. Choose based on your listening environment, not just the numbers.
• Replaceable supplied cable → HIFIMAN XV. Its 3.5 mm cable is described as user-changeable and replaceable. The Focal lists wired connections but does not specify a replaceable cable.
• More distinctive listed materials and finish → Focal CELESTEE. Its leather, stainless-steel, and microfiber details are spelled out, alongside Navy Blue and Soft Copper styling.
• Need wireless earbuds for webinars? → Neither. These are wired over-ear headphones, not wireless in-ear earbuds. If you are searching for “wireless in ear earbuds for webinars,” these two do not match that form factor or connection type.
• Shopping for a low latency kids headset for webinars? → Neither is described for that role. The available information identifies both as adult, wired headphones; it does not list a microphone or child-specific fit. Do not assume either one provides a complete webinar headset setup.
In my opinion, I’d choose the Focal CELESTEE Closed Back for a buyer who wants one of these two for music and occasional webinar listening. The closed-back construction, portable-player-friendly impedance, and stated home-and-on-the-go use make it the more flexible fit for that mix. The HIFIMAN XV is the clearer choice only if you specifically want an open-back planar-magnetic headphone and value its replaceable cable. For webinars, I’d still pair either headphone choice with a separate microphone if you need to speak.
No. Both are listed as wired headphones. The Focal lists 3.5 mm and 6.35 mm jacks, while the HIFIMAN uses a 3.5 mm connection and includes a replaceable 3.5 mm cable.
For listening in a shared space, I’d favor the closed-back Focal over the open-back HIFIMAN. Neither product’s listed features include a microphone, so you may need a separate mic to speak during a webinar.
Not on its own. HIFIMAN lists 8 Hz–50 kHz, while Focal lists 5 Hz–23 kHz, but those figures do not establish which headphone will sound more pleasing in everyday listening. Driver design and your own preferences matter too.
The HIFIMAN XV’s supplied 3.5 mm cable is described as user-changeable and replaceable. The Focal’s listed information identifies wired connections but does not say that its cable is replaceable.
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