Focal Clear Review (headphone)

[staticV3]

I guess I cannot really know that ?

It's pretty easy to measure using a basic multimeter and something like this: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/3256803497862592.html

If you ever get curious.

Is it only the volume ?

Yes.

I tried with a USBC > USB-A adapter > USB-B and it worked pretty well.

Nice!

 

[Slothang]

Yes.

Like...People are listening at full volume with the gain to "High" ? Is that really possible ? It's the only goal ?

 

[staticV3]

People are listening at full volume with the gain to "High" ? Is that really possible ?

Depends on the audio content and headphone being used.

It's the only goal ?

Not sure I understand. What is the only goal?

 

[Peterinvan]

Hello,
I'm looking for a amp for my Clears. I actually listen out of my laptop and it's pretty nice but I think I can improve my listening : i don't know the world of hifi so...i just want to discover, learn and enjoy :

• Low volume listening
• All kind of musics
• Maybe a little bit more of soundstage
• Maybe a little bit warmer
• Small device or elegant (the headphones are in my living room...which belongs to my wife).
• <300$.

Thanks for your suggestions !

I am enjoying my new FiiO K7 (with a LPS). Drives my Elegias (and other phones) with ease. Should meet all your requirements above.

 

[Slothang]

Not sure I understand. What is the only goal?

To increase the volume. It's for headphone with a low sensitivity, that's the point ?

I am enjoying my new FiiO K7 (with a LPS). Drives my Elegias (and other phones) with ease. Should meet all your requirements above.

It looks nice too.

 

[staticV3]

To increase the volume. It's for headphone with a low sensitivity, that's the point ?

Yes. You use high gain if low gain doesn't get loud enough.
That's the only purpose.

 

[Bibo]

I own my Clears for more than 6 years now, they are still my daily drivers. I only switch to other headphones (closed back or even NC) if I have to, because family live takes its toll.
So after 6, years, what are my key points:
Pros:
- They are still the best sounding headphones I ever heard. These are de facto the only headphones, that sound 100% "right" for me.
- They used to be very comfortable. This has changed somewhat, see cons.
- They do not clip at my listening volume.
Cons:
- Earpads wear off very fast and they are laughably expensive (230€ a pair). Luckily you can get these from China for 12€ by now, probably from the same factory as there is no noticable difference in quality.
- Cables are too stiff and quality is poor. The balanced cable broke after only two months of usage. Could not RMA it, because I did not not use it from the beginning (I did not have a balanced amp then). Official replacement is 230€ too. Ridiculous.
- The headband snapped recently. This seems to be a common problem, because the headbands are somewhat overengineered. Sourced a replacement headband from China for 50€ that does the job, but comfort degraded a bit (see above).

So was the investment of 1499€ in 2018 worth it for me? Definetely yes, because I had that money and I love my Clears for their sound and there is no alternative for me. But I do not like to be scammed. And the price for replacement pads and cables is a scam. Period. And build quality is disappointing too for that price.

 

[Rayman30]

I own my Clears for more than 6 years now, they are still my daily drivers. I only switch to other headphones (closed back or even NC) if I have to, because family live takes its toll.
So after 6, years, what are my key points:
Pros:
- They are still the best sounding headphones I ever heard. These are de facto the only headphones, that sound 100% "right" for me.
- They used to be very comfortable. This has changed somewhat, see cons.
- They do not clip at my listening volume.
Cons:
- Earpads wear off very fast and they are laughably expensive (230€ a pair). Luckily you can get these from China for 12€ by now, probably from the same factory as there is no noticable difference in quality.
- Cables are too stiff and quality is poor. The balanced cable broke after only two months of usage. Could not RMA it, because I did not not use it from the beginning (I did not have a balanced amp then). Official replacement is 230€ too. Ridiculous.
- The headband snapped recently. This seems to be a common problem, because the headbands are somewhat overengineered. Sourced a replacement headband from China for 50€ that does the job, but comfort degraded a bit (see above).

So was the investment of 1499€ in 2018 worth it for me? Definetely yes, because I had that money and I love my Clears for their sound and there is no alternative for me. But I do not like to be scammed. And the price for replacement pads and cables is a scam. Period. And build quality is disappointing too for that price.

I also own Clear OG, they are tuned in a certain way that makes them sound what I would describe as "Light on their feet" I enjoy them the way they are out of the box. I got rid of the stock cable for a $65 Periapt cable a while back. But when I want more meat on the bones, I grab the LCD-X.

 

[Oldson]

does anyone know if the issues raised in Amirs review were rectified in the MG or MG pro versions?

 

[Jimbob54]

does anyone know if the issues raised in Amirs review were rectified in the MG or MG pro versions?

The clipping ? It's been said no, they haven't. The internet is full of things that have been said though. The reported clipping is always at high spl levels so depends on your listening preferences .

Focal Clear Review (headphone)

Basically we have some bass boost, some reduction of energy around 1.1 kHz center frequency and lowering of the peak at 11.3 kHz. The latter was important to get rid of the brightness. I have the Clears and I'm trying to match the EQ settings you have. The screenshot of the EQ you have shows...

www.audiosciencereview.com

 

[Oldson]

i dont listen at high levels but do want to be able to use eq if i feel the need.
the MG is just one of many open back options that i am considering, though i keep swaying towards the Arya/he1000 ranges.
annoyingly i could probably get a home demo of focal cans but not hifiman.
stupidly , i am drawn to the looks of the MG.

 

[Aerith Gainsborough]

does anyone know if the issues raised in Amirs review were rectified in the MG or MG pro versions?

As an OG Clear owner, the clipping is a non issue (in my pair at least) unless I blast sub 20Hz into them or/and listen at severely unhealthy volumes.
That is WITH a gentle low shelf bass bump that mimics an output impedance of 35Ω.

Ofc, if you are a basshead, I'd recommend to stay clear of Focal cans. Their drivers hitting maximum excursion in this manner is not a defect (unless it occurs at really low volume as has been seen on some pairs), it's a deliberate design choice.

I'd say grab a home demo, feed it the Bladerunner 2049 soundtrack and see how it fares at the volumes you want to drive them at.