CLEAR MG PRO vs ARYA vs HD800S! Headphone Comparison

Clear MG Here - amzn.to/3rSBvpA
HD800S Here - amzn.to/3dDR6E5
Arya Here - amzn.to/2Q0OIzm
TOP 3 FAVORITE OPEN BACK HEADPHONES
🥇 DIANA V2 - abyss-headphones.com/products...
🥈 Arya - amzn.to/3rEaFBu​
🥉 DT1990Pro - amzn.to/31qJvmK​
TOP 3 FAVORITE CLOSED BACK HEADPHONES
🥇 Sony Z1R - amzn.to/3cF6EWX​​​​​​​
🥈 M1060C - amzn.to/39vDkQU​​​​​​​
🥉 1More Triple Driver - amzn.to/2wGC2ni​​​​​​​
TOP 3 FAVORITE BUDGET HEADPHONES
🥇 HD58X - massdrop.7eer.net/mmKDX​​​​​​​
🥈 SHP 9500 - amzn.to/32ZQJ0S​​​​​​​
🥉 K361 - amzn.to/2P1Adux​​​​
TOP 3 FAVORITE AMPLIFIERS & DACS
🥇 THX AAA Dual 788 DACAMP - amzn.to/3cHHTJC​​​​​​​
🥈 THX 789 / 887 - amzn.to/2TwsvZg​​​​​​​ / massdrop.7eer.net/DmW0n​​​​​​​
🥉 DX3 Pro - amzn.to/2wJGp0X​​​​​​​
IEMS
🥇 Fir M5 - www.firaudio.com/store/m5​​​​​​​
🥈 ODIN - empireears.com/products/odin​...
🥉(budget Option) - Tin T2 - amzn.to/2xeGvxT​​​​​​​
SPEAKERS
🥇 SVS ULTRA Towers - amzn.to/3w9gbiR​
🥈 Vanatoo T1E - amzn.to/3m3M73G​
🥉 Micca RB42 - amzn.to/3rzjNqG​
ACCESSORIES
🥇 Soundrise Pro Stands - amzn.to/3aCpb4i​​​​​​​
🥈 IEM TIP Storage - amzn.to/331xuUN​​​​​​​
🥉 Headphone Case - amzn.to/39xOlkF​​​​​​​
My Filming Equipment
A Camera A7S3 - amzn.to/3sL0TyR​
Lens Sigma 24-70mm - amzn.to/3m3iBLh​
Probe Lens 24mm - amzn.to/3sxKq0x​
B Camera GH5 - amzn.to/3m5gBCm​
Lens Olympus 60mm Macro - amzn.to/31tLmap​
Ronin SC - amzn.to/39zDLcG​​​​​​​
GVM Slider - amzn.to/2PWZDam​​​​​​​
These are my genuine recommendations in various categories. They are affiliated links that help pay for this KZbin channel at no additional cost to you.
SOCIAL MEDIA
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📫SENDING FOR REVIEW??📫
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#ClearMG​​ #ARYA ​​​​​​​ #HD800S​​
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[@jonharvey6295]

I was so torn between these 3 until I realized that I was broke.

[@christopher1800]

I’d recommend stealing the Clear MG then… just not from me. 😂

[@jcap8391]

@@christopher1800 Is it endgame?

[@christopher1800]

@@jcap8391 For me, yes. Both in terms of sound & budget. 😂

[@jcap8391]

@@christopher1800 sheeet I hope so I was gonna buy a recliner or this. Should I buy it over a delicious leather recliner that will mold to my lard ass?

[@J1ss3ncy]

Second-hand market is the way to go. So many audiophiles don't mind bleeding money to try out new gear. I bought a HD800S -40% on MSRP. It's 9 months old.

[@cowboyflipflopped]

Terrific video, as always! You've come so far in developing your ear and your ability to express your opinions about what you've heard! I think, in your line of work, being consistent is tied with being accurate and detailed, in terms of importance. You make excellent short films of reliable reviews.

[@SinisterDev85]

I was glad to see this comparison video! And I still think if I were to pull the trigger, I'd get the Arya. I got the Ananda a while back and fell in love with it. It's nearly perfect for me, my tastes seem to parallel Josh's, and I think the Arya would be my favorite amongst these three. Ah, id love to at least get the opportunity to hear the Arya... Thanks again for an informative video Josh!

[@royboivin]

I love how the audio on all your videos is pristine.

[@TechnoGuy11]

As far as planar headphones go I'm set with the Arya I think it's just fantastic. I wish I didn't buy the Sundara and Ananda first even though they're both great they just are on the level of the Arya. I still listen to the Sundara from time to time because its signature and tonal balance are about perfect and the detail is also really good for the price, I think it's the best under $500 headphone out there right now.

[@craigmettenbrink2982]

Just got the Focal Clear MG Pro's. Incredible.

[@MrGrosMamouth]

Hey Josh, theese are the choices plus LCD X I would consider if I had the money for another set right now. Nice vid! Maybe next year.

[@HiFiGOAudio]

I like the 800S, it sounds so spacious and immersive at the same time. Though really wanna try out the Clear MG. Thanks for your comparison video.

[@teampyro911]

heard them the other day, they sound weird :/

[@teampyro911]

@@OptLab sorry about the confusion ,I was speaking about the focals.

[@chad6]

Could you give an elegia review? Perhaps vs Stellia, and Celestee? All the focal closed backs compared and in price categories

[@WADEFERRO]

Excellent review. Thank you for your class-leading professional and concise videos, Josh.

[@nikks1371]

One thing that's similar between the three, I can't afford any of them

[@richardchen7593]

you also need a couple of hundreds dollars worth of DAC+AMP to power them properly :)

[@LuisEHdzL3794]

Finally the review we all wanted to see, hell yea man thanks for this

[@flyingnematode]

Wish you would talk about what genre you would use these headphones for.... also would you stream live here in the future? Thanks happy 4/20

[@founik]

This comment should get pinned, because it would really help to imagine what the headphones are really good for even for audio noobs like I am.

[@fujishiki]

Generally speaking Hifiman and Focal headphones will do decently with all genres. That's what they are made for. HD800/800s has that old school German/Austria timbre. It's made for acoustic or classical music. Try it with Wiener Neujahrskonzert 2021. I feel 800s sounds more epic like sitting in the Golden hall of the Musikverein.

[@dondelchulia3189]

You look like dms

[@patc2515]

Honestly, choosing my next sub $2k headphones has been difficult AF. Every time I've made my decision, it's torn by something else. Each model has a pro and con that just leaves me desperately searching for that perfect middle that offers the best of all these models combined. I have still not found that. The search continues

[@UntakenNick]

That's what frustrates me, any 1.5K headphone should be absolute perfection.

[@francisnorthwood7862]

@@UntakenNick thats why you buy hd 600 which are better then the 800 and save the money.

[@DeMarki81]

@@UntakenNick if that was the case how would 3-6k headphones sound like?

[@Kana0211]

Get a used utopia. I just found one for 1500$ but I'm too broke for that

[@terrygreenway1521]

​@@Kana0211on

[@gjtube37]

Josh, thanks for the comparison. I am actually trying to decide between the Arya and the HD800S. I listen to classical, jazz, rock, metal, and blues so deciding between the two is really difficult. What would your choice be for all of these genres. Also, what would be your amp/DAC choice for the Arya and separately your amp/'DAC choice for the HD800S? Would the THX offerings do well for either headphone? What about the Topping A90 and D70 DAC for both headphones? What about a tube amp like the ZMF Pendant for both headphones? Finally, what is your favorite aftermarket headphone cable? Thank you for taking the time to read this and hopefully share your thoughts. I'm really torn with both of these headphones. Thank you!

[@Ninafan68]

I bought the 800S last week and I'm in love with them!

[@mandingo3432]

Not planning on buying any of these (at the moment), just watching cause of shear nerdery and the good quality content Josh always delivers. 👌

[@Merkava76]

I've not listened to either of these, but heard good reviews of the HD800s and was offered a good deal, so bought them, now waiting to be delivered and can't wait.

[@Guylove-agnostik]

What's your idea

[@JayGreezy]

bought the Focal Clear MG Pro, now considering switching to the 800s because I prefer more ambient, downtempo electronica, and think I would benefit more from the larger stage than the "boom" of the focals, which sound better if you like pop music

[@lonestar1664]

Excellent comparison, between the A90 and H16 which one do you prefer for Arya?

[@nikolaygramchev]

Hi Joshua, very found of your reviews. The make me do my choices more precisely. I really wish, if you are so fond of Clear MG, to check and do a review on Elegia. The Elegia has the Focal sound signature but makes music sound like coming from big home sound system. Think that this may be interesting.

[@Mark-fs7ok]

I’ve had the Clear, Arya v.2 and HD800S. The Clear are my favorite Focals (I’ve also had the Elex and Elear), but I finally realized that I find all Focals a little too fatiguing and metalllic sounding. The Arya are fantastic - great FR and soundstage. If you use a solid state or hybrid tube amp, the Arya are wonderful. But when I got my OTL tube amp I replaced the Arya with the HD800S and never looked back. I also have a ZMF Aeolus, which I find is great complement for the HD800S. The Aeolus is lush and bassy, while the HD800S is airy and detailed.

[@polaridia]

literally the perfect comment, i have an aeolus and an OTL amp and was looking at the 800S to complement it. plus my amp is warm-leaning so i feel like that would combat the brightness of it. do you like the treble on the HD800S?

[@wyx5854]

should i get Clear OG or MG?

[@Polyfusia]

@@wyx5854 MG is superior. OG is a pretty great deal while there's still stock. Your wallet will make the decision.

[@tinypickle]

What amp would you recommend for the 800s? Never had a tube amp mostly just used chifi dac amps

[@juanmillaruelo7647]

Check out Josh Valour's recent amp tiering. I have an A90.

[@McTorta]

My wallet: why are you watching this?

[@revelationsoundstudio]

I purchased the Focal Clear MG Pro's. I love them, they are comfortable to wear, very well made, and sound great. I agree with Josh that the top end is lacking a little. On my NAD pre amp, I boost the treble by 2 db. Now its the way I love it. The snare and cymbals are heard with more excitement and detailed.

[@RoyalProtectorate]

Would you recommend them for studio use?

[@BusinessDuck69]

@@RoyalProtectorate I have the clear mg pros, I honestly don't find them dark at all. In comparison to my hd600's, they are about the same in terms of brightness, but smoother highs that are also more clear. They are great for studio use!

[@PantsaBear]

@@BusinessDuck69 Most people would call HD600 headphones very dark sounding and only to be used for smooth listening though lol, don't think that's a good baseline

[@BusinessDuck69]

@@PantsaBear Well all this stuff is subjective at the end of the day. I've only ever heard the hd600's being described as neutral, and I'd have to agree with that. The Clear Mg Pros are a similar sound but more full and detailed.

[@michaelseth-qf2lt]

Still recommend the Nad pre amp with the mg pros?

[@justind4175]

So basically they all do everything completely different. Based on my mood, or what I'm listening to that day I would need probably 2 of them to complement each other. The Clear and the Arya for me it would appear. However, having owned an ELEX I found that the sound was too small in height that wasn't enjoying my music as much. The sound height was so small compared to HD600, Sundara, HE4XX I had on hand and was used to at the time. I worry the clear might share the same problem? Gotta say the Clear Pro and Clear Pro MG are perhaps the best looking aesthetically I have ever seen. WOW! Arya looks ridiculous, but I have enjoyed Hifiman HE4XX, Sundara, and Ananda sound flat but much better with Oratory1990 EQ settings. Thank you for a great comparison!

[@DC-iu4qc]

Josh, the hair looks good! Keep that shit. Also, yeah, the Clear are the ones I'm going with, because reasons. I mean, shit, it was your and DMS' S tier...

[@jacksonhoyt4127]

im debating on whether or not I should buy one of these, or the lcd 2c. also great video just like all of your other ones.

[@shadouxg7150]

2c not worth it, the treble is not good for the price. The 2 fazor 2020 (With EQ) is worth it, u can get it new for 750, just ask this retailer: [e-mail]

[@bensherman1977]

Would you say the Clear is more suited to electronic music, and the Arya more for instrumental music? That's how I imagine these from the reviews: Clear is close and punchy (which I imagine is great for dance, electronic, hip hop, pop etc), versus the Arya being organic and airy (that I image being great for live performances, acoustic, orchestral, etc).

[@AlvarWahle]

You're really good at this

[@rewardilicious]

Hi Josh, I've been watching a lot of your videos and I've been wondering if for each of the "categories" like soundstage, if you could do a price per performance comparison perhaps where you define where you get 20% more "quality" for 20% more you spend versus 10% more for 20% you spend and so on (if possible with AMP/DAC included.) Sometimes with your videos it's hard to notice how much you are taking into account the pricing, for example, I still don't know how much better the Diana V2 is versus a $1,000 headphone for every extra dollar you spend (versus a linear increase per dollar.)

[@jollyrioger2572]

The Arya was something special to me, especially in songs that are recorded with soundstage and distinct instrument separation in mind. It feels spacious and grand, like the bass, mids and treble each played on their own speakers into my head.

[@x-techgaming]

And you got rid of it. Because...it just wasn't good enough, all-around, nor worth $1500? Like all of these headphones.

[@jollyrioger2572]

@@x-techgaming nah I still use it on the daily.

[@x-techgaming]

@@jollyrioger2572 Why did you say, "was"..?

[@g1g2g3g4g5gt]

@@x-techgaming Maybe english isn't his native language or it just was a mistake.

[@duacan5271]

Nice to heard that. Did you try HD800s?

[@homerjones3291]

Headphones are such a personal preference; you really need to try as many as you can to find one that suits you better than the others. No reviewer is going to be able to describe how they sound and feel on your head and with your own amp. It’s not easy to do but to have that “aha!” moment, there’s no other way. I’ve actually have had two different samples of the same model sound different to me, where I would have kept the first but took no time in getting rid of the second.

[@NotCharAznable]

Thank you!

[@joelcutinho2020]

Spot on, the only thing i regret is the lack of treble quantity on Clear Mg, but i cant return this device as its the only HP i can listen to over 5 hours a day without my ears aching, and the bass is too good. I cant use my Sundaras over 2 hours due to fatigue

[@juanmillaruelo7647]

Physical fatigue (hp weight) or listening fatigue?

[@quijada12345]

Josh I was looking to purchase a set of zmfs verites. Have you had a chance to listen to them yet?

[@samlee2562]

Try and get your hands on the LSA HP-1..! It's a phenomenal little know flagship headphone that I bought based on the 2 reviews that exist out there! I'd love hear your thoughts on it Josh! ✊ 😙 Thanks for all the slick content dude

[@Jay7ona]

I just got the clear mg's home 2 days ago. Powering it with the monolith thx amp recommended from this channel. It could be the headphones need some time to burn in but I thought there would be more 'slam' as I kept hearing through reviews. Should I learn how to eq the bass up a bit?.. I do prefer more bass naturally... Thoughts or places to visit to read about eq...?

[@ChaseHub]

I've had the 800S's, and Arya's, at the same time, and recently got the LCD-X's at the same time as having the Arya's, and I'll share some of my findings. The 800S's aren't warm, are very sterile, sound faint and far away at times, and the Arya's best them in most every way musically, except for the sound stage. When I went from 800S's to Arya's I was like ohhhh shiii... for music I'd take Arya's. I'm a huge gamer (note the channel name..) and the Arya's sound stage was close enough to the 800S's that It was a no brainer for me to return the 800S's and keep the Arya's. That was until I heard the LCD-X's and the Arya's went back, too. I'm a bit of a Bass head and the Arya's just didn't fill that niche like the LCD-X's do, and the Arya's are a bit too bright compared to the LCD-X's, which I find a little warmer but considerably similar for ~$500-700 less. I placed the emphasis first on sound quality/comfort and then secondly on price, and the LCD-X's ticked every box higher so it was for me a no brainer. Stealth Magnet / 2021 editions btw.

[@YTjuanchicod]

Soo.. what do you prefer for competitive gaming? (Foot steps). Also, what amps/dac do you use for this 3 headphones?

[@ChaseHub]

@@YTjuanchicod If you're going to be spending that much on a pair of headphones and your only concern is gaming I think that the HD800S's are excellent, but if you're looking to daily drive a set of headphones that are very expensive and you want to cover multiple fronts, gaming, movies, music, etc, then Arya's/LCD-X's are a better use of money and come within a very close range of what the HD800S's offer for soundstage so why not get all the extra added benefits, the clarity and punchiness and responsiveness of planars, for less cost, and in the case of the X's, the added bass.. in some ways the bass is better because footsteps are low freq, so they're more present just not quite as locatable, if that makes sense. Modius/Magnius by Schiit Audio on balanced wires to drive the beasts Arya/HD800S, less is needed for the X's, because they dont take as much juice to drive em.

[@ourada46]

Are the LCD X suitable for bass heavy genres?

[@ChaseHub]

@@ourada46 pretty good, yeah, though i liked the xc more. they're also both very heavy so wouldnt recommend more then 2-4 hours of use per day with them unless you got a iron neck

[@juanmillaruelo7647]

LCD-X are heavy. They are quite dark and bassy. The price is affordabl-ish. If they take well to EQ it can be a good option for a planar.

[@mrfrosty3]

I was surprised to see a music producer using the hd800. I've never really thought of it as a studio headphone. I love it's Death Star technician aesthetic.

[@Leonhart_93]

Why not? Any accurate headphone is capable of fitting that bill. But the fact that many non-neutral and claustrophobic headphones often get recommended for the job (like MDR 7506 or DT 770) never made any sense to me. I think you can say that often times audiophiles might care more about sound quality and be more knowledgeable about gear than the sound producers themselves, who ofthe are probably like "I have these speakers that have been recommended to me, so I can get whatever headphones" ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[@trixniisama]

@@Leonhart_93 Yeah DT 770 is really an odd choice, but I believe a DT 880, while it can have sparky trebles, be a much better budget open back can for mixing music.

[@gwapster13]

A producer would not judge tonal balance based on headphones alone anyway. The HD800 is very useful in detecting noise and other flaws in the tracks.

[@AR-bj5et]

1yr later but I wouldn’t be surprised if the guy was using Sonarworks with them. Sonarworks is a sound mod which EQs the headphones to as pure neutrality as they can get to and the 800s are reputably fantastic responders to the mod, albeit more expensive than the DT880 pro had HD650 which also respond phenomenally. I can only assume he found the sound staging and imaging quality useful but I’d be surprised if he wasn’t using it modded.

[@WADEFERRO]

You've asked before for review recommendations; I would greatly appreciate your take on the HEDDphone. Also the LCD-X 2021 version (which is very different than the original).

[@dougleydorite]

I got it and had to send it back. Zero bass

[@MCSquidward]

Would you recommend the LCD 2Cs for gaming and chill music listening?

[@fabioa.5490]

Thanks Josh!

[@sinistercollector9223]

Great video. Just so you know a lot of your Amazon links are not working (i.e., the links under "TOP 3 FAVORITE CLOSED BACK HEADPHONES")

[@BillKinsman]

I have the HD800S's, plugged into a Neve RNHP headphone amplifier and a Topping DX7 pro DAC with USB input and Qobuz and I am so happy with it. It is only limited by the quality of the sound files and really gives you a great experience of sound. I am loving it! My hearing is only so good, but I can hear everything that it is possible for me to hear. It is like listening to music with a microscope and examining every detail. Thanks for the feedback on the other units.

[@josephjroy6593]

How is the Neve RNHP headphone amplifier compare to just using the DX7 Pro ?

[@revelationsoundstudio]

Josh, I have the Focal Clear MG's which I like a lot, but also want headphones that have a bigger sound stage and more open treble response, it seems the 800s would be a good choice. Not sure if I would be satisfied with just the 800s however as it has a thinner sound, and the bass and mids are not as big as the Focal Clear MG's. Would you say the Beyerdynamic 1990s would be a good 2nd choice for meeting that bigger sound stage and open top end without spending over a$1,000. for headphones or do you really need to spend the money for the 800s if you want that type of character. Thanking you in advance.

[@skigeek]

Had the Arya for a while but ended up returning them. Kept getting bad headaches due to the fit. Gave them about three weeks. Absolutely amazing sound, but just couldn't stop the headaches. Very seriously considering the Clears.

[@h.hristov]

how come? what caused the headaches?

[@themastroiannis]

@@h.hristov too much Treble, probably?

[@juanmillaruelo7647]

The big cups pressing against a facial nerve?

[@ES60Hz]

Thanks for your video! What is the best headphones for critical listening details wise? for example, limiter artifacts, mp3 artifacts, clicks, distortion, very low noises in the background, etc....Thanks ahead brother!

[@ightimmaheadout290]

Hd800s is the most analytical/accurate I believe between the 3, so I would go with that (take with a grain of salt I never listened to it)

[@marc8vino]

Beyer 1990 pro is better for mixing / mastering? I just ordered the clear mg and mg pros thinking it was a big jump in level over the 1990's that I have. I'll have to do some listening. It's nice to hear your thoughts. Thank You

[@Leonhart_93]

I think the fact that the HD 800s are still compared to recent headphones, even though they are quite old, speaks volumes about the their quality. Certainly not many other such older headphones from other manufacturers hold the test of time and market renewal.

[@fatdoi003]

only thing HD800 has is its unique staging property, otherwise not much

[@Leonhart_93]

@@fatdoi003 It doesn't have to have more than that. If one parameter is a 10 and the others are 8-9 then that's already top tier candidate right here. Because there is no such thing as perfect headphone. And it's not even me that sees it in such high regard. As you can see people keep including it in their top tier lists, instead of other stuff.

[@tdfmike3915]

@@fatdoi003 yes the soundstage is the best in any headphone so far. But it has also really great imaging and need something like the LCD 4 to get better details in a headphone. No headphone below 3-4k can beat it in any 2 of the mentioned strong points. And No headphone can beat it in all 3. It has absolute perfect german qc and longlivety and spareparts around so buying used is a very valid option. But as we can see there are finally other very good options for other tastes available in the pricerange!

[@Android-nv7gu]

Don’t ordinary headphones typically hold onto their value for a few years? The only headphones I see that change yearly are the tws, anc, and beats by Dre headphones.

[@qupeter1224]

seem like you never seen hd650, it born before hd800 and still ton of people buying 650 and 6xx. those are truly insane the amount of hd650/6xx been sold for the past 15 years and ton of people still highly recommend them

[@CriPPleR_HD]

Haha, I was just hovering over the cart for Arya and Clear when this video popped up in my feed. Keep going back in forth. 🤣 I currently own Beyerdynamic T1 Gen 1 that I use for gaming 60% and Music 40%. I’ve owned the T1’s for over 6 years and really enjoyed them but I have not heard anything in the $1600 price range. If I am looking for a upgrade or something fresh coming off of the T1’s, would you recommend the Arya or the Clears? Or should I consider something cheaper like the Sundara? Current amp is Woo WA6 for tubes and SMSL SP400 for solid state. Current DAC is M400 but thinking about getting a Bifrost 2. Thanks!

[@salberini]

Clears would be a little weird for gaming, the soundstage ur used to w the t1 would basically disappear entirely and everything would feel closer and tougher to separate accurately. 1990 and the t1 are really good at that. Arya has a big soundstage and detail (good for games) but without the harshness u get w beyers on treble

[@manulaverdiere]

I started this video with the question: "Which one do I want?". I ended up with the answer: "All of them".

[@DefiantAML]

I already have the HD800S and the Aryas..... Oh boy, here I go buying headphones again!

[@MayTheSchwartzBeWithYou]

@@DefiantAML Do you have a preference between the two? And what DAC(s) and amp(s) are you using with them?

[@DefiantAML]

@@MayTheSchwartzBeWithYou Thats really tough because they both sound amazing. I think it depends on the type of music you want them for. To my ears the Aryas sound a little fuller and the 800S more spacious. Build quality wise, Sennheiser without a doubt. But hifiman really know how to make good drivers. My end game goal is to have an end game dynamic, planar, and electrostatic. These two fill two of my categories.

[@DefiantAML]

@@MayTheSchwartzBeWithYou Dac: Gustard X16, SMSL SU8 V2, Amp: Topping A90, SMSL sp200, Loxjie P20, Aune X7s.

[@Simon-dn9kv]

Josh, you said the Arya can show some hotness. Judging by your b roll you have a 1st gen Arya. The 2nd gen version comes with a tighter mesh on out outside of the earcups and this version also doesn't suffer from hotness anymore. (At least the 7k peak the 1st gen had is gone).

[@bibbyG55]

I think he has the 2nd gen but took the mesh off himself.

[@Simon-dn9kv]

@@bibbyG55 On which observation do you base your hypothesis? And if he did so, he should have said so in the video to let viewers know that their Arya experience might be different due to him modding his.

[@NotCharAznable]

He did a review and he said he took the mesh out. Not sure if it was the Arya review or another Arya related video.

[@NotCharAznable]

@@Simon-dn9kv He also gushed over the LCDX despite him having a previous version that didn’t have the crazy frequency response the newer models had (up until November 2021). He’s terrible with follow ups lol

[@jackandrews7821]

My Clear OG arrive Friday. Can't wait. Next on the docket is the Arya, right after I upgrade my prestige 15b to the 75f from fronts in my home theatre...and also get my ultra towers/sound base set up for upstairs.... My last big mushroom trip turned me into an audiophile. Fuckn expensive trip. Don't do drugs kids

[@SoundSpectrum]

i used the Focal Clear Pro's for about a week and just couldn't get used to the lack of treble response. and no matter how i adjusted the EQ it just wasnt there. i used several amplifiers also. the bass though, OMG. it was strong and watching a movie with those is an absolute pleasure since you have the vocal boost and bass you can hear all of the dialog. but i sent them back as i listen to music mostly with headphones while photo editing and the lack on timbre response just wouldn't do it for me. i stepped up to the Stellias and are now demoing those for a bit. completely different sound signature for sure!

[@andrasnelhiebel6726]

If you have a chance, try the original Clears. I have both now, and the MG sounds like putting a pillow in the original Clears. The vocals and the details are so much better on the older one! I will send the MG back and I stay happy with my lovely Clears.

[@wolfs.2643]

Ich habe meinen Focal Clear MG pro seit einigen Tagen und kann überhaupt nicht bestätigen, dass er ein mangelndes Klangbild im Höhenbereich hat. Ich betreibe ihn an einem RME Adi-2 DAC FS. So unterschiedlich und individuell kann eine Hörerfahrung sein!

[@innerworth]

Did you run in the headphones as suggested in the manual? I found it improved the treble.

[@johnmatheny4696]

What do you think is better.T he ath ad700x, or the pc38x headset?

[@mohameds9217]

I am not a technical guy so I like what you said in the end. Summarized and to the point. 👍

[@briancaulfield7251]

How does the Clear OG fit into this? It’s a little brighter than the MG so maybe that would be the better option for treble focus

[@rkd59]

I don't know first hand, but from hearing other reviews I would say that the original Clears sound better, though the MGs are supposed to have slightly better resolution. One reviewer said the MGs had an 18khz fatigue issue that only young people can hear. I have the original Clears and I have found little to nothing to dislike about them. They have a non-fatiguing sound without being too warm or dull. The imaging and detail is still very good regardless of what they say about the soundstage. No headphone is perfect but, you can listen to them all day and just enjoy the music without trying to analyze the sound.

[@davidmason8212]

4:55 The sound BTW congratulations for hitting 100k subs 🥰

[@TheSteve57]

Which of these would work best with Zen Dac/Can, if any ???

[@ODIOPOWER]

Listened to this with my Razer Kraken Kitty 🐈 edition, quartz ofc, the true benchmark.

[@yogiwp_]

Wonder how ZMF Auteur or Eikon fare in this range.

[@dentboxhero1717]

Now is there a headphone that represent or closely embodies all the strong points of these 3? Or maybe a headphone that can achieve, in a sense, the strong points of the 3 using only the ADI-2 DAC fs?

[@nonnegaard]

Just what I was looking for! Can't wait to watch :)

[@JimmieJamOfTheDay]

I don't use any amps. Just the phones with my Zunes. Love the Clear MGs but want to hear how the Stealth will sound as well. May purchase later.

[@olegneftianikov6267]

I like all models of HIFIMAN headphobes.Tell me please:whish model has more bass and punch for listening to heavy rock music ? Or better Focal Clean MG ?. Thank You

[@alirerezaabedi2047]

This is the exact video that I want

[@krucacing]

tried the mg n arya. mg good bass but limited soundstage, no wow factor. arya wow you in soundstage but have that planar bass lacking in powerr. all about compromise...how high in price we have to go to find one without compromise? better idea just buy 2 lower priced set with distinct strength..

[@mohammedbazhair2000]

What the best set up for arya and hd800s??

[@LustVanGoth]

Do a comparison betwen Takstar HF 580 and Goldplanar Gl2000

[@jacksonhoyt4127]

could an Apollo twin drive these well?

[@DB-Lackaufbereitung]

Very nice comparison. Thank you. However, once again I miss the following: NO reviewer talks about the clipping problem of the MG. When asked about it, I usually get the answer that it doesn't matter in practice. This is simply not true. There are some tracks where the MG clips so fast, that it was a reason for me to give it back.

[@sklegg]

Which songs specifically show clipping in the MG?

[@ghas4151]

I have the Clear MG and I have never experienced clipping. You either have a defective example or you’re playing at levels where you don’t care about your ears. And the Focals will clip past a certain point by design. It’s the reason why they’re some of the most dynamic headphones around. Mind you, you shouldn’t be anywhere near that “certain point” unless you want to destroy your ears.

[@DB-Lackaufbereitung]

@@ghas4151 No. This is a compromise-related problem that Focal addressed years ago in Head-Fi. And by the way, there are many reports there that also confirm this. It's no secret that the Focal clear / MG, Utopia/ 2022 clip on certain tracks, even at moderate volume. I had 3 MG, 2 Utopia and 1 Utopia 2022. They all clipped like hell on certain tracks. Amir from ASR, also noticed it very quickly in his Clear test.

[@hahahayess]

This helped me choose the Clear over the Arya. Thank you!

[@MrGrosMamouth]

Mission Failed for him lol

[@paulwilliams6593]

I had the opportunity to listen to both the original Clear and new Clear MG this week and they are both fantastic headphones. To my surprise they are substantially different to warrant an audition of each type. My conclusion was that the Clear MGs were the best.

[@superash82]

The build quality of Hifimans has always put me off

[@g1g2g3g4g5gt]

I'm going for the Arya because it's the different one. If I'm spending all that money on headphones, they'd better deliver sounds differently. The Clear seems to be the 6xx with better bass, same clampforce and headband, same soundstage and imaging issues and 7 times its price. I'd go for the ZMF Auteur if I wanted a true upgrade from the 6xx at this price tag instead.

[@g1g2g3g4g5gt]

@@superash82 That's a myth by now.

[@Thiago_TS_BR]

Wish a review of the " 7 Hertz Timeless" planar IEM .

[@BerserkeR_031]

Does Josh reply to comments? I have the HD800S combined with the HDV820 for the flat and crystal clear sound with a big soundstage. But i'd like to explore other cans for more electronic music/more bass heavy music, . Which cans would you recommend in 2021-2022?

[@20puskinas1992]

You can eq it. Takes eq like a champ and wont distort.

[@arthurhaywood2184]

I don't think that I've ever heard the Focal Clear Mg described as "dark" before....... What I take from this is that most consider the DT 1990's treble as on the aggressive side but not JV so it kind of makes sense that he would consider the Clear Mg to be dark. It's interesting once you hone in on a reviewer's personal preferences & factor them into the review.

[@hpol3603]

I never heard that either. The DT1990 has a massive treble peak!!!! Several db! I cant believe that he never mention that! I would never mix on the DT1990.

[@waa3866]

It's dark compared to the OG I guess. It's like you took the OG Clear and tuned it to sound more like an Audeze. I highly prefer the OG among the two in terms of tuning.

[@andrasnelhiebel6726]

@@waa3866 Exactly. I tried the MG against my old one, and it is like if they put a pillow inside. Very muffled upper mids. Clear OG all the way!

[@themastroiannis]

have never listened to the Clear MG but worked professionally with the DT1990 for 4 years. treble, indeed, was simply too much to take and 'digest'. sold them, got me a pair of Audeze LCD-X 2021 and my mixes and masters translate really well to other equipment. despite being heavy they are extremely musical and perfect for my job. in 2023 i would NOT recommend the DT1990.

[@towsifshahriarshovo]

Need more new headphones review. Lcd x 2021, gold planar gl1200, Hermonicdyn zeus.

[@LastOneLeft99]

Ever since I got my Arya its pretty much all I listen too.

[@chamade166]

Same here.

[@san-chil]

How would a Beyerdynamic DT 1990 compare against these? Just curious...

[@XVisionsProd]

can i push aryas with the Topping A50s?

[@trixniisama]

I'm really interested to hear what headphones you think has a "perfect treble response" Great video !!

[@azad-4286]

HD600/650

[@trixniisama]

@@azad-4286 Coincidentally, that's what I own at the moment

[@azad-4286]

@@trixniisama Dope stuff! It’s one of my favourites at ANY price point!

[@Enthiogenic]

I have the aryas and focal elex. I was tempted to sell the elex and get a clear before I got the aryas, but I'm happy to settle for what I have now. The arya's are endgame to me. As long as you can power it cleanly so not using it on anything thats at the bare minimum its suitable for everything - movies, games, watching youtube videos etc. I know there are alot of headphones that are probably subjectively and objectively better than the Aryas, but I'm no way willing to spend more than what I paid for the Aryas just to get a small % increase on quality. Now if there was a headphone that did everything the Arya's did for 50% of the RRP, I'd be on in on that one. Out of the stuff I got, Arya's are my favourite than Thieaudio Monarchs (definitely worth their value) and then Focal Elex.

[@sebastianmeierr.1757]

Hi Joshua I have an 800s and I did some eq on them (oratory 1990 using Roon) and the sound was very good. However I would try a planar magnetic (ananda or Arya) do you believe that is an upgrade ? Greetings from Chile

[@briantomasinomedia5077]

the lcd-x is a great compliment to the 800s. Like polar opposites. I have and love both!

[@sebastianmeierr.1757]

@@briantomasinomedia5077 thanks for the suggestion! I will study the lcd-x!

[@MrJodete23]

Wena. Te compro los 800s jaja

[@sebastianmeierr.1757]

@@MrJodete23 jajajaja no los puedo vender (regalo de mi esposa), saludos

[@blessedred]

Great video. Do you think a Topping DX7 Pro could power an Arya?

[@pascaljean2333]

Like he said in the video. You need a beefy amp to get the right sound from the arya. A90, singxer sa1, audio gd etc

[@ninq1755]

I used to use the DX7 Pro with the Arya and they could easily power them at -20 to -15db. I added a Jotunheim 2 recently for more versatility (kept the DX7 Pro as a DAC), but I reckon you could do well with the Topping as an endgame amp.

[@blessedred]

@@ninq1755 Did you ever any problems in the S region?

[@ninq1755]

@@blessedred Do you mean sibilance? Not really with the Arya. It's not a sibilant headphone. What does occasionally happen is that there's some shimmer in the treble that can get a bit intense but it's rare.

[@Hari-kx2er]

Why has Diana V2 replaced Arya as your favourite headphone? Is it because of the Arya revision? Also, LCD X is now superseded by DT1990 Pro. The funny thing is that in a video comparing Sundara, HD660S and DT1990 Pro, you chose Sundara as your personal favorite over both HD660S and DT1990 Pro.

[@Shahzad-Khan]

Diana V2 is essentially endgame. It does everything Arya does but the driver is arguably one of the best in the business, except for HE-1

[@Hari-kx2er]

@@Shahzad-Khan I am not asking which is technically the better headphone. Joshua always admitted that Arya is not technically perfect but still subjectively it is his favourite headphone even though he has reviewed TOTL headphones like Hifiman Susvara, Abyss 1266 etc. What changed now is the question. Finally I don't think Diana V2 or even Phi does everything Arya does. According to Joshua, Arya has a much bigger soundstage/Scale than the Diana siblings.

[@musicxxa6678]

Wait he finds DT 1990 better than LCD X ?

[@yeenybean2881]

How, exactly, is sound “texture” measured?

[@AZ3Chan]

Bought the Focal Clears and I love them!

[@dapperbrick7516]

Clear or Clear MG?

[@AZ3Chan]

@@dapperbrick7516 mg sorry

[@FB18Ben]

HD 8XX with Monolith, Y/N?

[@ElvenSpellmaker]

I love my HD800s but they're completely awful at bass even with a sharp EQ. I'm hoping the 8XX will help slightly with this.

[@allydea]

I like their bass, no problem.

[@rumbepack]

Arya stealth vs auteur would be a great comparison also.

[@DiegoIrving2]

Are focal clear Mg pro worth picking up for 590 usd?

[@JayGreezy]

can I "fix" the Focal with an EQ?

[@pascaljean2333]

How is this a realistic comparison since the arya has the mesh removed and it looks like V1

[@davidguerrero1636]

You need the HEDD in this lineup.

[@aceofspades6667]

I’m an OG clear fan and sold the Hd800 immediately but Never tried the S. Also never tried the Arya.

[@josephrcase]

Looks at these headphones...looks at bank account...sighs...still watches video...

[@DavidKnowles]

Just get all of em. Sorted.

[@TheDigitalcrack]

Just based on everything said here I would take a 660s, Sundara, or even a 58x before I ever spend the money that these are demanding and yet still has all these issues or limits.

[@Cal94]

Spare pads are only a facet of the clear pros no? The regular clear MGs come with a balanced cable instead

[@Loot_Train]

Can you game with the clear?

[@ncokicsi]

I was so torn between Arya and Clear that I ended up going with a 64audio u12t :D

[@ozunkeskin6919]

hows the sound

[@ncokicsi]

@@ozunkeskin6919 it really lives up to the reviews and I'm goint to start commuting more again, and it pairs really well with my ibasso dx160

[@ozunkeskin6919]

@@ncokicsi hows the sound? can you call that the sound out of this world? or just, okay a very good sound experience?

[@ncokicsi]

@@ozunkeskin6919 I went from Ananda and HD6xx and the positional cues are true step up, I'm still in the process of relistening stuff and I'm truly amazed that it can come out of an IEM.

[@sebanambrus9265]

@@ncokicsi you mean you impressed after the HD6xx and Anada? you tried well amped the Arya or HD800s ? they truly other league

[@VaalkinTheOnly]

I've noticed that there's a lot less "General use" headphones as the price goes up

[@juanmillaruelo7647]

As the price goes up people become much more demanding. 😅