Focal Clear (Original): Still Worth Your Attention!

Thanks to Head-Fi user sa11297 for the loan of Clear!
Focal Clear Website: www.focal.com/headphones/clear/
My Clear MG Review: • Focal Clear MG Headpho...
My Focal Roundup Part 1: • Focal Points: Stellia ...
Channel Intro: • Channel Introduction
My Hearing Quirks: • WaveTheory's Hearing Q...

[@TimpTim]

Thanks for the comparisons. Look forward to the Focal roundup.

[@axelf233]

Great review, Thanks, you helped me chose the Clear OG !

[@marcusbryant2007]

thanks for the review. liked the comparison with the mg and elex.

[@Doobysco0]

Bought a B-Stock Focal Clear OG to complement my HD600 for $800AUD ($530USD) with a full 2 year warranty. I'm excited af to try it out after using the HD600. Will give an update on my thoughts when they arrive and I can try them out.

[@KiwiNickG]

Thoughts I’m in NZ and looking at same from addicted to audio

[@beelzking]

I got my og clear for 350(down from 550 original price because the seller didn't mention that they smoke and it left really unpleasant cigar odor on the headphones and i can't stand the order and use it. Because of that the seller is willing to cut the price by 200usd), only come with 1/4" cable and lil bit of scuff on the body, but so far the pads and the headbands are reasonably clean for used product. Really happy with the purchase

[@aceofspades6667]

Og clear crew checking in! Got the greatest deal ever during CV19 for them. Agree on the performance and value. The ogs are easy to drive yet scale well. I enjoy pairing it with my r2r Dac which helps smooth the metallicy tone of the treble.

[@skyfall6396]

Thank you for the review, I just bought the OG Clear last month on sale, and I can say it's definitely worth it especially for the discounted price! I'm so happy that I was able to buy the OG since I really prefer it than the MG and also the store here in my country only had 2 stocks and fortunately I was able to buy one. The only downside for this headphone is that the replacement pads are not widely available.

[@martinmullen71]

Can these be plugged straight into my amplifier or do I need a headphone Amplifier or a dac, i’m new to all this. thank you

[@soulfulfool]

@@martinmullen71 if it has got headphone out, why not

[@gregorypoole3454]

I was super lucky to pick up a brand new pair for 690$ Ordered an open box pair but the company sold the open box and sent me a brand new pair......I'm loving them. The one thing about this whole audiophile thing is you just want to keep trading up and up and up. I'm happily stuck here with my new Clears. A great purchase.

[@soulfulfool]

yep I'm selling and upgrading like mad xD

[@asplmn]

Looking forward to your impressions on the ZMF VO & VC

[@xsouldriverx]

There are tons of smoking deals on OG clears. Both used, open box, and bstocks. Focal rarely misses

[@delta9k]

Not sure if it was because the Focal Elegia was the gateway drug into hifi audio headphones for me or what, but I do find them to this day to be one of the best build and fit comfort wise hps out there, and I like the house look too. Never heard a Clear so was nice to get the 2021 review, thanks!

[@ohwhen7775]

Interesting what you said about a 19k peak causing vertigo, never heard that one before. The odd few times a year I'll get vertigo waking up outta bed, I did sometimes wonder if it was from the air pressure of having headphones on my head listening to music for too long. And even with that I've been using exclusively opened back for the past few years.

[@Hinata-vr-is-me]

Fantastic headphones, and better than the MG for me. I got one new for $800!!! Best price:performance in audio!!

[@nxblelxrdjova7147]

Where did you get that price???

[@nirajktm]

Thanks for the review, how would you rate them against Focal Radiance?

[@mimimmo]

Thanks for the review, In 2024 do you still recommend it? Maybe 2nd hand for 500-600€?

[@markbrooks6979]

Great review! When you say "bubble" sound stage, does that mean echo, reverb and dynamics are behind your head? Or does it mean that some instruments and vocals are behind, like you are on stage with the musicians? Thinking about buying these but I really don't enjoy the "on the stage" vibe.

[@wavetheorysound]

Good question! It's mostly reverb and reflections behind you. I think of it this way: if you're at a symphonic performance, speakers and some headphones (HiFiMan being a big example) sound like you're sitting in the audience and most of the sound (with a little bit of reverb and reflections behind you) is presented to you like it was up on stage. With Focals (Audeze does this too), it's more like standing on the Maestro's stand. That help?

[@markbrooks6979]

@@wavetheorysound Perfect explanation. This helps a ton. Thanks!

[@soulfulfool]

sound stage is not their strong side but enough for me, most important is that clarity and details they provide without loosing a bass kick

[@pythagoras6938]

Thank you for your great Reviews. I can totally agree with most of your reviews. I think the Focal Clear OG is much better than the MG in direct comparison. In the EU you can get the OG for 850 Euro. I think thats a bang for the buck. The clarity is addictive. I really like Bass and the MG should be a better fit, but I agree that the MG doesn't make anything stellar for its price. With the OG I'm curious how some songs sound. I can really understand your problems with the upper mids with the Stellia. I think sometimes you have to put the volume down, because especially female voices can sometimes be shouty. Besides this I really love the the Stellia and think they are better than the Radiance. The Radiance doesn't make anything wrong, but hasn't the impact, clarity and soundstage of the Stellia and is for me in direct comparision a little bit boring. I think about keeping the Elegia as "portable" Headphone, but in Comparision to the Stellia and Clear OG they are a little bit boring, but for its actual price of 450 Euro I don't know any alternative for closed back with this quality. Probably the Stellia has to be my portable unit ;-)

[@Corporalis]

Hey I am looking for an upgrade from my 1990s and the clears are pretty much in the final round. You have any comparison between the 1990 and the clears?

[@LandsPlanes]

Needs burn clear OG?

[@marklloyd4153]

Automotive detailing supply stores sell brushes and chemicals to clean material like they use on that headphone

[@mikelumpkin2541]

Thanks for all you do, brother. QUESTION: IF the HifiMan Edition XS is $450 / LCD-X is $825 / Clear is $825...WHAT IS THE BEST SELECTION?

[@jeffberger5773]

I have the lcdx 2021 and the focal clear og, they are both good, the clear has better dynamics but I think I like the bass on the lcdx better, the lcdx is darker and not as bright, the lcdx is effortless and smooth sounding and the clear is more energetic with a smaller Soundstage, they both have great detail, i havent tried eq but they say the lcdx is better with eq , IF i had to keep one it would be the lcdx but the clear is great too.

[@manardh7387]

I am curious details of the headband. Do they still use a three piece design that will force a pinch of pressure on the middle metal strip where the metal enters a housing at both sides ?

[@wavetheorysound]

If I understand your question correctly, yes, all Focals are built that way to my knowledge.

[@marklloyd4153]

And now it’s $790 . I just pulled the trigger.

[@gddfhjiufcv]

Do these need any burning in?

[@chrisasmith75]

Elex for 500CAD or Clear OG for 800CAD?

[@jerry913007]

Hello, which module you're using on the n6ii to drive the Clear?

[@wavetheorysound]

E02

[@mobcrusher4193]

how does it compare to the lcd x 2021

[@wavetheorysound]

I touch on that some in my LCD-X 2021 video, and my Auteur review.

[@IchihoBankai]

Yeah *CLIP* fantastic *CLIP* pair of *CLIP* headphones

[@soulfulfool]

lol poor you, must be deaf if you listen so loud

[@falseknight4371]

@@soulfulfool ur a idiot, hope ur headphones clip.

[@RX-rd4sc]

can you elaborate about clipping, im wanting to buy one

[@kentbergstrom3020]

Focal Clippers

[@allen0088]

Og clear is an expensive hd650. The clear mg is a different headphone in all areas

[@soulfulfool]

its called Clear because it has excellent clarity, they can literally clean up noise and show you vocals you didnt know that existed, that good they are and I doubt that 650 can compare

[@PredCaliber]

@@soulfulfool I had a HD650 and actually upgraded to a Focal Clear. I can confirm they have somewhat of a same sound signature, but the focal clear is better in every way except comfort maybe. You notice the difference in quality especially when going back to a HD650 from a Focal Clear. Nevertheless the HD650 still does a great job for the 350€ msrp. Focal Clear MSRP for the original 1500€ is a bit too much I think. 900€ suits it better

[@soulfulfool]

@@PredCaliber bought mine for under 900 used but in good shape, great headphones just must watch out with strong amps, drivers got their limits and start to clip in low bass notes

[@sumeetagarwal6561]

Shameless plug: both the clear and elex in the video (after the review) will be for sale once reviewed

[@marklloyd4153]

And now it’s $980

[@JESUSISCALLINGYOU7]

$890 😅

[@marklloyd4153]

@@JESUSISCALLINGYOU7$790 now . Still great .

[@Criiies]

It's too expensive

[@Daveyboii87]

I purchased these before listening to them because most reviews are so positive but also slightly misleading. I need to make a real review video on these. They can't handle any type of hip-hop/rap/EDM or anything with bass and slam. They clip and distort so easily unless you like listening to your music at a light hum. I can barely get these loud enough to my listening levels (loud) before it clips and distorts. EQ'ing def helped but it's pretty pathetic IMO that a headphone that retails for 1500US is very restricted with types of music it can handle. So much talk about punch and slam with these cans and I'm underwhelmed. Overall I'm keeping them because I use them for gaming and other types of music like Rock but a little let down overall.

[@maxxx6826]

My head would blow off if i would have a listening level this high. I listen to mostly electronic music and the clears are totally fine for that. I listen at around 77db..and i can easily get a bit louder if i want, but much more is just killing my ears more ( already have tinnitus)...

[@Daveyboii87]

@@maxxx6826 well luckily for you, you don't like your music loud because any louder and it'll clip and distort.

[@Daveyboii87]

@@maxxx6826 These are probably the worst recommendation for that type of music

[@TOM7952]

You might have a defective driver(s). According to Focal they intend for them to clip at a certain point (feature not a bug lol) to push the driver to its limits but it shouldn't be clipping that easily unless you're blasting your music at really high (ear damaging) levels. I listen to hip hop and EDM pretty often with my Clears and never had an issue but I've seen others complain of clipping as well. Focal QC is also not the best unfortunately so there's probably more driver variance than brands like Sennheiser, Beyer, ZMF, etc that are known for quality.

[@Daveyboii87]

@@TOM7952 thanm you for pointing that out. I've heard about people having to send theirs back in for warranty issues. I think I have to do the same.