Focal Clear

Discussion in 'Headphones' started by The Alchemist, Nov 15, 2017.

  1. AllanMarcus

    AllanMarcus Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Oct 23, 2015
    Likes Received:
    2,969
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Los Alamos, NM
    Home Page:
    Very nice write up @atomicbob
    Might I ask, from which ELP pressing? Tidal seems to only have the remastered version of the ELP album. There are like 10 different pressings, and if you (or anyone else) has thoughts on which pressing, they would be appreciated.
     
  2. atomicbob

    atomicbob dScope Yoda

    Pyrate BWC MZR
    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2015
    Likes Received:
    18,652
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    On planet
    I'll have to dig that CD out. I bought it in the '80s and converted to flac on NAS media server a few years back.

    Anecdote: I remember distinctly being upset that the synthesized drums on Tank at the musical climax sounded like crap compared to the vinyl. I berate the digital transfer engineering terribly. Little did I realize the DAC and analog chaing used in the CD player at the time was largely responsible for turning the explosive sound into wet cardboard beat with a wooden spoon. Engineer did a fine job. Digital playback system sucked then.
     
  3. AllanMarcus

    AllanMarcus Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Oct 23, 2015
    Likes Received:
    2,969
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Los Alamos, NM
    Home Page:
    don't worry about it. I can research a little on the inter-webs. The choices now-a-days are dizzying. Often, though, the original is the best, but maybe not in this case.

    These are just the ones I found.

    1987 - Atlantic Records / CD 19120 / CD Mastering by Barry Diament / CD
    1987 - Manticore / 258170 / West Germany / CD
    1996 - Rhino / R2 72223 / Remastered / CD
    2005 - Victor / VICP-63171 / Japanese SHM-CD / CD
    2007 - Shout! Factory / Sony BMG Music / US / 826663-10447 / Remastered by Andy Pearce / CD
    2012 - 88691937972 / 5.1 Surround / DVD
    2012 - 88691937972 / Deluxe Edition / CD
    2012 - Victor / VICP-75057 / K2HD Mastering / CD
    2012 - Sony Legacy / Remastered / DVD
    2016 - BMG / BMGCAT2CD1 / Remastered Deluxe Edition / CD

    Back to the Clear. It's "clear" you like them. Any comment on them vs the Utopia? I know others have chimed in with comparisons, but just curious if you had a chance to compare them.
     
  4. atomicbob

    atomicbob dScope Yoda

    Pyrate BWC MZR
    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2015
    Likes Received:
    18,652
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    On planet
    It's the first one on your list:
    1987 - Atlantic Records / CD 19120 / CD Mastering by Barry Diament / CD
    I had no idea there were so many versions.
     
  5. dmckean44

    dmckean44 In a Sherwood S6040CP relationship

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Nov 17, 2016
    Likes Received:
    1,425
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    Peoria, IL
    In my experience, you can't go wrong with a Barry Diament mastering.
     
  6. Elnrik

    Elnrik Super Friendly

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Jan 10, 2017
    Likes Received:
    8,973
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Denver CO
    Home Page:
    As an engineer (not the audio kind) I can confirm such treatment is normal. So don't feel bad. We have special pillows that absorb the tears when we cry ourselves to sleep at night.
     
  7. Maxx134

    Maxx134 Dunning–Kruger effect poster boy

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Oct 27, 2015
    Likes Received:
    818
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    NYC
    While I don't agree with most of this (so I edit out) ,
    I want to inform about the HD800 mids, in my testing they improve with tube gear whether Transformer out or not.

    The higher impedance of the amp does make the HD800 climb higher.

    They also climb with more "power on tap", I believe due to the vary-ing Impedance it has across its FR..
    The HD800 varies from 300-600ohms according to its chart.

    Therefore the amp must be able to respond to such demands instantly, and so its why more powerful amps always sound better with dynamic drivers.

    Its not about the power being loud, it's all about power on tap to give the headphones what it wants.

    This is why the guys that talk about only needing miliwatts of power to drive a headphone are dead wrong.
    You can hear huge difference with more powerful amps, and most notable impact on HD800 is to the mids.
     
  8. Maxx134

    Maxx134 Dunning–Kruger effect poster boy

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Oct 27, 2015
    Likes Received:
    818
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    NYC
  9. ButtUglyJeff

    ButtUglyJeff Stunningly beautiful IRL

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Oct 12, 2015
    Likes Received:
    2,637
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Rochester, NY
  10. Maxx134

    Maxx134 Dunning–Kruger effect poster boy

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Oct 27, 2015
    Likes Received:
    818
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    NYC
    yeah you missed Canjam?
    they really got the tunning right with stock tubes...
    extremely musical.

    To me, the Cayin HA300 made the wa33 in next room sound sterile and a bit lifeless, if that were possible fron such an impressive unit in its own right...

    only the Viva 845 amp was able to impress me after listening to the Cayin,
    Lots of air and dynamics, but the viva was a bit too fast and thin so to me not as good with an HD800 to me.

    I did not hear any EC amps there so can't say anything about that.
    Did not listen to any SS amps either..

    For the money it would be hard to beat the Cayin as the sound and resolution it had was definitely end game territory..
     
  11. donunus

    donunus Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Oct 18, 2015
    Likes Received:
    138
    Trophy Points:
    43
    Location:
    Philippines
  12. AllanMarcus

    AllanMarcus Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Oct 23, 2015
    Likes Received:
    2,969
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Los Alamos, NM
    Home Page:
  13. Malik

    Malik New

    Banned
    Joined:
    Mar 25, 2018
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    3
    Location:
    Russia
    Clear owners, try them with Elear pads! That's gonna add some bass that some miss for electronic music, and u wont get them dirty fast! ;)

    Now about my impressions!
    I listen to any kind of music but more often i listen to Psychill music and i wanted clear sound with nice soundstage and deep rich bass!
    I tried Utopia, Audeze LCD4, Fostex th900.
    Utopia was kind of dry and fatiguing, and i had low bass.
    LCD4 was a mess to me. It had bass but it lacked mid details which is critical to my music preferences! I cant jastify 3.5k price... really odd looking headphones with more bass and less all the rest. No thank you ;)
    Fostex th900 was super sounding headphones with only 1 issue that i could not live with, it just can aggressively attack with a sudden music volume increase so u have to low the volume for that reason (who wants to control volume when listening music lol) Clear manages to polish those sudden increases so gently that you dont get that harshness!
    So as an overall headphones i loved Clear even though i didn't really got that bass i wanted! But when i pressed a little the caps to my ears things became way better and i decided to change the pads from Elear! And it worked!!!!
    Btw people, before making your choice between Utopia and Clear lets say... are we buying headphones to enjoy music or are we analytics who like to separate music that deep and bla bla bla bla... all those unnecessary impressions that we read about can bring your listening process to work not joy. High trebles of Utopia may really be fatiguing, and therefore who cares about that advantage over Clear?! I myself want to listen music relaxed and enjoy the process!
    Clear is indeed one of the best overall headphones on the market! For those bass lovers you simply need to buy 200 to 500 dollars closed headphones just to listen to EDM. Unfortunately u cant have this issue solved by 1 headphone!
     
    Last edited: Mar 25, 2018
  14. Vtory

    Vtory Audiophile™

    Pyrate MZR
    Joined:
    Sep 12, 2016
    Likes Received:
    10,831
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    East Coast
    @Malik
    1. Go to this thread, CAREFULLY follow instructions: http://www.superbestaudiofriends.org/index.php?threads/new-members-introduce-yourself.17/

    2. Assume people here more experienced in audio (I believe this will protect you from making various potential problems). Never think folks here are less smarter than you. Avoid unnecessary statements.
    For example, these read very naive. Either wrong or too basic. No need to write down.
    And in this respect, you are highly encouraged to read posts in this thread (and other related threads, too) to understand what are discussed already.

    3. Calm down and elaborate your thoughts as much as possible before posting (particularly if you want to post arguments or suggestions). Specify gears you used with. Test if your perception is biased or affected by some factors (I don't mean you need to do science).

    Welcome to sbaf.
     
    Last edited: Mar 25, 2018
  15. Malik

    Malik New

    Banned
    Joined:
    Mar 25, 2018
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    3
    Location:
    Russia

    I don't think i got your point since all i did just expressed my understanding of specific headphones that people discussing here! I didn't say someone was fool or wrong. All i said was just my understanding of the subject people discussing here. Cheers whatever you ment and i didn't really get LOL! You must be an LCD4 owner or something LMAO! Or maybe you know 1 openheadphone sounding as clear and broad and have same bass like TH900? If you know i will donate you $50 so u can buy a good california joint to get relaxed ;)))
     
  16. nachocheese70

    nachocheese70 Facebook Friend

    Contributor
    Joined:
    May 10, 2017
    Likes Received:
    112
    Trophy Points:
    43
    Location:
    US and China
    Malik, it’s not that your post is per se wrong, BUT you didn’t follow forum rules. This is not a public forum where it’s anything goes. The rules for this site, like it or leave it, is clear. All new people must first introduce themselves here:

    http://www.superbestaudiofriends.org/index.php?threads/new-members-introduce-yourself.17/
     
  17. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

    Staff Member Pyrate BWC
    Joined:
    Sep 24, 2015
    Likes Received:
    89,775
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Padre Island CC TX
    These things help: paragraphs, spacing between paragraphs, consistent capitalization of "I"s, consistent use of punctuation at the end of sentences, avoidance of unnecessary exclamation points and run-ons.

    Basically, don't write in posts like how you would in a text message.
     
  18. Clemmaster

    Clemmaster Friend

    Pyrate Contributor
    Joined:
    Sep 28, 2015
    Likes Received:
    3,268
    Trophy Points:
    113
     
  19. Malik

    Malik New

    Banned
    Joined:
    Mar 25, 2018
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    3
    Location:
    Russia
    I followed the rule and introduced my highness to all of you guys!

    :)
     
  20. Malik

    Malik New

    Banned
    Joined:
    Mar 25, 2018
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    3
    Location:
    Russia
    They say it's a little more opened for having more airy and open sound?! Looks cartoonish and waaay less luxurious then original one IMHO!
    And i think those matte red pads will look dirty too. Anyway if pro differs from original i think producers should introduce and sell their line together not just the way Focal did. If its just about color design then its fine lol ;))
     
    Last edited: Mar 27, 2018

Share This Page