Focal Clear

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

  1. The Alchemist

    The Alchemist MOT: Schiit - Here to help!

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 24, 2015
    Likes Received:
    1,189
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    The SchiitR
    Home Page:
    Has anyone had the opportunity to listen to the new Focal Clear? What are your thoughts?

    P.S. If this is posted elsewhere, I apologize, I couldn't find it.
     
  2. drgumbybrain

    drgumbybrain Science Nut

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Jan 9, 2017
    Likes Received:
    2,219
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    Lives in Fortaleza, Heart in Girona
    Nice, I was looking after this thread. I didn’t had a change to listen to Clear. But a friend of mine was in a meeting in Berlin and he is preparing to sell his audeze lcd3 to get funding to focal clear. He sad that clear was more enjoyable than utopia, but with less technicalities
     
  3. Rthomas

    Rthomas Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 28, 2015
    Likes Received:
    966
    Trophy Points:
    93
  4. Luckbad

    Luckbad Traded in a unicorn for a Corolla

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2015
    Likes Received:
    3,408
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Holly Springs, NC
    He says the tonal balance is pretty much perfect, not that the headphone is pretty much perfect. One thing that Is unforgivable for me in cans above $1000 is poor channel matching, and he noted that and even tested multiple times to see if it was really there. That's a clear no-go for me on such an expensive headphone.

    There's also a messy razor blade above 20kHz. While inaudible, I do wonder if that could contribute to listening fatigue. He does note sharp-ish accents from the treble, but that's probably from the actual frequency response rather than the inaudible band.

    I do trust solderdude, mind you. I think he's great for the hobby and I love his amplifiers. I don't for a moment believe he's trying to blow smoke.

    But tonal response being "pretty much perfect" to one person is very subjective. I can see a couple of bumps in the frequency response that would render me incapable of tolerating the Clears (sadly--I miss out on a lot of great headphones because of my treble allergy).
     
  5. %20 Oddity

    %20 Oddity Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Oct 28, 2016
    Likes Received:
    494
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    Poland
    I had the pleasure of testing them out at the latest Audio Video Show Warsaw last week! Was only maybe fifteen minutes in a somewhat shitty environment, but at least this time it was music I did know.

    Went to them straight from the Utopias, which left me kind of... let down from all the internet hype? Also, it made the comparison somewhat tinted. So I guess imagine the Utopia sound, except Clear(hurr)er. Lighter. One that feels more effortless in presentation. Somewhat more planktony (buzzwords hey). Maybe a bit less detailed, yeah.

    Also, they're one of the most beautifully made headphones on the market. I dunno, I'd buy them if I could. And I only felt that about like four headphones out of a few dozen I tried out.
     
  6. Stuff Jones

    Stuff Jones Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Feb 3, 2016
    Likes Received:
    1,790
    Trophy Points:
    113
    What were the other three?
     
  7. FallingObjects

    FallingObjects Pay It Forward

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Oct 15, 2016
    Likes Received:
    2,235
    Trophy Points:
    93
    I wonder if you couldn't accomplish what the Clear does through EQing the Elear.

    Are the technicalities any different between the Elear and Clear, or is it mostly a matter of tuning? Clear has lower THD and impedance (which may not be desirable), but the sensitivity and driver size are identical.
     
  8. %20 Oddity

    %20 Oddity Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Oct 28, 2016
    Likes Received:
    494
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    Poland
    ATH-ADX5000, Audeze LCD-4 and the Westone W60 IEMs.
    They're not even remotely similar to each other as far as sound signatures go though. But I guess that's the beauty of the hobby!
     
  9. 9suns

    9suns [insert unearned title here]

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Jan 19, 2017
    Likes Received:
    1,754
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    EU
    How does the ATH-ADX5000 sound?
    I've been searching but couldn't find anything, it certainly looks the part
     
  10. MuppetFace

    MuppetFace Sultana of Seafoam Green - Moderator

    Staff Member Pyrate
    Joined:
    Oct 3, 2015
    Likes Received:
    2,600
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    lake of mud
    Home Page:
  11. 9suns

    9suns [insert unearned title here]

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Jan 19, 2017
    Likes Received:
    1,754
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    EU
  12. Darren G

    Darren G Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Apr 4, 2017
    Likes Received:
    589
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    Pennsylvania, PA
    Yea, very subjective!

    I still can't tell if I love or hate the Utopias. When I switch to my HiFiMan cans I am utterly disappointed now. I end up missing the clarity of the Utopia, but then the Utopia also leaves me frustrated at times. There is an aggressiveness that is sometimes appealing, and sometimes aggravating.

    Not sure there is a perfect headphone. Pick your poison.
     
  13. Aeron

    Aeron Facebook Friend

    Joined:
    Oct 24, 2015
    Likes Received:
    134
    Trophy Points:
    43
    Location:
    Lexington, Kentucky
    I’m enjoying the the Clears immensely, good tonality, soundstage, clarity, dynamics, for those amongst you who are reading charts and not actually listening, you really need to listen to a pair.
     
  14. PacoTaco

    PacoTaco Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Nov 24, 2015
    Likes Received:
    1,474
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Have you introduced yourself on the introduction thread yet? I noticed you haven't posted anything on there yet: http://www.superbestaudiofriends.or...rs-introduce-yourself.17/page-123#post-177939

    Anyway, back on topic:

    Luckbad is referring to the measurements to see what solderdude is talking about. Specifically, the listening fatigue and sharp accents on the treble section. People use measurements as a first-impressions thing to determine whether or not they would like a headphone before they go out of their way to try it. It's valuable in that way, and saves people time and money.

    Plus, @Luckbad is completely right about the channel matching. That's just unacceptable.
     
  15. ductrung3993

    ductrung3993 Facebook Friend

    Contributor
    Joined:
    Sep 28, 2017
    Likes Received:
    228
    Trophy Points:
    43
    Location:
    Montreal
    Especially when you have to shell out $1500 for it.
     
  16. Aeron

    Aeron Facebook Friend

    Joined:
    Oct 24, 2015
    Likes Received:
    134
    Trophy Points:
    43
    Location:
    Lexington, Kentucky
    Introduction posted, thank you Paco Taco, no offense intended on questioning measurements, it’s just that my personal experience is that they are of limited use compared to actual Head time.
     
  17. chakku

    chakku Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Oct 13, 2015
    Likes Received:
    676
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    NZ
    Actually spending $1500 on them as opposed to just trying them is certainly one way to make them sound better.
     
  18. PacoTaco

    PacoTaco Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Nov 24, 2015
    Likes Received:
    1,474
    Trophy Points:
    93
    That explains it! I was $500 short of making the Alpha Primes sound good! Wait, f**k, the Ether series still sucks. Maybe they'll get it right four grand like Audeze did.
     
  19. Aeron

    Aeron Facebook Friend

    Joined:
    Oct 24, 2015
    Likes Received:
    134
    Trophy Points:
    43
    Location:
    Lexington, Kentucky
    While I do love the angst, righteous indignation and “if I haven’t heard it but 1 chart showed whatever the f**k I hate attitude” on SBAF, I’m not sure it contributes much to the conversation. If you live in a place where you can’t try them before you buy them why not at least wait until “earyou trust” try out a new product?
     
  20. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

    Staff Member Pyrate BWC
    Joined:
    Sep 24, 2015
    Likes Received:
    89,771
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Padre Island CC TX
    Any comparisons to Elear or Utopia (which were both on the loaner program here so many are familiar with their sound)? It’s just that my personal experience that absolute* subjective impressions from people I do not know or don't have a posting history here is that they are 5000.372% more useless than the already limited charts.

    * That is non-comparative. For example, one could easily just as easily say this based on personal preferences or as a result of limited experience:

    I’m enjoying the HD800 immensely, good tonality, soundstage, clarity, dynamics, for those amongst you who are reading charts and not actually listening, you really need to listen to a pair
    or this:

    I’m enjoying the LCD4 immensely, good tonality, soundstage, clarity, dynamics, for those amongst you who are reading charts and not actually listening, you really need to listen to a pair
    or this:

    I’m enjoying my penis immensely, good tonality, soundstage, clarity, dynamics, for those amongst you who are reading charts and not actually listening, you really need to listen to a pair

    Thank you oh wise Sarnac. No one here would have ever thought of this in million years. You have enlightened all of us. We are in your debt.
     
    Last edited: Nov 29, 2017

Share This Page