Focal Clear

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

  1. Sonorus

    Sonorus Facebook Friend

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    I will check with Hotel California and report back.
     
  2. Josh83

    Josh83 Friend

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    Be careful. You can check out any time you like, but you can never leave.
     
  3. Senorx12562

    Senorx12562 Case of the mondays

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    I have only encountered the clipping issue with my Elex twice, both times when switching sources with a volume control in the chain inadvertently high and the 'phones off of my head, thankfully. Could hear it from 3-4 feet away tho. Glad they didn't smoke.
     
  4. TristanL

    TristanL New

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    PC -> USB -> Bifrost 2 (latest firmware) -> RCA -> Asgard 3 & O2 -> Focal Clear professional => No issues
     
  5. Sonorus

    Sonorus Facebook Friend

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    Listened at a very loud volume but no driver rattling.
    Now listening to really low notes organ music without problems.
     
  6. JoshMorr

    JoshMorr Friend

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    This is an old known issue. I heard similair on loaner Clear at slightly high levels on normal rock songs. Did not hear same issues at same volumes on same tracks on other pairs. Not sure if its unit variance, but lots of people have had this mechanical clipping at normal volumes at frequencies other than the low low ones mentioned by Focal.
     
  7. will_f

    will_f Friend

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    I’ve been listening to my AFCs for the last couple days. They’re awesomely detailed and resolving and can really suck you in with the way they add texture to the bass, but they don’t have the imaging, dynamics and timbre of the Clears. It’s always such a pleasure when I rotate back because the Clears are good across the board with no real weaknesses. They also scale well. There are similarly priced headphones that beat them in Bass, or imaging, or musicality, but I have not heard any without significant trade offs else where. The Clear is just a great all around headphone and definitely a steal when they sell for $1K.

    I will say the stock cable sucked. Stiff, microphonic, and failed in less than 6 months of light use. Definitely worth it to pick up an aftermarket cable. I bought a silver plated OFC cable that I subjectively thought made the treble a little more prominent and airy, but it’s probably all in my head given I can’t hear over 15khz any more.
     
    Last edited: Jan 11, 2020
  8. Tchoupitoulas

    Tchoupitoulas Friend

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    I'm fairly new to SBAF and to the hobby so I've not offered more than occasional, passing gear impressions, and while being late to the party here I thought some comparative impressions of the Clear with the MCTH and the ZDT Jr. might be of interest. I already had a ZDT Jr. for my HD 800 when I picked up a pair of Clear and I figured it would be fun to give the pairing a whirl (with the Airist RDAC as a source). As several people have observed, the ZDT Jr. isn’t well-suited to the Clear since the two together are overly bassy and tubby. I agree, you wouldn’t want to get the ZDT Jr. for these headphones. Still, some of the characteristics of the sound produced by the ZDT Jr. are appealing and, I thought, potentially instructive.

    The MCTH does justice to many of the Clear’s qualities: the headphones sound nice and open and fairly spacious; they retain their clarity and punchiness; the Clear’s imaging is precise, and instrument separation is distinct. The headphones are also fast. The bass is tight and goes reasonably deep but it’s not all that weighty. Vocals are quite forward. Electric guitars have a good deal of bite and crunch. The highlight for me - as someone in middle age, with some significant hearing loss, and who likes bright headphones (note again that I have the HD 800) - is the pairing’s treble extension, which retains a decent amount of smoothness and coherence even as it also stays airy and sparkly. Taken together, the pairing makes for an exciting, energetic listen, albeit one that can be a bit fatiguing, with the treble at times having a bit of steeliness, if that’s the right word (brittle? glass-like?).

    So far, so expected. What was a surprise were the benefits afforded by the ZDT Jr. (from the low Z output). The sound was now thicker and richer, presumably as a consequence of the amp’s tubey character, although perhaps the bassier presentation also tilts the overall frequency response in a warmer direction. The highs didn’t extend as far. Flutes in orchestral music were faint to the point of being imperceptible; cymbals were a bit soft and shimmery. Music came across as more dynamic, though, and with better separation and possibly improved imaging. The stage was deeper but narrower. Layering seemed better. The headphones also sounded more intimate. Best of all: acoustic instruments’ notes had more weight, and the instruments’ timbre improved, as though the music gained more texture. I lack the experience to discern, let alone appreciate microdymamics, plankton, and microdetail, but I was more aware of subtle gradations of volume, and of tiny details in music (Jeff Buckley’s epiglottis wobbling on Hallelujah). Finally, the overall signature became less bright and fatiguing. The Clear were less aggressive.

    I get that there always tradeoffs but I’d be interested in hearing if there are any amps that combine the open, bright and energetic qualities of the MCTH with the richer, weightier sound of the ZDT Jr., especially with its superior separation and layering. Is it a pipe dream to hope for this? Even less realistically, can it be done with an amp under $1000? How about the Asgard 3 or the Lyr 3?

    ---
    Rather than double-post, I thought it might be useful to mention that I’ve gone through this and other threads to find suggestions about amps for the Clear, and here’s a list of those that have been recommended:

    Pricier amps
    : ECP DSHA3F, T3 (inc. 300R setting), T4; EC Aficionado, S7, ZDS, ZDT, BW1 & 2, and Zana Deux (a bit bassy for some); Arche; Mogwai Special Edition; Ragnarok 1.

    More affordable amps
    : Horizon III; Liquid Platinum (inc. w/ Telefunken PCC88); Woo Audio WA6-SE; SW51 (low Z); MCTH (inc. w/ TFK E88CC); Lyr 3 (with Tung Sol tube), Valhalla 2 (maybe), Asgard 3, Magni 3, and Fulla 2.

    (Opinions seem to be divided about the Mjolnir 2, and it’s hard to tell whether early or later releases of the Jotunheim have been recommended).
     
  9. gixxerwimp

    gixxerwimp Professional tricycle rider

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    My preferences for Clears and modded HD800s (of what I own):
    Bass quality and extension are important for me, so the MCTH does well in that regard compared with the ZDT Jr's bloated tubby bass. But the MCTH doesn't have the "magical" presentation of the ZDT Jr (mine is actually an OG Night Blues Mini). The SW51 also doesn't have the ZDT Jr's euphony and sound stage, but it's overall performance and clarity just kicks ass over the other two. Sorry, I'm not able to write impressions very objectively and analytically right now. But if you want an upgrade from MCTH/ZDTjr, can't afford one of the pricier options, and don't mind loosing a bit of the ZDT Jr's "magic", then SW51+ is the way to go IMHO.
     
  10. TheIceman93

    TheIceman93 El pato-zorro

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    This clipping issue really has me spooked on these. I just ordered a pair a few days ago but now I'm having second thoughts because I listen to pretty bass-heavy music.

    Anyone else generally annoyed with the major headphone companies these days? Audeze - roll the dice with unit quality inconsistency, you have no idea if you got a good one unless you compare it to others. Sennheiser - they basically don't care about making headphones anymore. Hifiman - QC? What's that?

    I'm bitching but I've had a few drinks.
     
  11. Riotvan

    Riotvan Snoofer in the Woofer

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    Never had a problem with bass heavy music in the two years i've had them. Depends on your listening volume as well ofc.
     
  12. ChaChaRealSmooth

    ChaChaRealSmooth SBAF's Mr. Bean

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    Unless you get a bad unit (possible), this will only happen if you listen at loud levels (I think somewhere around 100 dB SPL).
     
  13. netforce

    netforce MOT: Headphones.com

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    In our experience, the clipping issues were more common in early run Clears. Haven't had any issues to my knowledge in any of the Clears I have sold in the past year. Either Focal has gotten better at catching that or possibly my customers have been going direct to Focal for support.

    Either way, if a new unit has clipping, you should know in the first few days and that is just a swap with your dealer.
     
  14. YMO

    YMO Chief Fun Officer

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    When I had a Clear, I had to push it really hard in order to get it to clip.
     
  15. TheIceman93

    TheIceman93 El pato-zorro

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    I know Focal has been good at replacing units with the low volume clip problem but I still feel like its something they could test before they send them out.

    The amount of money they loose replacing drivers on bad units has to be more than paying a guy to sit in a room all day with new Clears, listening to the first song from the Blade Runner 2049 OST. I'm sorta kidding but there should be a way to test for this problem at the manufacturing level.
     
  16. Huhnkopf

    Huhnkopf Friend

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    Don't worry. They make all that money back with thousand dollar headbands and cables.
     
  17. TheIceman93

    TheIceman93 El pato-zorro

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    And $200 replacement pads. o_O
     
  18. oldschool

    oldschool Acquaintance

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    • About clipping only present at loud volume - not true, clipping is heard even at average listening levels, sometimes on even not that bass-heavy tracks.. it seems there is a sweet frequency spot for the clipping as on my unit some very bassy tracks play fine while others that have only have certain bass frequencies clip
    • About clipping on early units - my unit is manufactured in mid-2019 and has this issue
     
  19. ChaChaRealSmooth

    ChaChaRealSmooth SBAF's Mr. Bean

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    To me, that screams "bad unit." Have you tried contacting your dealer?

    For reference, I have to push my Clear to painful listening levels to get the driver to reach excursion limits.
     
  20. Mithrandir41

    Mithrandir41 Friend

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    Return it. That shouldn't happen.
     

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