Focal Clear

I use something similar with some foam added on the left and right, but not the middle (on the utopia). Works well for me.

 

This has been reported before, but I think it´s still worth emphasizing as it explains some the intuitively weird headband design concept... When I first read that the Focal TOTL headphones all place their weight directly on top of your head my initial thought was more or less "this makes no sense, haven´t they learned anything from Sennheiser?" I even went ahead and bought an extra HD 650 headband in advance. Well, it´s more complicated than that:



First of all note how the headband actually gets wider in the middle. If you compare this to a typical thin headband with modular padding the whole structure is completely different. Also while not visible from this picture, the headband shape is much less curved downwards than usual. These two features together ensures that the top of the head hotspot area is actually significantly larger than on a more typical headband. In addition the rigid structure helps to spread the weight in a more stable fashion within this hotspot. Trivia: if you look at Sennheiser HD 700 with the more sturdy headband note how they no longer use the HD 650 style padding design either.

The end result is that despite being very "wrong" intuitively at first glance, it´s actually a quite novel approach. The downside is that this probably contributed to the decision not to go for a more modular design, but the solution does work: even at 450 grams I haven´t noticed a bad hotspot forming yet in the two evenings I´ve used the stock headband exclusively. There is a slight pressure you can feel, but it´s not subjectively annoying yet (but no, they do not "disappear" and never will at this weight). I´m actually starting to prefer the stock headband to my previous HD 650 padding solution now. To be honest I expected the opposite to happen. As usual with anything when it comes to headphone ergonomics though: your mileage may and likely will vary. If possible buy from a place with a good returns policy as long term ergonomics are usually impossible to know just from auditioning at a store (even if it´s an hour or so).

What can I say... Focal have done their homework. This isn´t a quick "let´s just throw something on the market, our brand name will sell it" cash grab. It´s obvious they have invested significant R&D resources into doing this well (= they are in this to seriously challenge Sennheiser high end in the long game). Good times* to be in this hobby. Now that the gauntlet has been thrown we should see the response through several new TOTL headphones** in the 1500-2000 dollars/euro range out within a few years.

* If you ask me there was a long period of stagnation after the HD 800 was released along with the initial planar push. This hobby got a bit boring as nothing that interesting was happening (Sennheiser painting the HD 800 black and adding an absorber is not exactly significant progress despite being a good fix). Improvements in headphone related electronics are just never as exciting as actual new headphones. I eventually mostly quit posting on Head-Fi and didn´t even follow the industry news much anymore, but now things are finally looking interesting again.

** It seems this is the new TOTL high end headphone "mainstream". The absolute flagships on the other hand will likely just get more expensive with no end in sight. Oh and I don´t like this trend either, but it seems the market economy has spoken...

Edit: Added a YMMV disclaimer, original phrasing was a bit too optimistic.

 

The effect of the headband on one's noggin is, obviously, different for each individual. For many, the headband feels great. For some, like me, the pressure on the top of my pointy head feels like needles. 10 minutes with the Utopia and no extra padding and I have to rip it off my head. I imagine a small percentage of the populace will have my issue, but if they simply put a notch in the headband, like Senn does, then they address the issue. It will be interesting to see what happen with future designs from Focal. Even if they don't, my <$10 solution works for me, at least.

 

Yes I had the same experience, got used to the headband pretty quick. It is not perfect, but I applied the HD650 padding again after that image posted here, didn't keep it on the next day.

The hair grease on the other hand is a nightmare with this lovely bright fabric, (and my greasy hair) so that nice grey cloth in the image that @gixxerwimp posted might be the best thing for that. I'm ordering one

 

The problem with adding a notch in the headband however is that I don´t think they can do it with the current headband design. It would break the whole design concept (maximize hotspot area and optimize weight distribution inside of it vs. two or more smaller hotspots). Now this is obviously speculation, but my guess is that if they went for a notch a less sturdy headband design with the same width throughout would probably work better as the two hotspots would likely need a more bendable shape to optimize the weight distribution between them (the statistically optimal curve amount possibly being easier to predict directly on top of your head vs. more on the sides).

Luckily the headband is indeed easy to mod in the other direction though. I´ll probably end up with the stock headband, but I´ll also add something to make sure the non-removable headband paddings won´t get dirty with time. As for the Utopia it has significantly worse ergonomics than the Clears for my head shape. The lesser clamp force (or is it just the different pads?) ensures that I´ll never be able to buy one even if I wanted to (which at the price I don´t and likely never will though). With the Clears the clamp takes off a significant amount of weight force from the top. With almost all of the weight directly on top and the extra 40 grams the Utopia ergonomic design just falls apart entirely for me (also resulting in seal issues). That being said I might be able to use it with the HD 650 paddings.

 

So it's now been a bit over a week since I got my Clears... I´m beginning to think that my impressions probably won´t change that much anymore and at least the worst part of the new toy syndrome seems over. That being said it still affects things obviously. No one is immune to it, all we can do is to try to keep it in mind and take some time before posting. For some examples of confirmation bias read my original HD 660 S impressions for example, but it's also important to keep in mind that it works the other way round too. If you dislike a brand for some of their previous products, marketing or hype that can affect your perception as well. Now this post probably isn't going to be very original since most important things have already been said, but here it goes.

First some background to help you understand where I'm coming from. My sound preference is usually more towards the bright/analytical than the warm side of things and I'm not very treble sensitive. There's no way I'd use a HD 700 daily long term, but I can and do enjoy the Beyerdynamic T1 mk2 for example on many records. As for my audio philosophy I tend to lean towards/my sympathies are more with the objectivist side. I´m more interested in solid state amps/delta-sigma DACs in general, but it would be interesting to hear some high end tube amps and current high value 1k+ R2R DACs. It's just that those are just simply very hard to find here in Finland and their resale value isn't that good either so buying one is a big risk. Maybe I should just go to the next CanJam Europe or something (seriously considering it). I also like to keep things simple (one box solutions instead of separates) and am not really all that concerned with chasing that final 5% of performance. Current setup is a Chord Hugo 2 via optical. Synergy with the Clears seems better than with my HD 800 S, probably not surprisingly for a battery powered device. These will run great from a wide variety of sources as they are very easy to drive. Just don't pair them with high output impedance amps and things should be fine. Also my next audio purchase is likely the RME ADI 2 DAC once it´s available on Thomann as they have an awesome returns policy. Will probably do a shootout vs. the Chord and see which one gets to stay*. Oh and last but not least, the Clears have been burned in something like 100 hours. There was an initial quite dramatic change within the first three to five hours and some smaller changes after that. After 50+ hours I haven't noticed any more chances. Highs may have become less harsh, but that may also be placebo/just my imagination.

I originally thought I'd write some kind of epic 3+ page HD 800 S vs. Clear shootout, but I'll try to keep things more simple instead. The fact that I don't really have the interest to write that much actually tells a lot about how I feel about the Clears. My track record for keeping several high end headphones is pretty bad - I usually eventually tend to gravitate towards just using one and it looks like that's been happening again now. This may sound like I m parroting Tyll (or indeed SBAF with more or less the same point in its praise of the HD 600 lineup for example), but the Clears have opened my eyes towards placing more value on tonal balance. Previously I basically more or less considered headphones from a technical sound quality plus ergonomics point of view, but from now on I'll add tonal balance as the third important element.

Anyways, here's what I think works, what doesn't and what's still a question mark:

+ Tonal balance is the best I've ever heard. It´s basically a super HD 600. Some have said it´s a super HD 650, but I think they are referring to the modded version which I've never heard. The stock HD 650 is too polite and boring in comparison to the Clears. This tonal balance makes them an all rounder on the same level as the legendary HD 600 series, which is extremely rare for high end headphones. The single best thing about the Clears is that it does everything well. While most high end headphones do some technical things absolutely amazingly, the only such thing with the Clears is...

+ It has the best bass performance in an open dynamic headphone so far. While the bass lacks the absolute extension of the high end planars, it goes very deep and does not roll off fast like most dynamics do. Slam is great for an open can. The bass is also high resolution and clean, although it is not the cleanest and most textured bass I've ever heard in an open headphone. That award still goes to the HD 800 (both versions, original slightly better). Is it more enjoyable though than the bass on the HD 800 series? Absolutely and that's what counts. HD 800 sounds lean and thin in comparison while the Clears sound "right" (note they do not sound thick like some planars do). The bass is also miles beyond the muddy mess the HD 600 series outputs.

+ Bass to mids transition is well done. There may be some very slight bass bleeding into the mids, but I'm not sure as the Chord is a bit lean in presentation so it could be that some sources show it more than others. The mids have a fantastic sense of realism. I´m inclined to say the mids also surpass the HD 800 series in resolution (realism is often a good sign of that; such as in electrostatic speakers). Vocals often sound so real I've been rediscovering a lot of my favorite vocalists lately. The mids are also more neutral compared to the somewhat recessed mids on the HD 800 series.

+ Just like the other Focals these have a somewhat forward sound. I don't think they're aggressive sounding, but they are energetic and upfront. They will grab your attention. It's a very dynamic sound and probably has a lot to do with the fantastic driver speed. Bass impact is wonderful for a dynamic and quick changes in sound pressure levels can really startle you sometimes. It can occasionally be a bit fatiguing though especially when you are tired.

+ Build quality. Everything important has already been said on this topic. Even the portable case is awesome, but one small minus for it is that you have to disconnect the cables when you use it. I would have preferred a slightly larger case where you don´t have to take the cables off.

+- Highs are a bit disconnected from the mids and bass. This is probably a deliberate tuning to enchance the openness in an otherwise a bit closed in (for an open can) sounding headphone. It's actually a bit similar (yet not as drastic) to what Earsonics did with the SM64 IEM. I find this effect quite enjoyable on many records, but sometimes it doesn't work that well. Not a huge issue, but something to keep in mind. I rarely pay that much attention to it as it doesn't bother me much. That being said the highs, while tonally more balanced compared to the rest of the spectrum than in the HD 800 series, are less smooth than on the HD 800 S (or modded HD 800). This isn't apparent on all songs, but sometimes you notice it. For example the Clears while generally being less "hey look at this click in the record!" than the HD 800 series, on some songs they can actually highlight this kind of stuff more, especially in some pop music. For example on Taylor Swift's Blank Space there's an odd percussion or distortion effect that sounds downright nasty on the Clears. You can still hear it well on the HD 800 series, but it seems more annoying on the Focal cans. I'd also say that the highs have a higher level of resolution on the HD 800 series and it's not just due to the fact of how emphasized they are. While the HD 800 S (or modded HD 800) treble is overemphasized, it's also technically superior in resolution/separation to what the Clears can do. The HD 600 and HD 650 are both smoother in the highs so if you are treble sensitive this can bother you. For me however these are still a very smooth listening experience, nothing at all like anything Beyerdynamic produces for example.

+- Soundstage is quite intimate for an open headphone. I would characterize it as listening to music in a somewhat narrow tunnel while sitting closer to the musicians (vs. back row in a concert on HD 800 series). This is both a good and a bad thing and ultimately there's no right or wrong here. This is a more traditional headphone presentation. Both approaches are enjoyable though and have their strengths and weaknesses. I find the Clears presentation more emotionally engaging in general, but I do like what the HD 800 series pulls off too (if only it had better tonal balance). Ultimately if the HD 800 series had the Clears tonal balance I would absolutely still consider them superior headphones. Plus if I had to choose, ideally I'd like headphones to go for a speaker style presentation. It's just that it never comes with a tonality as balanced as with the Clears. Overall soundstage is larger than the 3-blob style in the HD 600 series though. Despite the more narrow and intimate presentation there is however a good amount of air between the instruments so it actually doesn't sound congested to my ears. The drivers also keep up with complex material really well.

+- Aesthetics are more divisive than the traditional audio industry neutral black look. If you ask me the Elear and Utopia both look better than these, but this is obviously 100% subjective...

-+ There's a slight softness/politeness to the presentation, but I'm not quite sure if this is just the sound of neutrality or some added smoothness (probably the latter though). It's nowhere near the level of stock HD 650, but it is something that isn't there on the Utopia or HD 800 series for example. The Clears simply do not have that ultimate last bit of resolution/resolving capability, but on the other hand this can also be a very good thing if you´re listening to a lot of less than perfectly mastered mainstream records. I sure am. Almost anything usually sounds at least decent out of the Clears (vs. try listening to mastering "classics" such as Red Hot Chili Pepper's Californication on the Utopia/HD 800 series). Note however that this does not mean that these are "easy listening" headphones like some would characterize the stock HD 650. They still share that same forward nature all the Focal cans have. It's just that there's a little added smoothness on top of the otherwise energetic and attention grabbing nature.

- Instrument separation is pretty good, but this is one area where the HD 800 series still clearly wins. No contest really, the HD 800 series is simply a lot better at this.

- For another example of confirmation bias read my previous post on the Clears headband design. While I still think it´s a pretty novel approach (= they turned a design rarely used into something that mostly works), I've since went back and forth with the HD 650 padding mod. Not sure which one I'll end up using. At first I gravitated back towards the mod, but now I've been using the stock headband again. That being said these would probably be more comfortable for most people if Focal had went with a more Sennheiser style headband design or with a suspension system.

- The weight is downright horrible for a dynamic open headphone. There's no sugarcoating it. It's still quite comfortable for its weight, but no 450 gram headphone will "disappear". As I wrote previously this is likely due to the drivers/magnets so it's basically the price you pay for the bass performance in particular. Hopefully Focal will manage to cut down on the weight when they eventually revise the Clears/Elear/Utopia.

- Earpads are not as comfortable as the HD 800 series ones and sometimes annoy me a bit. Nothing serious though, overall they are still very nice and the fabric seems to breath pretty well.

- Cables are stiff and I'm not a big fan of their grey color scheme. This is completely subjective of course, but I prefer my cables black so that they disappear on my desk more. I can see many going with third party cables just to improve ergonomics. They are still a lot better than that horrible cable on the original Utopia. Also the "portable" cable is too short, thick and stiff to be good for actual portable use. It's just a shorter version of the stock cable.

- Headband padding is not user replaceable so you'll likely need to replace the entire headband if it gets really dirty. Also the grey color will show dirt more than usual. Time will tell if this ends up being a common issue. They could have used a bit more padding too.

- High prices for replacement earpads. Apparently new ones will cost at least 150 euros/dollars, maybe even 200. No one really knows at this point how long they will last either.

- Non-transferable warranty will make sure the used market is quite risky when it comes to these. The Clears are still way too new to know if the drivers will hold up long term. There have been various reports of bass distortion in the Elear when driven to high volume levels and also the initial Utopias had quite a lot of reports of failing drivers. I haven't encountered any bass distortion/mechanical clipping yet, but then again haven't really pushed these super hard either as I rarely listen with high volumes. Time will tell...

- The headband creaks/clicks when you move it in certain ways. This doesn't happen while listening to music though, but it's something to keep an eye on. I'm guessing there´s some variance here so some will probably creak/click more than others.

- The forward and attention grabbing character all the Focal cans share, while a big part of their charm, also makes them headphones you will probably want to complement with a more relaxed/easy listening oriented headphone. This took me almost two weeks to realize, but once the initial new toy syndrome wears off I found they simply aren't that optimal for easy listening/background music/listening when tired. This combined with their heavy weight means that for most people it's probably going to be a good idea to hold on to your trusty HD 600/650 even if you decide to buy these. I ended up getting an HD 650 back for this purpose (intentionally wanted the more boring sounding of the two, as a main headphone I generally prefer the HD 600).

All in all? As you can see the main negatives have little or nothing to do with sound quality and that is simply extremely rare in this price range. I'm done with the HD 800 S and I guess that tells a lot more than most of what I just wrote. The Clears aren't technically superior overall to the HD 800 S (except in bass extension, speed, macrodynamics, mids resolution and maybe a few other things), but they are definitely more enjoyable due to the fantastic tonal balance and their lack of major drawbacks. These are my new main headphone. I'll be selling or trading the HD 800 S in to either get a planar to complement the Clears or maybe the new HD 820 as a pair of closed cans would be nice as I tend to game a lot on my PC (noisy GPU's etc.) Plus as a self confessed Sennheiser fanboy I'm still clinging on to the hope that they will fix the tonal balance. That's it from me... Very unlikely I'll later think of something else worth posting on these, except maybe how they pair with a Sony ZX300 DAP in balanced mode once I manage to find a 4.4mm pentaconn cable

* Cancelled... Synergy is just too good with the Hugo 2 now after I switched from optical to coax via Eitr. Lost the itch.

 

The Focal Clear Pro popped up on Thomann. Price is same as "consumer" version here in Europe at least. Saw they also have the Focal Listen Pro to replace the FSP. The reviews of the normal version seems rather lacklustre.

 

I actually found the Clear surprisingly comfortable. And that's a high complement from me, someone who is an absolute comfort nazi. As far as the sound goes, definitely the most resolving headphone I've tried, but also there's something weird going on with the upper midrange, where it seems almost too emphasized? leaving the overall experience somewhat lean sounding. The highs are also fairly unforgiving. I think this is the kind of headphone that makes you go "wow there's so much detail and resolution", but then switch to something more laid back for long listening sessions. It makes sibilant recordings really painful, but I guess that's to be expected with the resolution. That harshness was tamed a bit when I tried one of the Chord sources, so I'm sure there's room to personalize it a bit with a good pairing. I also found that it lacked a bit of the bass punch that I like, but I'm sure it's actually more accurate/neutral because of that.

 

I have similarly found the upper midrange area to be a little hot. There is also some tizz and sss at 6kHz which can show on certain recordings.

I got used to the bass after a few weeks, it sounds totally normal now. When I switch to HD650 (having left it aside for those weeks), it sounds dark and veiled for the first few tunes, after a good half hour my ears adjust pretty easily away from the Clear sound and back to the HD650 sound.

Switching back to the Clear directly I notice less bass but the rest of it sounds fine. By contrast they sounded too tinny and bright in comparison when I first heard them new out of the box. I don't require a long adjustment period anymore to enjoy the Clear

Edit: thanks to @neogeosnk for the pics below. I got the same fabric headband protector and it was a little costly so it's good to know it'll fit when it arrives.

 

After spending some time with the Clears I found the following. They are really clear. As Tyll and others have pointed out the tonal balance is excellent. I did find the treble a little hot on certain recordings, but nothing my brain didn't adjust too. The bass was not too much and not too little. I found it to be tight on most recordings, on some tracks with a 5 string bass I noticed some type of resonance on very low notes, but again, not a deal breaker. The resolution was excellent and I could hear deep into the mix. The low level back up vocals that are on several songs on the White Album were easy to pick out. Vocals sounded a touch recessed. A little adjustment with the Loki and everything was just right. Soundstage is not anywhere near as large as the HD800, but it is a very open sounding headphone.The soundstage is not very deep. Isolation is very poor. Both for the listener and others in the room. Listening was done with the Black Widow V1 and the Horizon III with LPS and Gungnir Multibit Gen 5. The Clears worked well with both amps.

This is the first headphone that I have been excited about in a while. My only negative comments are the price, and how quickly the headband gets dirty. For me $1500 is just too much for a headphone. Any headphone. When they can figure out how to make a headphone image and have a soundstage closer to speakers, then I'll pay that kind of money. The Clears are on my list of headphones to buy, used, down the road when the price is more reasonable. If I were Audeze or Sennheiser I would be looking over my shoulder at Focal. If they bring the price down, I think the Clears will be serious competition.

For now good things come to those who wait. Someone said that a couple of times. That's what I plan to do. I will just have to miss them for a while.

 

Nice feedback, thanks!

 

In preparation for the hot California summers and extensive Overwatch playing that will transpire, I ordered a few headband protectors from here: eBay Link
It's almost the exact color of the headphone. The back part with the clips will eventually stretch and fully cover the headband. But this should keep the sweat and grime off the headband.

**Mods direct pic links don't seem to be working**

Link to pics: https://imgur.com/a/Papnv

 

Hah, I play a lot of Overwatch and tried my Utopias once. The depth of sound positioning was just unbelievable. I play competitive though and need the mic so use some Sennheiser PC360s for that. Do you use a mic with the Clears?

 

I play competitive also on Xbox One X and use a mic on my controller. Spdif out from TV to Gungnir Multibit and iCan Pro. Sounds amazing and positioning as you said is crazy good even on the clears. If you're playing on pc, should be able to just prop up a usb mic and run everything through your dac/amp but haven't tried it.

 

Modmic?

It sounds even better than the mic on my senn game one, and doesn't let in as much mech kb sounds.

 

Thanks to the loaner program I got to compare the Clear to my Utopia.

There's a lot already said on the Clear and Utopia and I've found most of the impressions to be true. That said it's always nice to compare for yourself. The Utopia I never run un-EQ'd. Otherwise I find them a bit too light on bass and the 6k peak becomes fatiguing. My EQ mostly lifts the subbass a few db making them much more balanced to my ear.

The Clear I can run un-EQ. This is a significant advantage because the Utopias need to be chained to my computer so I can run the EQ.

If I had the Clear on its own they would be fantastic headphones. However when compared to the Utopia I find myself missing the separation and detail. The Utopia are sometimes a bit too clear making them tough to be used as background headphones when working. The Clear are great for that however when I did focus and pay attention to the music I always knew the Utopia would take what I was currently hearing to another level. I knew the sound could be more clear, much more separated and with greater impact and detail.

That said I compared the Utopia with EQ (how I usually listen to them) to the Clear without EQ. If I compared both without EQ I think I would greatly favor the Clear just because of its more balanced tonality. The 6k peak really bothers me unless I lift the bottom end up enough so it balances out.

The biggest difference in sound quality between the two is the separation and the impact. The Utopias are more dynamic and every sound seemingly comes from its own speaker in the headphone. The Clear tends to blur things together although it's nothing worse than any other headphone - the Utopia just stands out in its ability to separate all the sounds despite its smallish soundstage. The bass I find better on the Utopia - it sounds cleaner and there isn't any of that mid-bass bloom I hear on the Clear. It's a bit too low in quantity though hence the need to EQ.

I did a pad swap with the Clear running Utopia pads and vice versa. I didn't like the Utopia with Clear pads. The bass became elevated which was nice but it came with a mid-bass bloom. The mid-range and top end changed such that I felt the Utopia lost its magic - it became veiled. The Clear with Utopia pads on the other hand became mini-utopias but with less of the 6k peak and a stronger bass. I'll admit I'm not too sure if it's because I've had the Utopia for a while and I'm just used to its sound - but it did feel like the Clear gained some of the Utopia technicalities. I would really need an extra set of Utopia pads to know for sure - one pair on the Clear and keeping the ones on the Utopia so I can do a comparison with just the pad change on the Clear. I'm not sure how much it'd cost to get the Utopia pads but if I had the Clear I would really investigate this.

In the end I really enjoyed the Clear. Everytime I picked them up they impressed with its spot on tonality and its signature Focal driver quickness. Despite the advantage in Utopia technicalities I'm not sure it's worth the extra $ over the Clear unless the Utopia can be found for a very good deal and you're willing to EQ any issues with tonality you have with them.

 

If you have the storage space, you can create new FLAC files with the EQ baked in. I use jriver and simply use the Convert with DSP feature to a new location, and making everything 24bit. This way my original music files are still there. I’ve got a large NAS so having copies of everything in 24bit is trivial space, and i use an Auralic Aries Mini to stream EQ’d FLAC from my NAS to my Gungnir Multibit.

 

Good suggestion but that is WAAAAY too much work for me And I have other headphones I like to use so that means having a copy of everything I own just for the Utopia.

 

Holy freaking Schiit.

Just got a Mjolnir 2 through a local trade. Plugged my Modi Multibit into it with some Monster Cable RCA interconnects (whatever). Clear in with the XLR cable.... insert NOS 6H23p tubes. WOAH

I'd say that this amp takes the Clear to another level. (Compared to the Vali 2)

A wider soundstage than I ever recall on Clear as a re sult of hooking up these components, as well as my DAP feeding the Modi through SPDIF. Great treble too. Super combo!

 

Focal Clear (loaner program) comparison with HD650 and HD800

Listening setup:

JRiver MC22 running WASAPI Exclusive Mode (this is important) on Win7 Dell laptop
DDC: Schiit Eitr
DAC: Schiit Modi MB
Preamp: Schiit Saga in passive mode
Amp: Massdrop Cavalli Tube Hybrid (MCTH)
Cables: World’s Best Cables Gotham GAC-2 RCA
USB: Schiit Pyst

Saga in passive mode for repeatable level settings for each headphone

Listening level set for average of 75 ~ 80 dBC using master volume control with Saga at 0 dB attenuation for headphone with highest sensitivity, Focal Clear. The number of one dB attenuation steps needed to align HD800 and HD650 with Focal Clear at 70 dBC pink noise noted.

Focal Clear no Sonarworks compensation (none available, unclear if comp would benefit)
HD650 / HD800 with Sonarworks compensation, unlimited low end versions

Level matching with pink noise calibration at 70 dBC SPL using a dummy head SLM:

Disclaimer:
It is important to remember these are three very fine headphones in my opinion. My impressions are stated in a way as to distinguish differences between them, which also includes my bias and listening preferences. Differences may vary from subtle to easily noticeable. YMMV. Void where prohibited by “sound science”. Past performance does not guarantee future returns. I think we are all bozos on this bus, etc.

Impressions:
Focal Clear top end is better balanced with greater overall clarity than HD650 and yet doesn't have the bite of the HD800. Examples:
Eric Tingstad & Nancy Rumbel - God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen-Carol Of The Bells (Medley) – ocarina, oboe, bells
ELP – Tank drum solo – snare, cymbals, sticks

Focal Clear bottom end has tighter control but doesn't extend as much energy in the octaves below 40 Hz compared to the HD800. Examples:
Medeski, Martin & Wood - New Planet
Gary Stroutsos - Anasazi Dreamers
ELP - Tank especially at the synthesized augmented kick drum
Felix Hell - Liszt Prelude on BACH

Cymbals, high hat, snare, brass, wind instruments are hazy with HD650, spitty with HD800, more realistic with Clear. Examples:
Art Pepper – Airegin – saxes, trumpets, drums
ELP – Tank drum solo

Clear has best immersion with excitement, imparts a feeling of wanting to dance. Examples:
Steve N Seagulls - Thunderstruck
2Cellos - Thunderstruck
The Who - Baba O’Riley
Bela Fleck and the Flecktones - Hoe Down
Julian Lage – The Informant

Clear offers best total absorption, forget about everything else, entire album. Example:
Muddy Waters – Folk Singer
Papa John Defrancesco – Desert Heat
Pink Floyd – Dark Side of the Moon
Pat Metheny – One Quiet Night
Dire Straits – Brothers in Arms

HD800 still takes top honors for stage width and depth. HD650 seems to integrate overall sound slightly better at expense of instrument separation, of which the Clear is far more capable. Focal Clear has best balance, clarity with lowest listening fatigue over long sessions.

Focal Clear is more noticeable in neck muscle fatigue over long sessions. HD650 still reigns on this attribute with HD800 close behind. The Clear also won’t play nice with my beloved Bottlehead Crack. See table:


Bottom line, I am adding a Focal Clear to my library of headphones. I predict it will receive considerable listening time on par with the HD650 and then HD800 running third. Fostex TH900 will run a distant 4th.