Focal Clear

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

  1. Riotvan

    Riotvan Snoofer in the Woofer

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2015
    Likes Received:
    4,171
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    The Netherlands
    I was anticipating that and i think i will mod some HD650 foam on top of it like mentioned earlier. That is if it's bothering me.
    Probably helps with resale value as well if there are no stains on the headband. Or i could send them back, by law i have 14 days to try them, no questions asked.
     
  2. Aeron

    Aeron Facebook Friend

    Joined:
    Oct 24, 2015
    Likes Received:
    134
    Trophy Points:
    43
    Location:
    Lexington, Kentucky
    Well, I’ll be damned, woke up to a catastrophic failure of my Clear. I listened to them before I went to sleep last night, woke up, plugged them into the Lyr 3, crackling sound, and an electrictrocs burning smell. Thought it was the amp or a bad tube, turned everything off, plugged the Clear into my Mojo, same shit. Plugged the Abyss into the Lyr, beautiful music.
     
  3. Ice-man

    Ice-man Friend

    Pyrate Banned
    Joined:
    Oct 12, 2015
    Likes Received:
    3,455
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Didn't you send that amp into Schiit just recently?
     
  4. Mystic

    Mystic Mystique's Spiritual Advisor

    Pyrate Contributor
    Joined:
    Jan 28, 2016
    Likes Received:
    2,754
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    U.S.
    A few notes from my time with the Clear loaner:

    Definitely see this as more an upgrade(ish) to the hd600 rather than the hd650. More forward and aggresive sounding than the 650 in the upper mids/lower treble, not unlike the 600.

    Soundstage was not a highlight. It was decent out of my ZDS, which has a huge soundstage to begin with. The Auteur is both wider and deeper though. I'd say it's about on par with the 600, I felt the 650 had just a little bit more depth.

    Very dynamic, but not in a natural sense. Seems like it was overly sharpened, like turning up the sharpening setting on your TV. It brings out some extra detail, but in an artificial way.

    Headphone was a bit heavy and I didn't feel it wore the weight as well as the ZMFs do. Still wasnt too bad, I didn't develop any hot spots. Unless the headphone is really lightweight manufacturers really need to employ the use of a suspension strap.

    Overall I mostly prefer the 650 and in some ways even the 600 to the Clear. The Clear was definitely an improvement in some areas (bass especially) but others I was more meh about. I think the Clear would be a much better deal if it came in at the Elears entry price.

    After I posted I realized I didn't really touch on the good aspects. Bass is a step up from 650/600. Cleaner and better extended. The treble was also free of grain, but not quite as smooth as the 650. I preferred it out of the high output on my ZDS. Gave the bass a bit more oomph which helped mask some of the aggressiveness I spoke of earlier.
     
  5. ductrung3993

    ductrung3993 Facebook Friend

    Contributor
    Joined:
    Sep 28, 2017
    Likes Received:
    228
    Trophy Points:
    43
    Location:
    Montreal
    This was pretty much my impression as well. Tonal balance is very good and you cant really pinpoint a glarding weakness like the bass sucks, the mid is suck out or highs are fatiguing. But the overall timbre is quite artificial and is obviously so, for me at least.

    Comfort wasnt great either. The pads were plush but it's still a heavy headphone and also, does not grip your head well at all. The headphones slide quite easy when i move my head.

    Overall, definitely not worth it for me but YMMV of course. I'd rather get an Elex for less than half the price if you're into that signature. Never tried Utopia but used ones has been sold for 2k a few times before so not that much more expensive either.
     
    Last edited: May 22, 2018
  6. crenca

    crenca Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    May 26, 2017
    Likes Received:
    3,829
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Southern New Mexico
    It's interesting. I used to think of myself of preferring neutral leaning to warm - sort of like Tyll. However, I am realizing that I might not be in that category. I personally (warning: heresy about to be spoken) do not "get" the love the HD6x0's get. I understand their positive qualities, but I am in the minority I suppose when I say that I think their drawbacks do not make up for them. I reach for my HFH4xx much more than my HD650 for example.

    Reviews like this are helping me to understand what I would likely think of the ZMF cans as well. Thanks!
     
    Last edited: May 21, 2018
  7. Aeron

    Aeron Facebook Friend

    Joined:
    Oct 24, 2015
    Likes Received:
    134
    Trophy Points:
    43
    Location:
    Lexington, Kentucky
    That makes two of us, the HD6XX sounds like you pulled a wool sock over the Clear, but everyone hears differently and has a personal preferred sound. I guess that’s why there’s more than one headphone out there.
     
  8. gixxerwimp

    gixxerwimp Professional tricycle rider

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 30, 2015
    Likes Received:
    5,773
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    small island claimed by China
    So the smell came from the Clears?
     
  9. dumbo

    dumbo Facebook Friend

    Contributor
    Joined:
    Mar 17, 2018
    Likes Received:
    81
    Trophy Points:
    43
    Location:
    Port Alberni, BC Canada
    ohm my gawd! Sorry couldn't help it... :)

    Warranty. If they can't take it - take them back. Not something you would expect out of a high dollar headphone.
     
    Last edited: May 23, 2018
  10. dwon

    dwon New

    Joined:
    May 24, 2018
    Likes Received:
    2
    Trophy Points:
    3
    Location:
    Los Angeles
    The exact same thing happened to my Clears. Finally made an account just so I can post this. Lyr 3, Clears burnt with chemically smell. Not sure what it is as my other headphones work just fine on the Lyr.
     
  11. LoryWiv

    LoryWiv New

    Joined:
    May 26, 2018
    Likes Received:
    2
    Trophy Points:
    3
    Location:
    NorCal
    Had a chance to audition the Clear at a local audio shop yesterday, and they were immediately impressive with great detail retrieval and overall tonal balance. On some test tracks I did find the upper midrange / lower treble a bit sharp, with a "tizzy" quality. The frequency graphs do show some upslope around 1k then again 4-5k (Inner Fidelity, SABF), although I am not sure this corresponds to what I heard.

    The Clear had so much to like, great build quality, overall musical presentation and very comfortable, but I am worried about listening fatigue based on the above. Has anyone experienced something similar at 1st listen that subsequently equipment or "brain" burn in resolved?
     
  12. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

    Staff Member Pyrate BWC
    Joined:
    Sep 24, 2015
    Likes Received:
    89,778
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Padre Island CC TX
    CSDs work better. Is what you are hearing? 4kHz (edge), 6kHz (hardness - sharp), 12khz (tizzy)? It's really not that bad because the peaks are not higher that the mids. Just bumpy and not smooth.
    Focal Clear L.jpg

    With the right chain (DAC and/or amp), it should be fine in the long term. A sharp or glarey sounding solid-state amp or DAC might not provide best synergy.
     
  13. Riotvan

    Riotvan Snoofer in the Woofer

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2015
    Likes Received:
    4,171
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    The Netherlands
    I noticed that too but after a couple days it seems to mellow out a bit, or my brain is burning in. My SET tube amp with OPT works nice but is a bit of an impedance mismatch, i think these are very sensitive to output impedance. Midbass boost and more treble bite is what i heard when on my tube amp. My old solidstate class A has near zero and is flatter, can listen all day on that.
     
  14. LoryWiv

    LoryWiv New

    Joined:
    May 26, 2018
    Likes Received:
    2
    Trophy Points:
    3
    Location:
    NorCal
    Yep, Purr1n, when you break it down like that: on CSD "4kHz (edge), 6kHz (hardness - sharp), 12khz (tizzy)" it matches pretty well with what I hear. You're right it doesn't exceed the mids so not clear why it stood out during my audition.

    My audition fortuitously was with the iFi iCan Pro which is what I run at home...had it in both SS and tube mode. Still I may just pull the trigger and see if I acclimate...can always put them up for resale if I don't settle in well with it.
     
  15. Riotvan

    Riotvan Snoofer in the Woofer

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2015
    Likes Received:
    4,171
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    The Netherlands
    Well as Marv said, source is very important with these. If you can try them at home for a couple of days, not sure how the store you visited is with returns.
     
  16. Ringingears

    Ringingears Honorary BFF

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 26, 2015
    Likes Received:
    3,659
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Northern Californium Valley
    I thought the Clears worked well with the Gungnir Multibit and Black Widow. The Horizon also sounded very good with the right tube. Can’t recall which one I preferred the most. It might have been the NOS Sylvania 6CG7.
     
  17. Aeron

    Aeron Facebook Friend

    Joined:
    Oct 24, 2015
    Likes Received:
    134
    Trophy Points:
    43
    Location:
    Lexington, Kentucky
    Damn, mine are going back Tuesday (graduation weekend, delayed my sending them back), I’m wondering if the Lyr 3 is the cause or if it’s an issue with the Clear. My Abyss sounds great with the Lyr 3, without a problem, though I think they are nearly indestructible. Did you get any feedback from the Clear Dealer or Schiit?
     
  18. dwon

    dwon New

    Joined:
    May 24, 2018
    Likes Received:
    2
    Trophy Points:
    3
    Location:
    Los Angeles
    Didn’t really ask so I just sent them back. Still waiting on my replacement for the rma. Think there might be a shortage on Clears right now. Might just use the jot when I get the replacement just in case.
     
  19. Nicked_Wicked

    Nicked_Wicked New

    Joined:
    May 30, 2018
    Likes Received:
    13
    Trophy Points:
    3
    Location:
    Netherlands
    I've spend some months with the Clear, it's honestly a great headphone that has been a bit too hyped here and there although mine is either getting sold or traded soon. Some things about the Clear:

    • Very good bass, tight, clean, punchy and can extend quite deep
    • Mids are very present, blends in nicely with the highs but the upper mids are recessed which is essentially the Focal "house" sound which is even present in their monitors
    • Despite being more laid back than it's older brothers it's still quite forward and aggressive, leaning a little bit on the bright side of neutral for me
    • High's have a nice refinement to it, extends very nicely
    • Excellent weight to everything, very realistic
    • Tonally excellently balanced as many said
    • Speedy and accurate, very snappy
    • Very airy (on the ears and the sound itself)
    • Comfort of the alcantara pads is very nice
    • Just about every head-amp powers it easily and nicely, has some room to scale but above the 1K budget I haven't noticed all that much improvement at all

    Some of the more negative things:
    • Soundstage is something that immediately struck me and is really an oddball, very in your head and instruments that fall outside the soundstage blob in width just sound very round and are not fleshed out nicely, balanced connection helps a bit but I can't help feeling that even a headphone like the HD 650 has a much more natural soundstage with a tiny bit more depth, and width is about the same
    • Metallic timbre, a tube amp helps smoothing things out and adds some flavor to wash that metal taste away, but with SS amps it never really sounded "right" so to speak for me
    • Looses smoothness and can get harsh at higher volumes which is a design flaw (not recommendable for ear health)
    • Bit too much clamping force and the weight gets a bit too much after a while (Might be down to my big noggin)
    • Units have quite some inconsistency, lots of squeaky headbands, my first one even had a loose copper coil in the left driver and a loose emblem on the right. The replacement I got got very squeaky after a month it also not sounded quite the same as the first one which I strangely found sounded better than the second one I got.
    • Repair after the warranty period may prove to be very expensive
    Looking at the Elex at the moment, some say it's more laid-back and others say it's it's brighter so I'm a bit confused, maybe I just wanna leave the Focal sound altogether not sure. Anyways there's an Auteur underway to my doorstep next week, and I think it will fit the bill much better for a natural sound, although I hope the bass will be kind of similar as the one on the Clear is very addicting indeed.
     
    Last edited: May 31, 2018
  20. Sonorus

    Sonorus Facebook Friend

    Joined:
    May 9, 2017
    Likes Received:
    160
    Trophy Points:
    43
    Location:
    Greece
    Hi i would like to share my impressions.
    I have a demo unit from the local retailer for three days at my home.
    The chain is cd transport>coax>Gungnir Multibit>mjolnir 2 (single & balanced out)
    and Fiio A5 with Gungnir Multibit single ended out.
    I have been playing all sorts of classical music.
    Well as long as you listen to moderate levels this is a fantastic headphone very
    much to my liking.
    As described above from other members is tonally correct and even , clear , very well balanced from bass to highs.
    Bass is top quality with the right quantity , the headphone is very dynamic , with quite intimate soundstage with top notch instrument separation and positioning able to handle
    with ease very complex orchestral passages.
    BUT
    when you start enjoying and want to crank up the volume (to safe levels) to enjoy better
    then things change to the worse.
    The headphone becomes rough , edgy , shouty , sharp and irritating.
    The above observations apply to the whole band but are especially annoying to the upper mids - low highs.
    It gives me headaches and after 15-20 minutes i can't stand it any more.
    To my surprise the infamous sharp and edgy HD800(sdr) is much much better as i can crank the volume without the same problems and with better behaved highs.
    Damn it i would have liked to love that headphone.
    I don't know maybe it's a faulty unit but they don't have another one for test.
    Sorry for my bad English.
     

Share This Page