Focal Clear

Clear is a weird one for me. I heard it on my old DNA Starlet and it didn't sound metallic (but I was a little boozed up at the meet, so who knows). But it sounded metallic on my old EC 445. Elex on the other hand didn't sound metallic on the same amp. But I loved the clarity of the Clear, an aspect which I thought was noticeably better than Elex. Clear sounded very much more like speakers than headphones (again more than Elex). I got an EC ZDSE, so I wonder if I'd take to it better on this amp.

 

I got a new Utopia for a really good price, but it wasn't from an authorized dealer. I ended up having a driver failure a few months later and managed to get it fixed for free—Focal never asked me for proof of purchase. Maybe I got lucky, but just thought I'd share my positive experience with Focal customer support.

I definitely agree with this. The Clear was my daily driver for a couple of years, but the Utopia are on a different tier when it comes to technicalities.

Personally, I think the difference in tonality between the Clear and Utopia is a little bit overemphasized. People often say that the Utopia are brighter than the Clear, but while the Clear have a little more bass, I think people get overwhelmed with how precise and intense the Utopia is and then ascribe a 'bright' tonality to them. I think it has more to do with their speed combined with their macrodynamic punch. I think the Clear is definitely punchy, but the Utopia dials it up to 11. I've noticed that if I'm feeling tired, the Utopia sound a little 'sharp' to me, but when my brain is functioning well, man, they're something else. If they had a smidge more tonal density they'd be my ultimate headphone. As it is, they're still my favorite.

Anyway, take my impressions with a bag of salt—everyone hears things differently.

 

Thanks for mentioning DACs. I used two while testing the Clears: a LIM and a Geshelli J2.

When using 600s or 6XXs, I found that they are competitive. It's not at all a fair comparison, but the LIM had the edge on overall cohesive presentation, staging and bass. The J2 is nimble, quick, detailed and has very pleasant treble response. In isolation, I have been more than happy with it my office setup - it absolutely smokes the RME ADI-2 I had here before for work and for pleasure.

With the Clear, I more readily hear the differences between the two DACs. With the LIM back at home now, I am finding that I miss the staging, "harmonic richness", and all the details around the sound that it does do well and that the Clears take advantage of.

I need a neutral DAC for assessing mixes at work - but I want all the LIM stuff for the music listening-while-I-work. I am researching what else I might try out that is both neutral and renders more of the good stuff that the Clears take advantage of. I looked at the MOTU Ultralite stuff, but I'm not sure if that would be any better than the J2 and I would be paying for a bunch of stuff I don't need.

While I would love a cleaner desk, I might end up with a J2 and the BF2.

 

Totally. I get this. I have used Neumanns and Genelecs at work and a few different Harbeths at home - all of these have metal tweeters and the Clears remind me more of them than of other headphones I have spent time with.

 

Thanks to @Joshvar I'm about to find out!

 

Not recommended ... this can happen to Focal headbands.

https://www.reddit.com/r/headphones/comments/p1cay8/what_900_buys_you_at_focal/

Bend with CAUTION!!!

 

Yeah I bent mine down closer to the cups where I can see the metal band, not through the middle, where I can’t see what’s in there, and there seems to be some thin plastic underneath the pad covering - seems foolish for someone to try to bend it through that section, but there’s no guarantee of common sense out there of course….

 

I think it's happening to people not intentionally trying to bend them. The headbands just break. But who knows.

I mean, using the "Tyll Method" on HD650 headbands to reduce clamp seems ridiculous, it's gotta break for sure. But that Senn plastic is amazing. Focal plastic not so much it seems.

 

What DACs are people using with their Clear OGs? I had to bring my LIM back to my home system and am missing the sound (though not the price or the size). I am considering picking up another BF2. I liked it on speakers when I owned one. I would be using the DAC with my JOT 2.

 

Also. I am going to make some cables for them. The included balanced cable is ridiculous. I am assuming positive tip for the driver jacks. Is this correct?

 

These look like interesting Focal pads. They have a strip of cloth sewn into the inside. Clearly some thought went into them.

https://a.aliexpress.com/_mMHaVY8

 

Those are similar to the Utopias pads.

https://www.focal.com/us/headphones/cables-and-accessories/utopia-ear-pads

 

Yep, unlike the Dekoni's those appear to be a copy of the design of the stock Focal Utopia pads. I wonder if the foam is substantially similar as well, such that the sound would be (almost) the same as the stock pads.

I have never purchased anything from aliexpress or even browsed there much at all, so the price "range" makes no sense to me. When I tried to add the item to the cart (thinking I need to do this to see the "real" price) nothing happens, even with all my script/ad blockers turned off and/or when I use an unmodified browser. Does not inspire confidence...

 

Aliexpress is legit, I've bought tons of stuff there and never had a problem. Except some pads getting shipped to me in bags and getting squished. But I now ask for them shipped to me in boxes and it's been fine. But I've never experienced anything "suspect".

This seller is selling both the leather eapads as well as headband covers under the same item link, so the price range is between the leather earpads and the woven headband covers. Really, the seller should make it 2 separate items, but they seem to think this makes sense. I think some cultural difference cause some things to be lost in translation.

You need to choose the earpads under "color"

Aliexpress is setup to sell all kinds of stuff from clothing to headphone gear, so it doesn't say "model" like it should, it says "color". So just choose the earpad under color and then add it to your cart. That should work.

Once you choose the earpad under "color", price range goes away, and it says "48$" for the price.

 

Same here, I've purchased tons of stuff from Aliexpress as well without any issues. Well, not true, something never arrived, I contacted the seller and another was sent in it's place. Delivery can take a while though.

I wouldn't say it's to do with cultural though. I've seen it done by eBay sellers as well and it seems to be so that their listing appears first or close to first when sorting by lowest to highest. Also deceiving in that at a glance, it appears cheaper than the competitors.

 

My brother got some HD600 pads from there and he likes them just fine. Might try the leather ones if they don't f**k up the sound too much.

 

You will for sure get more life out of leather earpads than the microfibre earpads that Focal pairs with the Clear.
I myself have the Utopia pads and the only difference is a slight cut in the top end, if you are using a warm source or amp you won't notice the difference between microfibre and utopia earpads.

The size of the fenestrations (punch through holes) look to be smaller here than the utopia ear pads, possibly allowing for more of that top end to reflect back and not be lost as is the case with the utopia pads. I know the dekoni fenestrated pads were a bit more bright in the top end and they have tiny fenestrations.


Actually, on second look these seem to be very close to utopia, so probably a tad warmer than microfibre. Regardless looks like real leather so you will get many more years from them than from microfibre earpads, worth using your clean source and amp and warming the sound up via earpads.

 

Clear/ZDSE is a winner. Insane synergy.

Has there been a consensus on pad longevity? Does a fresh pad change benefit the sound like it does on the HD6x0? As in less warmpoo? These dont sound overly warm but I haven't owned them so dont know if the sound has changed over time.

 

I don't think the Focal pads crush over time like the Senn HD6xx pads do. I was concerned about discolouration initially, and switched to Elex pads, which felt a bit rougher on the skin and took the edge off the treble a touch. I've since put the stock pads back on. They're more comfortable and I don't foresee any issues with longevity.

Someone on HF posted that Focal recommends washing their cloth pads with Savon de Marseille, which I happen to use as my bath soap. I washed the stock pads before putting them away, and didn't notice any difference before/after washing. I would think any mild natural soap would do. My headband is wrapped in a knitted cover with foam inserts to eliminate the Klingon hotspot.

 

Yeah the foam stays good, been using them regularly for 3,5 years and it's fine. The fabric is a bit fraying but still comfortable.