Many audio mastering engineers use the Focal Clear, Clear MG and Sennheiser 800s. Some feel the sound stage on the Sennheiser 800s is too wide and unrealistic while others love them. It really comes down to personal preference. I also realized most headphone fans have more than one pair of headphones. I personally just ordered the Clear MG's. Both left and right speakers are even. I received the MG'S today. They are well made, they look great, and are comfortable to wear. But compared to the Sennheiser 800s and Beyerdynamic 1990's, the top end is dull though they dont sound that way if you dont compare them. However the lows, mids and highs are very balanced and it sounds great. The 800s and 1990's are thinner sounding than the Clears however and the top end is more focused than the mids and lows. It seems there is not one headphone that does it all great as there are trade offs when you want a certain character.
you really nail that mkbhd, optimum tech look in your video. simple slider shot and top down but extra smooth and clean. amazing. i assume you're a 30p video? your videos are a treat to watch. i have been here quite a long time and your production quality has gone up
Hi Joshua - as the drivers and therefore the image/width/soundstage is on purpose narrowed down, as this is a professional mixing and mastering headphone - I wouldn’t call that a downside. In fact many audiophile consumers like that also as it sounds more like two speakers in a room, which is exactly why its used for professional studio work. Also the treble is tamed down as many mixing engineers like it to have (as working many hours ears otherwise get too fast too tired). With a wide spacious soundstage you simply can not mix as you will have zero translation. Also getting lost in details like echos etc can lead to overproducing that easily and will not lead to good translation eiher. That is the reason why headphones like the Heddphone from Hedd Audio need to be crossfeeded to narrow down the stereo image. Often that means loosing some of the initial magic and sound signature. Also it would have been interesting to see what other professional headphones you would recommend or prefer over this. Personally I was missing a comparison in some detail with the LCD-X. Thank you for the video!
I have the “home” Mg model that I just bought, and it has exactly the same treble restraint that you reported on the Pro. I also own the LCD-X and find that the treble impact on the LCD is much more exciting than the Focal. The Focal beats the Audeze in terms of sub-bass extension and sustain, but the LCD-X has that mid bass punch that very few headphones can match, including this Mg Clear. Finally, I find the Mg Clear to be a narrow in soundstage and less immersive than the LCD.
Had these in my hand for a few days. Loved it! But had to return it just to exchange it for the non-Pro Mg. That one comes with an XLR cable but in sacrifice of the extra pads. Also I like the brown/silver color to it.
HI Joshua, great review as always. How would you compare this to the DT1990? From what I understand, the Beyer is more detailed and offers a better sense of space and instrument placing, while the Focal performs better on Mids and Bass ... did I get that right?
Good review, but a more detailed comparison with more headphones would have been nice, especially vs. Elex and Clear, but also against cheaper headphones that the Clear MG could be a good upgrade from (HD600/650, Sundara?)
1:16 That's an initial defect. My Clear MG pro also had errors on both sides, so I had it replaced with a new one since it was under warranty. After replacing it with a new one, the left/right error was resolved and it maintains perfect balance.
A professional who knows what they're doing will likely apply a different EQ profile for when they're checking for hiss or other high frequency noise. Pros are not as averse to EQ as some audiophiles. It's a very useful tool for the professional workflow. In that sense, the dark treble you're referring to is a non-issue for pro use.
@@sephondranzer "They don't respond well to EQ" is a matter of sound quality. When you check for hiss, clicks or other noise, you EQ the source--the EQ "profile" includes master level adjustment to counteract clipping--and therefore it's not a matter of the headphone "responding to EQ". It will reproduce what's in the source. Again, in this workflow the main concern is not the sound quality of the headphones, but just checking the presence or absence of unwanted artifacts in the mix.
Pros use many headphones to check stuff. There is no better way to make sure everything is right than checking on 5 or 6 different sounding headphones.
I was going to say the same thing. Its the same as the DT1990 Pros, which were perfect except for high frequency sounds was slightly too harsh. So all you do is quickly modify the EQ on your DAC to reduce the highs and boom perfect headphone. If this is better in all regards to the DT1990 Pro but just needs to have the treble boosted a bit that's no big deal
As a regular-ass programmer who just loves great headphones and great music, this is definitely endgame material. I bought a couple of pretty expensive headphones in under 1yr, this completely cured my addiction of looking out for the best next thing. The only thing I'm looking forward to is the second custom cable to use at home, because the Focal cables are goddamn awful. >1 month in, and I'm still absolutely in love with these gorgeous headphones.
Please compare the Focal Clear MG vs the Focal Elex! Also, some have called the Focal Elex a “Sennheiser HD600 on steroids” and they seem to sound highly similar. Can you please make a comparison video between the two? I think it would be interesting considering the 600 is half the price of the Elex. Loving the videos!!!
with the OG clear pads, sure, cause that unfucks the treble response. Otherwise the price to performance ratio is pretty awful. The OG Clear should have always costed $1000 as it does on headphones.com right now, let alone the MG, but $1500 is an unreasonable asking price when things like the Arya exist.
Thank You for your review. I completely agree with Your summary. I wanted a "pro headphone" but for longer periods of listening recessed trebles can actually be less tiring. I couldn't stand the trebles of dt1990, which seemed perfect for me for the mix work as You put it. But in the end I'd like to use them also just for "fun" listening. My MGs also had problem with driver imbalance, they're now on the way for an exchange. Hope the next package will be free from this issue.
The previous gen Clear Pro didn’t come with an XLR cable either. They included an extra set of ear pads instead just like they do in the current model.
Yeah that review is a mess. And I would add that the rather bad channel matching was already there in the previous Clear. It's something you have to live with it. Diyaudioheaven did some fine work on this (in case someone want more details). However when listenning, it's impossible to notice that flaw, we're talking about 1db there or there. Placebo all the way. So yeah... QC like the Arya fanboy did say or maybe something intended by Focal...? But i don't think for a second Hifiman is better in that department. The Kings of headphones (HD 600/650) can rest easy!
This sums up my experience quite well. I totally agree on the topic of treble especially when directly compared to the OG Clear Pros of my friend. But the OGs are lacking the great bass response of the MGs.
You described a similar subdued top end as my discontinued closed back Elegia which is actually quite nice after a long stressful day at work. I find it weird that that the treble isn't livelier for a "Pro" headphone. I would think that pushing treble sibilance, pops and clicks forward would be preferred in a professional/studio mixing environment. Maybe Focal's definition of Professional is a French to English translation quirk.
Hey, one question, should i turn my head to focal or abyss? Which company does the better job, does abyss have a headphone better in overall than the focal mg professional in a similar price range?
I had the same channel imbalance issue with the Focal Elex - in my case the cause was that one of the pads was slightly softer, so the driver would sit closer to the ear. If I switched the pads (from left to right) the imbalance would flip as well!
What would be the best headphones for picking out details. Mixing, Mastering and picking out parts I am learning to play. I have these and I just ordered the Arya Stealths for a great overall listening experience. I don't want to spend more than $2000.00 preferable less than $1500.00. I also have the DT 1990 and 1880 Pros. Any guidance would be great!
I have TH900MK2 LTD Blue and imp looking to get something else for a change and these sound like a decent upgrade in everything apart from the bass which I don't mind.
The below average soundstage is what caused me to return these. These were my first "high-end" pair of headphones and made me realize how much I value a grand soundstage and amazing imaging over lush mids or the deepest of lows. I think I'm going to give the HD800S a try as the older HD800 were always cans I strived to one day get when I was younger. I may not like them stock, but they can supposedly take EQ like champs so I'm hoping I can get them to sound the way I want them to without affecting the soundstage and imaging they're known for.
Check and see if the pads are symmetrical with each other and that the thickness is the same. I just received my focal clear mg's and my left one is noticeably thicker than my right side causing my left side to be quieter and my right side seems louder. I switched my pads arounds, the thicker one on the right side and the thinner one on the left and this time the right side was quieter and the left louder.
Even though this video is about the Clear MG Professional, but I also want to input my experience with the regular Clear MG as well, in a hope that it paints a bigger picture of how Focal's QC department performs in general. I bought my Clear MG from Audio46 in May and I also encountered this channel imbalance issue. Everything sounded very right-side dominant and the left driver was producing less bass, resolution, and details, compared to the right one. This skewed the entire overall soundstage. I also noticed that the right ear pad was much softer than the left one, which could not hold it's shape well, so my right ear kept rubbing against the metal grill inside of the right earcup. It was consequently down right irritating, almost painful. I decided to purchase a pair of Elex earpads from Drop in order to see if the channel imbalance issue was because of the faulty right ear pad only or the spring mechanism, but it was still there with the new Elex earpads. Personally speaking, with a pair of headphones of this caliber and price point, I expect nothing short of stellar quality, but Focal did let me down. I returned my Clear MG for a refund. I'll probably wait a few more years to see how Focal works on these quality control issues and I also want to see what new and better headphones they can come up with.
Just ordered a pair and they arrived. Watched this video prior, worrying about the QC issues you noted in the video. Unfortunately, even a year later even, I'm detecting a noticeable channel imbalance between the left and right side. It's so distracting that when any vocalist should be front-and-center, they sound shifted slightly left-center. Everything you described in the video is an accurate representation of what I've heard so far with them. I'd like to give another pair a try since I can hear the potential and the signature is enough to my liking I don't think I need an EQ yet for the genres I prefer. It's just a darn shame that this issue is still presenting a year later. It could be the unit I received is from an older batch that's just been sitting for awhile, which could explain this. Edit: Swapped the pads our for the extras included in the extra case and it sounds slightly more consistent. This isn't good if there's this high chance of pad variation / worn levels. Luckily they give you an extra set, but thought it could be the clamp force like Josh was mentioning. The take away with these headphones is that seal variation affects the channel balancing VERY noticeably. Putting the originally installed pads side-by-side I can see a slight 0.5mm fold on the inside of the right pad, causing it to be angled slightly more inward, possibly causing the poor seal. If you receive a new pair and run into issue with it, first thing I'd recommend is putting the fresh extra pads on and asking for free replacement of the original from your vendor.
Josh are the original Focal Clear more accurate and better in a studio environment. Are the original Focal Clears make up for what the new MG's lack in your opinion and would you buy the MG if you own the Clears. Excellent review as usual.
How are you correcting for the channel imbalance..? My 660s need about a 2dB gain boost on the left side to sound even, which I can easily do within Cubase, but I don't know what my options are if I wanted to use them through my TV. I don't recall seeing any amps with a pan knob..?
These are easy to drive. Amp isn't required. I would do a basic Topping stack. Depending on your needs and what you want to power your specific model choice will vary. D30/A30 is a good basic setup. If you want to be able to power any headphone on the market then you'll have to go up the amp line. If you want BlueTooth you'll need at least the D50.
Another awesome video Josh, thanks for showing us this headphone. They are absolutely a GREAT looking and great sounding headphone but for $1500, these headphones have basically priced themselves out of 98% of the population. (Also for $1500, they should come with a reach around LOL). I know that things are changing everyday for the better for us headphone enthusiasts but I wish these headphone companies could make these awesome sounding headphones for a price we could all afford. I, not saying budget friendly by any means but in or under the $500 range would be better. I love watching your vids and you’ve helped me, as a newbie audiophile .. understand the technology and what a lot of the terms mean . . Thank you. I wish someone would do a 15 minute video called “Understanding Audiophile Technology for Dummies” LOL. Tell us what all the terms like sibilance, difference of wide and closed soundstage, open and bright mean and other terms in relation to audiophile technology. Anywho . . Thanks for another awesome video, I’m sure I’ll see you in the next one. Until them . . . Stay safe and happy listening. Kevin 🎧
Should l consider this pair of headphones over the Audeze MM-500 for my studio/ recording/producing…? Which one would you pick as a “good enough” pair, to achieve a super fine & detailed produc/music tone in the end…!?!) Or maybe you can recommend me another name/suggestion in the range of $1,500-1,600 or under… Thank you.
I recently got my Clear MG Pros and thought I was hearing the channel imbalance too, but I realized that at least for me the channel imbalance was coming from the THX 789. Didn't hear it connecting to anything else. Good for the headphones I guess, though now that I've noticed the imbalance on the amp, it's all I can hear...Also started to hear static when adjusting the volume knob. At least it's way less noticeable at higher volumes.
a lot of amps at low volumes have channel imbalance but once you turn it up a bit it should equal out my jds lab element have that issue in the last 5 degrees of rotation.
I will ask a potentiall ydumb question, can I 'fix' the detail and high end of these with an EQ? I have a schiit lokius that really "fixes" the 2k dip in my klipsch rp600m, can I presume that I can fix these headphones high issues with a boost in the eq range?
I tried Focal MG Pro's for two weeks, lots of listening. For me, it was the peaks in the upper treble, particularly the one around 13k, that made me return them. I really want the ultimate upgrade to the HD600. The frequency response of a HD600 but with better sound staging and sub bass is what I'm after. Any suggestions?
So I guess the OG Clear would be the way to go, others seem to think the newer version isn’t good enough in comparison, especially now that you can get the original below $1000
Hey Josh!! You weren't excited about these as you were when talking about the original Focal Clear... Is it because you liked the original Clear more? or is it because it feels like its the same?
The treble response is fucked on the MG, and at the $1500 pricepoint, this is just not competitive. Get the OG for $1000 if youre gonna get a clear. Literally a better headphone for a cheaper price.
He put the AB1266 in the background for one of the B-roll shots while he was talking about professional use and I just thought to myself "Imagine mixing and mastering audio with that beast."
correct me if i'm wrong but isnt that the whole point? having a narrow soundstage will allow someone to hear if their mix isn't wide enough whereas when your listening to music you want to hear the best version possible
Just the color scheme and packaging. Focal says they are tuned exactly the same. The Pro comes with extra pads and without a balanced cable. The non Pro has the 4 pin balanced XLR cable but no extra pads.
DT 1990 vs Ananda? I own DT 1990s and swapped to dekoni suede pads to up the bass some and try to cut the treble. Would it be worth it to return the 1990 or is the Ananda not worth? I listen to a lot of metal, some rap, some acoustic music. I like a full bass. I had a focal elegia and with how focused the vocals were it took away from some of the small details in the music. I like hearing detail in the drums and it cut that horribly. I’m using itunes, and iphone and a hip dak. Any suggestions would be great thanks!
If you want full bass the Ananda will not be that. It has good bass texture but isn't very hard-hitting. Hiphop for example is not the Anandas strong suit.
I had to send my Clear Professional Pro original back due to awful distortion of the right earcup. Replacement was fine. Focal also did not respond to my query via their website. I received a standard "email recieved" response but no actual answer. Focal seem to have very poor customer service.
Indeed, Focal customer service sucks actual ass. Not only that, their QC is evidently not the best either. Theyre a really painful manufacturer to work with. Crazy how the tables have turned in 2021, where Hifiman's qc has improved substantially, and they now have the best support in the industry. No other manufacturer I know would be willing to send me a brand spanking new Arya for the price of an open box Arya, when my issue with the open box Arya could very well boil down to placebo.
Why do all Focal headphones lack soundstage? Like, is that a conscious choice they've made for their “house sound“? I feel like if Focal released just one headphone with really good soundstage it would blow everyone's minds.
I imagine conscious choice. They probably had a sound they were looking for and the trade offs of losing some staging was worth it to them to reach their goal. Also quite a bit of people including myself prefer the more intimate staging of certain headphones especially with vocals
This killed the experience for me when I heard theses in person I honestly thought my fh3 sounded better lol 😂 I was like damn these close back and I was then informed they’re open and it sounds kind of like holding really good speakers to your head and I thought it lacked the immersion I love about headphones I was disappointed
The clear mg is open back; you might be thinking of the celestee. In which case, I would not reccomend the celestee over another closed back which has actual soundstage.
This is exactly what i want! Thanks for your review!
I think Focal screwed up discontinuing the OG Clear instead of keeping it alongside this newer version (like Sennheiser with their HD 600 and HD 650)
Many audio mastering engineers use the Focal Clear, Clear MG and Sennheiser 800s. Some feel the sound stage on the Sennheiser 800s is too wide and unrealistic while others love them. It really comes down to personal preference. I also realized most headphone fans have more than one pair of headphones.
I personally just ordered the Clear MG's. Both left and right speakers are even.
I received the MG'S today. They are well made, they look great, and are comfortable to wear. But compared to the Sennheiser 800s and Beyerdynamic 1990's, the top end is dull though they dont sound that way if you dont compare them. However the lows, mids and highs are very balanced and it sounds great. The 800s and 1990's are thinner sounding than the Clears however and the top end is more focused than the mids and lows. It seems there is not one headphone that does it all great as there are trade offs when you want a certain character.
do focals still have headband problems, someone who bought a new stellia from amazon had the headband break.
@@ashleyjohansson230 I have had no problem with my headband at all.
Lovely review. I have always been a fan of the OG Clear that makes me more interested in this too haha
Great review of the Focal Clip!
Just one thing: Absolutely blown away at the clarity of this shot at 8:38. The quality and composition of the b-roll footage is super impressive!
you really nail that mkbhd, optimum tech look in your video. simple slider shot and top down but extra smooth and clean. amazing. i assume you're a 30p video? your videos are a treat to watch. i have been here quite a long time and your production quality has gone up
Hi Joshua - as the drivers and therefore the image/width/soundstage is on purpose narrowed down, as this is a professional mixing and mastering headphone - I wouldn’t call that a downside. In fact many audiophile consumers like that also as it sounds more like two speakers in a room, which is exactly why its used for professional studio work. Also the treble is tamed down as many mixing engineers like it to have (as working many hours ears otherwise get too fast too tired). With a wide spacious soundstage you simply can not mix as you will have zero translation. Also getting lost in details like echos etc can lead to overproducing that easily and will not lead to good translation eiher. That is the reason why headphones like the Heddphone from Hedd Audio need to be crossfeeded to narrow down the stereo image. Often that means loosing some of the initial magic and sound signature.
Also it would have been interesting to see what other professional headphones you would recommend or prefer over this. Personally I was missing a comparison in some detail with the LCD-X.
Thank you for the video!
I have the “home” Mg model that I just bought, and it has exactly the same treble restraint that you reported on the Pro. I also own the LCD-X and find that the treble impact on the LCD is much more exciting than the Focal. The Focal beats the Audeze in terms of sub-bass extension and sustain, but the LCD-X has that mid bass punch that very few headphones can match, including this Mg Clear. Finally, I find the Mg Clear to be a narrow in soundstage and less immersive than the LCD.
I’m always impressed by the quality of your videos.
Had these in my hand for a few days. Loved it! But had to return it just to exchange it for the non-Pro Mg. That one comes with an XLR cable but in sacrifice of the extra pads. Also I like the brown/silver color to it.
HI Joshua, great review as always.
How would you compare this to the DT1990? From what I understand, the Beyer is more detailed and offers a better sense of space and instrument placing, while the Focal performs better on Mids and Bass ... did I get that right?
Nice review Josh!
Good review, but a more detailed comparison with more headphones would have been nice, especially vs. Elex and Clear, but also against cheaper headphones that the Clear MG could be a good upgrade from (HD600/650, Sundara?)
If I have to spend 990$ , I'll purchase it for sure! I trust your reviews,particularly when you speak about the voice expression
Just sold my souls for these headphones.
They give you a good +4 focus points in magic. Really good for a pve build guys🥰🤣
Even on 360p, your vids are still pretty clear!
Get out of burger king
I love mine. Great review.
1:16 That's an initial defect.
My Clear MG pro also had errors on both sides, so I had it replaced with a new one since it was under warranty.
After replacing it with a new one, the left/right error was resolved and it maintains perfect balance.
A professional who knows what they're doing will likely apply a different EQ profile for when they're checking for hiss or other high frequency noise. Pros are not as averse to EQ as some audiophiles. It's a very useful tool for the professional workflow. In that sense, the dark treble you're referring to is a non-issue for pro use.
@@sephondranzer "They don't respond well to EQ" is a matter of sound quality. When you check for hiss, clicks or other noise, you EQ the source--the EQ "profile" includes master level adjustment to counteract clipping--and therefore it's not a matter of the headphone "responding to EQ". It will reproduce what's in the source. Again, in this workflow the main concern is not the sound quality of the headphones, but just checking the presence or absence of unwanted artifacts in the mix.
Pros use many headphones to check stuff. There is no better way to make sure everything is right than checking on 5 or 6 different sounding headphones.
I was going to say the same thing. Its the same as the DT1990 Pros, which were perfect except for high frequency sounds was slightly too harsh. So all you do is quickly modify the EQ on your DAC to reduce the highs and boom perfect headphone. If this is better in all regards to the DT1990 Pro but just needs to have the treble boosted a bit that's no big deal
@@ads3453which dac did you get für the dt1990 pros?
@@machmutdoener RME ADI-2-DAC FS
fair review. side question - what track is running in the background?
As a regular-ass programmer who just loves great headphones and great music, this is definitely endgame material. I bought a couple of pretty expensive headphones in under 1yr, this completely cured my addiction of looking out for the best next thing. The only thing I'm looking forward to is the second custom cable to use at home, because the Focal cables are goddamn awful. >1 month in, and I'm still absolutely in love with these gorgeous headphones.
I recommend, Dana Cables
Josh, are you going to review the HarmonicDyne Zeus?
Would love to see your review of the Focal Radiance Bentley collaboration/edition...
Please compare the Focal Clear MG vs the Focal Elex!
Also, some have called the Focal Elex a “Sennheiser HD600 on steroids” and they seem to sound highly similar. Can you please make a comparison video between the two? I think it would be interesting considering the 600 is half the price of the Elex.
Loving the videos!!!
Yet another great review! Would you still say that the Clear MG Pro is S-tier?
with the OG clear pads, sure, cause that unfucks the treble response. Otherwise the price to performance ratio is pretty awful. The OG Clear should have always costed $1000 as it does on headphones.com right now, let alone the MG, but $1500 is an unreasonable asking price when things like the Arya exist.
Thank You for your review. I completely agree with Your summary. I wanted a "pro headphone" but for longer periods of listening recessed trebles can actually be less tiring. I couldn't stand the trebles of dt1990, which seemed perfect for me for the mix work as You put it. But in the end I'd like to use them also just for "fun" listening. My MGs also had problem with driver imbalance, they're now on the way for an exchange. Hope the next package will be free from this issue.
how did you noticed the driver imbalance? How can I mesuare it? I like to try them out for 30 Days
Ya did you ever get em fixed up or?
Wow considering how positive the OG clear review was, this one wasn't as positive as I expected lol, what makes the Clear better than this?
Cheaper price :)
They're about the same price on Amazon
@@MRFUTURETECHNOLOGYGAMING go in link in descrtion
Love the background music
The previous gen Clear Pro didn’t come with an XLR cable either. They included an extra set of ear pads instead just like they do in the current model.
Oll
Yeah that review is a mess. And I would add that the rather bad channel matching was already there in the previous Clear. It's something you have to live with it. Diyaudioheaven did some fine work on this (in case someone want more details). However when listenning, it's impossible to notice that flaw, we're talking about 1db there or there. Placebo all the way. So yeah... QC like the Arya fanboy did say or maybe something intended by Focal...? But i don't think for a second Hifiman is better in that department. The Kings of headphones (HD 600/650) can rest easy!
I confirm. I have a previous version of Clear Pros
This sums up my experience quite well. I totally agree on the topic of treble especially when directly compared to the OG Clear Pros of my friend. But the OGs are lacking the great bass response of the MGs.
Review the denon d9200 !!
End game closed back headphone for my opinion .
You described a similar subdued top end as my discontinued closed back Elegia which is actually quite nice after a long stressful day at work. I find it weird that that the treble isn't livelier for a "Pro" headphone. I would think that pushing treble sibilance, pops and clicks forward would be preferred in a professional/studio mixing environment. Maybe Focal's definition of Professional is a French to English translation quirk.
So do you like the OG Clear better Josh, for your preference? Just wondering..
Hey, one question, should i turn my head to focal or abyss? Which company does the better job, does abyss have a headphone better in overall than the focal mg professional in a similar price range?
Hey your filming equipment link isn't working... this quality is crisp!!
I had the same channel imbalance issue with the Focal Elex - in my case the cause was that one of the pads was slightly softer, so the driver would sit closer to the ear. If I switched the pads (from left to right) the imbalance would flip as well!
and that is just unacceptable quality control at this price range
What would be the best headphones for picking out details. Mixing, Mastering and picking out parts I am learning to play. I have these and I just ordered the Arya Stealths for a great overall listening experience. I don't want to spend more than $2000.00 preferable less than $1500.00. I also have the DT 1990 and 1880 Pros. Any guidance would be great!
I have TH900MK2 LTD Blue and imp looking to get something else for a change and these sound like a decent upgrade in everything apart from the bass which I don't mind.
The below average soundstage is what caused me to return these. These were my first "high-end" pair of headphones and made me realize how much I value a grand soundstage and amazing imaging over lush mids or the deepest of lows. I think I'm going to give the HD800S a try as the older HD800 were always cans I strived to one day get when I was younger. I may not like them stock, but they can supposedly take EQ like champs so I'm hoping I can get them to sound the way I want them to without affecting the soundstage and imaging they're known for.
did you get the HD800s?
Check and see if the pads are symmetrical with each other and that the thickness is the same. I just received my focal clear mg's and my left one is noticeably thicker than my right side causing my left side to be quieter and my right side seems louder. I switched my pads arounds, the thicker one on the right side and the thinner one on the left and this time the right side was quieter and the left louder.
Which one is a better buy the radiance or the clear
Focal celestee review please 🙏
Even though this video is about the Clear MG Professional, but I also want to input my experience with the regular Clear MG as well, in a hope that it paints a bigger picture of how Focal's QC department performs in general. I bought my Clear MG from Audio46 in May and I also encountered this channel imbalance issue. Everything sounded very right-side dominant and the left driver was producing less bass, resolution, and details, compared to the right one. This skewed the entire overall soundstage. I also noticed that the right ear pad was much softer than the left one, which could not hold it's shape well, so my right ear kept rubbing against the metal grill inside of the right earcup. It was consequently down right irritating, almost painful. I decided to purchase a pair of Elex earpads from Drop in order to see if the channel imbalance issue was because of the faulty right ear pad only or the spring mechanism, but it was still there with the new Elex earpads. Personally speaking, with a pair of headphones of this caliber and price point, I expect nothing short of stellar quality, but Focal did let me down. I returned my Clear MG for a refund. I'll probably wait a few more years to see how Focal works on these quality control issues and I also want to see what new and better headphones they can come up with.
Just ordered a pair and they arrived. Watched this video prior, worrying about the QC issues you noted in the video. Unfortunately, even a year later even, I'm detecting a noticeable channel imbalance between the left and right side. It's so distracting that when any vocalist should be front-and-center, they sound shifted slightly left-center. Everything you described in the video is an accurate representation of what I've heard so far with them. I'd like to give another pair a try since I can hear the potential and the signature is enough to my liking I don't think I need an EQ yet for the genres I prefer. It's just a darn shame that this issue is still presenting a year later. It could be the unit I received is from an older batch that's just been sitting for awhile, which could explain this.
Edit: Swapped the pads our for the extras included in the extra case and it sounds slightly more consistent. This isn't good if there's this high chance of pad variation / worn levels. Luckily they give you an extra set, but thought it could be the clamp force like Josh was mentioning. The take away with these headphones is that seal variation affects the channel balancing VERY noticeably. Putting the originally installed pads side-by-side I can see a slight 0.5mm fold on the inside of the right pad, causing it to be angled slightly more inward, possibly causing the poor seal. If you receive a new pair and run into issue with it, first thing I'd recommend is putting the fresh extra pads on and asking for free replacement of the original from your vendor.
I’ve always wanted a pair of focals. Had my eye on the Elex from Drop a while now
Quality controls are terrible
1:15 good catch, surprising in this $$ range & expected quality .
Josh are the original Focal Clear more accurate and better in a studio environment. Are the original Focal Clears make up for what the new MG's lack in your opinion and would you buy the MG if you own the Clears. Excellent review as usual.
Aluminum Magnesium vs Magnesium drivers
Pro version has never had xlr. Also the coiled cord is only for the pro. Else, thanks a lot for very good revues!
Hi @Joshua how do these stack up against HiFiman HE1000 stealth ? Which is better for home listening
Any update is the Left Right issue? Be nice to know if this was sent back to focal under warranty or if it's just been sitting on a shelf unaddressed.
Since you allways recomend like the lcdx but with EQ, cant I just add some treble to the clear mg and call it a Day?
How are you correcting for the channel imbalance..? My 660s need about a 2dB gain boost on the left side to sound even, which I can easily do within Cubase, but I don't know what my options are if I wanted to use them through my TV. I don't recall seeing any amps with a pan knob..?
Saw you had some Denon ah D5200 in your LCD 2c vs elev video i think. Are you planning a review in the future?
Is there any difference between this version and the cooper version?
Hey Joshua, what AMP/DAC combo would you recommend for these? I've been looking at the Jot2/Bifrost2 for these.
These are easy to drive. Amp isn't required. I would do a basic Topping stack. Depending on your needs and what you want to power your specific model choice will vary. D30/A30 is a good basic setup. If you want to be able to power any headphone on the market then you'll have to go up the amp line. If you want BlueTooth you'll need at least the D50.
Another awesome video Josh, thanks for showing us this headphone. They are absolutely a GREAT looking and great sounding headphone but for $1500, these headphones have basically priced themselves out of 98% of the population.
(Also for $1500, they should come with a reach around LOL).
I know that things are changing everyday for the better for us headphone enthusiasts but I wish these headphone companies could make these awesome sounding headphones for a price we could all afford. I, not saying budget friendly by any means but in or under the $500 range would be better.
I love watching your vids and you’ve helped me, as a newbie audiophile .. understand the technology and what a lot of the terms mean . . Thank you.
I wish someone would do a 15 minute video called “Understanding Audiophile Technology for Dummies” LOL. Tell us what all the terms like sibilance, difference of wide and closed soundstage, open and bright mean and other terms in relation to audiophile technology.
Anywho . . Thanks for another awesome video, I’m sure I’ll see you in the next one. Until them . . . Stay safe and happy listening.
Kevin 🎧
What is the best professional headphone?
Should l consider this pair of headphones over the Audeze MM-500 for my studio/ recording/producing…?
Which one would you pick as a “good enough” pair, to achieve a super fine & detailed produc/music tone in the end…!?!)
Or maybe you can recommend me another name/suggestion in the range of $1,500-1,600 or under…
Thank you.
whats some good pair of headphones for metal/punk/ska and making music
I recently got my Clear MG Pros and thought I was hearing the channel imbalance too, but I realized that at least for me the channel imbalance was coming from the THX 789. Didn't hear it connecting to anything else. Good for the headphones I guess, though now that I've noticed the imbalance on the amp, it's all I can hear...Also started to hear static when adjusting the volume knob. At least it's way less noticeable at higher volumes.
a lot of amps at low volumes have channel imbalance but once you turn it up a bit it should equal out my jds lab element have that issue in the last 5 degrees of rotation.
Clear or Arya? Is soundstage of Clear as big as HD660?
as a pro i like slightly darker because it helps with fatigue
how about comparing with the focal clear?
I will ask a potentiall ydumb question, can I 'fix' the detail and high end of these with an EQ? I have a schiit lokius that really "fixes" the 2k dip in my klipsch rp600m, can I presume that I can fix these headphones high issues with a boost in the eq range?
please tell us what you think about k702 or k612
I had this same channel imbalance in my set on the non-pro version.
I have the clear worth upgrading to mg?
I want those red pads.
Focal celestee review please.
We need it lol
has the focal quality control issues been fixed? or is there still issues with focal headphones?
Don’t think so
is the bass better then the lcd-2 in your opinion?
which would be better as an all rounder and also for some edm, this or the lcd-2?
I would say lcd x better bass, all rounder focal clear mg
i see the "professional" is describing this review
Same as airport pro, all of those phones that we have with pro. So pro is a selling product
1:17 that graph, what is the software and where can I get it?
I tried Focal MG Pro's for two weeks, lots of listening. For me, it was the peaks in the upper treble, particularly the one around 13k, that made me return them.
I really want the ultimate upgrade to the HD600. The frequency response of a HD600 but with better sound staging and sub bass is what I'm after. Any suggestions?
I would know so either.
Love my HD Sennheisers, but cant find anything better for my taste.
@@user-zs2wy6xz7p It might be almost everyone's struggle!
Audeze Answered you now with the LCD-5
@@aswinpanembrama8043 seems quite nice! 4 grand though!
Ever heard of EQ? just take it down a notch at 13k then, problem fixed.
So I guess the OG Clear would be the way to go, others seem to think the newer version isn’t good enough in comparison, especially now that you can get the original below $1000
Would this headphone sound nice on classical and pipe organ music?
wait so the imba issue is still here? i heard it was there before
Well since you don't recommend these headphones what kinda of really good closed back headphones that you recommend for about 500 to 1000$?
How do you feel about the soundstage of the original clear? Was it as narrow as the Mg?
About the same from what I recall. Neither are great.
@@JoshuaValour can you list 2 headphones where the sound stage was better and overall better headphones for the price?
Hey Josh!! You weren't excited about these as you were when talking about the original Focal Clear... Is it because you liked the original Clear more? or is it because it feels like its the same?
Magnesium vs Aluminum Magnesium drivers
The treble response is fucked on the MG, and at the $1500 pricepoint, this is just not competitive. Get the OG for $1000 if youre gonna get a clear. Literally a better headphone for a cheaper price.
@@nortonfamily6711 i literally did and it just arrived yesterday :)
@@butcherredalert1013 Same, got mine last week lmao.
@@nortonfamily6711 enjoy
He put the AB1266 in the background for one of the B-roll shots while he was talking about professional use and I just thought to myself "Imagine mixing and mastering audio with that beast."
Mastering? Maybe to polish the last bit. Mixing? There's no point to mix on those headphones because no one is going to hear that kind of details
We always follow you and waiting your reply!!
Is this one the same model as the "bronzy" MG one?
Maybe this Pro, apart the color and cables, has the identical sound ?
yes they are identical. just different look and in-box accessories
Please review b&o h95
So Clear "Master Grade" (Gundam thing), gotcha.
How’s their bass response? In particular which of the entire Focal line to date has the deepest and punchiest bass?
just brought one
correct me if i'm wrong but isnt that the whole point? having a narrow soundstage will allow someone to hear if their mix isn't wide enough whereas when your listening to music you want to hear the best version possible
What do you think about the Focal Clear, Clear MG Professional and Clear MG?
why none of respected audiophiles ever reviewed Focal Listen?
What would be a good alternative to clear since it costs more than 1000 USD?
Martin Logan Neolith Speakers
How do they respond to eq?
What differences are there between the clear mg pro vs clear mg?
Just the color scheme and packaging. Focal says they are tuned exactly the same. The Pro comes with extra pads and without a balanced cable. The non Pro has the 4 pin balanced XLR cable but no extra pads.
I feel like Josh is the Marquez brownlee of audio
DT 1990 vs Ananda? I own DT 1990s and swapped to dekoni suede pads to up the bass some and try to cut the treble. Would it be worth it to return the 1990 or is the Ananda not worth? I listen to a lot of metal, some rap, some acoustic music. I like a full bass. I had a focal elegia and with how focused the vocals were it took away from some of the small details in the music. I like hearing detail in the drums and it cut that horribly. I’m using itunes, and iphone and a hip dak. Any suggestions would be great thanks!
Go to the Focal Listen pro, amazing for the price. The drums are perfect
Full bass with 1990 and Ananda? 🤔
Probably you're on a wrong way. Looks like you prefer more sound image than the full bass
If you want full bass the Ananda will not be that. It has good bass texture but isn't very hard-hitting. Hiphop for example is not the Anandas strong suit.
@Nurse yeah the treble killed me with S and Sh in vocals
I had to send my Clear Professional Pro original back due to awful distortion of the right earcup. Replacement was fine.
Focal also did not respond to my query via their website. I received a standard "email recieved" response but no actual answer. Focal seem to have very poor customer service.
Indeed, Focal customer service sucks actual ass. Not only that, their QC is evidently not the best either. Theyre a really painful manufacturer to work with. Crazy how the tables have turned in 2021, where Hifiman's qc has improved substantially, and they now have the best support in the industry. No other manufacturer I know would be willing to send me a brand spanking new Arya for the price of an open box Arya, when my issue with the open box Arya could very well boil down to placebo.
Why do all Focal headphones lack soundstage? Like, is that a conscious choice they've made for their “house sound“? I feel like if Focal released just one headphone with really good soundstage it would blow everyone's minds.
I imagine conscious choice. They probably had a sound they were looking for and the trade offs of losing some staging was worth it to them to reach their goal.
Also quite a bit of people including myself prefer the more intimate staging of certain headphones especially with vocals
I think they rather running after details than soundstage. Focals usually have very detailed headphones with a very clear sound image
This killed the experience for me when I heard theses in person I honestly thought my fh3 sounded better lol 😂 I was like damn these close back and I was then informed they’re open and it sounds kind of like holding really good speakers to your head and I thought it lacked the immersion I love about headphones I was disappointed
Is it worth to sell the clears and buy the mg? because i need a closed back headphone for OST´s but have allready pairs of warm headphones
The clear mg is open back; you might be thinking of the celestee. In which case, I would not reccomend the celestee over another closed back which has actual soundstage.
No no no. Do not sell the OGs for an MG. Neither of the clears are closed back either.
Damn there are more adds than useful information in this so-called review.