Focal Clear Review - Ultimate HD 6X0 Upgrade

The Focal Clear is an open-back dynamic headphone that retails for $1499 and it utilizes Focal's full-range speaker driver. Find out more in our review! GrabaFocalClearfor$990andaFREE$100giftcard!|ExclusivetoHeadphones.com ShopByBrand A 64Audio Astell&Kern Audeze Audioquest Audio-Technica B-E Benchmark BursonAudio CampfireAudio Cayin Chord DanClarkAudio DekoniAudio Dunu EmpireEars F-H FeliksAudio FerrumAudio FinalAudio Focal Grado HEDDAudio Hifiman I-N iBasso iFi LakePeople MatrixAudio Meze MoonDrop MytekDigital NaimAudio Nimbus N-W RAAL-Requisite RME RossonAudioDesign Sennheiser SMSL SPL Thieaudio Topping Violectric Focal Hand-CraftedExcellencefromFrance Headphones Sales&Open-BoxDealsOpen-BackClosed-BackIn-EarWirelessDynamicDriverPlanarMagneticShopAllAmps&DACs Sales&Open-BoxDealsDesktopPortableTubeAmplifiersEntry-LevelShopAllAudioPlayers Sales&Open-BoxDealsFlagshipsShopAllAccessories EarPads&TipsCables HeadphoneCablesAnalogInterconnectsDigitalInterconnectsPowerCablesCasesStandsShopAllBundles Entry-LevelBundlesVideosReviewsLearnForumSupport TrackYourOrderContactUsShippingPolicy365-DayReturnsInfo FocalClearReview-UltimateHD6X0Upgrade Chrono 13minuteread TheClearisanopen-backdynamicheadphonedesignedbyFocalthatretailsfor$1,499,anditutilizesFocal’sfull-rangespeakerdriverwithan‘M’-shapeAluminum/Magnesiumdome.TheClearismadeinFranceandisintendedtobeusedasahigh-endreferenceheadphonethatisalsosuitableforat-homelistening. SourcesandMusicUsedinListeningTests TheAmplifier/DACusedinthisreviewwasthe JDSLabsElement IIconnectedviaUSBtomydesktopcomputer.ForthelisteningtestsIusedmusicfromawidevarietyofgenresincludingRock,Jazz,Classical,Acoustic,Hip-Hop,andlatin.IplayedtracksfrommyownFLAClibraryaswellasfromTidalstreamingservice(HiFi/MasterQuality). What’sintheBox? TheClearincludesarathernicesetofaccessories.IncludedwiththeClearisaFocal-branded,Hardshellcarrycasethat,althoughnotparticularlysmall,shouldfitquiteeasilyinmostbackpacksandsuitcases.Alsoincludedarethreecablesofvaryinglengthswith3.5mmterminationsontheheadphoneside.Twoofthecablesmeasurethreemetersinlength,withonehavinga¼”terminationandtheotherendingin4-pinbalancedXLR.Lastly,thethirdcablemeasures1.2minlengthandterminatesin3.5mm,butincludesathread-on¼”adapter. Now,itisveryrareformetocomplainaboutcables,asitisnotsomethingthatusuallybothersme,orsomethingIcareabout.However,IfeellikeintheClear’scase,Ihavetomentionthattheincludedcables–despitelookingverynice–areveryuncomfortabletouseandworkwith.Theyareextremelyrigidandholdtheirform,occasionallyweighingdowntheheadphone. 🎧GettheFocalClearatthebestavailableprice PowerRequirements Foraflagship-classheadphone,the FocalClear isremarkablyefficient.Theyclockinatanimpedanceof55ohmsandasensitivityoflevel104dB/mw,andIhadnoissuedrivingthemtogoodlisteninglevelswithmyPC’sonboardaudioorMacBook.IstillpreferredthewaytheysoundedwhenpoweredbymyifiiDSDMicroBlacklabel,butIthinkitwasmostlyduetomelikingthesoundofitsBurr-BrownDACchip.IdonotthinkthatanampisrequiredfortheClear,butIdorecommendusingone.  BuildQualityandComfort TheClear’sbuildisbothbeautiful,andexcellentinitsconstruction.Tome,itseemsasthoughitiscomposedentirelyoutofmetalandtheyfeelextremelysolid;noneofthepartsfeellooseormalleable.IreallystruggletofindaflawintheClear’sbuild;theyareverywellputtogether,theyaresturdy,andtheystillremainfairlylightweightat450g. Forthemostpart,comfortwasnotanissueonthe FocalClear.DespiteweighingnearlytwiceasmuchasanHD660S,itreallydidnotfeellikeitasIfeltasthoughtheheadbandandearcupsdidanoutstandingjobofevenlydistributingtheweight.Theearpadsthemselvesareverycomfortable,astheyarewrappedinaperforated,suede-like,microfiberfabricthatwassoftontheskinandstayedcoolthroughoutlonglisteningsessions. Wherecomfort–forme,atleast–wentawrywasthatthecupshaveaspring-backsoftmechanismthatpullsthecupback,andIcanfeelthemdothatwhenIamwearingthem,whichisslightlyirritating.Isupposethatthissystemmakestheheadphoneslooknicerwhenoffyourhead,butitalsomadeitalittletrickyfiguringouthowtowearthemproperly.Still,onceIgotthehangofhowtofittheseon,comfortwasnotanissuewhenusingtheminprolongedlisteningsessions. Sound The FocalClear isaflagship-classheadphonethatdeliversexcellenttechnicalperformanceandatonalitythatis–minussomequirksinthetreble–verygood.Forthemostpart,IwillbecomparingtheCleartotheHiFiManAnandaand AudezeLCD-2;however,IwouldalsoliketodrawcomparisonstotheHD660Sasitkindofremindedmeofthatheadphone,andwantedtodiscusshowitperformedasanupgradeforthosewho,likeme,reallylikeSennheiser’sHD600-series. Bass TheClearhaswhatis,tome,themostimpressivebassIhaveheardonadynamicheadphonethusfar.Forextension,itperformsreallywellasitextendsinanalmostcompletelylinearfashion;itonlyrolledoffabitataround30hz.TheClear’sreachintothesub-bassregiongaveitaverygoodsenseofdepth,anditvastlyoutperformedtheHD660S’basswhichcomesacrossasalittleshallowbycomparison.Still,IfeltasthoughtheLCD-2andAnanda’sextensionwasalittlemoreimpressiveasitjusthadthatlast-levelofextensionthatmadethemsoundalittledeeperandhadmoreofthat10hz-20hzrumblewhencomparedtotheclear. Forresolution,IfindtheCleartobeverywellcontrolledinthebass,andeventhoughIstillthoughttheLCD-2wasslightlymorearticulate,IfoundittobemoredetailedthantheAnanda.MyonlyrealcriticisminthebassisthatIfeelliketheoverallbasslevelfortheClearisalittlelean,anditalsoseemstolackabitofwarmthinthe100hz-150hzregion;IdothinkthattheybenefitfromanEQupshelforabassboostifyouramp/DAChasoneavailable.LastlyIwantedtoaddresstheclippingissuethatseemstocausesomeconcernonlineforFocalheadphones.Yes,Ididhearthe FocalClear clipwhenreproducingreallylowfrequencies.However,duringmylisteningthisonlyoccurredwhenIengagedaEQ+3dBbassboostincombinationwiththeiDSDMicroBlackLabel’sbassboostatuncomfortablyhighlisteninglevels;soIreallydoubtthatyouwillrunintothisissueinanaveragelisteningsession. Mids Themidrangeonthe FocalClear wastomebothveryenjoyableandrealisticsounding;itreallyonlyhadtwoslightdeviationsfromtarget.Theleastnoticeableonewasthatitseemedtomeasthoughtherewasaveryslightdipat4.5K,sovocalsinparticularsoundedtomeasthoughtheyneededjustalittlemoreenergyinthatpresenceregion.FortheseconddeviationIwillalsobediscussingtimbre,asFocalheadphonesaresortofinfamousforhavingaslightlymetallictimbre.FrommyexperiencelisteningtotheClear,Iwouldsaythatthatissomewhattrue,andIdidnotfeelasthoughthetimbrewasasnaturalortransparentwhencomparedtosomethinglikeanHD600-seriesheadphone.However,afterplayingaroundabitwithEQitsoundedtomeasthoughthatmetallictimbreisinlargepartduetotwodifferentelevationsintheClear’sfrequencyresponse. Oneofthoseelevationsisinthetrebleregion,andtheotheroneispresentinthemidrangeataround1K.Thatelevationat1KaddsaslightlynasalandboxytonalitytotheClear’stimbrethat,whencombinedwiththeotherelevationIwilldiscussinthetreblesection,resultsinanaccentuationofaslightlymoremetalliccharacterforthesound.Overall,IstillreallylikethemidsontheClear,andtheyreallyremindmeofthemidrangeonSennheiserheadphones,whichtomesoundsveryrichandrealistic.Ilistenmainlytoclassicrock,andasaguitaristmyself,electricguitarssoundincrediblyrealisticontheClear;theyveryaccuratelyreproducetheirgrowl,presence,andbuzz.Forresolution,theClear’smidrangeisastonishinglytransparentandhasanexceptionallevelofdetail.ItismostlyamarginalimprovementovertheLCD-2inthisregard,butcomparedtotheotherheadphonesIhavelistenedto,itissignificantlymoreresolving. Highs ThetrebleregioniswheretheClearcangetalittle“interesting.”Ipersonallywouldnotparticularlydescribeitasbeingbright,aseventheAnandaisabitbrighter.However,unliketheAnanda,IfindthattheClear’shighsareslightlyuneven.DespitethetrebleonlybeingsetadecibelortwohigheroverallthanontheHD660S,itcanbecomealittlefatiguingasaresultoftwoelevationsinthehighs.Tomeitsoundedasthoughtherewasapeakat6Kthatintroducedalittlebitofglareandsibilanceinthelowertreble.Itwasnotaverylargepeak,butitwasemphasizedbythedipthatprecededitbetween4.5K-5.5K.ThesecondelevationistheoneImentionedearlierwhendiscussingtimbre,anditisariseat10K.Inmylistening,the10Kpeakaddedaslightsharpnessandzingtomymusic.Also,becauseitwasafairlywideelevation,itsoundedtomeasthoughtheharmonicsbetween8.5Kand12Khadalittletoomuchenergy,whichalteredthebalancebetweenovertonesandfundamentalsinawaythatmadethetimbrecomeacrossasslightlymetallic. ThedegreetowhichthesepeakswillaffectyourlisteningexperienceIthinkwillcomedowntohowsensitiveyouaretotreble,andwhatmusicyoulistento.Asanexample,IpersonallyhadnoissueswiththetreblewhenlisteningtoJazz,classical,ormostlyinstrumentalmusic;evenonsomerockalbumslikeAbbeyRoad,Ihadnoissueswiththehighs.However,onbrighterrecordsliketheArcticMonkeys’TranquilityBaseHotelandCasino,thetreblecouldbecomefatiguing.Still,IhavetomentionthatthisisnowhereneartheleveloffatiguingthataheadphonewithanexaggeratedpeakliketheDT1990Prois.Lastly,forresolutionheClearis–again–veryimpressive.Sofar,ithasthemostdetailedhighsIhaveheardinheadphones;deliveringaslightlycleanerimageinthetreblerangethantheLCD-2andAnanda. Soundstage,Imaging,andLayering Intermsofsoundstagewidth,theClearisnotthemostimpressiveasitisnotmuchwiderthananHD600-seriesheadphone.However,ithasasoundstagepresentationthatfeelsverywell-definedandaccurate.TheClearhasgreatimaging,andaccuratelydeterminesthedirectionalityandpositionofsoundwithnoobviousgapsthatbreakthesoundscape.Moreover,theClearhadaremarkableabilitytoseparateanddistinguishthedifferentlayersandinstrumentsofthemusicIlistenedto.TheAnandawasveryimpressiveinthisregard,butIactuallyfeltasthoughthecleardidabetterjobatdiscerningtheindividualvocalandinstrumentlinesincomplexpassages,anditdidsowithoutcompromisingtheintegrityofthemusic.Iwaslisteningtooneofmyfavoritesongs,“AndYourBirdCanSing,”andIwassincerelyimpressedbyhowwelldefinedtheelectricguitarsthatharmonizeinthemainriffsounded. Dynamics The FocalClear hasthebest,andpunchiestdynamicsthatIhaveheardinadynamic-driverheadphone.WhileIstillthoughtthattheLCD-2performedslightlybetterinthiscategory,theClearstillhasagreatpunchandslamqualitytoit.Bassnoteshitwithauthority,anddeliveranicephysicalsenseofimpact.Keystrokesandstrikesoninstrumentslikethepianoandxylophonehavetherightamountoftensionbehindthem,andtheClearreproducesthesenseofweightthattheyareplayedwith.Stringinstrumentsalsosoundoutstanding,astheyhaveaveryrealisticbloomandimpactintheirlowerresonanceswhilstalsodeliveringthattop-endattack.ThisqualitygivesmusicplayedthroughtheclearaveryengagingandlivelyqualitythatIpersonallyreallyenjoy. EQ WiththeClear,ImostlyappliedsubtleEQmodifiersthatwhenengagedtogethermadeforsomefirmsonicchanges,mainlyat1.2Kand10K.IwasaimingatbringingtheClearclosertomypersonaltarget(whichisfairlysimilartotheHarmanTargetCurve).Inaway,Iwantedtomakea“supercharged”HD660SoutoftheClearasIalreadyfounditsomewhatsimilartotheHD600-seriestonality,butwithsuperiortechnicalperformance.IfyouwouldliketotryoutmyEQprofileforthe FocalClear,youcaninputthesesettingsinyourequalizationsoftwareofchoice: LowShelfat115hz,+3dBQof0.7 Peakat1200hz,-3dBQof1.41 Peakat4500hz+1.5dBQof3 Peakat6000hz,-3dBQof4 Peakat10000hz,-6dBQof3 Conclusion Forme,thereareacoupleofdifferenttakeawaysafterlisteningtotheClear.Thefirstthing(thisismostlyapersonalone)isthatoutofalltheheadphonesIhavelistenedto,withpriceasanon-factor,the FocalClear ismypersonalchoiceatthetimeofmakingthisreview.Ireallyappreciatewhatitstechnicalperformanceiscapableofreproducing,andIreallyenjoyitstonalityafterusingEQ.However,IstruggletosaywhetherornotIrecommenditatits$1499pricepoint.AtthatpriceitcompetescloselywithheadphonesthatIhavenotyethadthechancetolistentoandcompareto,suchasthehighly-regardedHiFiManArya,thehigh-performanceAudeze LCD-X,andeventheartisanZMFAuteur.ComparedtotheheadphonesIhavelistenedto,IstillthinkthatwithnoEQtheAnandahasamorepleasantnaturalfrequencyresponse,andtheClearisonlyanincrementalupgradeontheperformancefrontwhencomparedwiththeLCD-2. Havingsaidthat,Idothinkthatforthoselookingforaflagship-classupgradefromanHD600-seriesheadphonetheClearisyourbestoption,astheotherheadphonesaroundthispricerangeandperformancelevelarenotreallyreminiscentofthoseSennheiserheadphonesinthewaythattheClearis;alsoworthmentioningthatitutilizesadynamicdriver,soitdoesnothavetheplanar-magneticqualityintimbrethatsomelistenersdonotenjoy.Overall,IfindtheCleartobeafantasticheadphonethatdeliversanimpressivesonicexperiencedeliveredinabeautifulpackage;Ijustthinkthatmaybeitwouldbemorecompetitiveataroundthe$1,199pricepoint. Watchthevideoreviewhere: --- Jointhe discussion aboutthe FocalClear at"The HEADPHONE Community". BuytheFocalClearon Headphones.com here,atthebestpriceavailable. --- «BacktoBlog RelatedArticles Get$1000OfftheFocalArche 2minuteread AurorusAudioBorealisReview 11minuteread AbyssDianaPhiReviewwithDMSPadMod-Lightweightplanarflagship 17minuteread Hey!Lookslikeyou'vechangedyourthemeandnowDropInBlog'scodeneedstobere-addedtoyourthemefiles. 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