Focal Clear vs Elex Review: The Clear Difference - Audio ...

Where the Elex's bass is tighter and lighter, the Clear's feel weightier and nuanced. The Clear's better bass resolution, rumble, and refinement ... Skiptomaincontent FocalClearvsElexReview:TheClearDifference Fc-Construct | March04,2021 Getlink Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email OtherApps IntroductionAlittlewhileago,IpostedmyreviewoftheFocalElexthinkingitwouldn'tbeawhileuntilIhadachancetoreviewanotherFocalheadphone.Wellloandbehold,thefolksoveratheadphones.comreachedouttomeandaskedifI'dliketoreviewtheFocalClearafterseeingaconversationIhadwithafriendonDiscordaskingifI'dcomparetheElextotheClear.Obviously,Iwasn'tgoingtosayno.SohereismytakeontheFocalClearvs.theFocalElex.DoreadmyFocalElexreviewbeforethisone!I'mgoingtoassumeyouhaveforthisreview.IalsodidavideoversionofthisreviewonYoutube!Thoughthecontentismostlythesame,Itakeamoreconversationalstyleinthevideothatchangesthedynamicsofthepresentationsocheckthatoneouttooforafullerpicture!HousekeepingBeforeIstartthough,there'safewhousekeepingitemsIneedtopointoutregardingtheClear.First,itcosts$1,500vs.the$700Elex.Thatsaid,I'mfairlycertainyoucouldprobablybuyitclosertothe$1,000markifyoufindasweetdealorgotheusedroute.Speakingofdeals,mostofyouareprobablyalreadyawareofthisbuttheClearissoldthroughFocal'sdealerswhiletheElexcanonlybeobtainedfrom(Mass)Drop.I'llgettotheimplicationsofthisintheconclusionbutitisadistinctiontokeepinmind.Asforthebuild,theElexusesthesamepadsastheClearbutthesamedriversastheElear.ThoseconcernedoverthequalitycontrolovertheElex'sdriversmayfeelmoreateasewiththeClearasIhaven'tseenreportsofitsfailure.Ofcourse,thisisamuchmorecomplicatedtopicwithalotofmisinformationfloatingouttheresoIwon'tdiscussitanyfurther.IalsowanttopointouttheexistenceoftheFocalClearProwhichALSOcosts$1,500.Despitethepromoniker,thereisnosounddifference.Theonlydifferenceisthered/blackaestheticsandanextrasetofpadswiththeClearProvs.thetwoextrasetsofcablesyougetintheClear.Themaincablealsochangesfromacloth-likefabrictoamoretraditionalrubberycoiledcableontheClearPro.Tobehonest,Idon'tseewhyyouwouldn'tgetaClearProsincethoseextrapadsarea$200addedvalue.Finally,inthetimethatI'vewrittenthisreview,itlooksliketheFocalClearProMghasbeenreleasedat...$1,500.Nowordonthenon-Proversion.Idon'tknowwhat'sgoingonwiththeFocalClearlineupbutifIwereabettingman,I'dsaytheMgversionismeanttoreplacethestandardClear.Thisreviewwillbefocusedontheregularversionvs.theElexbutwatchoutforthoseMgreviews!Finallyfinally,I'dliketothankheadphones.comforsendingmealoanerunitoftheFocalCleartoreview.AlltheyaskisthatImentiontheirnamehere.Asalways,thisreviewwillconsistofmyhonestthoughts.Phewthatwasalot.Let'sgetstarted.What'sintheBoxTheFocalClear'sboxisaminimalistblackboxwithaslideoutdesign.InsideisacarryingcasecontainingtheClearalongwitha3.5mmanda1/4inadapter.There'salsoaboxthatopensuplikeabookcontainingtwomorecables.Oneisa1/4incableandtheotherisanXLRcable.Theyhavethesamelengths.Finally,there'sausermanual.ThecablesarethesameasthecableontheFocalElex,exceptwithalightergray.Itissimilarlyawful.Thefabricsheathingintroducesatonofcablenoise.There'saninsaneamountofcablememoryandconstantlykinksintheshapeitwasshippedin.PleasegetanewcableforyourselfifyoupickupaClear.Asforthebuilditself,it'sbuiltexactlyliketheElexexceptforalightgraycolorinsteadofallblack.Ididnoticethatthepadsandheadbandhadamoresubstantialfeelcomparedtomyworn-in2-yearoldElexthatgaveinatafairlylighttouch.Butotherwise,they'rethesame.They'reheftybutcomfortablefor2-3hoursbeforeIneedabreaktorelaxmyneck.Igetareallynicesealwiththeseheadphonessonocomplaintsthere.SoundTheClearandtheElexsoundsurprisinglysimilarinalotofwaysyethavesubtledifferencesthatgivelifetoeachindividualheadphone.Themaindifferencereallycomesdowntotuning.Thoughthey'retunedverycloselytoeachother,theElexdrawsmyattentiontothetophalfofthefrequencyresponsewhiletheClearfocusesmythoughtsonthelowermidsandbass.WheretheElexemphasizestheprimarymelodiesofatrack,theClearremindsmenottoforgetaboutthesubtletiesinthebackground.BassThebassandlowermidsoftheClearsoundliketheyhaveabouta1-2dBbumpovertheElex.Thiselevationisn'tfocusedaroundsaythesubbassormidbass,butratherit'sanoverallperceptionofmeatinessinthelowendoftheClearcomparedtotheleanerElex.WheretheElex'sbassistighterandlighter,theClear'sfeelweightierandnuanced.TheClear'sbetterbassresolution,rumble,andrefinementislightlyreminiscentoftheUtopia.ThisimprovedbassqualityandelevationiswhatmakesmeconsidertheCleartobemorelowendfocusedcomparedtotheElex.It'sasiftheCleariscomfortablespendingtimeexploringtheintricaciesofthenotesinthebassandlowermids;I'mabletomoreeasilypickuponthetrailingbackendcharacterofnotesthatmaygetpassedoverwhentheElexslamsandmoveson.Ansimpleexampleisthekickdrum:ontheElex,Imostlyhearthedefinedattackofthebeaterhead.OntheClear,thebodyofthekickblendsseamlesslyintofillandroundouteachnotewithanaddedlayerofcharacter.Thesamecouldbesaidforthetomsandeventheguitars,thoughtoalesserextent. Insomeways,thebassoftheClearsoundslikewhatItriedtoEQtheElexto.ThoughItriedtoincreasesubbassquantityforalargerimpact,Iwasn'tpleasedwithmyEQasIfoundtheElexneededtoremainleantogetthemostoutofitscleanslam.Byadjustingthebass,thatcleannesswouldbemarredever-so-slightly,enoughthatIfeltthetradeoffwasn'tworthit.ThoughtheCleardoesn'tsolvethatissue,thesenseofphysicalityandweightinessoflownoteswasthemissingpieceofthepuzzleIdidn'thaveinmyEQattempts.WhiletheCleardidn'tmanagetoachievemydreamofaclean,thunderoussubbassslamlikeIwastryingforontheElex,Iwasmetwithamorematuresolution.ForthoseconsideringtheClearvs.theElex,thisiswhereI'dsaytheClearhasitsmostdefiniteedgeovertheElexunlessyou'readiehardfanofaleantuning.MidsContinuingthestoryfromthebass,thelowermidsoftheCleararewarmerandmorecoherentthantheElex.WhatstandsoutabouttheClearisitscoherencyandnuanceinthattransitionregionbetweenthebassandthelowermids.IfindalotofheadphonesandIEMsstrugglegettingsoundacrossinthiscriticalregionbuttheClearhasnotroubleatall.Tobefair,theElexdoesn'thaveanissueinthisareaeither.Ithandlesiteasily.Butitsleannessdoesmasksomeofthechallengesthatareoftenpresentedhere. Forhowgoodthelowermidsare,it'stheuppermidsoftheClearthatfallshort.There'sabitofedginesstotheuppermidsthatmakeitslightlysibilantoncertainvocals.ThesharpSsssoundisespeciallypronouncedonwispyfemalevocalsorwhenasharpbreathistaken.AsmentionedinmyElexreview,theElexseemstoalwaystoethelinewhenitcomestovocalsibilance;itgetsrighttothethresholdwithoutevercrossingit.AsimilarsortofeffecthappenswiththeClearwhereIcansenseitstretchesrightuptothatthreshold...andddstepsoveritoccasionally.WhilethelowermidsoftheCleardoessmoothoutthesoundofthemidsasawhole,itisn'tenoughtosoftentheedginessoftheuppermids.Assuch,IthinktheElexdoeshaveabettertonalbalanceforvocals.Thatsaid,IdowanttoemphasizehowsubtlethisdifferenceintheuppermidscanbebetweentheClearandElex,especiallydependingonthevocalist.Forsomesingers,IhadtoA/Btestthetrackstocheckifitwasn'tjusttherecording. IfindthatinstrumenttoneisslightlybetterontheClearasitisn'tasaffectedbytheuppermidsedginessnearlyasmuchasvocalsare.ThelowermidswarmthandcoherencyoftheClearworksbeautifullyifyou'relookingforsomethingliketheemotionalsoundsofamoodyelectricguitar.TheClear'srenditionofthesestringedinstrumentsreallyshineinquietedsegments.Butifyouprimarilyenjoyhigh-pacedrockormetaltracks,theElex'sleanmidsmaybeadvantageous.Asmentionedatthestart,IfindtheElexisverygoodatbringingforththemainmelodiesofarecordingandpartofthatreasonisitsabilitytosoundeffortlesslycleaninthemids. TrebleThetrebleoftheClearandElexisprettyinteresting.Neitheristrulybrighterthantheother,thoughsometimesthatuppermidsedginessdoesmakeitswayintothelowertrebleoftheClear.TheElex'strebleispervasivelyforward;Icontinuouslyhearthecrispsoundofthehatsandcymbalsintrackswheretheyhaveanylevelofprominence.TheClear'streblearemoremellow,withthewarmthfromthelowermidsbalancingtheoveralltone.Becauseit'slesscrispthantheElexandhasalengtheneddecay,theClear'strebleoftentimessoundsjustabitmorenaturaltomewheretheElexcansometimesfeelalittleexaggerated.Itaddsasenseofmusicalityandemotionthatleadstomelancholicenjoyability.IfindthattheClearisalsomoreforgivingofpoorrecordingsasitdoesn'tamplifythemetallicsoundofbadlyrecordedcymbalsnearlyasmuchastheElexdoes.Intermsofairiness,neitherheadphonereallyhasmuchtopendairorsparkle. PresentationFromastagingperspective,they'reextremelyclose.Forsoundstage,I'dsaytheElextakesasmalledgehere,maybeabout5%largeratmost.Imagingwise,IwanttosaytheClearpullsaheadthoughpartofthatperceptionmaybebecausetheClearsoundsjustabitmorecoherentthantheElex.Onaresolutionlevel,theClearhasbetterresolution,mostlyinthebassandlowermidswhereit'smorenuanced.Thoughitishardtotellifitssimplybecausethere'smorequantity.Regardless,thelowendoftheClearismoresatisfyingandit'swheretheClearpullsaheadoftheElex.Ithastheabilitytomakesubtletiesinthebackgroundpopjustabitmore.WhenI'mlisteningtoafamiliartrack,backgroundinstrumentsandmelodiesaremorenoticeable.Especiallythosethatplayinthelowerfrequenciessuchadeepsnareroll.TheClearmanagestopaintaclear,nuancedpictureofthosenotes.WhenIlistenforthesamethingontheElex,Icanhearitbutit'slessnoticeableandtheoverall"image"inmyheadisfuzzier.InstrumentseparationandlayeringisbetterontheClearaswell.TheoverallpresentationisjustalittlemorematureontheClearandelevatesitssoundcomparedtotheElex.I'dsaythat,tosomeextent,thesheerdynamismoftheElex,itsslamandleantuning,causesitglossoversomeofthefinerdetailsthattheClearlaysout.IdothinktheElexisthemoredynamicheadphonebyasmallmarginandsoundsabitcleanerasawholethankstoitstuning.ShouldYouBuyIt?Yes,ifyouwantsomethingalittlethickerthantheElexandhavedeepenoughpocketsforit.LetmebethefirsttosaythattheClearwillNOTbeatthevaluetheElexbringstothetable.ForallthecompareandcontrastI'vegiveninthisreview,bothheadphoneshonestlysoundquitesimilartoeachother.Diminishingreturnsandthelike;thetruthiswhenheadphonesarethisgood,differencesareoftenpartiallyexaggerated(unintentionally)justtobeabletoillustratethem.At$700,theElexisprettymuchthebestvalueHi-FiheadphoneyoucancurrentlygetIMHO.TheHD600isnicebuttheFocalElexandCleararetrulyinadifferentleaguefromit. At$1,500,theClearismorethandoublethepriceoftheElex.Sowhatdoesitbringtothetable?Ultimately,itreallycomesdowntothatlayerofmusicalityinthelowend.ItscoherencyandnuancebringsthistactilephysicalitytothelowermidsandbassthatcannotbesaidoftheElex.Combinedwithbetterinstrumenttoneandamoremellowtreble,theClearhasanoverallmorematuresoundthantheaggressivelyslammyElex.Butitsgreatestflawistheslightuppermidsedginessandsibilanceonvocals.Forthosewhoareextremelysensitivetovocalsibilancenomatterhowsmallorinfrequent,thatmaybeenoughtoprefertheElex.Otherwise,Ithinkthewarmer,bassiersignatureoftheClearshouldappealtomorepeople.Goingbacktothequestionofworth:oneofthebiggerjustificationsforpayingthehugepremiumisqualitycontrolanddealersupport.InmyElexreview,ItouchedbrieflyonthepotentialconcernsovertheElex'sdriverfailure.TheClearsdonothavethisissue(oratleast,nowherenearthesameextent).Furthermore,withtheClearyouget3yearsofwarrantyfromFocalinsteadof1yearfromDropwiththeElex.Obviously,howgoodthiswarrantywillbewouldpartiallydependonhowgoodyourdealerisbutingeneral,aftermarketsupportfromdedicatedaudiodealerslikeheadphones.comorsimilarcompaniesshouldbebetterthanDrop.WhileIdon'tthinkit'sworthmorethandoublethepriceoftheElex,itissomethingtoconsider.Andmakenomistake,noteverynewClearsellsat$1,500.Ifyoumessageadealerandasknicely,theymaygiveyouasweetlittledealonthem.Orifyou'reluckyandthere'sanopenboxClearinstock,youmightgetaprettygooddiscountonthattoo.Orevenausedsetsincethe3-yearwarrantytransfers.Allthattosay,Iwouldn'tbesurprisedifyoucouldfindaClearforaround$1,000orlesswithalittlebitofluck,makingthevaluepropositionmuchbetter.Toconcludethen,IsupposeIshouldtellyouwhichIprefer.It'sactuallyaprettysimpledecision.SinceIownanElex,I'llstickwithitfornow.Ifyoufollowmyreviews,you'llknowthatIlikealeantuningandforwardtreblesotheElexisrightinmywheelhouse.ButifIownedneitherandassumingthepricedifferencewasn'tanissue,I'dprobablygettheClear.WhileIwillabsolutelymissthesuperiorvocalbalanceandleancleannessoftheElex,thephysicalityandcoherencyinthelowendoftheClearisquitehardtobeat. WrittenbyFc-Construct 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rantngMarch6,2021at1:32PMThankyou,averyinformativecomparison.IwasluckyenoughtopickupausedClearforlessthanthepriceofanewElexsoI’mextremelyhappy.Ijustwishthepadsweremoredurable/easiertoclean.ReplyDeleteRepliesReplyUnknownMarch15,2021at2:05PMIncrediblereview,thankyou!Questionforyou....CurrentlyIownonlytheHD600andIwanttoupgrade.I'minCanadaandlookingused.Myoptionsare:1)$1400CDNforamintconditionusedClear($2,135CDNisanewpriceforreference)2)$1,500CDNtobuybothausedELEXandANANDAIstheCleargoodenoughtobemyoneandonlyheadphoneforthe$1400?Because,forbasicallythesamepriceIcouldhaveaplanarandadynamic.Ican'tdecidewhattodoandtimeisrunningout!ReplyDeleteRepliesUnknownMarch15,2021at2:06PMIshouldfurtherclarifyasIcan'teditthe$1,500getsmeboththeheadphonesfromthesameperson.DeleteRepliesReplyFc-ConstructMarch18,2021at7:18PMHi,sorryforthelatereply.Itriedtoreplyearlierbutitlookslikeitdidn'tgothrough.IwouldgettheElexandAnanda.TheElexandCleararecloseenoughthatIwouldn'treallylosesleepoverhavingoneortheother.Sotobeabletogetaniceplanartocomplementthemisagreatdealinmyopinion!DeleteRepliesReplyReplyAddcommentLoadmore... 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