Review: Focal Clear | The Master Switch

Focal Clear ($1,499) ; Type: Dynamic ; Impedance: 55Ω ; Sensitivity: 104dB ; What We Like: Refined and classy sound, great build and accessories. Crystal. PhotoCredit TheMasterSwitch Breadcrumb  / TheMasterSwitch  / In-DepthReviews  / Headphones  / Review:FocalClear By: RobBoffard /about| LastUpdated:March26,2020 Weuseaffiliatelinksand mayreceiveasmallcommissiononpurchases.Readmoreaboutus. FocalClear($1,499) Type:DynamicImpedance:55ΩSensitivity:104dBWhatWeLike:Refinedandclassysound,greatbuildandaccessories.WhatWeDon't:VerysimilartootherFocalmodels,quiteexpensive.SeetheFocalClear 4.3 TomoreestablishedheadphonecompanieslikeSennheiserandAUDEZE,itmusthavefeltlikegettinghitwithafreighttrain.WhenFrenchspeakermanufacturerFocalmadethedecisiontopushdeepintotheheadphonemarket,fewwouldhavepredictedthatthey’dhavethislevelofsuccess.TheClearistheirfirstrealtestoflongevity:aheadphonethataimstobridgethegapbetweenthecompany’shigh-endmodels.Inthisreview,webreakdowntheClear’ssound, design,comfortandfit,packagingandaccessories,specs andmore.Toseehowitstacksup,seeourlistofthebesthigh-endheadphones.   Sound ClarityandDetail We’lladmit:whenwefirstsawtheFocalClear,weweresceptical.AreskinnedversionoftheElear?For$500more?Tous,itseemedasifFocalweremuddyingthewatersalittlebit,succumbingtotheiPhonemaladyofreleasingincrementalupgrades.AndnothingwouldhavetorpedoedtheFocalClearheadphonesfasterthanhavinganidenticalsoundsignaturetotheiryoungerbrother-theidentically-designedElear.Focalabsolutelyhadtopulloutallthestopshere,ortheentireexercisewouldhavebeenwrittenoffasnothingmorethannakedprofiteering. Acrosstheentirespectrum,thingsfeelrefinedandclear–moresothanintheirpredecessor,whichwasalreadyprettygood.There’salevelofdetailthatisn’tpresentinthecheaper(byabout$500)Elears,andacertainclassandclaritytothelowendthatwefoundrefreshing.Itwasclearfromtheverystartthatthesesoundedlikeadifferent,newerpairofheadphones,thanksnodoubttothetuningworkthatFocal’sengineershaveputin.Whilewedidoccasionallywishthatthemidswerejustatouchwarmerandmoreforward,theclaritythesepresentedwasunmatchedinthisparticularpricerange.Thebitesofelectricguitarsandthecrisphitofsnaredrumsreallycamethrough,andtheheadphonesshowedoffsomesuperbdynamics.Thelow-endisn’tasweightyasothermodels,butitfeelstightandcontrolled,withenoughthumptosatisfymostpeople.Certainlyenoughtosatisfyus.Wetestedtheseonavarietyofamplifiers,rangingfroma$99SchiitFulla(fullreviewhere)toa$10,000GoldmundTelos2,andtheyalwaysperformedatthetopoftheirgame.Obviously,havingdecentamplificationalwayshelped,butevenwhenwelistenedtothemoff simplesmartphone,theyperformedwell.Notwithquiteasmuchvolume,tobesure,butstillsolid. FocalClearvsElearvsUtopia Goodnews:theCleardon’tjustsoundgood,theysounddistinctive.LiketheElear,thedriversare40mmaluminum-magnesium,andaredesignedinanMshape.Theyarepackagedwithacoppervoicecoil,andtogether,thesetwoelementsworktogethertocontrolthedynamicsandthebass.Wehaven’thadacloselookattheClear’sdrivers–althoughwehavewiththeonesintheUtopia(fullreviewhere),whichwereheavyenoughtokillifyouthrewoneofthemwiththerightamountofforce–butwhatwecansayisthattheydoonehellofajobwithyouraudio. ComparingthesetotheElear,theaudiospecsdon’tshowahugeamountofdifference.TheElearis80Ω,whiletheClearpresentsat55Ω(Meaningit’seasiertodrive,andrequiresslightlylesspower).TheClearalsooffersaslightlywiderfrequencyrange,peakingat28kHztotheElear’s23kHz.Sensitivityisidentical,at104dB,althoughtheClearhasslightlylowerTotalHarmonicDistortion(at0.25%/1kHztotheElear’s0.3%/1kHz).TheElearalreadysoundedspectacular.TheClearupstheante,sharpeningeverythingwelikedaboutthesoundwhileaddingitsownspecialflavour.Andbytheway,ifeverythingwejustwroteiscompletegobbledygook,we’vegotafullexplainerarticlethatbreaksdownallthecommonheadphonespecswe’vejustmentioned,andmore. ItmustbesaidthatifyoualreadyowntheElear,you’renotgoingtogetanabsolutelyenormousupgradebybuyingthese,andwhiletherearedefinitelydifferences,theydosharethesamesoundsignature–asyoumightexpect.Buthavingspentafewweekslisteningtothese,we’resatisfiedthatthisisasignificantenoughupgradetogetitoutofiPhone5CXS+territory.Similartheymaybe,buttherearedefinitedifferences.ComparedtomodelsliketheaforementionedElearandtheSennheiserHD800s,thesemorethanholdtheirown. Design HousingandBuildQuality Indesignterms,theseheadphonesarefunctionallyidenticaltotheElear.Theydon’tjustlooksortofthesame;outsideofadifferentcolourscheme,theylookexactlythesame.Admittedly,it’sadesignthatworksincrediblywell,andisdistinctiveenoughtospotfromadistance.Theseareopen-backheadphones,withameshgrilleontheoutsideofthehousing,protectingthedriver.Thecentralelement,withthecompanylogosurroundedbyacircledetailingnotonlythematerialthedriverisconstructedfrom(aluminum-magnesium,sinceyouask)butalsothattheheadphoneswereFabriqueenFrance,feelsaswell-builtandsubstantialasitdidontheElear. Theearcupsthemselvesaresoft,squashy,andbreathable,andalsoremovableincaseyouneedtoaccesstheserialnumber,orswapthemoutatalaterdate–afeaturewealwaysliketosee.It’snotthatit’sanespeciallynewconcept–swappableearcupshavebeenaroundsincethedaysoftheoldBowers&WilkinsP7headphones,whichcameoutin2016(andwhichyoucannowbuyforunder$200,whichyoushould,becausetheyareawesome).Whileitisslightlystrangethattheleatherheadbandhasthesamepaddingunderneathasthematerialonthecups,itstilllooksandfeelsverygoodindeed.Weirdly,thehingesareactuallyspring-loaded,meaningthecupsdropbackintoarestingpositionafteryoupushonthem. ColorDifferences Andreally…that’skindofit.Thebiggestdifferencehereisthecolor;whiletheElearcameinblack,theClearcomesinatastefulshadeofgrey,withsilvermetallicaccents.AswithallFocalproducts,itfeelswellbuiltandsubstantial,butwejustcan’thelpthinkingthatthedesignisperhapsalittlebitlazy.Yes,itworks,andworkswell–andifwe’regoingtostickwithanearliermetaphor,it’snotliketheiPhonechangedsubstantiallybetweeniterations.Butifyou’regoingtomakesomethinglookidenticaltoitspredecessor,andnotevenchangethenamebeyondasingleletter,itdoesn’treallyaddtotheillusionthatyou’veputalotofthoughtintoit.Whileitisalittlefrustrating,itmustbesaidthatwedon’tconsiderthesepointstodetractfromtheoverallpackageallthatmuch.Andthistrick,ofreleasingaslightlymoreexpensivereskinnedversion,issomethingthatplentyothermanufacturershavetriedbefore–tohighlightjustoneexample,whenMrSpeakersreleasedtheverygoodEtherFlowheadphonestoreplacetheoriginalEther,thedesignremainedlargelyunchanged.Sodon’treadtoomuchintoit:thisisstillanexceptionallywell-designedpairofheadphones.   NewerFocalHeadphoneModels Focalarenothingifnotprolific.SincethereleaseoftheClear,theyhavecomeoutwithmultipleheadphonemodelsatavarietyofprices.Thetwomoststandoutinourmindsaretheclosed-backElegiaandStellia.Theformercosts$899–significantlylessthantheClear–andismarketedasanalternativetothesub-$1,000open-backElearheadphones.Thelatterisverymuchahigh-endmodelthatissecondonlytothegroundbreakingUtopia:aclosed-back,leather-wrapped,$2,999monsterbutmakesmincemeatofanysongyouputthroughit.Inareallygoodway. Honestly?It'salittledifficulttosaythateitherofthesenewmodelsarebetterorworsethantheClear.Theyarejustdifferent.Andifyoutakeawayonethingfromthis,it'sthatFocalputoutahugerangeofheadphones,andtheoneyougoforisverymuchdependentonthesizeofyourwallet,andthewayyoulikeyourmusic.Sorry–weknowthatprobablyisn'tveryhelpfuladvice.Butwe'vetestedmoreheadphonesfromFocalthanjustaboutanyothercompany,andthat'sthewaywefeel. Comfort&Fit WeightandClampingPressure OneofthethingsthatreallysettheUtopiaapartfromthecompetitionwasjusthowcomfortableitwastowearforlongperiods.Otherhigh-endmodels,liketheAUDEZELCD-4,canbedifficulttowearafteracoupleofhours,onaccountofthefactthateventuallythemusclesinyourneckstopbeingabletoholdthemup.That’snotaproblemthatFocalhas.Aswithalmostalltheirothermodels,theClearfeelsterrifictowear.IthasanidenticalweighttotheElear(justunderapound),andtheclampingpressurefeelsperfectlyengineered–somethingtodo,nodoubt,withthosespring-loadedhinges.Weveryhappilyworetheseforhoursatatime–thesoftearcupsneverfeltliketheyweregoingtocauseusanydiscomfort,andthespaceinthemiddleiswideenoughtoaccommodateallbutthelargestofears.Anddespiteourmisgivingsabouttheheadband,it’sverycomfortabletowear.Thesemaybebulkyoverearheadphones,butwhenyou’rewearingthem,theycertainlydon’tfeellikeit. Accessories&Packaging Cables Itmustbesaid:Focaldefinitelydon’tskimpontheaccessories.Ifanything,there’sanembarrassmentofricheshere.Yougetnotonebutthreedifferentdetachablecables,allofwhichasheathinavaguelychequerboardblack-and-whitepattern,andallofwhichcomewithsolidmetalconnectors.Yougeta4”cablewitha3.5mmplugforsmartphoneuse,a10”cablewiththestandard6.3mmplug,andyouevengeta10”balancedcablewitha4-pointXLRconnector.Allthecablescomewithniftyvelcrostrapsbuiltin,tohelpyouholdthingsinplacewhilenotinuse. BoxandCarryCase Theothermainaccessoryisaterrificcarry-case,withahard,texturedsurfaceandasubstantialziprunningaroundit,aswellasausefulcarryhandle.Inside,foaminsertsholdtheheadphonesinplace,andthereisaspaceforyourchosencable.It’soneofthebettercarrycaseswe’veseen,andiseasy-to-use,flippingopeninaclamshelldesign.ThepackagingfortheClearisgood,ifunspectacular.Itshiesawayfromthestandardblack-box-with-foam-insertsasseenwiththeElearandtheUtopia,goingformoreofaflower-likedesignthatopensoutintomultiplesections.WesawasimilarsetupwiththePSBM4U-8(fullreviewhere),andweratherlikedit-itgotthejobdone,withoutbeingoverlyflashy,orgettingintheway. WhatWeLike TheCleardeliversrefinedandclassysoundthatstandswiththebesthigh-endheadphonesavailable. ImprovesontheoriginalformulaoftheElear,whilemakingjustenoughkeydifferencesinaudioqualitytomatter. ​TheClearcomeswithsubstantialaccessories,andoneofthebettercarry-caseswe’veencountered.   WhatWeDon’t TheClear’sdesignistoosimilartotheElear-thebasichousingisvirtuallyunchanged. SincetheClear’sdebut,FocalreleasedtheElex,whichisalsoalmostidenticaltotheElear.Itmakesthingsconfusing,anddifficulttotelltheheadphonesapart. ​Theseheadphonesmaybealittletooexpensiveforsome-evenwithadiscount,they’rearound$1,300atthetimeofwriting. ComparisonTable: Headphones Price Weight Type Drivers Impedance Sensitivity FocalClear $1,499 1lb Dynamic 40mm 55Ω 104dB ZMFAeolus $1,200 15.9oz Dynamic 100mm 300Ω Unknown HiFiMANHE1000V2 $2,999 14.8oz Planar Unknown 35Ω 90dB FocalElear $869 1lb Dynamic 40mm 80Ω 104dB SennheiserHD800 $1,900 11.6oz Dynamic 42mm 300Ω 102dB WantEvenMoreMasterSwitch?SignUpForOurWeeklyNewsletter! TheCompetition Thebiggestquestionwehavetoanswerwhenreviewingtheseis:aretheyworththeextramoneywhensomethingliketheElearexists?Because,again,theyareincrediblysimilar.Theyhavevirtuallyidenticaldesign,similarspecs,andatthebaseofit,asimilarsoundsignature.Whattheyhadtoprovetouswasthattheyrepresentedenoughofaleapforwardtojustifytheextrafivehundredbucks.Wethinktheyachievedthatgoal,butifyoudisagree,herearesomeviablealternatives. Ifyoulikeyourheadphonestohavealittlebitmoreofahumantouch,ifyoupreferwoodtometal,thengiveZachMehrbach'scansago.HisZMFseries,whichatthetimeofwritingisabouttogetanewopen-backplanarmodel,isstellar.Whenwefirstwrotethisreview,hislineupconsistedofexclusivelyclosed-backmodels,butthat'schanged.For$1,200,youcanbuyyourselfaZMFAeolus(fullreviewhere),anexquisitepairofopenheadphonesthatmorethancompetewiththe$1,499Clear.Whilewedothinkthattheydon’tsoundquiteasassuredastheClear,theymakeupforitbyhavingsomeofthebestsoundstagewe’veevercomeacross.Therealismandspaceisjustunreal.Bewarned,ifyoudodecidetogofortheAeolus,youwillbeinforalongwait–notbecausetheyareoutofstock,butbecauseeachoneishandmadetoyourspecifications. It’saconsistentsurprisejusthowwelltheHiFiMANHE1000V2headphoneshaveenduredovertheyears.They’vehunginthere,easilycompetingwithheadphonestwicetheirprice.Theyaresurprisinglylight,andalthoughtheyrequireafairamountofpowertodriveproperly,theywillrewardyouwithclearandelegantsoundthattakesfulladvantageoftheopenbackdesign.Fortherecord,westillprefertheFocalUtopia,butwewouldneversaynotoalisteningsessionwiththese.TheyarehigherqualitythantheClear,andagoodalternativeifyouhavecashtoburn. TheSennheiserHD800isreallytheclassicoptionhere.They’retheelderstatesmanoftheheadphoneworld,withaclassicsoundthatmanystillclaimhasyettobebettered.Wedisagree-they’regood,butadvancementshavebeenmadesincethen,andtheycansoundjustatouchthinnow.Allthesame,they’reaclassicforareason,andwhilewethinktheClearisslightlybettertheseheadphoneswillsatisfyallbutthemostdemandinglisteners. Andyoucan,ofcourse,gofortheFocalElear.WegotintoalotmoredetailabouthowtheseheadphonesdiffertotheClearinthereviewabove,butwecansaythatasthepricecontinuestodrop,theywillcontinuetobeoneofthebestpairsofheadphonescurrentlyavailable.Wedon’tthinktheyarequiteasgoodasthingsliketheEikon,buttheystilldoaverysolidjob,especiallyforthemoneyyoupay.Ifyoudon'twanttospendwhatyouwouldfortheClear,thesearewellworthlookingat,andremainanexcellentpairofheadphones. But:whenitcomesdowntoit,wethinktheFocalClearsoundmorerefinedandslightlymoreelegantthantheiryoungersibling,withquantifiableevidencethatworkhasbeendonetoimprovetheoverallexperience.Theyofferamuchwiderrangeofaccessories,allofwhichfeelworthowning.Thesedon’tjustfeellikeasimplereskinningofacoreconcept;rather,theyofferdefiniteimprovements,andtheyactasaveryeffectivebridgebetweenthesub—$1,000Elearandthe$3,995Utopia.Itmustbesaidthatifyouowntheformer,you’vegotverylittlereasontobuythese,butifyoudon’t,thiscouldbeaveryclassyentryintothehigh-endheadphoneworld.IftheEleardidn’texist,thesewouldberevolutionary.Asitis,theyaremerelyvery,verygood. SeetheFocalClear SeetheBestHigh-EndHeadphones PoweredbyDrupal LearnMoreAboutHeadphones Sometimes,youneedtotakeastepback,lookathowyou’relisteningtomusic,andimproveit.Sometimes,youjustneedtobreakthebank. Oneofthegreatestpleasuresweknowisblockingouttheworld'sdistractionswithgoodpairofheadphones.Herearesomeofthebestonesofthisyear. Youwouldn'texpectheadphonestoneedanyspecialequipmenttowork.Theyarejustaboutassimpleasaudioequipmentgets. AsimpleDACupgradecandowondersforyouraudioplayback,asforexample,a4K-capableTVmightchangeyourmovieviewingexperience.Sowhynottakethejump? We’vegatheredsomeofthemostexcitingconverterscurrentlyonthemarket. RemembertheveryfirstiPodfromseventeenyearsago?No?Damn,we'reold.Anyway,itsoldaroundthreehundredandsixtymillionunits.Itchangedthewaywelistentomusicforever-andtoday,Appleisnolongerthemarketleader. AtTheMasterSwitch,wespendanawfullotoftimethinkingaboutaudio.Moreimportantly,wespendanawfullotoftimethinkingabouthowtoimproveit.Everythingwedoisgearedtowardscreatingbigger,bettersound. Everythingyouneedtoknowaboutheadphonespecs.ifitdoesn’tinvolveanyofthefollowing,youprobablydon’tneedtoworryaboutit.Considerthistheultimateexplainer. FLAC,WAV,AIFF,DSD…There’snodenyingthatpickingtherighttypeofaudiotolistentocanbecrazyconfusing.Fortunately,we'reheretohelp,withourfullguidetothisaudiotopic. TheFocalUtopiaarethebestheadphonesontheplanet.That’snothyperbole.It’snotshilling.It’sjustthetruth.Ofallthehundredsofheadphonemodelsavailabletoday,thesearethebest.Endofdiscussion. 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