Focal Clear vs Clear MG Comparison Review - Major HiFi

The original Clear comes with three different cables, one standard 4ft cable with a 3.5mm headphone jack and a quarter-inch adapter, and two 10 ... Signin LatestNews Reviews HeadphoneReviews AudiophileReviews WirelessReviews ComparisonReviews StaffPicks Ranking Headphones IEM/Earphones TrueWireless Forum Music Signin Welcome!Logintoyouraccount yourusername yourpassword Forgotyourpassword? Passwordrecovery Recoveryourpassword youremail Search Signin/JoinAdvertise ContactUs EmailSignUp CallUs:212-354-6062 Signin Welcome!Logintoyouraccount yourusername yourpassword Forgotyourpassword?Gethelp Passwordrecovery Recoveryourpassword youremail Apasswordwillbee-mailedtoyou. MajorHiFi Advertise LatestNews Reviews HeadphoneReviews AudiophileReviews WirelessReviews ComparisonReviews StaffPicks Ranking Headphones IEM/Earphones TrueWireless Forum Music HomeReviewsComparisonReviewsFocalClearvsClearMGComparisonReview ReviewsComparisonReviewsHeadphoneReviews Weareonlyafewmonthsinto2021,andwe’vealreadygotahostofhotnewreleasesfromaudiophiledarlingFocal.TheFrenchmanufacturerhasalreadyintroducedthreenewhigh-endheadphonestotheircurrentlineupwiththelikesoftheCelestee,ClearMG,andClearMGProfessional.TheClearMGisthemostrecentaddition,comingrightoffthebackoftheProversion,andfurtherdevelopingtheClearnameasalandmarkheadphoneforFocal. TheintroductionofmagnesiumtotheClearhaschangedupthecharacterofthenamequiteabit,andwiththesetwonewreleases,youmightbewonderingwhichoneistherightchoiceforyou.FocalhasmadethedistinctionthemselveswiththeProversion,butwhatabouttheoldclassic?Doesitstillholdupagainstitslatestincarnation? WhatYouGet ThepresentationofFocal’sheadphonesisalwayspreparedinanelegantdisplay.Theymightlookallthesameontheoutside,butwhenitcomestoaccessories,theClearMGislackingakeyitem.TheoriginalClearcomeswiththreedifferentcables,onestandard4ftcablewitha3.5mmheadphonejackandaquarter-inchadapter,andtwo10ftcables.Onewitha4-pinXLR,andonewithasingle6.3mmplug.TheClearMGismissingtheextra10ftquarter-inchcableandonlyincludesthe4ft3.5mmjackwithanadapter.BothofferXLR,butifyou’relookingforalonger6.3mmcable,theClearMGwon’tprovidethatforyou. LookandFeel Focalheadphonesalwayshaveasolidbuild,andconsistofmostlythesamestructuraldesign.However,whenitcomestoaesthetics,thedifferenceisnightandday.TheClearMGissuchanupgradecomparedtotheoriginalClearwhenitcomestomaterialdesign.ThebronzesheenandametallicgrilleonthehoneycombearcupsfaroutweightheplaingraymakeupoftheClear.BothheadphonesstillfeatureFocal’ssignatureinsigniaplatewhichalwaysmakestheirheadphonesstandoutasclassy,buttheMGdoesabetterjobwithitsfinish,asitjumpsoutatyoumore.  Withthecombinedmicrofiberearpadsandleatherheadband,theMGsportsasuperiorelegancetotheClearwhichappearsblandincomparison.EventhoughtheMGhasthebetterlook,bothClearheadphonesfeatureasimilarqualityoffit.Bothearpadsareperforatedandtheexactsizemakesthemcomfortableenoughfortheircircumauralfit.TheoriginalClearismadeusingthickermemoryfoam,buttheybothprovideasufficientlevelofsecuritythatseemsexpertlycraftedforauniversalmatchtoeveryearsize.  Design EachpairofFocalheadphonesfeaturetheirsignature40mmdrivercompletewithanM-shapeddome.Thesespeakerdriversarealwayshigh-class,buttheMGofcoursefeaturesitsmajorstaplehere.ThenewmagnesiumdriversintheMGimprovetheheadphones’overalllightnessanddampening,superiortothecoppervoicecoiloftheoriginalClear.Withmagnesium,thetransientresponsehastheabilitytobeamoredynamicandevengreaterlow-endextension.  Output Clearheadphoneshaveneverbeenimpossibletodrive,buttheyarebestusedwithaDAC/ampcombination.TheXLRcableisgoingtogiveyoutheclearestsignal,butquarter-inchand3.5mmconnectionsshouldfleshoutthesoundsignaturewiththeproperaccessories.  Soundstage Theopen-backmodelsfromFocalarealwaysatriumph,buttheClearhasalwayspossessedauniquecharacter.WhilethewidthandseparationstillholdupontheClearextremelywell,theMGsurpassesitinheightanddepth.TheMGcompletesitssoundstagewiththehigh-endextensionthatwaslackingontheoriginalClear,makingforamorefullandengagingsignature.It’stheperfectmiddle-groundbetweenaccuracyandcolor.TheoriginalClearmightbemoreaccurateincomparison,butthat’sevenoutdonebytheMGProfessional.  LowEnd EverythingtheClearaccomplishesinitsbassresponse,theMGdoesevenbetter.WhiletheClearhasaperfectlypunchyandclearbass,theMGtakesadvantageofitssuperiordepthtoreallydivedeepintothesub-bassforamoreimpactfultonality.ThetexturesaresomuchmoredefinedontheMG,withamuchgreatersenseofscale.Incomparison,thedoesn’tquitehavetheenergy,butitdoeshavetheaccuracyandbalance.  Mids ThereisatonofcrispclarityinbothClearmodels,buttheycontainvastlydifferenttimbresandtones.TheoriginalClearisalmostsynonymouswithexceptionalmidrangeclarity,andevenifitisnotastexturedorfunastheMG,thetimbreshouldgetmorecreditforbeingsodynamic.TheMGhasonetricktoitsmids,andwhilethattrickisawarmandlivelyresponse,theClearismoreversatileinitstonality.ThetimbreoftheClearrangesfromfullandnatural-soundinginstrumentstoeasytodiscernvocalperformancesthatexcelmoreinsubtletythanexplicitcoloration. Highs ThisiswheretheMGcompletelywonmeover.WhiletheClearshowssomegreatbalanceanddetailhere,theMGgoesaboveandbeyond,withsmoothsibilanceandairytextures.High-endfeatureslikesizzleandreverb-tailaremuchmorepresentontheMGthanontheClear,butifyou’remoreintoarelaxedtreble,thentheClearisgoingtobethewinner. Summary WhiletheClearMGprovesitselfasaworthyadvancementoftheClear,therearestillsomequalitiesthatyoucan’tbeatwiththeoriginal.TheMGholdsthesuperiorsenseofheightanddepth,whilealsosportingamoreuniquelook,buttheoriginalClearstillhasthemorenaturalresponseandistheall-aroundmoreversatileheadphone.Theybothgoforthesame$1,490pricetag,sowhatitreallycomesdowntoistaste.Formyself,IthinkIneededamorelivelyopen-backfromFocal’slineup,andthat’sexactlywhattheMGdelivered.  Specs Clear ClearMG Type Circum-auralopen-backheadphones Circum-auralopen-backheadphones Impedance 55Ohms  55Ohms  Sensativity 104dBSPL/1mW@1kHz 104dBSPL/1mW@1kHz THD 0.25%@1kHz/100dBSPL 0.25%@1kHz/100dBSPL FrequencyResponse 5Hz-28kHz 5Hz-28kHz SpeakerDriver 1.6″(40mm)Aluminum/Magnesium  ‘M’-shapedome 15/8″(40mm)‘M’-shapedmagnesiumdome Weight 450g 450g Cables 3mbalancedcable(XLR4-pin) 3munbalancedcable(1/4″TRSjack) 1.2munbalancedcable(1/8″TRSjack) 1/8″jackto1/4″stereojackadapter •1x3.9ft(1.2m)mini-jackcablewith1/4″(6.35mm)jackadapter •1x9.8ft(3m)4-pinXLRcable •1jackadapter,11/8″   (3.5mm)female–1/4″(6.35mm)male TheFocalClearMGandFocalClearareavailableatAudio46. Comparetherankingofvariousheadphones,earbudsandin-earmonitorsusingourtools. Discussthis,andmuchmore,overonourforum. --- MAJORHIFImayreceivecommissionsfromretailoffers. MajorHiFiNewsletter Subscribetogetthelatestheadphonesnewsanddeals,aspickedbyoureditors. *indicatesrequired EmailAddress* MajorHiFiSponsors: Findouthowyoucanbecomeasponsorhere PopularCategoriesReviews1117LatestNews1087HeadphoneReviews1063AudiophileReviews482FeaturedColumns355WirelessHeadphoneReviews277 RecentPosts FearlessAudioBarcelonaReview April7,20226:07pm QueenOfAudioBarbadosSunriseReview April7,20226:03pm MezeADVARReview April6,20225:21pm TinHiFiT3PlusReview April5,20226:28pm DISCLOSURE:WeareaparticipantintheAmazonServicesLLCAssociatesProgram,anaffiliateadvertisingprogramdesignedtoprovideameansforustoearnfeesbylinkingtoAmazon.com,affiliatedsitesandsponsors. AboutUs Advertise ContactUs PrivacyPolicy CareersandJobs ©CopyrightMajorHifi2022 Posting....