Focal Clear Mg review | What Hi-Fi?

In use, the Clear Mg are comfortable. They are nicely shaped and inward pressure is firm but well-judged. They weigh around 450g, which is par ... Skiptomaincontent WhatHifi WhatHifi WhatHi-Fi?THEWORLD'S#1TECHBUYER'SGUIDE Search Subscribe RSS (opensinnewtab) (opensinnewtab) (opensinnewtab) (opensinnewtab) (opensinnewtab) UKUSCanadaAustralia WhatHi-FiMagazineSubscription(opensinnewtab)(opensinnewtab)Whysubscribe?ThebesthomeentertainmentbuyingadviceIn-depth,unbiased,expertreviewsIssuesdeliveredstraighttoyourdoorordeviceFrom£4.99(opensinnewtab)View(opensinnewtab) News Reviews BestBuys Deals Advice Features Awards Forum More Awards Subscribe Newsletter Sound+Image AustralianHi-Fi AboutUs TrendingBestportablespeakersSonyQD-OLEDBestTVsSpotifyHiFiiPhone14 WhatHi-Fi?issupportedbyitsaudience.Whenyoupurchasethroughlinksonoursite,wemayearnanaffiliatecommission.Learnmore Home Reviews (Image:©Focal) OurVerdict Exceptionalheadphoneswithaninformative,refinedandentertainingsound,coupledtoexcellentcomfortandbuild For Expressiveandentertainingpresentation Excellentcomfort Terrificbuildandfinish Against Standardcableisjust1.2mlong Lotsofsoundleakage Lackofisolationfromnoise WhatHi-Fi?Verdict Exceptionalheadphoneswithaninformative,refinedandentertainingsound,coupledtoexcellentcomfortandbuild Pros +Expressiveandentertainingpresentation+Excellentcomfort+Terrificbuildandfinish Cons -Standardcableisjust1.2mlong-Lotsofsoundleakage-LackofisolationfromnoiseTODAY'SBESTDEALS£1,149(opensinnewtab)atAmazon(opensinnewtab)£1,399(opensinnewtab)atFutureshop(opensinnewtab)£1,399(opensinnewtab)atSevenoaks(opensinnewtab) TODAY'SBESTDEALS£1,149(opensinnewtab)atAmazon(opensinnewtab)£1,399(opensinnewtab)atFutureshop(opensinnewtab)£1,399(opensinnewtab)atSevenoaks(opensinnewtab)TheFocalbrandmayhavebeenestablishedbybuildinggreatspeakers,butitsreputationhasclearlybeenenhancedsinceheadphoneswereaddedtotherepertoirein2012. Sincethen,ithasproducedastringofhigh-qualitycontendersthatcanstandtoe-to-toewiththebestfromtheestablishedcompetition.ItslatestpairistheClearMg,high-end,open-backedmodelsthataimtosetthestandardandbeoneofthebestover-earheadphonesattheirprice.So,arethey?Build(Imagecredit:Focal)Straightaway,theseheadphonesimpress.Theycomeinluxuriouspackagingthatscreamsqualityandfeelseverybitthehigh-priceditem.Theyareimpressivelystylish,thoughsomepeoplemaypreferamorelow-keyappearance.FocalClearMGatAmazonfor£1,149(opensinnewtab)FocalClearMgtechspecs(Imagecredit:Focal)TypeCircum-auralopen-backheadphonesDriver40mm‘M’-shapedmagnesiumdome Impedance55ohms Sensitivity104dB Frequencyresponse5Hz–28kHz Cables1.2mcablewith6.35mmadapter,3m4-pinXLRcableWeight450gEvenso,there’snodenyingthehighstandardofbuildandfinish.Thequalityofthematerialsisexcellent,fromtheleatherusedonthethick,cushionedheadbandtothemicrofibreclothonthecossetingearpads.Welovetheintricatehexagonalmetaldetailingontheopen-backedearcups,nottomentionthedurablefeeloftheoverallstructure.AttheheartoftheClearMgisanewfull-range40mmmagnesium-coneddriveunit.Magnesiumhasbeenchosenforitsblendoflightnessandstiffness,whiletheuseofacarefullychosensurroundhelpstocontroldampingandresonantbehaviour.You’llfindatoughcarryingcasealongwithachoiceoftwodetachableleadsintheplushpackaging.Thereisa1.2moptionwitha3.5mmjack(and6.3mmadaptorprovided),aswellasa3m,4-pinXLRalternative.WhiletheinclusionofthebalancedXLRleadiscommendable,wewishthecompanyhadalsoaddedalongerleadwiththe3.5mmconnectorinthebox.Manyotherwisesuitableheadphoneamplifiersdon’thaveabalancedoutput–ourreferenceChordHugoTT2isagoodexample–andsometimesit’sjustnotthatconvenienttositclosetothesystem. It’spossibletobuyalongerleadfromFocalbutthatwillcost£129($190)more.It'saprettyheftysumforsomethingthatshouldbeincludedinthebox.Atleastthecablesareofareviseddesignthattransmitslessmovementnoisethanbefore.OurpickofthebestaudiophileheadphonesyoucanbuyComfort(Imagecredit:Focal)Inuse,theClearMgarecomfortable.Theyarenicelyshapedandinwardpressureisfirmbutwell-judged.Theyweigharound450g,whichisparforthecourse,butthewide,cushionedheadbandandwell-designedearpadsmanagetospreadthatweightwell.Awordofwarning,though:theseFocalsareopen-backed,meaningtheyleakquitealotofsound.Ifyousitinthesameroomasothers,theywillhearwhatyou’replaying.Equally,yourlisteningexperiencecouldbedisturbedbyanynoiseotherpeoplemake–somethingtokeepinmindifyou’replanningontakingtheseheadphonesoutandabout.Anopendesignisnotallbadnews,ofcourse.Inourexperience,suchanarrangementtendstoresultingreatertransparencyanddynamicexpressionthankstothelackofanenclosureandallitsinnateresonancesandunwantedstoredenergy.Anyheadphonesatthislevelarelikelytobehighlyrevealingperformers,sodon’tlettheinclusionofa3.5mmjackandrelativelyshortleadtemptyouintousingyourphoneastheprimarysource.WhiletheClearMghavearelativelygentleimpedanceof55ohmsandgenerous104dB/W/msensitivity,whichmeanstheywillproducedecentvolumelevelsinmostset-ups,youreallyneedqualityelectronicstojustifytheirexpense.WeuseourreferenceNaimND555/555PSDRmusicstreamerasourmainsourcebuthaveaTechnicsSL-1000RturntableandAppleMacBookProservingasableback-ups.Fortheamplification,weuseBurmester’s088pre-amp(equippedwithdedicatedheadphoneoutput)andChord’smightyHugoTT2desktopDAC.WealsohaveChord’sPoly/MojomusicplayeronhandtoseehowtheFocalsperformwithahigh-quality,portablesource.Sound(Imagecredit:Focal)Theanswerturnsouttobeverywellindeed.ThePoly/MojopairingisdetailedandexcitingandtheseFocalsmakethatclear.Initiallisteningshowsupaslightlyhardandsharpedgeinthelowertrebleregion,butthiseasesoffinusetoleaveanetchedbutinformativesound.Still,it’sbesttoavoidforwardoraggressiveelectronics.WelistentoJay-Z’sBlueprint3setandenjoytheclarityonoffer.Theseheadphonescertainlyliveuptotheirnamebydeliveringarefinedyetexplicitsoundthatmakesiteasytofollowlow-levelinstrumentalstrandsinthebusyproduction.There’splentyofpunchonofferandlowsarerenderedwithgripandtexture.Rhythmsaredeliveredinasurefootedandcontrolledmannerratherthanwithovertexuberance,butthere’sstillenoughinthewayofdrivetokeepusentertained.Theoverallpresentationretainsaneasy-goingcharmthatmakeslongerlisteningsessionsabreeze.TheFocal’stransparencyishighlightedbythesizableliftinperformancewhenweswitchtoourreferenceNaimstreamer/Burmesteramplifiercombo.Here,we’reawareofagreatersenseofcontrolanddynamicexpression.There’sclearlyevenmoreinformationandwe’repleasedwiththewaytheFocalsarrangeitwithcontrolandcomposure.Tonally,they'refull-bodiedinamannerthateludesmostrivals,andthispresentationresultsininstrumentsandvoicescomingthroughinamorenaturalandengagingmanner.Theoverallbalanceisalittleonthefuller,roundedside,butnotsomuchthatitaffectstheFocal’sabilitytoconvince.Wemovetosomelarge-scaleclassicalmusicintheformofMahler’sSymphonyNo.2‘Resurrection'andarepleasedwiththeFocal’ssolidandpowerfulrendition.It’srarethatheadphonescancommunicatesonicauthoritysowell.Stereoplacementispreciseandstable,thoughstillmuchmoreintheheadthanatypicalsetofspeakers.Theopen-backeddesigngivestheClearMganopennessandsenseofspacethateveryclosed-backalternativewe’vetriedhasclearlylacked.Weenjoytheheadphones'abilitytocommunicatetheorchestra'spowerandthewaydynamicsbuildtoacrescendowithoutsoundingrestrained.There’slittleobvioussenseoftheheadphonesstrugglingwhenthemusicbecomesdemandingandthatspeakshighlyoftheirabilitytoremainpoisedunderpressure.VerdictFocalhasdoneaterrificjobwiththeClearMg.They’retalentedperformersthatstaycomfortableoverextendedlisteningsessions.Addexcellentbuildandfinishintotheequationandwethinkthey'rerightuptherewiththebestattheprice.Highlyrecommended.SCORESSound5Comfort5Build5MORE:Readourguidetothebestover-earheadphonesReadourSennheiserHD800SreviewReadourBeyerdynamicT1(3rdGen)reviewReadourFocalUtopiareviewTODAY'SBESTDEALS£1,149(opensinnewtab)atAmazon(opensinnewtab)£1,399(opensinnewtab)atFutureshop(opensinnewtab)£1,399(opensinnewtab)atSevenoaks(opensinnewtab) WhatHi-Fi? (opensinnewtab) (opensinnewtab) (opensinnewtab) WhatHi-Fi?,foundedin1976,istheworld'sleadingindependentguidetobuyingandowninghi-fiandhomeentertainmentproducts.Ourcomprehensivetestshelpyoubuytheverybestforyourmoney,withouradvicesectionsgivingyoustep-by-stepinformationonhowtogetevenmorefromyourmusicandmovies.Everythingistestedbyourdedicatedteamofin-housereviewersinourcustom-builttestroomsinLondonandBath.Ourcovetedfive-starratingandAwardsarerecognisedallovertheworldastheultimatesealofapproval,soyoucanbuywithabsoluteconfidence. Readmoreabouthowwetest Seeallcomments(3) 3Comments Commentfromtheforums Whyonearthisleakageandlackofisolationclassedasa'drawback'whenit'sanopen-backedheadphone? Reply Theseheadphonesareforpeoplewithreducedhearingsensitivitytohighfrequencies.Thesoundofamagnesiumspeakerhasacharacteristicmetalvocabulary.Thesoundislight,butwithametallictint.Thereisnosoundfilledwithtimbers,nojoyfromlistening.AndthegreedofFocalisstriking.Atthisprice,offeracable1.2m-topoftheshoulder! Reply IgottheClearMGprofessionalsinceweeks,veryclosetotheClearMG.Actuallythehighfrequenciesareabitweakatthebeginning,butafterthebreak-inperiod,thebalanceiswonderful,neutral,andthelisteningverypleasantanddetailed.PeoplereportedittobebetterthantheSennheizer800s.ItalsowontheEISAbestheadphones2021 Reply ViewAll3Comments WhatHi-Fi?Newsletter SignupbelowtogetthelatestfromWhatHi-Fi?,plusexclusivespecialoffers,directtoyourinbox! ContactmewithnewsandoffersfromotherFuturebrands Receiveemailfromusonbehalfofourtrustedpartnersorsponsors ThankyouforsigninguptoWhatHi-Fi?.Youwillreceiveaverificationemailshortly. Therewasaproblem.Pleaserefreshthepageandtryagain. 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