Focal Clear MG and Celestee review - Headfonia

The Clear MG might cast the same shaped shadow as the Celestee, but visually it's a different cup of tea altogether. Whereas the previous Clear ... Todaywe’llbetakingalookattwobrand-newheadphonesfromFrenchhigh-endaudiomanufacturerFocal:the$990USDclosed-backCelestee,andthe$1,490USDopen-backClearMG.   Note:theCelesteeandClearMGreviewunitswerekindlyloanedtousforthisreviewbyFocal’slocalAustraliandistributorBusisoftA.V.Abigthanksgoesouttothemfortheirsupport,asalways.    Vivel’évolution High-endaudiogiantFocalhasrightlyearnedaseatrightneartheheadoftheaudiophiletablecourtesyoftheirwell-regardedandhighlysuccessfulrangeofhifiheadphones.Evenafterfiveyearsinmarket,Focal’s$4,000USDrange-toppingUtopiastillmakesasolidclaimasoneofthe‘best’dynamicheadphonesintheworld;andtheirtwohighest-rankingclosed-backheadphones,the$3,000USDStelliaand$1,290RadianceeachwowedYoursTrulyrecentlywhenitcametodeliveringuncompromisingcraftsmanshipandperformance.  MovingacoupleofseatsdownthetablebringsustoFocal’slong-standingandrecentlydiscontinuedentry-levelclosed-back,the‘Elegia’,andtheirrenownedmid-tierreferenceopen-back,the‘Clear’.Thesetwoheadphoneshavebeenstaple‘go-to’recommendationsandindustrybenchmarksformanyaheadphoneenthusiast,andsowiththerecentnewsthatFocalhasreleasedthereplacementforeachofthesemodels,onlineforumswereabuzzwithtwokeysentiments:“…thisisaBigDeal”,and“…wehavehighexpectations”.WhichbringsustothetwonewentrantsatthepartyfromFocal,andthesubjectoftoday’sdouble-headerreview:thebrand-new‘Celestee’–a$990USDclosed-backheadphone,replacingtheoutgoingElegia;andtheslightlymoreprosaically-namedandevenmorenew‘ClearMG’–a$1,490USDopen-backwhichreplacesthe(yep,youguessedit)Clear.  Todwellonnamingforjustamoment,IsuspectthatthemoreuniversallylovedandregardedClearhadabunchmoremarketequityintermsofproductregardthantheElegia,andpresumablyFocaloptedtobuildoffofthathard-wonreputation,signallingthatthe‘ClearMG’isanevolutionofthatsecretsaucethatwentintotheClear,ratherthananall-newmodelasisthecasewiththeCelestee.Ataglance,thetwonewmodelsaddtwoall-newcolourwaysintheratherfashionableFocalstablewhilststickingtoatriedandtestedform-factorthatwillbeimmediatelyrecognisabletoFocaldevotees:thatsignatureFocalhouseprofile,headband,andcupdesign.  Astronomically-inspired Whilst‘Celestee’iscompletelyacompletelymade-upmoniker,itsdarktonescertainlyevokecelestialconnotations,plusanunmistakablepinchofGallicflair.TheCelesteeisafull-size,circum-aural(over-ear)closed-backdesign,sportingapairof40mmaluminium/magnesiumelectrodynamicdrivers,configuredinFocal’sfamiliar‘M-dome’arrangement:ashapewhichtheyemploytoaiddriverrigidity.TheCelestee’sdriversusethesamematerialsanddimensionsastheElegia,yethavebeenretunedforacompletely-newsoundsignature.   TheCelesteetakesdesigncuesfromitsbigsiblingtheStellia,withitsabstractswirlofcircularcutoutslaidoveritsleather-coatedearcups.FocalhasoptedtogivetheCelesteeahandsomedarknavyhue,usingthisschemefortheearcups,genuineleatherheadbandandearpads,aswellasitsaluminiumyokes.Offsettingthisisasprinklingofcopperaccentsonthemaker’smarkandtheventedlogoontheearcups,makingforanoverallratherreservedyetpremiumdesign(comparedtotheStellia,atleast)thatlooksprettyfetchingintheflesh,Ihavetosay.  KeyspecsandfeaturesfortheFocalCelestee: Impedance35Ohms  Sensitivity105dBSPL/1mW@1kHz  THD0,1%@1kHz/100dBSPL  Frequencyresponse5Hz–23kHz  Speakerdriver15/8″(40mm)Aluminium/Magnesium‘M’-shapeddome  Weight0.95lb(430g)  Cablessupplied•1x4ft.(1.2m)OFC24AWGcablewith1/8″(3.5mm)unbalancedTRSJackconnector•1xJackadapter,1/8″(3.5mm)pointsocket1/4″(6.35mm)pointplug Semi-anilineleatherearpads Leatherandmicrofibreheadband Shinynew‘mags’ TheClearMGdoesn’tjusthavealickofnewpaint–underthehoodFocalhaspackedanall-new40mmmagnesiumM-domedriver,hencethe‘MG’modeldesignation.Focalexplainsthatthenewdriverwasfouryearsinthemaking,andmagnesiumwasbeenchosenasit“…enablessharp,precise,impactfulplaybackthatresultsinstunninglyrealsound”.  TheClearMGmightcastthesameshapedshadowastheCelestee,butvisuallyit’sadifferentcupofteaaltogether.WhereasthepreviousClearmodelpackedaratherutilitarianandcompletelynon-offensivegreyandsilveraesthetic,Focalhasdecidedtobringabitof‘bling’totheevolutionofthespecies.TheyexplainthatthenewcolourwayfortheClearMGis‘chestnut’(‘brown’,toyouandme).Thisonitsownmightevokethefeelingofleatherandrichmahogany,buttheadditionofnewshinyhoneycombgrillesonthedrivercupsreallydoespreventthenewClearMGfromslippingbeneaththeradar–itgivesofffarmore‘luxury’vibesthanitspredecessordid,perhapssignallingthatFocalintendtorecruitamorewell-heeledsortofclienteleinadditiontodyed-in-the-woolaudiophilesthistimearound.  Ididalwaysadmiretheone-of-a-kindsilverylookoftherecentlysupersededClear,beingsomewhatofanexerciseinrestraintwhileatthesametimelookingeverybitlikea$1K+pairofcans.Iwasalwaysdubious,however,thatthoselight-colouredmibrofibrepadsandtheundersidepaddingoftheheadbandmightbepronetodiscolouration.ImustsaythathavingspentsometimewiththenewClearMGintheflesh,theyreallyarehead-turners–they’rehardtomiss,butIthinkFocalhashitthenailontheheadhere.Icanimaginethatthenewlookwillhaveitsdetractors,butthenagain,theworldwouldbeaprettyboringplaceifweallhadthesametaste. KeyspecsandfeaturesfortheFocalClearMG: Impedance55Ohms  Sensitivity104dBSPL/1mW@1kHz  THD0.25%@1kHz/100dBSPL  Frequencyresponse5Hz–28kHz  Speakerdriver15/8″(40mm)‘M’-shapedmagnesiumdome  Weight0.99lbs(450g) Packagingandpresentation TheClearMGandCelesteearesoldinsimilarmatte-black‘dome’-lidboxeswhichareperfectlypremium,butdon’tquitematchthesamelevelof‘wow’asthefaux-leathercoatedsituationthathousestheStellia(whichisnotreallysurprisinggiventheyawningchasmbetweentheirpricetags…).TheClearMGhasaslightlylargerboxasinsideithousesaflip-opendisplayboxcontainingtwocables:a1.2msingle-ended3.5mmcablewitha6.3mmadapter,plusa3m4-pinbalancedXLRcable.TheCelesteemakesdowithasingle1.2msingle-endedcableplus6.3mmadapterwhichfranklyisn’tusefulforhomehifilistening,andnoteventhatusefulfordesktoplisteningforthatmatter–youaregoingtoneedtogetyourselfanextensioncordifyouplanonnothavingtocloselytetheryourselftowhateveryou’repluggedinto.Forsomethingsoldunderthe‘Home’categoryonFocal’swebsite,I’dexpectapairof$990headphonestocomewithabalancedXLRcable(liketheClearMGdoes),orattheveryleast,alongeroneaswell.  AnditwaswithgreatpleasurethatIdiscoveredthatFocalhasdecidedtoconsigntheirpreviousgenerationoffabric-coveredcablestohistory.Farewell,thescratchy,kinkyandmicrophonicIkea‘lampcords’willnotbemissed.Instead,boththeClearMGandCelestee’scablesaresheathedinasoft-to-the-touchplasticthatdon’tmakeanysortofrubbingnoiseswhatsoever.Tonit-pickalittle,theydotendtoholdtheirshapeandarehardtobendstraight,butthey’rewithoutadoubta200%improvementoverthelastlot.  BoththeClearMGandCelesteearesoldwithFocal’sgenuinelyexcellentwoven-fabricclamshell-styleportablecase,thecoloursofeachbeingslightlytweakedtogivea‘nod’totherespectivecolour-schemeofeachheadphone.Beingfull-sizeheadphonesthatdon’tfold,naturallythesecasesaren’tthemostportableonthemarket,buttheylookterrificandarewell-built–they’recertainlyuptothetaskofkeepingyourfancynewFocalheadphonesprotected. Clickovertopage2tocontinuethereview. 4.6/5-(42votes) Pages:123 MattyGraham HailingfromSydney'seasternbeaches,Mattyrunshisownbeerbusiness,'BowloDraught',aswellasworkingincreativeadvertising.Whenhe'snotenjoyinghishifiandvinylcollectionathome,hecanprobablybefoundrolling-uponthegreenathisbelovedBondiBowlingClub. PreviousarticleCayinC9Review Nextarticle64AudioU18s–FirstLook Youmayalsolike 14Comments ReplyMarch18,2021 InvisibleInk Hopefully,next,we’llgetareplacementforthesub-kilobuckopenbackElear.IbetitwillhavethesamegorgeouscolorwayastheCelestee. ReplyMarch19,2021 Matty Thereisabitofagapintheirrangerightaboutthereatthemoment–let’swatchthisspace! ReplyMarch19,2021 Peter “TheCelestee’sdriversusethesamematerialsanddimensionsastheElegia,yethavebeenretunedforacompletely-newsoundsignature.” IstheCelesteedriveranydifferenttotheElegia,oristhetuninginthenewhybridpads? ReplyMarch19,2021 MikeI HiMatty, Verynicereview,asalways. DoyouknowifFocalwillprovidethededicatedprofilesfortheseheadphonesontheirArcheamp? Niceregards, Mike ReplyMarch19,2021 Matty Idon’tknowforcertain,butI’dbeverysurprisedifafirmwareupdatewasn’tinboundshortly! ReplyMarch21,2021 RickK I’vereadafewreviewsthatsaytheCelesteehasthesolidcoppervoicecoilasopposedtothecoppercladaluminumonesusedintheElear(Ihaveapair)andtheElegia.SomeotherreviewssayitusesthesameinternalsastheElegiajustretuned.Iwouldguessit’stheformerwiththesignificantsounddifference.Anyoneknowifthetruthisoutthere? ReplyMarch21,2021 FarbSklarb Thatshouldbe“Vivel’évolution.”Grammarmatters,eveninFrench. ReplyMarch21,2021 Matty Iagreewholeheartedly–thisAussieonlyhashislearner’spermitinFrench… ReplyMarch22,2021 JDOG889 ThankssomuchMatty,IorderedtheRadiance!Lovetheblingfactor(bigautomobileenthusiastaswell)anda“fun”soundisdefinitelywhatI’mhopingfor! ReplyMarch22,2021 MattyGraham Ithinkyou’regoingtobeinforaGoodTimemate.Enjoy! ReplyMarch22,2021 TiborMichalčík Hello.Thankyouagain.IfIamnotmistaken,didyoureviewAudioTechnicaATHAWAStoo?Couldyoucomparethetwo?TheyarethesamepriceinEuropeandIcannotjustifythepriceofClearssomehow… IalreadyboughtTheHempthankstoyourreview,soIwillappreciatelittlehelpagain!😀 Haveaniceday🙂 ReplyMarch23,2021 MattyGraham HiTibor,Idon’thavetheAWASwithmeatthemomentsoIcan’tgiveyouadirectcomparison.IcantellyouthattheCelesteewillgiveyouafarmore‘classic’closed-backexperiencewithmorepunch,slamandisolation.TheAWASislighter,morecomfortable,morespacious,andabitmorearticulateparticularlyinthemid-rangeandlowertreble.Looks-wise,they’reapplesandoranges–thatmightbethedecidingfactorforyou. ReplyMarch23,2021 KarelKostlivý Hello Awhileback,Iwaspickingoutahigher-classheadphones,andeventuallymyselectionendeduprightatFocalClear. Iamquitesatisfiedwiththem,andtheirbalancedtonalitycaptivatesmeoverandover.Itistruethattheyneedaverygoodpartnerforthebestreproduction.Thebettertheamplifierthebettertheresult… Iwasveryinterestedinthecomparisonwiththenewmodel.AndIcompletelyagreewithyourassessment.I,too,wouldhavepreferredthepreviousmodel.Althoughthenewmodelismore…“likable”. Thankyouforanicereview… Karel ReplyJune1,2021 Benoit HiMatty, TwoyearsagoIfollowedLieven‘srecommendationandgottheFocalElear.I’mquitehappyaboutit.🙂NowI’mthinkingaboutwhetheranupgradetothenewClearMGisworthitgiventhethattheClearsarenotexactlycheap.Whatdoyouthink? Cheers Ben LeaveaReply Clickheretocancelreply. CancelreplyComment*Name* Email* Website Savemyname,email,andwebsiteinthisbrowserforthenexttimeIcomment. Δ ThissiteusesAkismettoreducespam.Learnhowyourcommentdataisprocessed. LatestComments LongandoldstoryandIwon'tgointodetail.Let'sjustsaytheyexpecttheirreviewerstowriteglowingreviews;-) AllgoodChoicesfortheHD800.Youcan'tgowrongwithanyoftheViolectricamps(orNiimbus).TheEuforiaAEisthebestoftheEuforiaseries,butthe… IfHypsos+OOR+PEgasusR2RDAC=100,IwouldsayHypsos+ERCOisabout80 Friends,Learnfrommyexperience.Pleasepleasedon'tbuyFiiOJH3.Itsoundspathetic.Youwillfeellikehearingfromtweeters.Trebleisveryharsh.IusedJH3forthree… HaveyoutriedpairingthisDACwiththeSMSLSA300?Theywouldseemtobemadeforeachother. HiHowwouldthedx3propairwithhifimanAnanda?Currentlyusingearmentr-ampwithmyAnandaandjustwonderingifIcouldbenefitfromtheextrapower? Thanksforthisnicereview.I'mhighlyinterested,howclosetheERCOwillcometoOor/Hypsos,ifyoucombineitwiththeHypsosaswell. WillhavetoagreewithBrandon;haven'tevenbeenusingthemforadaybeforesendingthemback.Connectiondroppedaboutevery30seconds(haven'thadthisissuesincethe…