Yeah, I think the 22 would be better for my preferences.
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Hey guys, so i have finally given the Focal Clear OGs a fair shot of joining the collection, i have owned it before but never really loved it. This time though i am keeping it for a longer period before judging it.
I would like to better understand the āthey are super dynamicā statement i always read everywhere.
So, i always thought when you say a headphone is dynamic it meant that the bass slam would be good since it is able to give that bump in volume in specific sections such as the kickdrum, but i really donāt get a lot of that with the Clears.
The thing is, i started noticing that the Clear does have a capability of presenting the volume differences in a more perceptible manner than i see in other headphones, like when a single instrument suddenly plays louder than all of the rest in an orchestra.
So, is THIS what everyone talks about when it comes to the Clears being super dynamic?
English is not even my first language so i find it difficult sometimes to keep up with the technical terms and what exactly they describe.
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Not necessarily, you can have great dynamics and OK slam, the Gjallarhorn being the obvious example.
Dynamics is really the ability to convey the large features across the frequency range, itās often characterized by the leading edge behavior of the notes, plucks on string instruments, strikes on drums. But those are also incorporated in āspeedā and āslamā.
Dynamic headphones tend to sound livelier.
Itās an aspect of reproduction that a some people (myself included) consider among the most important to them.
I donāt think speaking english here would help, there are just a lot of confusing terms used.
Even terms like Bass Slam are confusing because people use them to imply a bass bump as well as the dynamic aspect, because itās hard to separate them.
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Two definitions of dynamic taken from the Oxford dictionary are:
(of a process or system) characterized by constant change, activity, or progress:
āa dynamic economyā
- relating to the volume of sound produced by an instrument, voice, or recording:
āan astounding dynamic rangeā
IMO, dynamic is commonly used to describe both the speed and volume changes in recordings.
Focalās driver designs incorporate what they call high dynamic excursion which I believe means that thereās a good amount of pistonic motion (greater than most dynamic drivers) allowing for both fast and dynamic changes in sound reproduction.
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I had a similar experience with Clear OG as you. At that moment I only had one amp. I hated it. Put it on sale after 1 month. I went back to it slowly, added a more synergistic amp, and so on. Took me a while to grasp the Clear OG. Now I have the Utopia and sold all my headphones.
Bass slam:
The clear on a lean chain or neutral isnāt as impressive. I will even say annoying (Iām mid sensitive). Got the v281 and 2541 and I finally got the dynamics everyone was talking about. It felt like a planar bass slam but stronger. Something I notice is excursion which I used to relate to slam. The clears with its suspended drivers sound arier and lean at the beginning while you get used to it, it is more like a planar in this regard as well. A more meatier amp or chain can make them slam. For example, you can grab a Beyer which is known for being dampened. They feel more dynamic and slammy first. I will even say the T1.3nd is a dark beast that feels like it has a sub-boosted in the bass 10db, the cups rumble (Excessive excursion).
I currently own the Utopia. My chain is not as slammy as the one I had with the clear. I still remember the focal clear bass slam sensation from memory. Iām currently looking to build my chain to get that slam back.
Dynamics:
I was more difficult to understand. I think this is more music and recording-related. Metal is badly recorded it sounds pretty flat and everything is mixed. I notice dynamics in rock music more. For example, I donāt have a recommendation right now, but some songs have a tin-sounding drum hit. When the Utopia it feels snappier and out of nowhere hitting.
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This is 100% true and very common. I tend to use the term āroarā with good bass extension, and the term āthumpā with a midbass bump. But Iām sure that if I didnāt outright state what I mean when using those words, some would interpret it differently.
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I am still looking to experience that kind of bass slam out of the Clears, neither the OOR or the Quicksilver have managed to deliver that, not sure if something like the v281 would be a lot different?
Oh yes, the thing i love the most in audio is bass and specifically bass slam. Navigating thru my options was hell because of this.
If the bass is elevated EVERYONE goes and calls that ābass slamā, imo bass slam has almost nothing to do with quantity, its about the presentation and how it articulates for me.
Even worse is the fact that i use EQ which is the biggest of heresies in this hobby, so i can have the exact same quantity in all of my sets.
People seem to not understand that you can add a +10dB low shelf EQ in headphones such as the Hifiman Ananda and that thing will never slam, not even a bit!
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Congratulations on finding your current endgame headphone, I had no idea you did.
Yes focal is contagious, I heard the elear years ago and I had never heard dymamics delivered so strong and controlled.
Now Utopia is the most expensive headphone on my wishlist.
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Damn, not much Focal action here.
I finally got a set of the Clear again last week after 4 years or so. I originally got them in late 2019 and they were my first big boy headphones after the HD6XX. Big step up. I remember being absolutely blown away by themā¦they were so clear, bass was so tight and punchy, ESPECIALLY coming from the HD6XX. I donāt know the exact timeline, but I sold them at some point in 2020 as I continued my headphone journey.
Over time, they were built up in my head to an almost mythical level.
To say I was disappointed with my first listen after getting them again would be an understatement. Theyāre honestly about on par with the Atticus in terms of bass punch. And after falling in love with the highs of the KOSS ESP/95X and later the SR1a before finally settling on the Verite Cācoming back to the Clear, highs are detailed but noticeably harsh at times. It does seem to be recording-dependent, but thereās always a hint of harshness, even on the best-produced material I listen to.
Granted, my chain now is wildly different. In 2019, I had a Gungnir Multibit A1 and Ragnarok 1 which I think may have enhanced bass performance a bit because there truly is no bass like Moffat bass, but I remember it also being painfully bright at times.
Now, Iām using a Mojo Mystique V2SE into a Headamp GL Mk2 + GRPS (and Iām looking forward to hearing them through the Apex Pinnacle 2 later this year when itās cool enough to use that amp again). I havenāt had any issues with brightness and, for the most part, have been very pleased with how everything soundsā¦it just wasnāt up to the mythic levels Iād built it to. And as the week has gone on, Iāve gotten familiar with the sound signature again and have quickly grown to really enjoy the Clearās presentation. I keep finding myself impressed that I noticed something else or that itās presented differently than my current stable of ZMFs.
ā¦except for those highs. Iāve been searching here, Head Fi, and Google for cable recommendations, but annoyingly, thereās not much helpful about cables for the Clear. Most things end up being about the Utopia.
So for any Clear users here: do you have any particular cable(s) you liked with the Clear and why?
Based on some findings, Iām looking at a Forza Noir Hybrid (preferred currently) and Arctic Cables, but theirs get very expensive quickly and Iām not looking to spend 1-3x the MSRP price of the Clear on a cable.
Does anyone have any recommendations for perhaps smoothing out the highs at all?
I also used them with the RNHP since I recall @dB_Cooper mentioning it was an incredible combo. Highs were noticeably smoother, but everything else was worse than through the GL Mk2. Stage was smaller and more cramped, bass was substantially weakerāand I was even using a 24v iFi Elite power supply with a DC iPurifier 2, making the RNHP about as good as it can get. I was kind of bummed about that, was hoping for some synergy magic, but itās fine. The lack of preamp outs on the RNHP is a dealbreaker anyway. I can definitely sell that amp now.
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I loved that Mojo Mystique V2SE for my HP chain when I had it, I will say that I only tried the RNHP amp with the BF2 and via XLR, donāt know if it had advantages on XLR over RCA but I do think from what I know of both DACs that the BF2 would have been a better āfitā for the RNHP/Focal Clear chain, as it was a HP that in my opinion benefited from a fun DAC. Ultimately I had the option between the LCD-X and the Clear and I went with the more fun pairing which was the LCD-X. I had no issues with the Clear though, but that may have been because of the BF2 being a better fit perhaps?
The thread popped up last week on gear that weāve bought a second time and your post is very timely to that. lol
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I find the Mojo more refined than the BF2, but with a quite natural and more tame amp like the RNHP then the more bombas bf2 can pump it up. Both are going in the same direction imho.
I would think the forza, a norne, or a used dana would be great for a tamer more natural high end. But i never tried a clear
Side thought, if you really like the clear maybe try a Utopia. The OGs and a Dana are seen used often below $2k used now.
I also really like the focal soundstage, audezes can be similar. It feels like itās putting your head into a big sphere with everything around. Many others are more like looking into a box.
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I was so torn on buying these Clear because I know Iāll ultimately end up with the Utopia. I couldnāt stretch $2kish right now for those, but $595 for this set of Clear with an extra set of OEM pads was doable. Iām torn. Maybe I wonāt spend money on a cable and will just bide my time until I can afford a used Utopiaā¦
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Iāve searched and canāt find anything. Can anyone speak to how well a WA22 does with an OG Utopia?
You guys got in my head about the Utopia and there are a couple of great deals on USAM right nowā¦ Iāve sold a few items with hopefully a few more going soon, so I should have the funds to cover a set of them soon.
Iām torn, though. There is this beat-up looking set that allegedly only looks bad but still sounds perfect. $1500 and it has a Black Dragon cableā¦but no stock cable, the BD cable is only 5 ft and has XLR, so Iād either need an adapter to 1/4", OR (preferably) a whole new 1/4" cable which makes the $1500 price less of a deal.
And thereās this other set that is $2599, but is bundled with a Questyle QP2R DAP which I wasnāt necessarily looking for, but has excellent reviews and apparently pairs excellently with the Utopia. It appears to only have one 10.5 ft cable that terminates in 3.5mm. The QP2R needs to be run in balanced mode to get the most out of it, so that would require a new cable for the Utopia, not that I would really be looking to use those together often/at all. The QP2R only has a 10-band EQ and no internet or app functionality, so my 2700-2800 Hz problem area canāt be targeted easily/at all, meaning itās unlikely Iād use it much, but I could probably sell it separately to recoup some costsā¦
Sorry, kind of stream-of-consciousness there. I just donāt really know what to do. Iām leaning toward the bundle package because it would get me closer to what Iām looking for, but I donāt know.
I suppose I could also just keep waiting. Not like lives depend on this or anything.
Any thoughts? What would any of you do?
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The $1500 belongs to @archer I think?
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I think the $1,500 one has been sold. That Utopia belongs to a member of this forum.
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Yep that listing is mine.
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What did you let go of? Hopefully not those cocobolo beauties
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Nope, keeping those!
Sold a Placette passive linestage, iFi iPower Elite, Atticus, and RNHP. Got my VC, Lampi L4+, and SRH1840 for sale, too.
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Well guys, I recently bought the Focal Clear OG, and it reminded me how much I like Focals. Itās been 9 months since I sold my Utopia. I wasnāt ready chain-wise, money-wise, and there were multiple headphones I wanted to try. Thereās still a grey area I want to explore (tube amps). Iām considering getting a Utopia again, but I donāt think it will be anytime soon unless a good deal comes up. I reached out to Upscale Audio, and they have brand new Focal Utopias (2020) for sale. Iām leaning towards getting it new to take advantage of the 5-year warranty.
I think thereās potential in the HD800s. I really liked the Yggy + GS2 + v222 pairing, and I donāt want to let it go before trying it with tube amps.
Back to the threadāIām thinking of getting a tube amp, probably around Black Friday deals. 
What are some good tube amps/hybrids to pair with the Clear, HD800s, and maybe Utopia?
My current chain is:
Red > Alpha DAC2 > v222.
Iāve found some recommendations like the Feliks Echo and Quicksilver, but Iām leaning towards trying something more recently ānewer.ā. Iām also inclined to try some Xduoo stuff like the TA-66, and Iām leaning towards the newer Cayin HA-2A. I saw a used Hagerman Tuba (but Iād prefer something newer that I can sell faster). Thereās also a new HiFiMan Goldenwave tube amp.
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