šŸ”¶ Focal Clear Mg

I just want to add that I think Focal does center image a tiny bit better than ZMF. This goes for any source Iā€™ve run them through.

(This being all the Focals vs the Verite using any of itā€™s pads)

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Not sure how this isnā€™t likeā€¦ common knowledge at this point that the focal clear and mg respectively are both very transparent and very picky on their source. Have had quite a few amps where it just makes them sound bad lol.

These, the aryas, upper bracket audezes, hd800S, select iems of the higher bracketsā€¦ kinda comes with the territory but not all are as picky as the clears from my experienceā€¦ At first, when I picked up the clears I had them connected to a liquid platinum balanced to a bifrost 2ā€¦ I honestly hated the headphone immediatelyā€¦ overly warm, overly colored, overly smooth, sounded veiled or compressed in the mids, dark on the treble, and dynamically not appealing at all. I had much better experiences with the asgard and violectricā€¦ never tried jot 2 and im working on thatā€¦ but I ended up sitting with the RNHP which I really like the sound of. Not bothered with others yet such as Rebel or Flux, been meaning to check out geshelli as I think they would do well with clears potentially

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Pulled out my Elex today after 10 days of listening to the MG. The MG does everything better, IMHO!
Iā€™m happy to hold on to my Elex for when I want to listen with a friend. Iā€™ll let them use the MG. The Elex is a very good HP for this, and is still, a very good HP, just doesnā€™t really hold a candle to the MG.

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Testing this all out tonight and I can get the Clear MG to sound quite bright with a cable change and running it off a Fiio Q5s with THX amp module. I wouldnā€™t say fatiguing, but I would say bright. The Jot2 + Bifrost 2 have a smoother and rolled treble signature through the balanced output. I wonder how much of a difference my balanced cable is making as well.

I have a few more mobile amps to listen to and the ultimate test will be my studio interface Universal Audio Apollo.

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I guess the MG just marries very well with the Bifrost 2 > Jotunheim 2 combination. Iā€™m not sure I could want any more than this.

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OK, I submit. I bought the Jot2 + Bifrost2 at the same time I bought the Clear MG and admittedly donā€™t know that stack like I know my other equipment. Iā€™ve only been listening to the Clear MG on this set up.

The rolled off treble/darker tonality is coming from the Jot2 + Bifrost2 stack.

I just listened to the Clear MG on my Universal Audio Apollo and it sounds so different itā€™s difficult to believe.

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So, as someone else that has only used the Mg with the Jot2, and only has that amp, how does the sound differ on the Apollo?

It sounds as if the Schiit gear has been specifically tailored to sound a specific way. Using the Clear MG with the Apollo sounds eerily similar in frequency response to my professional JBL studio monitors which are driven by the Apollo.

The Apollo in comparison to the Schiit stack sounds more V shaped with stronger bass and much more elevated treble. The Schiit gear is more mid focused and almost veiled sounding. I can clearly see why the Clear MG can be used professionally as a studio reference tool after hearing it powered from the Apollo in comparison to my monitors.

I have not witnessed my gear sounding this different with any of my other headphones. Obviously the Clear MG is much more revealing than I had expected.

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Iā€™m not sure I care why. My schiit stack makes the MG sound like MaGic to me. This sounds like end game to me.

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Which do you prefer listening to, the Schiit Stack or the Apollo? Or are they just different and complimentary depending on the music?

Iā€™ve been considering upgrading my audio components, but not sure what direction to go in.

Argh. I didnā€™t want to say because Iā€™m probably going to cause a stir and I just bought the Schiit stack and enjoyed the Jot2 more than the AAA THX 789 I had been using. I havenā€™t listened to the Apollo with headphones in a very long time. I have used it solely for all my recordings and I always use my monitor speakers because itā€™s more comfortable recording without anything on my head.

If I want an analog sound with focused mids and relaxed treble, the Schiit stack is the way to go. The Apollo is reference sound. The Clear MG sounded extremely good on the Apollo to my ears. :cry:

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lol, I was a little reluctant to ask as I figured use case and individual preferences matter very much. Thank you.

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Yeah, I think this is more of a case of realizing just how revealing the Clear is and why pairing it with the right amp/dac for your personal preferences is so important. Much more so than any other headphone Iā€™ve encountered. Not about what amp/dac is better.

After what I just experienced Iā€™m much more impressed with the Clear MG than I already was. Iā€™m extremely interested to hear what the Clear MG can do with different equipment, now that Iā€™ve heard how it changes into a completely different headphone.

This all backs up what @M0N has said forever about scalability of the OG Clear when it comes to better & better amp/dacs. I think itā€™s safe to say the MG Clear is following in the OGā€™s footsteps.

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I think the MG ups the ante in this regard. Theyā€™re more linear and transparent, imo.

I canā€™t wait to hear how they sound on the Decware Taboo.

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Time to now go and try some other amps lol

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I donā€™t see a problem here. :man_shrugging:

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I got some Dekoni Velour pads today for the Clear Mg, just for a change, and Iā€™ve been listening for about an hour or so.

Really interesting. They definitely darken them, thereā€™s a significant reduction in treble and detail which I just looked and the graph on their webpage confirms that.

Iā€™m actually stoked about it because with the stock pads on the Mg are so detailed I find myself getting distracted because Iā€™m ā€œlookingā€ for every little change in dynamics, instrument separation, etc. They force me to be an active listener. With these, I can see myself wearing them during the day in more of a laid back setting when Iā€™m not actively listening to the music; theyā€™re also comfortable as hell.

I love the Clear Mg, everything about it except for one thing. The bottom of the left ear cup is putting pressure on a nerve (I think), and I have experienced this with a different headphone which was far worse. It causes my left ear to become somewhat sensitive but the most disconcerting part is that it leads to feeling of increase pressure in my left ear. Itā€™s been an ongoing issue. If I donā€™t use them for a while it eventually goes away.

My Sennheiser HD560sā€™ donā€™t cause this to happen. Does anyone have suggestions that might work for this issue. Not sure reducing clamping force will be that effective, and I have thought of using Dekoni pads but I donā€™t want to alter the sound of the headphones.

Having the same issue. Not sure about a fix but I am setting them on my version of a Zeos yoga block for the night. Hopefully its just needs wearing in to get comfy.

Its probably that magic spring loaded ear-cup that is causing the pressure. This is oddly not something I felt on the OG Clear though.

Is swapping the pads on the MG at all annoying, time-consuming, or finicky?

This sounds interesting - while I work I tend to listen to usually ambient music and while I enjoy quality soundstage and dynamics, too much detail can be kind of distracting as you say. Also tend to prefer warmth while I work.

But then, might want to swap out for the stock pads (more detail, etc.) in the evening.