🔶 Focal Clear Mg

[Ecoute]

After a weekend of listening to the DT1990 I had a chance to try the Clear Mg by chance in store for a few minutes, I only had my phone and a cheap dongle DAC at 90-100% volume but was impressed, most notably the bass was much fuller and resolution more jaw dropping than the Elex, after spending all the previous day with the DT1990 though they sounded noticeably dark, something I experience switching from the DT1990 to the Elex but to a greater extent with the Clear Mg.

I gave my ears a few days to adjust and just used the Elex for a while, as they are the intended headphone to upgrade with the Clear Mg. I then had another listening session for a couple hours with a different set of Mg paired with a Mojo, I was really blown away - the bass, immersiveness, resolution, simply awesome and I didn’t notice any darkness this time. I did notice if I tilted my head the headband/yokes would creak/knock quite loudly though. These are a excellent sonic upgrade to the Elex but even with 600 off full retail/nearly new I don’t think any headphone in any price bracket should make unnecessary noise, let alone a 1k flagship.

I think overall the sound quality is there but the build just isn’t up there yet, Focal respond so well to adjusting their audio to customers feedback but an issue with all of their headphones’ fundamental design hasn’t been rectified after years. I would’ve thought a simple installation of thin rubber would rectify the issue, but it must involve a more costly redesign as why would they not have fixed it otherwise. I drive a French hot hatch rather than a German counterpart, so understand the compromise made when going for soul over substance in a product but not sure I can look past it in this case, I hope I change my mind though as genuinely loved the sound of the Clear Mg.

[Michael]

@Ecoute

I did notice if I tilted my head the headband/yokes would creak/knock quite loudly though.

I’d ask if they have another unit. Mine do not do that, and I bought them the day they launched.

[Ecoute]

I’m sure some people will not have experienced this but having a search around this clearly is a common issue with Focal’s headband/yokes. My Elex does it slightly on the right hand side and it’s also been reported about the Elear, Elegia, Clear, in this thread about the Mg and even the Utopia.

I found if I adjusted the headband to it’s smallest setting there is no noise as it’s tighter, but then too small for my head, so it seems to be due to a looser clamp force allowing the yokes to move to the extent they collide internally with the headband. I imagine it’s not an issue on people with smaller heads and/or when the headphones are new with full clamp force. I’ve read that spraying some dry lube reduces or even cures the issue, I just don’t think it should be an issue on such otherwise luxurious high quality headphones.

I genuinely love Focal headphones, they have this evocative rich/full driving factor which pushes my mind into an overwhelming breakthrough experience, where I’m being emotionally immersed within the music, but it’s then a shame to simply move my head and become distracted from the experience by a plastic creaking noise.

[Michael]

@Ecoute

I found if I adjusted the headband to it’s smallest setting there is no noise as it’s tighter

That could be it. That’s how my small head wants them, lol.

[TheMidnightSpark]

Hello fro the future! Would you say the MG were worth the extra cash over the Elex? They are kinda close to the Elex on the used marked now.