Focal’s premium headphones aren’t essentially low-cost, however after reviewing the Focal Utopia and Focal Stellia headphones, it’s simple to say that they’re definitely worth the cash for the appropriate purchaser. However Focal does have some headphones that price lower than $3,000. The truth is, it has just a few pairs of headphones that price round half that — just like the Focal Clear open-back headphones.
However simply because the Focal Clear headphones price half as a lot because the Focal Utopia headphones, that definitely doesn’t make them low-cost. The truth is, at $1,500, these headphones most definitely aren’t low-cost. Are they definitely worth the money? Or do they sacrifice too many options? We put the Focal Clear headphones to the check to seek out out.
Design
The Focal Clear headphones are unmistakably Focal. That’s to say, whereas they’ve numerous totally different design components than different Focal headphones, together with colour choices, they carry that traditional Focal headphones look, the gorgeous mesh grills on every ear cup, and so forth. While you take the headphones out of the field, you’ll instantly be dazzled with the metallic look and nice really feel.
The headphones are largely constructed from steel, and that makes for a really premium look. Coupled with the truth that these headphones function a pleasant cloth overlaying, braided nylon cables, and so forth, and you’ve got a pair of headphones that not solely seems nice, however is clearly good and robust too.
Within the field, other than the beautifully-designed headphones themselves, you’ll additionally get a pleasant onerous case and really sturdy and premium cables. There are three cables within the field, together with a one-meter cable with a 1/8-inch connector, a three-meter cable with a 1/4-inch connector, and a three-meter cable with an XLR connector.
Consolation
The Focal Clear headphones, as talked about, are constructed with loads of padding and high quality leather-based, and as such they’re fairly comfy for lengthy intervals of listening. The headphones function a pleasant cloth overlaying for the scarf and ear cups, guaranteeing that the headphones stay comfy.
Maybe the one factor to think about is how heavy the headphones are. At 450 grams, or round 1 pound, the headphones aren’t essentially mild — however contemplating the padding and nice-feeling supplies, we by no means felt just like the headphones have been getting too heavy.
Sound
For those who’re spending $1,500 on a pair of headphones, maybe an important factor to think about is how they sound. Fortunately, the Focal Clear headphones sound completely unimaginable. Earlier than you ask, no, they’re not fairly on the identical degree because the Focal Utopia headphones — however they arrive fairly shut, and at half the value.
Bass response on the headphones is tight and exact, and never by any means excessive. The headphones provide loads of bass response, although fortunately Focal has chosen to not enhance bass an excessive amount of like a few of its opponents.
Mid vary is properly tuned too. We might say that there’s a slight emphasis on the low mids, but it surely’s so slight that the result’s merely a hotter sound. Excessive mids are nonetheless greater than current sufficient for people who like vocals to properly minimize via a mixture.
The highs are, effectively, clear. Excessive frequencies are tremendous detailed, and devices are clearly separated within the combine, making for a listening expertise by which you’ll uncover one thing new each time you hear.
The Focal Clear headphones are geared toward providing a few of what’s particular in regards to the $3,000 Focal Utopia headphones whereas combining it with the far more fun-sounding Focal Elear headphones, they usually do this fairly effectively. The soundstage is sweet and broad, making for a natural-sounding listening expertise with loads of area to breathe.
Conclusions
As you may anticipate, Focal has hit a house run with the Focal Clear headphones. The headphones are fantastically designed, very comfy, and provide a sound high quality that’s good for the audiophile in search of one thing slightly extra enjoyable. The frequency tweaks are adequately subtle to make for a really pure listening expertise.
Regardless of the excessive price ticket, the Focal Clear headphones have a ton going for them — and that’s why we’ve awarded them the Headphone Evaluation Gold Medal.
| Retailer | Worth |
|---|---|
 |
$1,399 |
| Focal | $1,500 |
| Frequency response | 5Hz – 28kHz | Lively noise cancellation |
No |
| Driver dimension | 40mm | Noise attenuation | Unknown |
| Driver kind |
Dynamic | On-ear controls | No |
| Design |
Open-back | Microphone | No |
| Sensitivity | 104dB | Earpad materials | Foam |
| Rated impedance |
55Ω | Magnet materials | Aluminum/magnesium |
| Complete harmonic distortion |
0.25% | Water resistance | No |
| Rated enter energy |
Unknown | Battery life | N/A |
| Most enter energy |
Unknown | Wi-fi distance | N/A |
| Wi-fi connection |
N/A | Cable size | 1m-3m |
| Wired connection |
1/8″, 1/4″ | Case kind | Exhausting case |
| Removable cable |
Sure | In-the-box |
|
| Weight | 0.99lbs (450g) | Colours | Silver |