Am I bottlenecking my Focal Clear Mg?

[CleffyHeft]

I'm currently running my Focal Clear Mg's off an iFi Zen DAC and considering that Focals are really easy to drive, I haven't bought an external amp for it. Someone pointed out that I may be bottlenecking it, can someone let me know if this is true?

Can someone suggest some amps that pair well with the Focal Clear Mg's as well? I've been looking at:

• THX 789 (I've heard it doesn't pair well with Focals, but I need some elaboration on this)
• Zen CAN
• JDS Element II

 

[Mightygrey]

I'm currently running my Focal Clear Mg's off an iFi Zen DAC and considering that Focals are really easy to drive, I haven't bought an external amp for it. Someone pointed out that I may be bottlenecking it, can someone let me know if this is true?

Can someone suggest some amps that pair well with the Focal Clear Mg's as well? I've been looking at:

• THX 789 (I've heard it doesn't pair well with Focals, but I need some elaboration on this)
• Zen CAN
• JDS Element II

You have a great device on your hands with more than enough power for your cans. I'd just enjoy your music and your set-up, and start thinking about other 'flavours' of sound down the track, perhaps. Sources will only really provide 'increments' of change provided you have enough power, which you do.

 

[CleffyHeft]

You have a great device on your hands with more than enough power for your cans. I'd just enjoy your music and your set-up, and start thinking about other 'flavours' of sound down the track, perhaps. Sources will only really provide 'increments' of change provided you have enough power, which you do.

Yes!! I actually really want to experiment with tube amps to change the flavours, but I’ve heard tube amps don’t pair well with efficient headphones, such as the Focal Clear Mg’s. Do you know anything about this?

Also, are there any tube amps that provide the tube sound for efficient headphones that you’d recommend?

 

[Mightygrey]

Yes!! I actually really want to experiment with tube amps to change the flavours, but I’ve heard tube amps don’t pair well with efficient headphones, such as the Focal Clear Mg’s. Do you know anything about this?

Also, are there any tube amps that provide the tube sound for efficient headphones that you’d recommend?

Output Transformerless (OTL) tube amps are the wrong type to pair with lower-impedance Focals due to their high output impedance. A transformer-coupled or hybrid amp is a better match. I've had a good time pairing Focals with the Hagerman Tuba.

 

[CleffyHeft]

That’s currently out of my budget unfortunately. What do you think of the Schiit Vali 2+ or Schiit Valhalla?

Output Transformerless (OTL) tube amps are the wrong type to pair with lower-impedance Focals due to their high output impedance. A transformer-coupled or hybrid amp is a better match. I've had a good time pairing Focals with the Hagerman Tuba.

 

[Mightygrey]

That’s currently out of my budget unfortunately. What do you think of the Schiit Vali 2+ or Schiit Valhalla?

The Vali will be a better match, as the Valhalla is an OTL design (although the output-Z isn't stupidly high). The Little Dot 1+ is also a good budget option.