@thebkt how would you say the clears compare to the X?
Would you be satisfied if I said they both sound great to my ears?
Right now, I couldn't actually give you an apples to apples comparison, as I don't yet have a balanced cable for my X's. I got the creators edition and only have the 6.35mm cable right now, with a balanced cable on order from Ursine Audio (will hopefully arrive in the next 2-3 weeks). Regardless of the opinion of whether or not balanced vs single ended has any intrinsic difference, my DAC/Amp are balanced and I'm using ACSS to connect my two Audio-GD components. That is to say that my system is set up to be balanced, with only my headphone out being Single Ended on the X's.
Still... they both sound awesome to me and I can put either headphone on and enjoy it wholeheartedly. Though it has to be said that over time I've come to notice some differences in sound between the two. For starters, Sonarworks brings forward a slight upper-mid dip in the Clears, adding just a little more presence in that region. The difference between standard and the corrected with the X is far, far more pronounced. I'd say that the Clears have a more powerful upper-bass -> mids which results in sustained notes being fuller, but the X's definitely have more sub-bass and a bit more slam, so staccato notes can be felt, not just heard, even though the music might not have a sustained energy/fullness/buzzword to it. I honestly don't prefer one over the other. I can now relate to a lot of the descriptions I've read about both headphones. The X's are silky smooth and I find myself leaning back in my chair, closing my eyes and simply enjoying what I hear, not fretting over whether or not the music is being perfectly reproduced. While the clears are just so pleasing, everything sounds good through them and they absolutely do not need EQ to be enjoyed... by me. If I had to pick one, I'd grab both and run. I'm not selling either, I love 'em both.
In regards to ergonomics/comfort/usability, I will pick the X's. If my ears were smaller, I'd be completely happy with both. But as I've mentioned previously, the earpad cavity of the Clears simply isn't big enough for my elephant ears and I can feel pressure on my ear lobes after some time. Despite the weight, I can wear the X's (with the suspension headband) for hours on end with zero discomfort. However, for every up there's a down, as such, you can't get around the weight of the X's for scenarios such as laying down, they simply slide off my head. I often listen laying down, and the Clears with a slight tilt of the headband forward hold firm and do the trick. The Clears are also far more viable for transport or moving around while listening. They also sound good enough out of my phone that I can simply plug 'em in while I'm doing housework.
So in summary, I like both a lot. I'd be content with either, but I appreciate the privilege of having both and plan on taking full advantage of that. With regards to sound quality alone, if you have either, I would not race out to buy the other. I'd only recommend swapping or getting the other if your specific circumstances mean the other would service you better.
