[swmtnbiker]

Sometimes I read some of the funniest comments here. No offense meant but the hives thing almost made me lose my lunch it hit me so funny!

Head-fi is nothing if not entertaining!

 

[styks]

Head-fi is nothing if not entertaining!

For real entertainment go read the Chord Poly thread!

 

[styks]

Yes, for me it's just a much better headphone than 800s and in another league from LCD2, period. This applies for all types of music and in all sonic parameters. There is nothing in those other phones that I wish was present in Clear. I think to discuss Clear in the context of HD800s and LCD-2 just underplays how good Clear is. The bar has been raised and those other phones are old news as far as I'm concerned.

That's quite a statement! .... I hope you're right my Clear arrives tomorrow. ..... So called "Burn in" yes, no ?

 

[wldcohso]

I'm really, REALLY tempted to pick up the Clear, but I'm pretty happy with my AEON Flow Open and break out in hives just thinking about spending $1500 on a headphone. When I rationalize it though, I try to convince myself that I don't really need an amp like the HA-1 with the Focal so I could sell that and maybe pick up a Schiit for driving duties, then sell the AEON and only be out a couple of hundred bucks for the whole shebang.

Decisions, decisions...

Go for it, sell what you got and upgrade.

 

[styks]

hmm maybe but those earpads are also glued to the frame (a thing i really hated about the audeze(the second thing i hated about the Audeze was the stock cable)

Yes true, I was just making a suggestion as you're used to planars. They're supposed to be a really engaging / fun sound.
I actually turned down the Aeon open in favour of the 600 quid extra Focal Clear, it's going to be hard to beat the Clear I feel. ..... I know the Elear sound, nice, so I'm confident I'm going to like the Clear, all my research points to improvements over the Elear that I happen to agree with. I will know for sure tomorrow!
You must audition if you're able, didn't catch your earlier posts so maybe that's not an option? Its quite difficult for me, quite a ride to dealers from where I live.

 

[qrtas]

I'm really, REALLY tempted to pick up the Clear, but I'm pretty happy with my AEON Flow Open and break out in hives just thinking about spending $1500 on a headphone. When I rationalize it though, I try to convince myself that I don't really need an amp like the HA-1 with the Focal so I could sell that and maybe pick up a Schiit for driving duties, then sell the AEON and only be out a couple of hundred bucks for the whole shebang.

Decisions, decisions...

I'm really, REALLY tempted to pick up the Clear, but I'm pretty happy with my AEON Flow Open and break out in hives just thinking about spending $1500 on a headphone. When I rationalize it though, I try to convince myself that I don't really need an amp like the HA-1 with the Focal so I could sell that and maybe pick up a Schiit for driving duties, then sell the AEON and only be out a couple of hundred bucks for the whole shebang.

Decisions, decisions...

About a month ago I purchased the Aeon Flow Open. They sound good, but they sound like close headphones. I guess they are ok for the price. I returned them and got the clear. Best decision I made

 

[joell28]

Yes true, I was just making a suggestion as you're used to planars. They're supposed to be a really engaging / fun sound.
I actually turned down the Aeon open in favour of the 600 quid extra Focal Clear, it's going to be hard to beat the Clear I feel. ..... I know the Elear sound, nice, so I'm confident I'm going to like the Clear, all my research points to improvements over the Elear that I happen to agree with. I will know for sure tomorrow!
You must audition if you're able, didn't catch your earlier posts so maybe that's not an option? Its quite difficult for me, quite a ride to dealers from where I live.

quite a long drive for me aswel to any shops plus there aint a shop in my entire country that got the Focals Clear as Demo
or even in stock ( ordered them so i hope to get them within a week)

 

[donlin]

That's quite a statement! .... I hope you're right my Clear arrives tomorrow. ..... So called "Burn in" yes, no ?

I’ve never considered burn in to be very important but with Clear I was ready to return them after the first week. Now I’m a huge fan. Something changed. Could be me and/or the headphones.

 

[TSAVJason]

That's quite a statement! .... I hope you're right my Clear arrives tomorrow. ..... So called "Burn in" yes, no ?

Yes “burn in” is a “time period” that it takes for any motor to become accustom to its job. In this case the Speaker is a motor. There are many theories on how but it is a reality of mechanics. Fortunately the Clear sounds pretty damn nice right out of the box. Over time typically 100 + hours they really open up to their true voice. My advice is treat them nice, kinda moderate on volume for the first few hours and then give them more as you feel you need.

Good luck and enjoy those cans!

 

[styks]

quite a long drive for me aswel to any shops plus there aint a shop in my entire country that got the Focals Clear as Demo
or even in stock ( ordered them so i hope to get them within a week)

Ah, good stuff I hope you're happy with them when they land at your home. ..... They are a "unique" headphone, in a good way!

 

[styks]

Yes “burn in” is a “time period” that it takes for any motor to become accustom to its job. In this case the Speaker is a motor. There are many theories on how but it is a reality of mechanics. Fortunately the Clear sounds pretty damn nice right out of the box. Over time typically 100 + hours they really open up to their true voice. My advice is treat them nice, kinda moderate on volume for the first few hours and then give them more as you feel you need.

Good luck and enjoy those cans!

Hi, yes thank you I know what burn in means. And i happen to agree, as an engineer I know the properties of flexible joints/membranes can change slightly when worked. A fairly quick change until it settles into that particular range of movement, then change slows until it eventualy breaks down completely. I can't think of any material that doesn't undergo some change when put to work in such a manner tbh.
So the mechanics of it make sense to me and I believe I've heard changes myself.

I suppose others argue it's imperceptible and it's more than likely the brain adjusting , becomming accustomed to, the change / new input, enabling it to further analyse the detail within the overall sound. Personally I don't think it takes that long for our brain to adjust. A matter of minutes I would think, certainly not 100+hrs.

Anyway, it's been done to death, a circular argument.

Yes, I'll run them in gently, like we had to with new car engines when i was a lad, I'll keep em below 3000 rpm for a while

I'm not as practiced as you guys but I'll post my thoughts on the sound, especially compared to my Elear, before I sell them, I'm quietly confident they will be going!

 

[TSAVJason]

Hi, yes thank you I know what burn in means. And i happen to agree, as an engineer I know the properties of flexible membranes can change slightly when worked. A fairly quick change until it settles into that particular range of movement, then change slows until it eventualy breaks down completely. I can't think of any material that doesn't undergo some change when put to work in such a manner tbh.
So the mechanics of it make sense to me and I believe I've heard changes myself.

I suppose others argue it's imperceptible and it's more than likely the brain adjusting , becomming accustomed to, the change / new input, enabling it to further analyse the detail within the overall sound. Personally I don't think it takes that long for our brain to adjust. A matter of minutes I would think, certainly not 100+hrs.

Anyway, it's been done to death, a circular argument.

Yes, I'll run them in gently, like we had to with new car engines when i was a lad, I'll keep em below 3000 rpm for a while

I'm not as practiced as you guys but I'll post my thoughts on the sound, especially compared to my Elear, before I sell them, I'm quietly confident they will be going!

That’s great! Love to hear your thoughts!

 

[Wildcatsare1]

Clear isn't between those two headphones, it's vastly superior. IMO of course Clear>>>Hd800s>LCD-2

I'll second this, out of my current and recent Cans; Clear>LCD-3f=Ether Flow Open>

That’s great! Love to hear your thoughts!

Jason, will Focal announce their new flagship Headphone at CES?

 

[TSAVJason]

I'll second this, out of my current and recent Cans; Clear>LCD-3f=Ether Flow Open>


Jason, will Focal announce their new flagship Headphone at CES?

Nothing replaces or exceeds the Utopia flagship yet that I’ve been made aware of. There are a couple new models coming

 

[Matro5]

Nothing replaces or exceeds the Utopia flagship yet that I’ve been made aware of. There are a couple new models coming

Very curious to see Focal's new products, although my Clears have happily taken me out of the market for awhile. But, it's interesting to see Focal entering the market so aggressively. They do not seem to be messing around.