This is the balanced amp I'd be pairing it with. It's a full/truly balanced design on a trans-portable format. An increase in separation would interest me. Thanks.@Swisshead when a picture is indeed worth a thousand words
@Nostoi that's more a question of what does your amp offer balanced vs single ended. If it's truly a balanced design, that's how it's meant to be used, and I'm sure it's been designed to sound best used as such. From a perspective of the Clear, I do find the increase in focus and separation, that is commonly experienced with balanced drive, do benefit them.
Focal Clear headphones
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Also, if you need to switch from from balanced to single ended output, you only need a balanced to single ended adapter.
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I know but I'm kinda picky about adaptors, especially 4.4mm female to 6.35mm, which to my mind are a bit bulky because of the Pentaconn casing. I'd also prefer to avoid a pigtail adapter. Maybe someone knows of a very good one?
I don't think it gets better than that, sorry. 
The thing is that an adapter without pigtail will put significantly more strain on the plugs.
The thing is that an adapter without pigtail will put significantly more strain on the plugs.You mean like the Plussound micro adapter? Yeah, think I'll just stick with SE. Or get two cables for different purposes.I don't think it gets better than that, sorry.
Yeah, I don't like that, it increases the lever effect and makes the terminations twist at a sharper angle. Especially when used for desktop duty with full size plugs.
TheMiddleSky
Headphoneus Supremus
looks like a real balance amp, so changing your plug would be worth it
agree, when use as dac only, rme is great
Hi all, I have a pair of (factory refurb) Clears on the way. I plan to use them with the Sony TA-zh1es headphone amp. Anyone listen to them through this amp and can give their opinion? Also, I'm assuming the XLR connection is the best compared to the 1/4", correct? Thanks.
Well, it's too late for opinions now. The Clear sound good from (almost) anything. Enjoy.
I see, so the TA wouldn't be your first choice for an amp for these? I thought possibly the warmer, darker sound of the TA would offset the brighter sound of the Clears no?
Imo, they handle all type of amp coloring extremely well. Sibilance region is well attenuated, so brighter amps are not annoying. It has "dynamics", so even mellower amps will be plenty of fun. I saw some folks complaining about some metallic signature, but I can not see that issue, regardless of amp. I have one of the early s/n. Maybe later production models did get brighter, it happened with the Utopia. Who knows.
That's a new concept to me, that different production periods of the same headphone can produce different sounding headphones. Has this been proven? or just assumed?
Anyone have a recommendation for a good balanced cable (XLR or 4.4) upgrade for the Clears for $200 USD or under?
Interested, too.
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