[descloud]

Not sure if it's just me noticing this, but after having the Clear for a while I start to notice how the stage presentation is a bit disjointed in the middle. It's like there's a hole in the middle of the stage and a hard left-to-right separation in that section, like there's a 10 degrees section in front of me that is blank space. All my other headphones don't have this gap in the middle whereas the Clear is kind of noticeable at this point. This makes songs sound less cohesive, and the way to fix this for me is by using a cross-feed like Meier cross-feed feature.

Just curious of others noticed this as well or if its just me. Wonder if how I position the Clear on my head also affects this gap quality.

 

[Guidostrunk]

Can't say I've heard what you're hearing. The Clear to me is the most cohesive, immersive, holographic, and well put together stage I've heard.

 

[340519]

Not sure if it's just me noticing this, but after having the Clear for a while I start to notice how the stage presentation is a bit disjointed in the middle. It's like there's a hole in the middle of the stage and a hard left-to-right separation in that section, like there's a 10 degrees section in front of me that is blank space. All my other headphones don't have this gap in the middle whereas the Clear is kind of noticeable at this point. This makes songs sound less cohesive, and the way to fix this for me is by using a cross-feed like Meier cross-feed feature.

Just curious of others noticed this as well or if its just me. Wonder if how I position the Clear on my head also affects this gap quality.

Thats a no on my front as well. Very cohesive presentation.

 

[roskodan]

Not sure if it's just me noticing this, but after having the Clear for a while I start to notice how the stage presentation is a bit disjointed in the middle. It's like there's a hole in the middle of the stage and a hard left-to-right separation in that section, like there's a 10 degrees section in front of me that is blank space. All my other headphones don't have this gap in the middle whereas the Clear is kind of noticeable at this point. This makes songs sound less cohesive, and the way to fix this for me is by using a cross-feed like Meier cross-feed feature.

Just curious of others noticed this as well or if its just me. Wonder if how I position the Clear on my head also affects this gap quality.

Going by your other gear, under your profile, I would say the Clear may give that impression 'cos of the airy presentation, kind of a wider center presence, instead of a pointy center source of sound.

But.

There may be an issue, 'cos what you described are signs typical of channel phase mismatch, i.e. left and right channels inverted in polarity. If you have an aftermarket cable, or interconnects, that may be wired out of phase between the two, left and right, channels. Hopefully it's not the drivers themselves that are wired inverted in phase. That would be shameless from Focal QC. XD

Check under "Wiring, Center vs Twisted" also "Left, Right" to check the cables are not breaking, shorted or something:
www.audiocheck.net/soundtests_headphones.php

 

[hyoureki]

Not sure if it's just me noticing this, but after having the Clear for a while I start to notice how the stage presentation is a bit disjointed in the middle. It's like there's a hole in the middle of the stage and a hard left-to-right separation in that section, like there's a 10 degrees section in front of me that is blank space. All my other headphones don't have this gap in the middle whereas the Clear is kind of noticeable at this point. This makes songs sound less cohesive, and the way to fix this for me is by using a cross-feed like Meier cross-feed feature.

Just curious of others noticed this as well or if its just me. Wonder if how I position the Clear on my head also affects this gap quality.

When you compress the pads toward your head does this go away? Could also be explained by subtle difference in ear to driver distance.

 

[descloud]

Going by your other gear, under your profile, I would say the Clear may give that impression 'cos of the airy presentation, kind of a wider center presence, instead of a pointy center source of sound.

But.

There may be an issue, 'cos what you described are signs typical of channel phase mismatch, i.e. left and right channels inverted in polarity. If you have an aftermarket cable, or interconnects, that may be wired out of phase between the two, left and right, channels. Hopefully it's not the drivers themselves that are wired inverted in phase. That would be shameless from Focal QC. XD

Check under "Wiring, Center vs Twisted" also "Left, Right" to check the cables are not breaking, shorted or something:
www.audiocheck.net/soundtests_headphones.php

One thing's for sure, it's not the cables. Did all the tests as per the link you provided and it passes all of them without a problem. Changed the cable to the other set and it's the same results.

Interestingly, the positioning of the cups on my ears does affect the stage for me. Placing the cups slightly more frontal and angled gives the center stage presentation and less empty space, but I still don't find it as cohesive or even sounding as my others. It's like there's a small gap(/s) in the center image. I suspect it's something to do with the dynamics of the Clear or because of the angled drivers changing the gain on my hearing. Using cross-feed fixes that for me for some reason.

When you compress the pads toward your head does this go away? Could also be explained by subtle difference in ear to driver distance.

Compressing them doesn't make a difference to my ears. Readjusting the cups affects them more, but doesn't completely fix it.

 

[340519]

One thing's for sure, it's not the cables. Did all the tests as per the link you provided and it passes all of them without a problem. Changed the cable to the other set and it's the same results.

Interestingly, the positioning of the cups on my ears does affect the stage for me. Placing the cups slightly more frontal and angled gives the center stage presentation and less empty space, but I still don't find it as cohesive or even sounding as my others. It's like there's a small gap(/s) in the center image. I suspect it's something to do with the dynamics of the Clear or because of the angled drivers changing the gain on my hearing. Using cross-feed fixes that for me for some reason.


Compressing them doesn't make a difference to my ears. Readjusting the cups affects them more, but doesn't completely fix it.

The abyss 1266 tcs are crazy with positioning, so you may be on to something.

 

[Slim1970]

The abyss 1266 tcs are crazy with positioning, so you may be on to something.

Agreed, nothing compares with the Abyss TC's when it comes to the many ways it can be positioned or setup. The Clears are not that difficult in comparison.

 

[Ifalna]

Great post. Although the pads and headband that come with the clears are terrible. A horrible design choice as they stain from facial oils and hair goop(I use a putty by Dove for Men) from normal use.

Mmh so far I've washed my Clear's pads 3 times w/o issues or the foam going flat.
I was a wee bit too aggressive on my first wash but I now have the correct technique to avoid damage.

The headband I protect with a self knitted (by mom's hands, not mine ) protection band. Works like a charm and can be washed along with the pads.

 

[Ralf Hutter]

I now have the correct technique to avoid damage.

And that technique is?

 

[roskodan]

Mmh so far I've washed my Clear's pads 3 times w/o issues or the foam going flat.
I was a wee bit too aggressive on my first wash but I now have the correct technique to avoid damage.

The headband I protect with a self knitted (by mom's hands, not mine ) protection band. Works like a charm and can be washed along with the pads.

Also, pics, or it didn't happen.

 

[Ifalna]

And that technique is?

Gently massaging and the avoidance of any kind of friction.
They REALLY do not like being rubbed at all. The material starts to fray.

Also, pics, or it didn't happen.

Mmh there should be pictures in this very thread. They don't look any different now, so no need to re-post.

https://www.head-fi.org/threads/focal-clear-headphones.861727/post-14887456

 

[TheMiddleSky]

There may be an issue, 'cos what you described are signs typical of channel phase mismatch, i.e. left and right channels inverted in polarity. If you have an aftermarket cable, or interconnects, that may be wired out of phase between the two, left and right, channels. Hopefully it's not the drivers themselves that are wired inverted in phase. That would be shameless from Focal QC. XD

Check under "Wiring, Center vs Twisted" also "Left, Right" to check the cables are not breaking, shorted or something:
www.audiocheck.net/soundtests_headphones.php

Nah I knew 1 pc focal utopia here in my local community that got reverse polarity problem.

 

[TonySunshine]

ykno I've had a similar issue as well. I've been doing a lot more mix/mastering on the Clear's since the pandemic started, and noticed that with the Clear's the center image is even more suppressed/missing compared to some other headphones I have - HD650, Sony CD900ST, and DT990. I guess I'm used to having center image with studio monitors, so its absence particularly noticeable on the Clears. It bugged me so much that I did a complicated setup with Voicemeeter, DDMF effect rack, and the Goodhertz canopener crossfeed plugin so I can run a proper crossfeed all the time. But I must say, once I started using the canopener crossfeed, the Clear's come really close to the studio monitor setup I'm used to in terms of imaging.

Not sure if it's just me noticing this, but after having the Clear for a while I start to notice how the stage presentation is a bit disjointed in the middle. It's like there's a hole in the middle of the stage and a hard left-to-right separation in that section, like there's a 10 degrees section in front of me that is blank space. All my other headphones don't have this gap in the middle whereas the Clear is kind of noticeable at this point. This makes songs sound less cohesive, and the way to fix this for me is by using a cross-feed like Meier cross-feed feature.

Just curious of others noticed this as well or if its just me. Wonder if how I position the Clear on my head also affects this gap quality.

 

[descloud]

ykno I've had a similar issue as well. I've been doing a lot more mix/mastering on the Clear's since the pandemic started, and noticed that with the Clear's the center image is even more suppressed/missing compared to some other headphones I have - HD650, Sony CD900ST, and DT990. I guess I'm used to having center image with studio monitors, so its absence particularly noticeable on the Clears. It bugged me so much that I did a complicated setup with Voicemeeter, DDMF effect rack, and the Goodhertz canopener crossfeed plugin so I can run a proper crossfeed all the time. But I must say, once I started using the canopener crossfeed, the Clear's come really close to the studio monitor setup I'm used to in terms of imaging.

Yeah I didn't notice that center image weirdness at first. But after constantly listening to it and sometimes changing headphones, then I go back to the Clear, I do notice that somewhat displaced center image. Crossfeed does fix the issue and makes the center image more cohesive and speaker like, but it's just strange that I don't find this particular flaw in other headphones. Maybe we notice it because of our reference speaker set?

On that note, I do think the Clear is closest to how I hear a speaker setup at my car, bluetooth and through our home theatre speaker set.