Finally caved in and ordered the Clears... The auditions at the local dealer (x3) just impressed me too much to pass on these. Should get them around the end of the month/beginning of next month. It looks like demand is outstripping supply right now just like when the Elear/Utopia were initially released. They´ll be going up against my trusty HD 800 S. Time will tell which one will be staying (or both; that´s my guess right now if I had to predict).
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Focal Clear headphones
- Thread starter mtoc
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Wildcatsare1
Headphoneus Supremus
Finally caved in and ordered the Clears... The auditions at the local dealer (x3) just impressed me too much to pass on these. Should get them around the end of the month/beginning of next month. It looks like demand is outstripping supply right now just like when the Elear/Utopia were initially released. They´ll be going up against my trusty HD 800 S. Time will tell which one will be staying (or both; that´s my guess right now if I had to predict).
Look forward to reading your impressions, in my case the Clears won the day, vanquishing mine to the FS Thread.
Luke Thomas
500+ Head-Fier
The 800S are so much fun with the seperation of instruments. I sold mine but miss them. Just not as much bass as the Clears.Finally caved in and ordered the Clears... The auditions at the local dealer (x3) just impressed me too much to pass on these. Should get them around the end of the month/beginning of next month. It looks like demand is outstripping supply right now just like when the Elear/Utopia were initially released. They´ll be going up against my trusty HD 800 S. Time will tell which one will be staying (or both; that´s my guess right now if I had to predict).
SilverEars
Headphoneus Supremus
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Yeah the clear sounds to me with more body. 800(s) to me sounds highly damped as well, but Clear doesn't sound like the presense region has as much of a boost. 800(s) sounds like the boosted treble band is wider with high damping. Whereas the Clear's treble peak is narrower, but it is there, just that presense is not felt as much due to this. So there are tonality difference due to the treble difference of both.
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robertbudding
Head-Fier
Finally caved in and ordered the Clears... The auditions at the local dealer (x3) just impressed me too much to pass on these. Should get them around the end of the month/beginning of next month. It looks like demand is outstripping supply right now just like when the Elear/Utopia were initially released. They´ll be going up against my trusty HD 800 S. Time will tell which one will be staying (or both; that´s my guess right now if I had to predict).
I caved, too. They should arrive on Monday.
I'll take better bass over better soundstage any day of the week.The 800S are so much fun with the seperation of instruments. I sold mine but miss them. Just not as much bass as the Clears.
Wildcatsare1
Headphoneus Supremus
I'll take better bass over better soundstage any day of the week.
I’m the same way about tone, the hollow tonality of the HD800 was finally it for me. The Clear is close in detail, is more dynamic and has better bass.
Luke Thomas
500+ Head-Fier
Agree. Certain songs are just destroyed with the lack of bass within the 800S. Other songs are quite intriguing.I'll take better bass over better soundstage any day of the week.
swmtnbiker
Previously known as dpippel
I'd be interested to hear about the amps you Clear owners are using with your headphones. I love my HA-1, but am also thinking about downsizing in that department a bit since the Clear is so easy to drive. What have you got and how do you like the pairing?
wldcohso
500+ Head-Fier
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What type of amp are you all using? I’m using Hugo2 and Sennheiser HDV820... listening to SZA “The Weekend” and I get soooo much bass when using HD800S.. I can literally feel deep vibrations to my neck and shoulders.
SilverEars
Headphoneus Supremus
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Exaggerate much?What type of amp are you all using? I’m using Hugo2 and Sennheiser HDV820... listening to SZA “The Weekend” and I get soooo much bass when using HD800S.. I can literally feel deep vibrations to my neck and shoulders.
Beagle
His body's not a canvas, and he wasn't raised by apes.
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I'll take better bass over better soundstage any day of the week.
What exactly is "better bass"?I’m the same way about tone, the hollow tonality of the HD800 was finally it for me. The Clear is close in detail, is more dynamic and has better bass.
wldcohso
500+ Head-Fier
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Exaggerate much?
Not exaggerating at all.. I’m not feeling “I need more base” but I can understand if someone else does..
I don't feel these headphones should even be compared. The only thing they have in common is their price point, otherwise their 2 totally different sounding headphones, and the Clear is much easier to drive than the 800S, so I can see people believing the 800S lacking in some areas for those without adequate systems to drive them to their potential.They´ll be going up against my trusty HD 800 S.
Not exaggerating at all.. I’m not feeling “I need more base” but I can understand if someone else does..
I love my HD 800 S, but as typical for an open dynamic driver design it does roll off the sub bass... Have you tried a high end planar magnetic? It would need a planar like sub bass extension to be more tonally balanced as the treble is emphasized in quantity and extremely extended. The Clear is objectively better in both quantity and distortion levels in this regard (source: InnerFidelity measurements, Clear vs. HD 800 S). This is also in my experience subjectively very audible when listening to genres like electronica etc.
That being said, I´d consider it a miracle if the HD 820 doesn´t substantially improve the bass performance (and with it the tonality) as it should be much easier to achieve in a closed design.
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