[Forsaked]

My pads also arrived today, so im gonna A/B listening with them while the Arya is still burning in.

 

[Blotto80]

I still have all three, Clear OG, HD800 OG and LCD2C. Only the Clear can I call endgame without PEQ. HD800 OG and LCD2C are still endgame with PEQ. Also, the HD650 I've, I will never part with them, mid budget endgame for me, without the need to PEQ. So I guess my natural upgrade to the HD650 were... are the Clear OG...

Yes, exactly. I have never used EQ with the Clear. With the 800S it was unusable without EQ. The LCD2.1 was great but had some physical issues so I sold it and bought a 2.2F that I felt was missing the "magic" that the 2.1 had. I credit the HD650 with being the first headphone I was in love with but I got bored and wanted to try something new so I sold it and bought an HE400 that I absolutely hated. I'm at the same place with the Clear but now when my eye starts to wander, I think back to getting rid of the HD650 and how big of a mistake that was. I feel now that the Clear is the logical conclusion to the upgrade itch I got from the HD650 a decade ago.

 

[roskodan]

Same, in fact, I sold my 2009 HD650 only to have to buy them again, a 2017 HD650, maybe a year after selling the former. Then I got the Clear, the HD650 are not being used at all because of that. Regardless, HD650 and Ah-D2000, two set of cans that I'm never gonna sell, too good for the money to sell I guess. Can't say the same about the Clear, since at that price range I guess there may be something better in the future, to be considered as a natural upgrade. Fingers crossed.

 

[Blotto80]

Same, in fact, I sold my 2009 HD650 only to have to buy them again, a 2017 HD650, maybe a year after selling the former. Then I got the Clear, the HD650 are not being used at all because of that. Regardless, HD650 and Ah-D2000, two set of cans that I'm never gonna sell, too good for the money to sell I guess. Can't say the same about the Clear, since at that price range I guess there may be something better in the future, to be considered as a natural upgrade. Fingers crossed.

I think you and I have had extreme similar journeys in this hobby. I had the D2000 as well at the same time as the HD650 and it was also dear to me. I have a strict one pair at a time rule and I picked the HD650 over it.

 

[caracara08]

This feels like home now. I’ve bought the HD650 at least 6 times because I think I want something better and I keep going back to the Sennheiser. Right now I have the updated Clear Mg and the HD660s and I’m not sure how I feel about the HD660s. Considering selling and getting the HD650 again. 7th times a charm?

 

[B.inthe6ix]

My Dekoni pads & 'nuggets' arrived in the city & I'm waiting for UPS to get the package to the pickup location (probably Friday).
In preparation for applying the nuggets, I removed all the upholstery from the Focal Clear headband. It was in as state of degrade. The nuggets pretty much need a firm surface for attachment. I took some photos of the process showing the inner workings of the Focal headband & will post once I complete the transformation. I actually like what resulted in a new look.

Installed the LTD pads & nuggets today. I'll make 2 posts. 1st post is the photos that I mentioned above re the teardown of the headband. Hope it provides some insight if anyone is having issues with the headband.
1. Cutting away the microfibre revealed black foam padding glued to the workings. It peeled off easily. Plastic castings at both end centred by silicone sections covering the steel band.
2. Access to the steel yoke stopper that reveals screw down. One end access only. Not sure why. On the top side is 2 screw access holes as seen in photo 3.
3. As described above.
4. Silicone sections removed.
5. Top side of above photo.
6. Silicone easily flexed for applying or removing.
7. For re-covering the headband with some kind of fabric etc. the silicone sections will need to be replaced.
8. bottom section snapped back into the top section.
9. Top side view of re-assembled silicone sections.
10. Trimming the upholstery from the end caps with a razor knife.
11. I decided to apply leather to the steel band & leave the plastic visible. I like the minimalist approach & it avoids any possibility of obvious repair attempt with other methods. I have worked with leather application on many things so I wanted to add a bit of colour to all the black. After taking fitted measurements, I attached the pieces to the steel with small pieces double sided carpet tape just to hol itin place until the edges could be separated and glued with white wood glue. I like to use that glue as it hardens solid & can be used to mold the ends of delicate leather pieces and shape to reinforce.
12. Carpet tape.
13. Oversize to allow for edge gluing.
14.Sandwiching the steel band, leaving top side gap for insert thin strip. The thicker leather not flush fitting to the cap at this point.
15. This is the ratcheting steel strip (see photo 2. for location)

I'll show installation photos in next post.

 

[B.inthe6ix]

Here are a few photos of the Dekoni LTD. sheepskin pads & the headband nuggets. The original pads are all but trash after so many years of constant use. I use them for my recording monitors, ( I play acoustic guitar), & for movies etc. I attached the nuggets only temporarily with carpet tape until I'm sure of the location for a good comfort. I think they're ok as shown. They are quite compressible & appear to be a good investment. I think using only 2 of the 4 will be fine. I'll have to report on the sound with the new pads at a later time.

 

[LoryWiv]

This feels like home now. I’ve bought the HD650 at least 6 times because I think I want something better and I keep going back to the Sennheiser. Right now I have the updated Clear Mg and the HD660s and I’m not sure how I feel about the HD660s. Considering selling and getting the HD650 again. 7th times a charm?

I wasn't aware of any updates to Clear Mg since release, or do you just mean MG as opposed to OG clear?

 

[roskodan]

This feels like home now. I’ve bought the HD650 at least 6 times because I think I want something better and I keep going back to the Sennheiser. Right now I have the updated Clear Mg and the HD660s and I’m not sure how I feel about the HD660s. Considering selling and getting the HD650 again. 7th times a charm?

Nah, unless going back to HD650 only, the Clear MG are on another level. I get why some folks have a strict one headphone only policy. Not me tho, I had to get all my favorites from the past back and back again. Four times HD800 and LCD2-3-X-2C owner here. Guess I got a little wiser in my grown up days, if only money wise, so I'm just keeping them all now.

 

[Kammerat Rebekka]

This feels like home now. I’ve bought the HD650 at least 6 times because I think I want something better and I keep going back to the Sennheiser. Right now I have the updated Clear Mg and the HD660s and I’m not sure how I feel about the HD660s. Considering selling and getting the HD650 again. 7th times a charm?

7th time is always the charm!
In all seriousness though…it’s nice to have a 6 series can from Sennheiser lying around the house. One of those headphones that never breaks, experiences driver failures or anything of the sort. Some of us even prefer a classic Sennie over the Focal (in my case it’s the HD580).
At the very least, it’s a wonderful plan b

I am considering getting back on the Focal sauce. I’ve owned the Elear, Elex and old Clear and somewhat regret selling them off…and now it seems as if the Elear is out of production. The Elex is impossible to buy in the EU..and well the new Clear doesn’t sound as good as the old
I do however feel that the new Mg takes the cake lookwise..I just wish there was some kind of way to get Focal to make two different pairs of pads for them: one with the newer and warmer tuning and the second option would be the older styled pads with the more linear presentation.

 

[caracara08]

I wasn't aware of any updates to Clear Mg since release, or do you just mean MG as opposed to OG clear?

Yeah sorry. Still learning all the models. I was thinking of the Clear Pro. The one I got is the Clear Mg. I tried the Clear but I felt there as something in the highs that my ears didn’t like. I FEEL like the Mg cures that but I’m not one of those people good at A/B comparisons

 

[LoryWiv]

7th time is always the charm!
In all seriousness though…it’s nice to have a 6 series can from Sennheiser lying around the house. One of those headphones that never breaks, experiences driver failures or anything of the sort. Some of us even prefer a classic Sennie over the Focal (in my case it’s the HD580).
At the very least, it’s a wonderful plan b

I am considering getting back on the Focal sauce. I’ve owned the Elear, Elex and old Clear and somewhat regret selling them off…and now it seems as if the Elear is out of production. The Elex is impossible to buy in the EU..and well the new Clear doesn’t sound as good as the old
I do however feel that the new Mg takes the cake lookwise..I just wish there was some kind of way to get Focal to make two different pairs of pads for them: one with the newer and warmer tuning and the second option would be the older styled pads with the more linear presentation.

You might look into the Decani pads for Clear MG. I am using fenestrated lambskin, others enjoy the Stellia Ltd.

 

[B.inthe6ix]

With all the reference to the HD 650's here lately, I found a couple old pics of my past Sennheisers.
Remember the 540 reference 600ohm? Still my favourite that can't be replaced. I'll take the 600's over the 650's all day long. That Cardas harness was very nice. Always had problems with the pin-plugs.

 

[Ifalna]

I've been listening to my Focal Clear Pro headphones for 13 months now and these are definitely my game has ended headphones.

I know the feeling and share the sentiment.
Focal's Aria speakers did the same for me in the speaker domain.

At this point, unless something breaks, my audiophile journey is completed and I turn my attention towards the content and finding time to actually use the gear I have.

 

[jonathan c]

I know the feeling and share the sentiment.
Focal's Aria speakers did the same for me in the speaker domain.

At this point, unless something breaks, my audiophile journey is completed and I turn my attention towards the content and finding time to actually use the gear I have.

Time is the one element that cannot be replaced…