so the focal clears arrived today. Also bought an HP Elitebook 17in to use as a media center/TV (watching something during my lunch break WFH). I will be using my DIY tubed amp for now while waiting delivery for a audio-gd dac/amp combo.
The ones I demoed in the store are the grey/dirty white version. but found these Focals at a discount (around $75USD cheaper than the greys) and I love the color scheme!
I think they are actually great for the money. Quality seems good. No weird smell, no residue glue. They are correct size and nice feeling and sufficiently stuffed (my earlobes do not touch the inner grill unlike massdrop 2020 focal elex pads). Should have bought the leather ones though.
I think they are actually great for the money. Quality seems good. No weird smell, no residue glue. They are correct size and nice feeling and sufficiently stuffed (my earlobes do not touch the inner grill unlike massdrop 2020 focal elex pads). Should have bought the leather ones though.
They seem to be slightly shallower, but i guess they don't crumple as much cause my earlobes don't touch the insides.
On the right are the famously criticized focal elex pads from Massdrop which I cannot use, since my earlobes touch the inner grill of the headphones.
On the left is my original pad that has been washed several times and is super messed up and stretched out.
I think they are actually great for the money. Quality seems good. No weird smell, no residue glue. They are correct size and nice feeling and sufficiently stuffed (my earlobes do not touch the inner grill unlike massdrop 2020 focal elex pads). Should have bought the leather ones though.
Just be aware that the pads have a big influence on how the Clears sound.
I have been testing the Clears with the original pads, Dekoni Velour and Ltd Stellia, and with the Focal Utopia pads.
The original Clear pads and the Utopia pads have a similar refined and open character with the Utopia pads sounding a little more natural, open and refined.
The 2 Dekoni pads sound somewhat closed in, more bassy and punchy in comparison, the Ltd Stellia pads more so than the Velour.
Frankly, the combination of high price and short lifetime of the original pads is a bit of a bummer.
The Utopia pads may be the better long term solution despite the high price as they sound even cleaner and clearer and should last much longer.
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