[HTSkywalker]

Yes they come straight from Focal's factory in France to our warehouse. We are currently doing the end of life fun on Focal's Clear OG along with the Clear OG ear pads.

 

[regaet]

Just ordered a pair of Focal Clear Ear Pads from Headphones.com on sale for $79. I'm looking forward to seeing how they compare to the Sendy Aiva pads I have.

 

[HTSkywalker]

Just ordered a pair of Focal Clear Ear Pads from Headphones.com on sale for $79. I'm looking forward to seeing how they compare to the Sendy Aiva pads I have.

A superb value for $79

 

[regaet]

Well to my ears and preferences Shroomalistic was right Post #6,170. The Clear pads sound good, better than the stock Elear or Dekoni Fenestrated pads but not as good as the Aiva pads. Well, at least I'm not wondering if I'm missing out on not having the Clear pads anymore.

 

[jasonb]

Well to my ears and preferences Shroomalistic was right Post #6,170. The Clear pads sound good, better than the stock Elear or Dekoni Fensetrated pads but not as good as the Aiva pads. Well, at least I'm not wondering if I'm missing out on not having the Clear pads anymore.

How are the Aiva pads better?

 

[regaet]

For me, there is more detail, clarity, air, and soundstage. But I have also upgraded to the Bifrost 2, tube rolled the Valhalla to better performance, and upgraded the cables to some Wywires so YMMV.

 

[HTSkywalker]

For me, there is more detail, clarity, air, and soundstage. But I have also upgraded to the Bifrost 2, tube rolled the Valhalla to better performance, and upgraded the cables to some Wywires so YMMV.

Did you A/B the pads within the same setup ?

 

[regaet]

.

Did you A/B the pads within the same setup ?

Of course. As soon as I got them today I switched pads several times with different songs I'm familiar with.

 

[HTSkywalker]

Of course. As soon as I got them today I switched pads several times with different songs I'm familiar with.

so Aiva vs Clear vs Elear pads ? what is your impression.

 

[regaet]

As I said above: The Clear pads sound good, better than the stock Elear or Dekoni Fenestrated pads but not as good as the Aiva pads. For me, there is more detail, clarity, air, and soundstage.

 

[HTSkywalker]

As I said above: The Clear pads sound good, better than the stock Elear or Dekoni Fenestrated pads but not as good as the Aiva pads. For me, there is more detail, clarity, air, and soundstage.

Thanks

 

[drewbadour]

On the fence here and was hoping for some input here.

Given that the Elear is a few years old and discontinued, would it be better idea to buy the Elex (and gamble with the QC lottery), pick up the OG Clear (at a not so insignificant premium), or buy a second hand Elear and grab some Clear pads (do Focal earphones tend to last long)?

 

[jasonb]

On the fence here and was hoping for some input here.

Given that the Elear is a few years old and discontinued, would it be better idea to buy the Elex (and gamble with the QC lottery), pick up the OG Clear (at a not so insignificant premium), or buy a second hand Elear and grab some Clear pads (do Focal earphones tend to last long)?

I don’t think you could go wrong in any of those directions. At the time I got mine I was gonna get the Elex, but at that time they were a preorder that was going to be many months away. At the same time headphones.com was doing a sale on the Elear with your choice of Clear pads or Utopia pads, but they didn’t have the Clear pads in stock. So I ended up with the Elear with Utopia pads, but eventually bought clear pads and sold the Utopia pads and the stock Elear pads.

 

[regaet]

On the fence here and was hoping for some input here.

Given that the Elear is a few years old and discontinued, would it be better idea to buy the Elex (and gamble with the QC lottery), pick up the OG Clear (at a not so insignificant premium), or buy a second hand Elear and grab some Clear pads (do Focal earphones tend to last long)?

The Elex are on sale for $599 and the Clears for $890. I think I'd let my wallet and warranty decide.

 

[Brandfuchs]

On the fence here and was hoping for some input here.

Given that the Elear is a few years old and discontinued, would it be better idea to buy the Elex (and gamble with the QC lottery), pick up the OG Clear (at a not so insignificant premium), or buy a second hand Elear and grab some Clear pads (do Focal earphones tend to last long)?

I like that description 'QC lottery' haha, if I remember correctly, the early Utopia is also having the same problem of driver desoldering.
But I've seen posts saying that it can be solved by simply welding the wires back, and the same problem won't happen again
I used to have both elear and clear, (luckily it survived till I sold it, I hope the buyer is same lucky) what I can say is that their sounds are not quite the same. If have to choose a description for them between 'flavour' and clarity, I'll say Elear belongs to former one and Clear the latter one, what impressed me was Elear's mids, warm and energetic, although it doesn't provide many details, the warmth and smoothness will soon let you forget those shortcomings. Clear, in contrary, is neutral, and crystal clear, as its name suggests, and provides way more details than elear.
If you buy a pre-owned elear now, I think the thing you should really worry about is the pads, it turns like this after couple months of wearing... bruuh