What source are you using?
I use my LG V50 for now. It has a dedicated Hi-Res internal DAC, which produces pretty honest sound imho. I play from Deezer and have some CDs that I ripped to FLAC. I also use my Thinkpad T460s sometimes, especially when working. It has a lousy DAC which is prone to accentuate the lows. I am thinking of buying a DragonFly Red for that matter.
How do you like the Focal Clear?
Generally, I dig it. I have little experience to compare it to though. Before buying it, I directly compared it to the Focal Elegia at the dealer store. The Elegia I experienced as having narrower stage. Elegia also presented way more detail. In fact it was too much for me, so I went for Focal Clear which had a wider stage and a good balanced FR. I remember after a listening session with Elegia at the dealer I told myself: "this is a great headphone for audiobooks. It sounds, as if the voice is just close to your ear and so detailed". So I do not miss anything with FC Clear (for now).
What do you like, what would you like to be different?
I am ok with the lows of both headphones. They do not get in my way, they are not boomy (which I would consider really bad). My problem with Starfields is the lower hights, I believe. My problem with Focal Clear is missing portability. So basically I would like to have Focal Clear sound on the go. Maybe with a bit more warmer bass. For instance when I travel for work. (Sometimes for weeks).
Ok, as an example: take "Why You Wanna Trip on Me" by Michael Jackson. It has a nastly clap/kick. With Starfields, that clap/kick sounds flat to me, compressed and forced (angestrengt). As if Starfields would try to scream the clap sound onto you. With Focal Clear it sounds better. (the clap is still nasty though, hehe).
How do the Starfields compare to the Clears in terms of detail, clarity, separation, smoothness and soundstage?
I got my Starfields after I had bought Focal Clear. I remember I was disappointed with Starfields at first, because the highs issue jumped out to me in an obvious way. I kept the Starfields though cuz they were portable and I liked the bass. its bass is good. If it would be heavier on the Starfields it would be too much. So in my opinion Starfields perform well for Dance/House/Electronic music which lives off the bass. (Example: Cerrone-DNA bass). As soon as some bells, whistles and high-hats come into play Starfields underperform. (Example: "Bells" at the beginning of Cerrone-Resolution, or the high tones at Cerrone-Air Dreaming at 1:38-1:47). They sound somehow squicky. In the Focal Clear the bass is ok, a bit too clean - it does not hug you as nicely as the Starfields bass does. So I would even go so far to claim, that I prefer listening to bassy house music with Starfields. I would say the soundstage of both headphones is good but not super wide. I am not sure about separation and smoothness.
What would you not like?
I would not like if a headphone would sound too sterile or metalic. I would probably dislike if the separation between the highs the mids and the lows is very noticable. It would disturb. I believe the overall sound should be balanced. Because if it is not, it sticks out and distracts your listening experience.
UltraFine