Even after buying a Phonitor XE w/DAC and Holo May KTE + various amps, I still listen to my Arche. While not at the level of the others, the Arche with all it’s quirks does sound nice but just remember it does run a tad hot since it is class A. For a few hundred more (when they were new) the SPL Phonitor XE has been a better performer overall for me, just for context.
I primarily use the optical toslink input, which might be why I’ve never had issues with usb handshakes.
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I have an issue and I would appreciate your input on solving this.
Currently connected my MacBook Pro to the Focal Arche via USB-B cable (AmazonBasics). My Clear is hooked up to the Arch.
I set 2 Ch 24-bit 384khz per the manual.
Everything works alright, except the sound output occasionally stutter or dropout for several milliseconds, especially when playing high fidelity/lossless files from Deezer or Qobuz, . Anyone knows the cause of this?
What are you using to set the bitrate? The Arche will follow whatever bitrate (up to 384khz) the Mac is sending over USB. If you are using Roon or HQPlayer, you want to set it there. However if you are using Apple Music or Spotify as the player and setting the bitrate in the system through SoundSource or Audio Midi Setup, you want to set the bitrate to the same as the source, like 44.1khz. This lets the Arche DAC do the upsampling.
I suspect the reason you are hearing issues is because the Mac can’t keep up with the upsampling demand. It could be that your USB cable is crap but that is pretty unlikely unless it is long.
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If the issue is more common with hi-res content, then its more likely that the problem is network, internet or service related than it is with upsampling on the Mac.
The CPU load for basic OS-level resampling is trivial, and there’s typically less processing to do to go from, say, 24/192 to 24/384 than there is from 24/48 to 24/384.
Not that its impossible, just less likely than the alternatives.
It could also just be a new facet of Arche’s USB ass-iness (which was really more of a Windows issue, but then the fix didn’t fix it and took away 384 kHz support …).
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I used Audio MIDI Setup to set the bitrate and khz, and used website player for Deezer and Qobuz. I’ve got fast internet and my MacBook Pro is the new M1 from late last year. Could be internet I guess. I’ll try what u said about setting it at 44.1khz
Do you think it could be the USB-B cable?
It’s possible.
Should be an easy thing to test, though (try another cable).
If you’re using an adapter or hub/dock to get from Thunderbolt 4/USB 4 to USB-B, it’s possible the hub/dock or adapter has issues or compatibility problems.
You could still have a problem with the incoming data … many points of potential disruption all the way back to the Deezer or Quboz server, and every point the data touches in between. How fast your connection is to your ISP just sets a maximum for everything else over that pipe; it doesn’t guarantee any given site, or route, will be fast or stable.
If you’re using WiFi instead of a wired connection in your home, you can also see sporadic problems, especially if you live around a bunch of other people.
The fact that its worse with higher-resolution content points to a data delivery issue somewhere.
It’s also possible that Arche’s USB interface has issues with M1 Macs (or with hubs/docks). It would not be the first USB device where that was the case, nor the first issue with Arche’s USB implementation.
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I just dusted off my Arche after 6 months or so in a cupboard and have had it in my desktop setup for the last few days. My chain: iMac > upsampling via HQ Player > Intona USB 3.0 isolator > Arche.
The reason I went for the Arche in the first place was for the DAC/Amp combination taking up less space on my desk compared to separates. I also have a Violectric V281 FE and it’s a great amp but the DAC in it is not great and I use it with a separate DAC.
The first thing I did with the Arche was to roll back the firmware to the original as I had updated the firmware when I first got it, only to discover that the update restricted PCM playback to 24/192 from the original 24/384 (WTF?).
So let’s get the one good thing about this unit out of the way - it sounds very nice in upsampled PCM mode from HQ player. The dual AKM 4490 DAC and the class A amp is a winner. I only use the Voltage amp setting with my Clears and HFM Edition XS as the other dedicated settings are basically increased output impedances that alter the frequency response of dynamic drivers and I already use my own EQ that IMO sounds much better.
Switching to DSD mode from HQ Player is a disaster - it plays in HQP but there is no sound from the Arche. I have tried every possible setting in HQP and it’s a no go. Playing DSD from HQP to my RME ADI-2 with it’s AKM DAC is flawless. The other issue this creates is that once I unsuccessfully try playing DSD and then go back to PCM, the USB handshake issues start and it takes multiple unplugging and plugging of the USB cable to get it working again 
The Arche sounds great but it is a train-wreck as far as implementation is concerned and Focal should be ashamed and held accountable for what is basically an unfinished product that they put on the market at an exorbitant list price and then deserted as far as any semblance of after sales support is concerned. I also question the published specs, which by the way aren’t exactly comprehensive. From Focal:
They state 0.1 Ohm output impedance using the “Voltage” setting but in this review it was measured @ 2.5 Ohm:
Also there is no published spec I can find on the output voltage or impedance of the rear XLR outputs, all I know is that when I connect to the V281 to use as the amp from the Arche DAC (Arche volume at the max of 99), I have to crank up the V281 volume by over 25% compared to other DACs I have here. This tells me that the output voltage is considerably lower than 4 volts or the output impedance is quite high.
Anyway, I will keep the Arche for two reasons - it sounds good and (so far) behaves as long as I stick to PCM and I can’t sell it with a clear conscience for more than a few hundred bucks.
I am thankful that I paid a lot less than list price in a bundle deal with the Clear Pros but I am loathe to part with my hard earned on Focal products in the future.
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Against my better judgement I too have fallen for the temptation of the Focal Clear OGs + Arche bundle in Australia at a huge discount of AUD $2,399, as I am in market for a new DAC and headphone amp. Despite all of the reported USB handshake issues, everyone gushes over the quality of the sound. For my current set up, the active rear outs isn’t a concern as this will be 100% headphone listening.
Here’s hoping I can avoid the handshake issues, and if not for the price paid I’m willing to mess around with a streamer in the chain via coax/toslink… Primary source will be a Roon core hosted on my Unraid server, streaming Tidal.
Wish me luck 
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RIGHT. I received the Clear & Arche combo yesterday… Both are absolutely stunning in person. Solid, premium, and well packaged. For what it’s worth I also purchased an XLR>4.4mm adapter (~AUD $60) allowing me to use some of my existing 4.4mm aftermarket balanced cables.
First impressions… are a bit sad. I am not loving the Clears. At least not straight out of the box. Coming from my HD6XX, Grado SR80, Sony MDR MA-900 and KZ Crinacle CRN (ZEX Pro) they sound unforgivably thin and lacking in dynamics. Certainly less impressive than I was hoping for compared to all the rave reviews. The bass response is underwhelming, mid range is good but not great and there is nothing special about the treble - may be just a touch of sibilance if anything, which is not what you want to hear. But by far the least impressive/most upsetting part is the soundstage. To put it simply they sound claustrophobic. AUD $60 KZ ZEX Pro IEMs should not be able to outperform a set of open back, over ear, $1000+ Focals but they do in every regard. In terms of set up, I have been trying the Clears on the Arche using both the provided XLR and 1/4 inch cables (no audible difference) and also tested with the 3.5mm out on my iFi Go Blu (as far as I can tell the primary reason Focal would include a 1.2m cable in the box with the Clears would be to use a portable device around the house so might as well get on board).
Altogether, I would summarise that the Focals are completely ho-hum and definitely not what I was hoping for from a $1000+ headphone. But I’ll come back to the Clears.
Taking a moment to double down on the Arche … it’s an impressive bit of kit. It’s only been 24H so I suspect I’ll soon be joining a long line of people with quibbles about USB handshakes, but so far when connected to the USB KVM hub on my MSI monitor (allowing me to use both Windows and Mac without having to unplug anything) it’s all pretty stable. I tried briefly to set the audio out from Windows to 24bit/192khz but got nervous about it crashing based on an earlier post, so I just switched it back… Most of my music is Tidal FLAC 16bit/44.1khz anyway. As to performance, it’s driving everything I throw at it really well. A lot more power available vs my outgoing FiiO E09k that’s for sure. I also messed around with the various amps pre-sets, my favourite so far is Hybrid, just because it feels just a bit more relaxed than Voltage… Which sounds fine enough. Just a bit Extra.
Again, listening to the Focal Clears with any source is pretty uninspiring at the moment. This is my experience comparing directly to my HD6XX using a balanced, aftermarket 4.4mm cable with the Arche + the XLR > 4.4mm adapter. The HD6XX come ALIVE with the Arche. I was already impressed using the balanced output on the iFi Go Blu (note: I hear a world of difference with the HD6XX + iFi Go Blu using the 4.4mm output vs the iFi’s 3.5mm output with the stock cable, but I put this down to the +30% power available from the Go Blu using the balanced out more than the magic of balanced circuitry). Using the Arche, the bass from the HD6XX is well controlled, plenty of power remains to conquer anything I can throw at it, and overall the dynamics + soundstage + separation of instruments is really impressive. I’m really loving it, it’s a completely different experience to using the HD6XX with the 3.5mm cable and FiiO E09K, or any other devices I used.
So, where does that leave me with the Clears? Well, vs the HD6XX + Arche combo, my first instinct is to sell the Clears immediately. It is a REALLY noticeable difference in performance. The $250 HD6XX sound about 3x better than the $1200 Clears. However, I’m not going to be so hasty. I don’t really subscribe to burn in making any audible difference to new gear. Maybe it does, or maybe it doesn’t. I suspect the arguments for and against burn-in will rage until the end of time, long after I make up my mind on the topic. All I know is I objectively dislike the tinny, flat sound of the Clears OOTB. They cost a bucket load so I’ll give them a chance after a week of burn in from an old Sony DAP. I’ll try them again and given I have a pretty strong basis for comparison in the sound I am getting from the HD6XX, KZ Pros, and anything else I attach to the Arche if they don’t step up I’ll flip them. 
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I’m with you on the Clears but I use EQ on all my headphones to some degree - and IMHO the Clears need a lot of adjustment.
They are shouty and need a major cut around 1.3kHz, the upper mids and treble can come across as bright but this is due to a couple of major peaks that dominate what you hear. In fact most of the frequencies in that area need boosting to match those peaks between 3 & 4kHz and again at 6kHz to give a smoother and more accurate treble response. With EQ they are OK.
Having said that I can’t remember the last time I used them and much prefer my Hifiman Edition XS.
I never understood the hype around them but I guess everyone hears differently.
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Same here. It took a while for my opinion to settle, but, for me, the Clears were ultimately a brittle, metallic, congested mediocrity.
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Interesting, and frustrating at the same time! +1 to the hype train confusion. If other real world users are also finding the Clears lacking I really am confused why so many people have given the Clear OGs such gushing endorsements, without making clear the need to correct if you want to reach some level of performance… Would you mind sharing your recommended EQ? Would love to give it a try.
Meanwhile I auditioned the Edition XS in-store the other week - they sounded pretty good but I wasn’t wowed as much as I hoped. I also tried out the Sundara, DT1990s, HD800S and briefly the Clear MG.
The build quality on the Edition XS left a lot to be desired, at least compared to the other sets I auditioned. Not forgetting that an in-store demo set up will put the sturdiest of headphones through their paces, the Edition XS seemed to start at a low base and were not holding up anywhere near as well as others. Maybe if the build quality was up there were I would have impulsively jumped at them.
Of all the sets I tried that day (over the course of 3 hours) the set that left me the most impressed was the ATH R70X (surprising given the cost! ~AUD 400). And build quality + value wise, the Fidelio X3 was nothing to sneer at. Starting to think that sub $500 is a great price point to float in.
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As with all things in audio, it’s a matter of taste and equipment chains. I’ve owned the Focal Elex, I now own the OG Clear, and I demoed the OG Utopia for several days at home. I also own the HD 600, HD 6XX, and HD 800 S (and more).
Focal’s metal drivers involve a couple distinct characteristics. These include (1) really, really clean/pure notes and (2) a tendency toward exaggerated dynamics and a metallic/brassy timbre. However, they are also highly defined, punchy, and dynamic versus my Sennheiser 600 and 6XX. All the Focal headphones I’ve tried have been sensitive to upstream gear changes, and sound best to me on less-bright (aka warm) equipment. On the wrong chain the Elex and Utopia in particular will stab with very piercing treble.
My Sennheisers typically present more noise/hiss than Focal products, and do well with either very clean setups (e.g., balanced) or harmonics-friendly tube amps. Signal chain noise on the Focals turns into glare and exaggerated dynamics (upper midrange) while noise on Sennheiser turns into scratchy hiss. It matters not whether the noise comes from lossy recordings (e.g., MP3s), the DAC, or the amp.
You mention burn in – headphone burn in is not nearly as likely as ‘brain burn’ – which is the biological/psychological process of habituation. Habituation, or getting accustomed to new physical devices, is very real and established science. For the first 20-30 hours I listened to the Elex it sounded absurdly dynamic and as if vocals were coated in steel. My ears got used to it and then I could hear its technical advantages over the HD 600.
With the right DAC and amp and habituation the Clear is technically far, far, far superior to the Elex, HD 600, or HD 6XX. It’s a notch below the HD 800 S. Whether you like the defined, clean, and punchy Focal house sound is another question.
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As I said, everyone hears differently. For example, I like the Hifiman house sound with the accentuated treble and my oldest son definitely does not, he prefers the Audeze house sound - which I find dull.
It’s always a good idea to start with something like the EQ from Oratory or AutoEQ and then adjust to your own taste:
And here are my current settings:
Filter 1: ON PK Fc 23.00 Hz Gain 3.00 dB Q 0.500
Filter 2: ON PK Fc 65.00 Hz Gain 0.50 dB Q 1.000
Filter 3: ON PK Fc 200.0 Hz Gain -1.30 dB Q 0.800
Filter 4: ON PK Fc 1300 Hz Gain -3.20 dB Q 2.000
Filter 5: ON PK Fc 3400 Hz Gain -2.00 dB Q 2.000
Filter 6: ON PK Fc 4500 Hz Gain 2.20 dB Q 2.000
Filter 7: ON PK Fc 5600 Hz Gain 2.00 dB Q 1.100
Filter 8: ON PK Fc 5900 Hz Gain -6.00 dB Q 3.000
Filter 9: ON PK Fc 7000 Hz Gain 3.50 dB Q 0.600
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That is a great suggestion. I have a wonderful old Marantz integrated receiver that is very warm, hooked up to my turntable and Node 2i. Will be sure to give the Clears a listen there today
Sure enough! I acknowledge that entirely, and it’s great you enjoy the Hifiman sounds. It may turn out that the Clears just aren’t for me. Or, I’ll trick myself in to thinking they are after a bit of burn in.
The fun part of this hobby is definitely training your brain to be able to distinguish the differences in what you’re experiencing, like good coffee or wine… and then attempting to explain those differences to others on a forum at 5am 
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I once believed in burn-in when I bought a Yuin PK2. It was the only time after leaving it running for some (not huge) quantity of time I really found a big difference between my first experience and after. It never happened again, even on another Yuin PK2. I still choose for cables to be burned in when I buy new ones and I have the option, but just because it is free 
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I guess the most important burn-in happens within our brain. I recently bought many things, amps, cables and iems. The highest the expectation I how it would sound, the more disappointing was my experience. But after some time, I believe two things were crucial:
- sinergies do count a lot
- being able to value the sound as it is, not what you expect to hear.
I guess the first is not your case, since you got arche with focal. But the second one is possibly a thing. I’ve considered 64 audio tia fourte noir my favorite iem/headphone for a long time. And the thing was, I judged other fones by comparing what I liked most in it (treble). Nowadays, I’ve been listening more to Letshouer S12 than the fourte noir. I still love the fourte, but now I can understand all the weaknesses people talk it has and the individual strengths of the S12. The same happened to Utopia, I had similar feelings as yours. With time, things started to change, at least for me. I cannot say it will happen to you also, but I wish you find what you are looking for.
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Over the course of about 20 hours my Clears were abused with 400 tracks of 128-320kbps MP3s from circa 2012. That’s time enough to give anyone time to think about what you want your future to look like
The results are really surprising. Long story short, I like them a LOT more.
Trying them again via the Arche the experience was very different to Day 1, and much improved. In two particular ways. Firstly, I now get a real sense of soundstage, not the claustrophobic thin experience from when I first tried them. Secondly, the low end is MUCH improved. I think that in particular has helped to balance the rest of the FR and make everything much more enjoyable. There are some smaller improvements like improved detail/resolution and the imaging is a bit better (not a huge amount) but I can say unequivocally that I don’t hate them as much after this 20 hour burn in period.
So, whilst I don’t think this is the last word on burn in periods, I am very confident that these sound extremely different to straight OOTB. It’s also worth noting I haven’t habituated myself to their sound, in fact I made a point of trying them out straight off the back of a happy 1 hour session with the HD6XX and the Arche.
Yet more interesting, I moved the Clears from the Arche to my Marantz SR320 integrated amp, which I would definitely classify as a warm sounding device. FWIW Source was Tidal via Roon from Node 2i. HOLY SMOKES the bass the Clears are putting out here is insane. It’s really too much, full blown slam bordering on boomy… This totally proves to me just how important the amp is in effecting the end result. One of my main stay tracks for a/b testing is Bad Guy from Billie Eilish. The opening 45 seconds of the track creates massive bass and sub bass countered with breathy vocals + high end clicks. It’s an insane difference listening to this track between the old Marantz + Node 2i DAC and the new Arche Amp/DAC, from the same Source. Other tracks with far less emphasis on bass are also bordering on boomy via the Marantz, but sound really excellent with the bass tone control sitting at about -6 (db?). I don’t feel a need to use the graphic equaliser.
Well there is a lot more listening to do. I’d be keen to hear everyone’s own experiences or theories as to the validity of a burn in but for me it’s a 180 turn around from where they were, simply to say they don’t sound like $#!+ anymore. And they’re comfy enough. I’ll be aiming for 100 hours total burn in and will keep checking in along the way…
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Headphone drivers may or may not burn in, but the pads definitely settle in. That affects the sound as the distance of the driver to your ear decreases. Also bass level and punch are dependent on the pads getting a good seal which should improve with use.
The Clear uses low impedance drivers which will also change the FR when used with an amplifier with a high output impedance, such as the headphone jack on many speaker amplifiers. The Arche actually takes advantage of this through the various amplifier settings altering its output impedance.
So everything you’re saying makes complete sense. 
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