Just got mine today. Will be enjoying this experience for sure as I move from the HD Zeus to these!!
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I am going to go out on a limb here and give you my thoughts about a few reviews that seem to be trashing the new clear MG.
One, I look at measurements yes, but I never trust them period. Humans are using machines to take those measurements, none of those humans to my knowledge have a masters degree in measurement recording and over 20 years of experience doing it to be considered an expert in the field free from making mistakes. Measurements IMO should be a general guide, but not a pre determination for the sound quality of a pair of headphones especially taking into account possible error in the process and your own personal audio chain.
Two, just because I may share some similar likes or dislikes with other reviewers it doesn’t mean I will agree with them and bias must not be built in before I have heard the headphones, amps, speakers, DACs with my own ears and audio chain.
Three, I put my own money this week into getting a pair of Clear MG which I should have tomorrow, to see if I like them better or worse than the previous Clear, as I know that is the only way I will know if I really like them.
Four, THX style amps including the A90, Phonitor etc from my experience are good for reference reviewing, mixing, editing and clean measurements on paper but generally don’t sound the most enjoyable to my ears unless paired with a very dark headphone.
Five, these are just my subjective thoughts and opinions and at the end of the day they are mine, you need to form your own by demoing the products you want to hear whenever possible. Some of you will align with my thoughts, my likes, or you may align with another reviewers more, but no matter what be cautious of taking anybody as all knowing without getting your own ears on something because you may miss out on an experience that is incredible for you.
I will close with I have disagreed with other reviewers on personal audio products and they have probably disagreed with me, but I would have never found that out if I built in bias and didn’t create the opportunity to hear the product for myself.
As soon as I get my pair I will give you my initial impressions and you can take those subjective opinions for what they are worth to you! Cheers friends.
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I only listened to the MG using a Schiit Heresy and I found it too laid-back sounding for me.
I look forward to reading your impressions!
My sense is that the diversity in opinions about the Clear Mg possibly reflects a few things. For one thing, since it’s still early days, we don’t have a very large sample of opinions, which means that the contrast between the few favorable and critical reviews is magnified somewhat.
For another, I think people have been surprised by the more laid-back tuning, which seems to be something of a departure from Focal’s house sound. Am I right in thinking that Focal headphones are typically either neutral-bright, as with the Elex and Utopia, or that they’re close enough to neutral for people to hear them slightly differently, depending on their perspectives (as with the Elegia, Stellia, OG Clear). I see lots of people describe the OG Clear, for instance, as neutral-warm, and I can see why, although, personally, I’d describe them as being slightly bright. I should add a big caveat here: I’ve not heard the Celestee or the Radiance yet.
Has there been another Focal headphone tuned like the Clear Mg? If not, then this new release may have been a surprise. And it may not have lived up to some people’s expectations.
Finally, and I mention this as a general statement, not one directed to any specific person, I think it helps to bear in mind the preferences and points of view of individual reviewers, especially when we can extrapolate from them according to our own perspectives. @Resolve, thankfully, is explicit about where he’s coming from in appreciating both the original and the Mg Clears in his review. To give another example, I’m not as familiar with Crinacle’s preferences but the good thing is that it’s possible to get a sense of them from his many reviews and from his rankings - he’s also highly-discerning and is firm in his opinions, which may throw his comparison between the original and the new version into sharper relief.
It’ll be interesting to see if a consensus develops about the Clear Mg. Or not.
One last thought: am I right in thinking that the original Clear was a widely-praised headphone - one for which there was a favorable consensus? Did it cater to a large number of people given its closeness to a neutral tuning? (Again, it has struck me that different people describe the original Clear as neutral, slightly warm, or slightly bright). Is the Clear Mg simply tuned a bit further away from this?
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I can not help but think that there is some bias concerning the new MG and I would be extremely curious to see, once the owners of the MG will be well used to it, their opinions by coming back to the OG Clear.
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The reactions remind me of when the HD800S hit. Those who loved the original’s sound were put off by the HD800S. Not saying that’s definitely the case here. I just see similarities in comments. Time will tell on the MG. I’ve not heard it yet, but can’t wait to try it, as I really enjoy my Clear OG.
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I can assure you, there IS bias. Both for and against the Clear Mg. 
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Sure. There is always bias when it come to give opinions, especially on subjective things, and everyone should take account of this. But what I’m pointing here is bias specifically related to the “get used” things if that makes sense. Sometimes difficult to change our habits even if this change is beneficial.
Anyway, I’ll certainly pull the trigger on the MG one 
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Just do it, even for the looks – it worth it 
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I totally love the aesthetic, apart from the color which could have been better for my taste but really nice anyway
The nice thing is that you have the option of getting either color since they’re the same drivers. One comes with extra pads (Pro), and the other with a Balanced cable.
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Good point for the extra parts.
The pro’s are really nice looking but too classic. I prefer the touchy side of the non pro. I really love the Stelia’s color scheme BTW
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So I listened to the Clear MG yesterday for hours and hours, I will again today! Who would be up for a live stream on my first impressions this weekend on my YouTube Channel?
??? Any takers?
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Subscribed to you, so I can be sure that I will not miss the review
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If I wasn’t working I would definitely watch this…I’ll check out the replay if you do the live for sure!
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Will do! Thanks for the review.
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Something fun will be dropping on my channel today at 12pm PST! Also the stream for my first impressions on the Focal Clear MG is scheduled for tomorrow! Check my channel for more details!
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I’ll be there tomorrow for your first impressions.
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What do you guys think!? Drop me a comment on the video and a thumbs up if you dig it!
Focal Clear MG Headphones Unboxing First
Look
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Cool video ! Thanks for sharing !
Would you mind measuring the depth of your earpads (the outer part)? My MG Pro has about 20mm, and a friend of mine has 24mm-25mm, so I’m trying to figure out if there’s a lot of variance between units. Much appreciated !
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