Focal Clear Open-back Headphones - Official Thread

Headphones Official Headphone Model Discussion
800

Gonna give it a shot, even though the RME ADI-2 DAC FS is probably beyond the endgame for me.

  1. Press the “EQ” button. This will bring up the graphical EQ display for the current output (note that the output will be shown at the top of the display).

  2. Press the volume knob to cycle through the 5 bands. Turn the knob clockwise to increase or counter-clockwise to decrease the gain of the current band. Adjustments are reflected in the displayed curve (Bode plot) and in the output in real time (so you can hear what you’re doing to the sound).

That should be enough to follow what’s going on in the first minute or so of this video.

Hope it helps,
Lou

PS The recommendation for tube amplification is a good one. Tubes will do things that can’t be replicated by EQ.

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801

An alternative to cables, which IMO won’t change the sound dramatically, is plugging into a tube amp. I love my Clear OG on tubes. It retains the Clear’s excellent detail and technical ability while adding a bit of decay/body, and weight. The three tube amps I’ve had great results with with the Clear are: Kenzie OG2, Kenzie Ovation 1, and Feliks Echo 2. I was really surprised how well the Echo paired with the Clear, being OTL. The other two amps have output transformers so they’re more flexible with low impedance loads.

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802

The Clear has lots of resolution, but also has (IMHO) a bright, tipped up sound.

The traditional wisdom for aftermarket cables on such as headphone is to go for top-of-the-line copper, the best you can afford. High-end copper cable has an expansive, relaxed, open quality + strong foundational bass-to-upper-bass that I really like with all my headphones. I expect that with headphones like the Clear, TOTL copper would produce a small but welcome synergy toward bass & slight warmth & away from brightness.

I can strongly recommend the ForzaAudioWorks Noir HCP MKII. I have two of these cables and love their sound, as well as their flexibility (no kinking here), ease of handling, and near complete absence of microphonics. I also strongly recommend the Norne Audio Drausk cable–more money buys you even more copper + a beautiful looking cable (mine has “nude,” or transparent wire covering–really gorgeous).

I would not advise you to get silver or copper/silver cables with that headphone–that is, unless you’re looking for even more zip and apparent resolution, which those cables typically boost a bit.

PS: As someone above mentioned, earpad swapping is an even more direct way to change the sound of a headphone. But I’ve heard Focal makes earpad swapping difficult, so can’t comment…

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803

Nope. The physical swapping process is among the easiest: Pull on them to remove the plastic pegs on the base of the pad and then snap a new set in place. Dekoni makes several leather and microfiber variations.

There was a period when it was nearly impossible to get Focal factory pads, so that may be what you heard about.

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804

Any idea how the Dekoni pads would change the sound of the Focal Clear in particular?

805

Do you happen to have the Focal Clear, and if so which copper cables are you using with it?

806

@Resolve has a detailed post up on the main Headphones dot com site:

https://www.headphones.com/community/reviews-learning-and-news/dekoni-pad-rolling-adventures-with-the-focal-clear

I personally have the Elite Velour installed on my OG Clear, and love them for the physical comfort if nothing more. To my ears the tonal changes are modest (and hardly noticeable without A/B testing).

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807

No, I don’t have the Clear.

I do have the two copper cables mentioned in my post earlier today, and use them w/4 or 5 different headphones, to good effect.

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808

Thanks Generic for the link and your comments. Just ordered a pair of the Elite Velour from Amazon. Also learned a little about EQ on the video link, and between that and the new pads I may get the Clear a lot closer to my preferred sound. Thanks again…Lee

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809

Thanks Nick. Based on your comments and similar thoughts from other members, I just just bought some Dakomi pads for my Focal Clear. Appreciate your help…Lee

810

Happy to help - Good luck with the pads!

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811

Nick,

You were so absolutely right. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Just received the Dekoni Elite Velour pads and they are transformative…done everything I was hoping to do for the Focal Clears…added weight/body…added warmth…tamed the HF/treble…brought out the low and mid bass…and did all that without altering the overall balance and clarity of the Clears.

You were right about the EQ too. With just a few clicks of bass and treble tone control I’m able to dial in what for me is a perfect sound.

BTW, today I’m using a Marantz CD Player, to RME ADI 2 DAC, to Schiit Jotunheim amp via RCA and Low Gain. I have 3 or 4 other rigs that are likely to sound at least as good or better, and I’ll be firing those up over the next few days.

I never, ever would have expected the huge improvement these pads have made. Thanks again Nick. You gave me great advice and I really appreciate it.

Lee

PS
Several others here at our forum also posted thoughts that were likewise very helpful. Thanks to all of you too.

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812

You’re quite welcome, Lee.

I’m glad the pads give you what you are looking for. It’s always good to hear a success story, especially when you get it on the first shot!

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813

Thanks very much for your excellent advice and practical insights. Based on them I just placed an order for a Forma Noir HPC MkII for my Focal Clear–to give it more warmth and weight/body.

Your thought on “traditional wisdom” and “TOTL Copper” were really, really helpful so order a Noir HPC MlI for my Mr Speakers Alpha Prime and Ether Cx–likewise for more warmth and weight.

I agree with you completely re your recommendation of Forza. I have their Noir Hybrid for my ZMF Auteur and their Noir HPC MkII for my ZMF Aeolus -culdn’t be happier with how they’ve improved the sound of both heaphones vs the stock ZMF cables.

I love everything about the Forza cables and know of no one who comes close to matching their value.

Thanks again for your help…Lee

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814

Hi folks,

I just got a set of the Clears (“OG”) for an outstanding price, and I’m really, really happy with them.

I’d like to ask folks about cables for my use-case. The DAC/amplifier that I’m currently using is my first, the one and only Chord Mojo! I love it for desktop simultaneous play/charge use, and don’t intend to upgrade to a new DAC and amplification setup for some time. However, my first order of business is finding a new cable that is both supple/flexible and affordable in 10-foot-or-more length (to be able to lounge in my chair or in bed without having to move the iPad/Mojo station).

As many know, though, the Mojo’s output is not balanced. I’m still new, but from what I gather, this would render it incompatible with balanced cables? I like the Hart Audio cables for the price – however, in this case, the HC-9 appears to be the compatible cable for Focal Clears, and it is advertised in particular as a balanced cable. Any suggestions for how to proceed? (I also have a vague sense that perhaps this can be circumvented by using the Mojo’s line out, but I may be mistaken.)

Hart Audio cables seem to be the choice for many, and their prices are great. But for use with the Chord’s unbalanced 3.5mm outputs, am I limited to searching elsewhere for my cable(s)?

edit: Bear in mind that I am on a budget and not looking for ‘jewelry’ category cables – just a quality cable that works, and can be ordered in larger lengths for freedom around my room.

@Tchoupitoulas mentioned on my thread over at HF that the Hart Cables are extremely flexible in use,

Replacement, after-market cables are easy to find, though. I like Hart Audio cables, which are nice and supple and relatively inexpensive.

  • (A key thing to know about the Hart cables is that you have to buy the headphones cable and then separate interconnects. It sounds complicated but is, in fact, a clever system: the headphone cables terminate to a female 4-pin mini-XLR; these you then plug into the correct interconnects you’ll need to plug into your source. The advantage of this system is that you can buy one cable and multiple interconnects for balanced or single-ended sources of different sizes or configurations, see here).

and so my question is, given some of my reading, are their cables – used conjunctively with various interconnects – actually capable of handling the Mojo → Clears chain?

Thanks so much, cheers.

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815

Double check with Hart (their customer service is really good, and I often tell them what I’m going to connect the cables to, and let them tell me which cable I need) but based on cables I’ve bought in the past for my Focal Stellia, I believe you’ll need an HC-9 for your Clears and an IC-2 for the Mojo’s 3.5mm output.

I believe their description of ‘balanced’ on their website just means that you can use the cable for balanced if you so choose. A balanced cable can also be used for single-ended.

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816

Thanks a lot, I think I’ve mostly gotten it sorted. Balanced cables shouldn’t be an issue, I’m glad to have learned. I love the modular cables on my Dunu SA6’s, so I’m going to go for Hart. I love that an IC-7 can be added in between the IC-2 and HC-9 for as much length as I’d like.

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817

You can also order any of the cables in a custom length.

818

I’ve tried, but their custom order inquiry system has a barrier of entry in that I cannot … enter an inquiry. :sweat_smile:

819

That’s funny, I took a look at their custom order request page and I agree, I don’t see any way of submitting a request. :confused:

I’d recommend sending an email to customshop@hartaudiocables.com or contact@hartaudiocables.com instead.

Edit: after reading the blurb on their custom order page, it looks like they can only handle a certain number of custom requests each day (which is understandable since they are a small shop) and then the request page shuts itself down after a certain number of requests have been submitted.

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