You can see it’s pretty much the same as with the Elear. You can see it’s just over 10dB of volume difference.
Here’s the harmonic distortion so you can see it’s actually clipping on both. It’ll look different for the rest of it as well of course because of the bass boost:
Here’s what it looks like when it’s not clipping even with the HipDAC’s xBass function (about 2-3dB lower, but the higher harmonic products are much lower):
There is one other thing to note here, and it’s that test tone level and music level aren’t necessarily going to be the same thing. Music is generally much quieter than test tone level.
For example, with this SPL calibrated system, I can play certain music that reaches a maximum of 90dB in an FFT (uncomfortably loud), and have that same level in a test tone be 105dB (near the clipping threshold). I can also play music that reaches 99dB in an FFT at that same calibrated level. So the music selection definitely matters. But I can’t imagine anyone would actually want to listen to it that loud in the first place.
Bottom line:
Just like with the Elear, under normal conditions the Focal Clear clipping threshold is at approximately 107dB at 1khz. Of course this is much lower when any bass boost EQ or other adjustment like xBass is applied, because the driver excursion limit will be reached in the lower frequencies first. Under these conditions, with a ~10dB low frequency boost, the Focal Clear clipping threshold is at approximately 95dB at 1khz.
TL;DR - Don’t use a 10dB bass boost on Focal Headphones if you plan to listen loud.
It’s right around 110dB at 1khz for anyone who can’t read that. It is interesting to see there’s more headroom with the Utopia than the other models, which were around 106 to 107dB at 1khz. I think at this point you know the story for how a 10dB bass boost will change that threshold.
Again, I have to stress… 110dB at 1khz, is so loud that if this is your average listening level, you will destroy your hearing quite quickly. So you should never be clipping these headphones, for the sake of your hearing. If you do hear clipping without extreme volume-induced pain, something is either very wrong (perhaps with the headphones or something in the chain), or there could be some unintended bass boost going on - whether through a high output impedance source, some software EQ adjustment, or a function like xBass. Other than that, the only other possibility is that hearing damage of some kind has already taken place.
For those wondering about how level is calibrated on this system, it’s done so with an ND9B 1khz standard compliant external calibration tool.
I’ve owned the Clear now for about a month and a half. I pair it with the Topping DX3 Pro+, and have used it in high gain mode (which is +19db) fairly loudly, and never experience any clipping. Granted I don’t often listen bass heavy music, but I do listen to some Metallica and Beastie Boys which have some bass. I think the Clear is great I likely will use it as my only pair for a long time!
I actually am thinking about getting the Schiit Vali 2+ amp to use with my Project Turntable. Do you all think that pairing will work will with the Clear?
Can’t answer directly, but my v1.1 Vali 2 w/the Elex is one of my favorite pairings. Loses a bit of detail compared to Jot 2, but makes it up in timbre, especially with Rock/Prog guitar, i.e. Steven Wilson, Jeff Beck, etc. Not particularly refined, but raucus and honest.
If there is a planar equivalent/brother/upgrade would be fabulous to the Clear OG? Which one would that be?
I’m contemplating either trading in my OGs for a pair of Utopias - would that justify 3k?
Or complement my setup with “matching” planars…
Electronic music… therefore I’m not even sure if there are “better” planars than 1266TCs! (comfort and price aside which are actually exclusion criteria)
You can get used Utopia’s for well under $2.5K, it’s a big step up, BUT and it big BUT they are very picky about what you use to drive them they can come across bright, harsh and metalic on the wrong source gear.
So you don’t see the the Clears hitting 90-95% of the Utopia’s performace. That’s the benchmark I’ve seen thrown out quite a bit. Anything drives the Clears.
A while back I posted a comparison of the Utopia, OG Clear, and Elex in the Utopia thread. I’d say the Utopia has different and unique qualities – it presents absurd nuances, audio shapes, and fine distinctions between volume. After the Utopia, the Clear sounded like a lot of hiss, hiss, and more hiss. My ears readjusted over the next few days, and I started not hearing as much hiss on the Clear.
The difficult part of the Utopia is its treble, and I couldn’t get past it. It was way too piercing with even mild music.
All things considered, I’d say the Clear reaches 70% of the Utopia in some ways, and 95% in other ways. It’s perhaps 80% as technical as the Utopia overall, but often more enjoyable with average sources.
Fwiw it’s a pretty big step up in my experience. But as polygonhell had said they are picky. Imo the treble on the utopia is its standout feature, tonally. But it’s difficult to get right if you don’t prioritize synergy in the system.
Others have coverred it.
To me the utopia is an obviously superior headphone to the clear, I’m not sure what 90% means in this context.
But you have to have the right chain for it.
To me, the LCD-X is a little bit dryer, but more detailed and with harder hitting bass.
Clear is maybe slightly brighter but still on the warm side of neutral. More of an emphasis on the midrange but sometimes I feel the tonality is not quite right, or microdetails are slightly smoothed over. Still a good well-rounded headphone overall with fantastic dynamics and bass punch from their dynamic drivers.
For a bright headphone I can’t go past HD800S (or my guilty pleasure, Grado GS1000i that have been with me since 2010!)
Melco N100 - X26 pro - Ferrum stack dressed up with fairly clean power…
And if I’m lucky and schiit Europe receives stock I will get a Lokius or Loki max - should be a reasonable chain for Utopias??
There is a shop which last black Friday offered a trade in - 1k off Utopias for a Clear, if they do that this year again we’ll see! Clear AND Utopias probably not.
I still have and use my OG Clear. It’s a very good product and a solid choice in its price class. However, if you hear the Utopia its limitations become obvious. On a relative basis, the Clear is akin to listening with radio static in the background or in a noisy car. But, hearing habituates and over time I don’t notice it unless comparing back-to-back.
I can’t comment on those specifically, I haven’t heard them my guess is probably not.
I’m all tube all the time at this point, and neither of my headphone chains is in the “reasonably priced” category.
Others with more experience with the more reasonably priced options for the Utopia will have to comment. The Utopia has tremendous synergy with the DNA Stratus, but even if you can stomach the price, for most people it may as well not exist unless you have year+ to wait for him to build you one.
Although very briefly and in un-ideal conditions, I did get a chance to try the utopia on a ferrum stack. My main takeaway was it was nice with the utopia but if the utopia were my main headphones, I’d rather go for something else. But again, sprinkle lots of salt on my comment. Not sure about your DAC though so no comment there.
If you’re looking for a planar alternative the final d8000pro are great headphones. I think they compliment the utopia pretty nicely and they’re not as picky. If you can demo one on your setup it would be worth a shot imo.
