Based on the comments here the Clear sounds like the winner over the Elex.
ZMF Aeolus is an interesting option to compare to the Clear. The Aeolus is a little more expensive, but intriguing!
@SleepyRhythms & @robson appreciate your thoughts for A-B the Aeolus and Clear, with the key take aways. I noticed ZMF’s Pendant amp is the same tube set as the Quicksilver headphone amp.
I can imagine the Aeolus would be a 650 upgrade if you are after more of a relaxed listening experience AKA a direct 650 upgrade. The Clear are more balanced and not as ‘fun’. They are more fun than the Elex, however 
Headphones are somewhat strange. You put some on and they sound perfect to you, you put others on and you’re like can’t imagine what people like about it.
It’s a tough call unless you try them, which is hard. I would give my opinion, but I have never heard the Elear.
But I do very much enjoy the 650 ironically and now the second time I head the 800s and I do not prefer that headphone. Going back to my top statement.
But the clear OG are really nice. Only had one chance to get a listen but I was highly impressed. New clear is an absolute no go for me.
Would not doubt that the clear is more adult, if some of these statements say the Elear is fun lol
Aeolus was my direct upgrade from a hd650. An Atticus could be worth it too and sometimes pop up at a decent price.
I agree with those before and recommend the OG Clear as the next “standard” above the HD-600 / HD-650. I used to own the Elex but found the treble to be extremely piercing, causing me to wince at the mere thought of using it. Glare, glare, glare. Later positive reviews by @Resolve and others may reveal unit-to-unit variation with the Elex. I reverted to my HD-600.
At present I mostly use the HD-800 S and OG Clear. The 800 S is technically superior as long as run with a tube amp and (sometimes) a bass boost. The need for EQ depends on the tubes involved. The 800 S is a master of Classical, staging, and nuance but it doesn’t have the bite that’s often desired for rock IMO.
The Clear is more punchy, and can be driven by everything from a phone on up. It’ll scale modestly with more power, but can’t be run from an OTL amp. Overall, its timbre and delivery are quite versatile. It leans toward both dynamic punch and slight brightness, but that follows from your hearing too. I like the Clear the least (or not at all) run from edgy solid state amps (e.g., THX or Topping). Just too harsh.
I’ve been looking at the DCA Aeon 2 Noire for a while now (I need a new closed-back, love how portable it is with the folding design, the ear shape and comfort seem great, I don’t love a huge amount of punch/slam, love detail), but I have some concerns about powering them.
At my desk, it shouldn’t be a problem, I have a JDS Element II. But for on the go, I have an A&K SR25 (and am debating replacing it with a Fiio M11 Plus or something similar, mostly for the screen and software), and I’m not sure if its 3.5mm unbalanced port will have enough power. I’ve heard that balanced cables might help with the power problem, but I’m not sure if the Noires come with a balanced cable or if there are compatible cables available for a reasonable price.
Does anyone have any advice on this? Whether the SR25 or M11 Plus would be able to run the Noires on the unbalanced cable or whether I’d need to do something more?
Just adding to what others have told you, I don’t have a Clear but I do have an Aeolus and a couple of Focal headphones (Stellia and Celestee), and my son has a 6XX
I think you need to decide if you want a better version of what the 6XX gives you, or if you want a complement to the 6XX.
If you want one pair of headphones, something similar to a 6XX, a nice warm sound with better clarity than the 6XX, then the Aeolus is a perfect fit.
If you want a couple of pairs of headphones, with slightly different sound, so that you can choose the headphones to suit your mood, then something like a Clear or Celestee would be a good complement to the 6XX.
Screw the kid(s)'s college fund. Get the Focal Utopia, LOL.
Unfortunately, I haven’t any of the cans you mentioned. I have HD600, but I haven’t listen to them in years properly powered. I recently got the Stellia and they a great joy to listen. I believe you would be happy with any of the headphones you mentioned. The only one I see some reservations are the LCDX only because you mentioned the physical weight. I think you would get use it, but would you wear them long enough for it to happen.
Yeah, I agree with you that some reviews and people’s opinions can be questionable. However, in this instance, I read through two dedicated threads, here and here, which had in depth and detailed descriptions from seasoned audiophiles who had experienced other seriously high tech equipment over, sometimes, 30 years, and had personally compared them to the Holo May, Chord TT2 (both with and without the Mscaler) and others.
I’m also happy to know that you have the same headphones and amplifiers as I so that you can relate. And yes, I also had read the link that you shared with the dac comparisons and found it to be both helpful and informative. It was soon after reading that, in fact, that I came across the Musetec DA005.
I’ve seen many of your posts in several threads and I always appreciate what you have to share. Take you for your lengthy and insightful response.
Thanks to all who provided help in my search for a dongle for my Android and Clear.
I ended up with the Apple dongle, as pk500 suggested, and it indeed drives the Clear’s fine, but with with limited power. I’d say that for much of my classical music listening, the db top out in the low 70s at max power.
In short, the Apple dongle isn’t an ideal solution–and I may upgrade to something else later–but it is an acceptable, cheap, and easily portable one.
Thanks again for the help!
Everyone super appreciate the ideas and insights. I’ll keep the HD650’s as I bought them way back in 2008, but haven’t received much use until recently. The ear pads and headband pad were replaced in the past month with genuine Sennheiser replacement parts. Replacing the pads did bring up the SQ of the 650’s.
@PaisleyUnderground I’m looking to augment the HD650’s, but really replace them a new front line duty upgrade. I’ll read up on the ZMF line and have a look at the Aeolus.
As @Botmann mentioned, I considered just running to the top and buying the LCD-5 which meets my weight limit as it’s 30% lighter then the LCD-X for $4500. I’d rather work my way up to the top. Each system improvement provides me an opportunity to rediscover my music library and have the fun all over again.
Both Focals are very dynamic. Elex is brighter, significantly more mid forward, and lighter in bass (but still very good). The dynamics are slightly exaggerated but not in a way that sounds forced. People complain about the treble using reference tuned amps. It’s really not bothersome on anything somewhat forgiving. I’ve had no issues with it on the Asgard 3, (soon to be sold) Lyr 3, Jotunheim 2 and Feliks Audio Echo. Clears have greater bass, and more even mids and treble. I favor
the Elex mainly for the way it responds to tubes. The Echo is rated for 100-600 ohm headphones though so that’s probably why it plays so well with the 80 ohm Elex. Very euphonic, more natural mids as a result. Stage and bass went up in a pleasing way. Treble was also more majestic. Clears are a wonderful headphone. Just not too much of a wow effect for me. I suspect that would change using something more appropriate like an Elise or higher end tube amp. So maybe it would turn out to be the more appealing option on a better setup than mine. Even through the Jotunheim 2, my preferences lean toward the Elex. Aeolus is a completely different story. Those headphones are unbelievably more natural and 3D sounding. They have awesome bass, some of the best mids I’ve ever heard, and a silky treble response. There’s this sense of romance going on from the way that pure mid range comes out juxtaposed by a prominent low end. Holographic is a good way to describe the experience. Focals are snappier, having some of the tightest dynamics of any dynamic driver headphones on the market while ZMF is better known for recreating room acoustics. There’s genuine character to their sound. My vote hands down goes to these. Plus you’re going to be floored later on if you decide to upgrade to an amp like an Ampsandsound Kenzie. And they’re beautiful. If I had to choose which headphone I have would be sold first at this time, it’d be the Clears.
Not to mention Zach is one of the kindest people in the industry. His wife, Bevin, is a former social worker. Justin from Ampsandsound is a full time drug and alcohol counselor. The entirety of their collaborations are wholesome. It feels like sending a letter to Santa when you place an order waiting for the headphones to be built.
Clears play well with the Asgard 3 if you don’t want to spend a lot. That amp is even good enough to make the Bifrost 2 shine.
Focals are fine on OTL as long as they’re rated low enough for impedance. Headphones.com has some bundles for the Clears and Elise. People getting factory tours in France get to try the Utopia through a Euforia as well. Elex is bad on transparent solid states but is fine on everything else including the Jotunheim 2. Honestly thought it wouldn’t pair well there.
I already have the ZMF Atticus and was considering getting the Eikon until the recent announcement that they are discontinued.
Would the Emu Teak be satisfyingly different to the Atticus? I am looking for something with deeper sub bass and a more forward treble and present, but not too forward, mids. I am not overly concerned with exceptional build quality such as ZMFs.
I was also considering the LCD XC as another sound sig and tech- very different from the Teaks I am sure!
Many thanks in advance!
What do you currently run the Atticus off of? Depending on your current situation, it might be more worth it to just keep saving for a great OTL.
Good point. I currently run them off an Ifi Zen stack, and I also have the Project Ember II. Was considering an OTL, but with the volatility in the tube market now not sure I will make that move.
100% keep saving for an amp/dac upgrade then. There are a lot of options for high end tube amps. I’m just kind of a shill for anything Justin makes after hearing his stuff at Canjam. Kenzie is my end game I am saving for. You will notice a gargantuan difference with your ZMFs.
Maybe add the LCD-GX to your list of HPs to look at. It’s similar sound signature, Audeze, and much much lighter than both the LCD-4z and LCD-X.
Thanks for the insight. Mighty tempting, though my wallet will not be happy with me 