I just lucked out…I never really knew how good these Clears were…I was looking to buy HD800s and someone said go audition the Clears
Phew! That was a close call. Lucky day indeed!
…and as luck would have it my local audio store (rare now-a-days) located a few miles from me had them in stock to listen to…
Yeah except for big-box outlets audio stores have become a rarity even in a city of 4 million like mine. But as luck would have it for me too my brother-in-law and an associate own a high-end audio store and service center. As far as headphones are concerned he is an authorized Focal retailer, as well as Hifiman, Senn, NAD and B&W that I know of, because he also carries esoteric boutique brands that constantly cycle in and out, many ending up as failed startups sold at discounted rates. Even as a collector those have little interest to me unless there is something really special about them other than being so ridiculously expensive it’s obvious that the manufacturer had no idea what the heck they were doing. BIL doesn’t give me any special rebate when I purchase something from him because we don’t don’t mix business with family (I kinda wish we did though) but he sells to me at online price plus he digs up any little-known special offer/bonus/what-have-you for me, which is nice and sometimes result in substantial savings over regular retail. Unfortunately when it comes to accessories like cables and such he sticks with uber expensive brands because he says that’s what customers ask for. Let’s leave that at that 
So as soon as I put them on 30 seconds into a Patricia Barber tune I knew these were what I was looking for…and again a luck would have it Focal had this whacky trade in ANY set of cans for the Clears at $999!
Dang you have more as-luck-would-have-its than I do lol
But I was just passed the date of the special offering. but some internet sites were still advertising this and they honored the deal without any trade for $999…how could I refuse.
How could you indeed, Focal audiophile cans are such charmers it’s no surprise they got the segment’s dynamics pretty much all to themselves by now. Only serious competition like Audeze, Hifiman, Mr Speakers etc are all planars. There is the HD800/800s but…
I did also get a set of HD800s and had them for 2 days and returned then even though i like the HD600’s they were a real let down for me, too thin…just not worth the retail asking price at all for me.
…that. I think this time around the French have won over the Germans
I don’t like my HD800’s either but kept them as a collectible. They are a good example of the kind of overconfidence-induced mistake that can cost a manufacturer its market segment. Never really been a Senn fan but I do have one pair that I like a lot for bicycling and hiking: the first-generation on-ear Momentum. They may not look the part but they sound a lot better than one would assume. The vise is torturous but you need that firm clamp when riding a bike in the summer heat lest they slide off. Nice deep bass, not boomy at all. It’s no audiophile can but what it was designed for it does very well. A little pricey though.
The only other set of affordable cans I might be tempted to buy are the ZMF Aeolus…but with all this stock market tanking this will be awhile for me now!!
Yeah the situation mandates different priorities now but I strongly believe we’ll recoup from this. Being nearly quarantined (there is nothing to do outside, it’s a sort of self-imposed house arrest) is boring but at least we still have music and the internet. Don’t care for TV all they talk about is that.
Those ZMF have been on my radar for a little while, I hope they sound as good as they look. I believe the wooden cup will be representative of the 20’s as it becomes more prevalent in every category so they make good collectibles regardless but still, I wouldn’t want to pay that much if I don’t like the sound. Been there, done that too often. ZMF is aiming at Focal with these so they better pack some wallop!
I go back and forth with the HD600 and Clears and smile most of the time!!
Thank God for the jolly can 