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jaydunndiddit
3262
Dec 27, 2018
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Easy, the Focal Clear. Arguably my favorite "reference" headphone. They are fast, dynamic, and like their namesake, clear. They're a joy to listen to, can be powered from just about anything and still sound amazing, and they also come with a nice suite of accessories (hard travel case, SE/XLR cables). If you wanted to pocket some change then the Elex is also a great contender. They have a lot in common with the Clear but do fall behind a bit in outright technicalities. They are also about half the price so its an easier pill to swallow.
(Edited)
Dec 27, 2018
jupark123
4
Dec 27, 2018
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jaydunndidditI was actually looking into the Focal Elex. Has great reviews, especially one of the review saying that the headphones made the music sound like a performance instead of a recording, which i believe it fits my uses. I was actually thinking about the HD800 or HD800S because it seemed that is the headphone for almost all audiophiles who has multiple headphones and they just switch around for different taste. I don't have a budget like that.
Dec 27, 2018
jaydunndiddit
3262
Dec 27, 2018
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jupark123Personally, I did not enjoy the 800. While it is a VERY capable headphone, it's an analytical snooze fest that has some treble character I am not 100% keen on. If that's what you want, then the 800 is one of the best in that regard. Same with the Utopia, LCD4, HiFiMan super expensive edition, etc. For me, the Clear (and to a better degree the Elex) bring a welcome dose of musicality, dynamics, AND resolution in an easy to drive package. You don't need a fancy amp or anything like that to get a lot out of any Focal (sans the Utopia). And while they do not have the soundstage of the 800 family (no Focal does), they make up for it in speed, resolution, and dynamics. And in those regards, Focal is unique in this price bracket for really nailing those 3 attributes. For my ears, they sound akin to the woofers in my loudspeakers in texture and tone. That's something that gets missed in a lot of other "reference" headphones for the sake of "ultimate clarity and resolution." And this is super subjective but I just really enjoy the build and look of Focal's gear (typically all leather and metal) and the last 3 sets I purchased all came with hard cases and multiple cables, one of which was balanced.
Dec 27, 2018
VRacer111
491
Dec 27, 2018
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jaydunndidditAgree with Clear being a great choice to consider... I almost wanted to get one after only listening to it for 30 minutes - and I really didn't like the Elear which I previously auditioned from a friend for ~100 hours of listening time (all I could take with it... it actually gave me headaches.) But my L300 Limited setup does what the Clear does and a little more. If I didn't have my STAX setup, the Focal Clears would probably be the next best thing, they are the closest headphone I've heard technical, balance, and tone wise to them (on my particular STAX setup. They both have very similar subbass (though my L300 Limited does have more impact with about same extension) and about the same midbass punch. Was running the Clear off my Gustard X20U DAC and custom modded Gustard H10 amp with settled in Burson V6 opamps (pair each of Vivid singles and Classic duals), same rig setup I demoed the Elear on. The Elear just left a not so good impression with me that I kind of dropped Focal off my immediate radar right then. Maybe I would have gotten a Clear instead of STAX beforehand, but comfort seems to be the other factor that Focal doesn't quite work for me. While I really like the sound of the Clear and it seemed just a tad bit more comfortable than the Elear from memory, it still doesn't wear as comfortably as my STAX L300 Limited (modded with L700 pads and headband) or any other headphone I have. I think the comfort is the only complaint I have for the Clear, thats why I really like suspension headbands, they are the most comfortable for me.
Dec 27, 2018
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