Note that this is a discontinued product. You may want to visit the brand's page here to browse their newer products.
What reviewers think
Bloggers and YouTubers have tried this product—so we've summarized their strongest opinions below. Links to full reviews follow.
All
Clear
reviews
Manufacturer details
- Type: Circum-aural, open-back headphones
- Impedance: 55 Ω
- Sensitivity: 104 dB SPL / 1 mW @ 1 kHz
- Total Harmonic Distortion (THD): 0.25% @ 1 kHz / 100 dB SPL
- Frequency Response: 5 Hz – 28 kHz
- Driver: 1.6" (40 mm) Aluminum/Magnesium ‘M’-shape dome
- Weight: 0.99 lb (450 g)
- 3 m balanced cable (XLR 4-pin)
- 3 m unbalanced cable (1/4" TRS jack)
- 1.2 m unbalanced cable (1/8" TRS jack)
- 1/8" to 1/4" stereo jack adapter
Brand highlights
Taking a step back to look at reviewers' thoughts of the brand's entire lineup—not just this product—what stands out most is the following:
- Focal monitors are noted for their "mid-forward" sound, guiding users toward balanced mixes, particularly in the midrange frequencies, which aids in crucial EQ and dynamics decisions.
- They integrate an inverted dome tweeter crafted from Aluminum/Magnesium or Beryllium, optimizing high-frequency dispersion and minimizing distortion through back wave absorption.
- Focal frequently employs flax or "W" composite sandwich cones in their mid-bass drivers, providing a lightweight yet rigid diaphragm construction that delivers exceptional definition and controlled bass.
Select products
Theva
- Positioning: The entry-level series in Focal's high-fidelity lineup.
- Description: Features Focal's signature technologies like the TNF tweeter for clear treble. Compared to the Aria Evo X, offers a more budget-friendly option with simpler cabinet designs. While it lacks the advanced materials found in the Kanta series, still provides a solid performance for its price range, suitable for basic home audio setups.
Aria Evo X
- Positioning: Sits in the mid-range of Focal's lineup, offering a balance between performance and affordability.
- Description: Features flax cone technology, providing natural sound and excellent dynamics. More refined than Theva, offering better build quality and soundstage.
Kanta
- Positioning: A premium series, offering advanced technology and design.
- Description: Known for their innovative design and use of materials like the Flax sandwich cone and Beryllium tweeter, delivering precise and detailed sound. They offer a more sophisticated sound profile than Aria Evo X, with enhanced clarity and warmth.
Sopra
- Positioning: A high-end series, just below the flagship Utopia line, focusing on compactness and performance.
- Description: Excels in sound transparency and precision, featuring technologies like the Infinite Horn Loading system for improved treble. They offer a richer harmonic experience than Kanta.
Utopia III Evo
- Positioning: Focal's flagship series, representing the pinnacle of their speaker technology.
- Description: Renowned for their exceptional sound quality and luxurious design, incorporating technologies like the Beryllium tweeter and W composite sandwich cone. They surpass Sopra in every aspect, offering groundbreaking soundstage and detail, ideal for large dedicated listening rooms and those with no budget constraints.
Our take on the brand
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Used
Focal
What if you spend more?
Product Strengths
- Excellent build quality with premium materials, creating a premium feel
- Wide and spacious soundstage
- High-level transparency and detailed technical performance when paired with a proper source
- Comfortable design, suitable for long listening sessions
- Good bass quality, articulate and well-controlled
Product Considerations
- Cannot reach its full potential with low-powered portable sources
- Bass performance is less impactful compared to closed-back headphones
- Tuning may seem too colored or far-from-neutral for some listeners
- Strong clamp force—can be a little tight
- Upper treble might be fatiguing
Takeaway: The Focal Clear MG offers a spacious and detailed listening experience with a comfortable design, making it enjoyable across various music genres when paired with the right equipment. It strikes a good balance between technical performance and musical enjoyment for those seeking a premium open-back headphone.
Video review
Our take on the brand
Product Strengths
- Extreme precision and remarkable tonal balance between bass, mids, and highs due to the magnesium driver
- Comfortable to wear for extended periods due to the memory foam ear pads and lightweight aluminum frame
- Detailed and focused soundstage, which is described in terms of depth for easy placement of elements in a mix
- The open-back design creates a listening experience where it feels like not wearing headphones at all—lending a sense of spaciousness
- Remarkable detail in the high end without harshness or fatigue
Product Considerations
- Requires a run-in period to stabilize the drivers and achieve optimal sound
- Open-back design is not ideal for recording or isolated listening environments
- Differences in bass response are noticeable if the fit is not adjusted properly
- Positional variation accounts for discrepancies in measurement of the Clear MG Pro, due to the angled driver design, small pad openings and the spring-loaded headband
- Some might find the sound a bit stark for casual listening, especially those who prefer thumping bass or a warm top end
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- Compared to Audeze LCD-MX4 and HEDD Audio HEDDphones, the Clear MG Professionals come surprisingly close to matching the dynamic impact and thump of the Audeze
Takeaway: The Clear MG Professional headphones are a great choice for mixing and mastering because they deliver a balanced and detailed sound. They are comfortable to wear for long periods of time, making them useful for studio work or critical listening at home.
Video review
Our take on the brand
Product Strengths
- Stunning aesthetics and high-quality craftsmanship with various wood options and grill designs available
- Creates a wonderful sense of space with a great spherical soundstage and natural depth
- Has an amazing ability to be both smooth and detailed at the same time
- Provides a deep reaching and encompassing bass sound with a punchy and impactful profile
- Natural and lifelike tonal quality with vibrant midrange and textured vocals
Product Considerations
- Not ideal for those seeking maximum detail retrieval or a reference-level sound
- May not be the best choice for music that relies heavily on aggressive, distorted electric guitars due to potential mid-range harshness
- Bass extension may not reach as deep as some planar headphones
- The stock cable has shape memory, and some may prefer aftermarket options
- It's a heavier headphone, so comfort may be a concern for some users
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- Vs ZMF Verite: The Atrium sits alongside it, and is a significant step above the Auteur, in the sense that it is competing absolutely with the Verite, whereas the Auteur doesn't quite reach the heights of the Verite
- Vs Sennheiser HD650: The Atrium overall tuning is very reminiscent of the Sennheiser HD 650, where it is still fairly neutral, but it tends towards a little bit of warmth
- Vs HIFIMAN HE1000 V2: The HE1000 V2 has a bigger soundstage, but the imaging and the separation handle spatial reproduction much better than the Atrium does
Takeaway: The ZMF Atrium offers a beautiful design and a unique sound signature that combines smoothness and detail, making it a very enjoyable listening experience across many genres. Its ability to create a lifelike and engaging soundstage makes it a worthwhile option for those looking for something special.
Video review
Our take on the brand
Product Strengths
- Nice cable made in partnership with Viking Wave
- Attractive design with some components being 3D printed
- Comfortable to wear with well-distributed weight and ZMF earpads
- Stands out with its 'warm yet balanced' sound signature, described as having flat bass extension and an emphasized lower mid-range
- Delivers instrument separation, and sounds reasonably spacious
Product Considerations
- Build quality can feel a little rough around the edges, which may be noticeable
- Requires a dedicated headphone amplifier
- The dual-sided version is more expensive, while the single-sided version is affected by pressure changes inside the pad
- Sound can come across a little bit crunchy and trebly
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- Against Audeze MM500, the MM500 has better build quality
- Against Meze Empyrean 2, the Empyrean 2 is more comfortable
- Against Dan Clark Audio E3, the E3s overall sound more competent
Takeaway: The Modhaus Tungsten is a unique headphone built with care. It's enjoyable to listen to, has good bass extension, and the sound can be customized by swapping earpads.
Video review
Our take on the brand
What competes at this price?
Our Summary
Product Strengths
- Beautiful design and build quality with premium materials, like a magnesium yoke and genuine leather headband
- Good comfort with memory foam earpads and breathable cloth, though some find the pads shallow
- Well-rounded tonal balance with surprisingly strong bass for an open-back headphone
- Easy to drive and forgiving with different audio sources
- Clear and spacious sound presentation, with accurate imaging
Product Considerations
- The price point may be higher than some consumers want to pay
- The relatively small size might not fit all head shapes comfortably
- Stock cable is reported to have memory and be unwieldy
- Sound staging isn't the widest
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- Vs Focal Azurys: Some prefer the sound of the Azurys for some songs and use cases
- Vs Sennheiser HD600: Hadenys has improvements in the bass and treble response, and there's more oomph and weight in the bass
- Vs Focal Clear MG: Hadenys manages to provide a remarkable amount of Clear MG for a lower price
- Vs Focal Elex: dynamics are not on par with the Focal Elex
- Vs Sennheiser HD 660S2: The Focal manages to feel as solid, while looking better, wearing better and sounding better
Takeaway: The Hadenys offers a stylish design, comfortable fit, and well-rounded sound, making it a versatile headphone for enjoying music at home. Its solid construction and easy-to-drive nature make it a worthwhile choice for those seeking a premium listening experience.
Video review
Our take on the brand
Our Summary
Product Strengths
- Uses premium materials like carbon fiber, metal, sheep lambskin earpads, and zebra wood faceplates for a luxurious feel, with excellent build quality
- Has a mostly neutral sound signature, with lambskin pads bass response is very good with a tasteful emphasis placed on the sub-bass region, and a decent midrange
- Provides good detail retrieval, resolution, and transparency of sound, the drivers can show plenty of information and micro detail
- A pad swapping system allows changes to sound characteristics, with lambskin pads and breathable fabric pads included
- Comes with a quarter-inch adapter and a 4-pin XLR adapter for use with portable or desktop devices
Product Considerations
- The stock cable is 3 meters long, which is too long for desktop use
- Headband adjustment can be a little stiff to move
- With leather pads, the highs can get slightly sharp
- There is a slight sharpness in the upper treble that might pose a problem for some listeners, using fabric pads can mitigate this
- Weight distribution could be better, there's not enough padding on the headband, and the clamp force is low, this distributes all the weight across the top of the head, which can be bothersome after 40-50 minutes
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- Vs HiFiMan Susvara: Has a similar driver structure
- Vs HiFiMan HE1000 Unveiled: Is close in terms of technical performance like resolution, transient response, soundstage, depth, and openness
- Vs HiFiMan Arya Stealth: Has a better build quality and bass response
Takeaway: The FiiO FT7 is a well-built, comfortable headphone that offers a neutral-leaning-warm sound that can be tailored with different earpads. The FT7 competes with other headphones that cost significantly more, making it a great pick at its price point.
Video review
Our take on the brand
Our Summary
Product Strengths
- Excellent stereo separation for mixing and monitoring
- Built with aluminum, it has a durable feel
- Designed for reference listening
- Clean, linear, and very detailed mids
Product Considerations
- Sound can be considered somewhat restrained, lacking upper midrange and low to HF 'hype'
- Cloth ear pads may not feel as soft or luxurious as velour pads on some other headphones
- Lacks impact and bite
- Headband padding is uncomfortable
- Single-entry cable is on the right side, which is an unusual placement
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- Vs Sennheiser HD650: Differences come down to something similar to a full-range studio monitor versus a full-range hifi speaker of equal build quality and similar design, Sennheisers are geared more towards enjoying the brain-pleasing sounds of music, while you probably want to mix with the Neumanns
- Vs Sennheiser HD600/650: The HD600 and HD650 are more comfortable, with a better industrial design than the NDH-30
Takeaway: The Neumann NDH 30 is a tool that can be very helpful for mixing sessions, especially for identifying details in the mid-range of a mix. Its design and build quality also make it a lasting product.
Video review
Our take on the brand
Our Summary
Product Strengths
- The Wraith features an all-metal alloy body that feels sturdy and durable
- The earcups feature a rotating mechanism, making it convenient to rest the headphones around the neck
- The design is considered stylish, industrial, and unique
- The suspension headband design distributes weight evenly, making it comfortable to wear for long listening sessions
Product Considerations
- The Wraith's headband adjustment system is not very practical and requires a screwdriver to adjust
- Stock pads may not create the best seal, impacting sound isolation
- The soundstage is intimate, and the resolution is average
- The 2.5mm connectors on the earcups might limit replacement cable options
- Sub-bass can roll off with stock pads
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- Vs HiFiMan Edition XS: The Edition XS has better resolution, clarity, and sub-bass response out of the box, but the Wraith has superior build quality, materials, robustness, and comfort
- Vs Sendy Audio Aiva: The Wraith and Aiva share a similar bass roll-off
- Vs Moondrop Venus: The Moondrop Venus costs slightly more and provides a wider soundstage and more refined sound
Takeaway: The ThieAudio Wraith has excellent build quality and a unique design, making them durable and comfortable for many users. The sound is warm and laid-back, making them suitable for casual listening.
Video review
Our take on the brand
Our Summary
Product Strengths
- Improved bass response compared to the original HD 660S and other HD 6XX series headphones adds warmth and a richer, fuller sound
- Lightweight design (around 260g) and comfortable earpads make them suitable for extended listening periods
- Detailed and nuanced sound, with a well-balanced midrange and smooth treble, provides a clear and crisp listening experience without being overly analytical
- Precise imaging allows for accurate instrument placement and a good sense of sound direction
- It comes with both 4.4mm balanced and 6.35mm single-ended cables, providing connectivity options for various sources
Product Considerations
- Some feel the price is high for the level of upgrade compared to the original HD 660S, especially with other competitive options available
- While the bass is improved, it's not a bass-heavy headphone and might not satisfy those seeking a thunderous bass response
- The clamping force can be a bit tight out of the box, which may cause discomfort for some users
- The soundstage isn't exceptionally wide, which may not be ideal for those seeking a very spacious and out-of-head experience
- The build quality, while durable, does not feel as premium as other headphones in the same price range due to the extensive use of plastic
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- The HD 660S2 is generally considered an improvement over the HD 660S, primarily due to the enhanced bass response and slightly smoother sound
- The Sivga SV023 offers a brighter, crisper sound for less money, while the HD 660S2 provides a fuller, more vocal-oriented sound
- The Harmonic Dyne G200 is more exciting and energetic, but has a less natural tonality and may be less comfortable
- The Meze 109 Pro is a better headphone in almost every way, but it is more expensive and may be a little sibilant for some listeners
- HD 660 S2 offers better sub-bass reach and imaging, but the Sennheiser HD 650 still remains unmatched for male vocals
- The HIFIMAN Edition XS sounds bigger, deeper, and wider, while HD 660S2 is more about the tonality
Takeaway: The HD 660S2 is a comfortable and well-rounded headphone with a more balanced and enjoyable sound signature than its predecessor, especially with its improved bass response. It's a great choice for those who appreciate a smooth, detailed, and easy-to-listen-to headphone for various genres.
Video review
Our take on the brand
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