Focal - Clear

I got and returned the 109 Pro after few weeks. They are super comfortable, nice sounding and that is it. They are nice they didn't do much for me no complaints it just OK. I found my self going back more and more to my older Arya Stealth and 6xx. Obviously everyone is different but I think under $1000 there is much better at least objectively better headphones and you can listen to them first. Focal Clear, Arya Stealth, LCD-2C (used) I would even throw in 660S2. All these to me sounded better than 109 Pro.

I don't think this is true. If I handed someone a HD650 then handed them a set of Focal Clears I think they'd be able to immediately hear a huge difference in many ways outside detail. 

HD650 for the warmth* *My actual pick would be Focal Clear OG 

I own a pair of Focal Clear OGs and a pair of Drop PC38X. I love them both for gaming. I prefer the Focal Clear because it's just so much more comfortable.

How’s the bass on your atriums? I have a pair (cherry wood) and the bass is pleasant but not very punchy and doesn’t extend as far down as I had expected. Even with some EQ I feel like my Clears have punchier bass (albeit limited output) than the atriums. I’ve tried different pads too, which makes a difference, but the bass still feels lacking. Just a bit thrown off as my understanding was that these cans were supposed to have a pretty robust low end.

I had a chat with you on Discord a few months ago and you also said that you really liked the Focal Clear OG;

At $1000 I’m buying the Focal Clear, and at $2,000 the Meze Empyrean II. Both are examples of the rare headphones where I put them on and said “oh. That’s why they cost this much. I get it now.” I listen to a pretty eclectic mix; really everything except most modern country and that’s starting to shift, even. Probably more sad dad music than anything, but also a lot of R&B/jazz-inflected hip-hop and “classic” rock.

As someone who owns the Focal Clear, I’d love something to compliment that’s retains the clarity but offers another perspective, what would you recommend from your experience and collection? Leaning towards HD800s but the ZMF look so beautiful and Meze Empy 2 is also on my radar

XK-Audio Serene lol With the right pads and amplifier, they are heavenly. Like beyond Susvara heavenly. In terms of headphones that made the biggest impact in the industry. I put the following: HD600/650 series. I personally never liked their tuning, but plenty of others do HD800 made kilobucks more mainstream. Industry benchmark for 16 years Focal Clear OG & Hifiman egg series. IMO the first mainstream headphones that can be considered a legit HD800/800S alternative as an all-rounder (at least sonically) Hifiman Susvara. It has been the new benchmark since 2018.

My focal clears are insanely comfortable and have good imaging, but not a huge sound stage. I love them for gaming.

Listened to a lot of headphones in stores, bought the ones I thought sounded the best (Focal Radiance and Focal Clear OG).