The Focal Clear MG Hi-Fi headphones combine a superb design with a unique Chestnut and Mixed Metals finish and remarkable sound performance.
Made in France, these top-of-the-range headphones incorporate exclusive Focal technologies (magnesium drivers) ensuring excellent dynamics and increased sound precision.
Focal Clear MG: drivers
The Focal Clear MG features the latest generation of Focal full-range drivers. They were designed to operate in an open volume while ensuring exceptional dynamics and a precise, barely coloured sound reproduction.
The Focal Clear MG's drivers are a concentrate of innovations. The copper voice coil is used without any former and the suspension offers a reduced mass.
The 40 mm membrane is a reversed dome with an "M" profile. It is manufactured in the Focal factory of St-Etienne out of pure magnesium! This is a worldwide exclusive and a patent filed by the brand.
Focal Clear MG: headband
The solid aluminium headband of the Focal Clear MG perfectly moulds to the head while providing an optimal grip. The 20 mm thick earpads are made of perforated microfibre. The headband itself is made of leather and microfibre.
The materials used, leather, solid aluminium and microfibre, are all of excellent quality.
Focal Clear MG: earcups
The earcups of the Focal Clear MG have undergone a specific acoustic treatment to prevent resonance and colouration in order to achieve an uncompromising audio quality.
Inside, the "M"-shaped grille follows the curve of the driver to ensure a better reproduction of high frequencies. The outside of the earcup features a honeycomb grille to provide maximum openness.
Focal Clear MG: cable and accessories
The Focal Clear MG is supplied with a fully detachable, very high-purity OFC 24 AWG copper cable of 1.20 m. A 3 m cable is provided with an XLR4 termination in order to be connected to the best headphone amplifiers on the market.
On the earcup side, the first end is connected via two 3.5 mm Mono Jacks. At the other end, Focal opted for a 3.5 mm stereo Jack, but supplies a 6.35 mm stereo adapter.
Everything is delivered in a magnificent, excellent-quality rigid carrying case that protects the headphones perfectly.
Focal Clear MG: test and listening
Like all Hi-Fi headphones or speakers, musicality is tied to the quality of the source and of the medium used.
Furthermore, these Hi-Fi headphones need a running-in period in order to deliver their full performance. This running-in happens naturally after several hours of listening. If you wish to speed up the process, we advise you to play music rich in low frequencies for at least 24 hours at a relatively high volume level.
The Focal Clear MG is relatively easy to drive thanks to its 50-ohm impedance. Even with a portable player you get an excellent sound level.
You get a deep, powerful bass that is also very nuanced and articulated. The sound is accurate and clear across the whole spectrum with a wide and particularly spacious reproduction. The open-back headphone principle really bears fruit on the soundstage and spatialisation. The listener is quickly immersed in the music without any effort.
You find a remarkable accuracy of timbres and a sublime harmonic richness. The balance is very successful and no aggressiveness can be noticed in the mid-range or the treble.
The dynamics are surprising and cover the entire sound spectrum. On complex works requiring flawless transients, the Clear MG headphones from Focal do not waver at all and show no difficulty.
Like most acoustic productions from the manufacturer Focal, the Clear MG does not seek to flatter the listener. On the contrary, its neutrality is one of its assets, which of course makes it dependent on the source: the more capable the source, the more the Focal Clear MG makes music!
The Focal Clear MG Hi-Fi headphones are among the best audiophile headphones on the market that we have been able to listen to. At the price offered, it is the deal of the moment!
Our favourite!
AWARDS:
What Hi-Fi ***** - 2021
EISA Award - Best Product - 2021/2022
FAQ: Everything you need to know before buying the Focal Clear MG Hi-Fi headphones
What technologies does Focal use in the Clear MG's drivers?
The Focal Clear MG features the latest generation of Focal wideband drivers, designed to work in an open volume while ensuring exceptional dynamics and a precise, low-coloration sound reproduction. The 40 mm membrane uses an "M"-profile inverted dome, made in Focal's Saint-Étienne factory from pure magnesium, a world exclusive protected by the brand's patent. The copper voice coil is used without a former and the suspension was designed to offer low mass, which contributes to the assembly's responsiveness. These technical choices translate into deep, powerful yet nuanced and articulate bass, along with a precise, clear reproduction across the whole spectrum. The open-back principle pays off particularly on soundstage and spatialisation, quickly immersing the listener in the music.
How is the headband designed and what materials make up the Focal Clear MG?
The solid aluminium headband fits the head perfectly while providing optimal clamping, and it is covered in leather and microfibre for comfort. The 20 mm-thick earpads are in perforated microfibre, a material chosen as much for comfort as for its acoustic qualities. A specific acoustic treatment has been applied inside the earcups to avoid resonances and coloration, with an internal "M"-shaped grille following the driver's curve to better reproduce high frequencies. The outside of the shell has a honeycomb grille designed to offer maximum acoustic openness. All these high-end materials, leather, solid aluminium and microfibre, contribute to both comfort and the overall sound quality of the headphone.
What cables and accessories come with the Focal Clear MG?
The headphone comes with a fully detachable 1.20 m cable in very pure OFC AWG 24 copper for everyday use. A second 3-metre cable is supplied with an XLR4 termination, designed to connect to the best headphone amplifiers on the market. On the earcup side, the connection is via two 3.5 mm mono jacks, while the other end uses a 3.5 mm stereo jack with a supplied 6.35 mm stereo adapter. Everything is stored in an excellent-quality rigid carrying case, which perfectly protects the headphone during travel or storage. To get the most from it, consider a quality headphone amplifier.
Is the Focal Clear MG easy to use day to day and which sources does it work best with?
With a 50-ohm impedance, the Focal Clear MG remains relatively easy to drive, and even a portable player achieves an excellent sound level. This headphone does, however, need a natural running-in period of several hours of listening to reveal its full performance, which can be sped up by playing bass-rich music for around 24 hours at a relatively high level. Like most Focal products, the Clear MG does not seek to artificially flatter the listener: its neutrality makes it dependent on source quality, the better the source, the more music it reveals. It has won several prestigious awards, including five stars from What Hi-Fi in 2021 and the EISA Award for best product 2021/2022, which makes it one of the best audiophile headphones available at this price.
Franck
