The Focal Clear’s review was a difficult one. I deleted my first review because I really crapped on them. I received them pulled them out of the box, plugged them in and started listening. It was not that I disliked them but for $1500 I want to be “blown away” not like ehh, these are ok..

So I laid them down and left them alone. Later I thought maybe I should “break them in” I do not believe in “Burn-in” sorry if you do. I mean sorry for you because you have been duped.

I only believe in a very short “break-in” period for electro mechanical devices such as speaker drivers and or dynamic drivers (the same thing but a much smaller version for IEM’s) It should not take more than a 30 minutes to 1 hour for break-in.

So I left the Clears running on my desk for a few hours playing (I know longer than 30 min to 1 hour but I forget about them). I sat back down and started listening and “wow” now I’m hearing something special. Not
Blown away” but really good. Great detail, rivaling some of the higher end IEM’s I have heard. Smooth and not grainy, mid’s very smooth, a little forward but in a good way. Bass was very tight and not boomy. Not as good as the Thieaudio Monarch but very close. So I spent a lot more time listening. I really liked them, but the big sound “bomb” happened when I plugged them into my DarkVoice tube Amp. This is when I was “blown away”. The sound was so rich, smooth, full. Vocals were like liquid gold sound flowing over my ears (wow that was over the top). Yes the pairing of my DarkVoice and the Clear’s was special for sure. Now they sounded like $1500 headphones. I say “my” DarkVoice because I have “rolled” the tubes and modified the circuitry so mine will most likely sound different from yours.

The Focal Clear is super comfortable – feels like 1000+ should feel. Most comfortable headphones I own right now.

Rodrigo y Gabriela – hanuman – Focal sounded perfect. At around 1 min in there is a string pick/strum that is behind the main guitar chorus. Not sure which one is playing it Rodrigo or Gabriela but it sounds excellent.

Steely Dan – Aja – Stage and clarity were excellent on the Focal. Over all much better experience on the Focal than the DT1990. It felt like there was a dark veil over the sound in comparison. The Clear’s were “clearer”.

The Cars – Since your gone – The Focal had great stage and was much more pleasing to listen to than both the DT1990 and the Fearless Tequila.

I can definitely recommend these if you have $1500 burning a hole in your pocket. I see now why some of the more popular reviewers have marked these as “S tier” in their lists. Meaning “Special”.