The Elite screams high-end, with its silver frame made from CNC aluminum. Shouty and thin-sounding, though surprisingly competent imaging ability. However, it doesnt have the dryness that Ive associated with older HiFiMAN planars in the past, or like what I found with the recent Deva wireless headphone. Still a little sharp at times, bass good but a little monotone. The lowest frequency at which the device produces audio. "Harman-inspired" tuning works decently well, though a myriad of small quirks ultimately screws its tonal balance. Again, very competent. Sharp, shrill, piercing, sibilant, and all other synonyms. You must log in or register to reply here. A headset is one headphone or pair with a built-in microphone. Water-resistant devices can resist the penetration of water, such as powerful water jets, but not being submerged into water. Nothing much different from your average Grado; paid extra for the novelty, not the sonic improvements. Expectedly Harman tuning but lacks a bit of bite in the upper midrange for "true Harman". Hard to explain what exactly this sounds like, but the first thing you'd hear is probably the treble roll-off. Most of the headphones in this list are determined based off demo units from shops. If the community deems this amplifier as necessary for said headphone, the price of the amplifier will also be added to the MSRP value and valued accordingly. More powerful bass than HEDD. It follows the same egg-shaped earcup structure as the Ananda. A pretty good beat-tracking monitor. So overall it has excellent detail retrieval, however this quality may be enhanced on the Arya due to other factors like its expansive soundstage and layering capabilities as well. Warm, bloated sound with a largely muffled midrange. Great tonality, sub-focused bass emphasis, bassy without being muddy. Soundstage is larger. Its also reasonably lightweight for a planar magnetic headphone, coming in at only 400g. More room ambiance/reverb in vocals. Pretty bog-standard V-shaped response with forward upper-midrange and decently high resolution. Drums and cymbals nicely emphasized. Acoustic guitar forward, then vocals, flute distant. Decent imaging chops held back by its intensely bright presentation and below-average resolution. This audio plug allows you to connect to a range of devices which use a standard 3.5mm jack. Very open soundstage. Similar tuning to that of the Lambda Pro. Note: This may vary by region. HEDD standup bass is very clear, vocals and mandolin are sweet. You are using an out of date browser. I havent been able to find a shop in japan that has a pair of Stellias and ive been hungry for a Clear. Just beautiful. Very low bass tone under singing less pronounced. Slight sibilance. Everything about the Stealth makes it out to be Dan Clarks most premium headphones to date, with a price point to reflect that. Bigger drivers are more powerful and can produce better bass. Because these push the sound towards you so much more than the more relaxed Arya, sometimes the treble can sound fatiguing. Nice. So the question in my mind becomes, is the performance gained worth the added weight thats required, and thats something each person may have a different answer to. Scan this QR code to download the app now. I tend to find both Harman targets to roll off a bit strongly in the treble for my taste, and so I wouldnt exactly call the Arya a bright headphone - certainly not compared to HiFiMANs older planar headphones - but it is still brighter than the consumer preference target indicates. With a detachable cable you can use alternative cables, and if the cable is pulled it will pop out instead of breaking. Midrange is too forward making bass sound weak. Headphones and Headphone Amplifier Reviews. Great (golfing panther) Votes: 84 30.9% Total voters 272 1 2 3 Perhaps the warmest of the Hifiman lineup. Probably the most balanced tuning of the L-series, with the usual e-stat technicalities. Im not going to listen to you! Instrument timbre is perfect - standup bass, mandolin, acoustic guitar all sound like real instruments. 5Hz vs 8Hz; Has passive noise reduction? If it's not on the list, it doesn't exist, Crinacles Headphone Ranking List: Public Release. You must log in or register to reply here. Strong contender for an excellent headphone, if not for the inexplicable hole in the mids. Wonky midrange is one thing, but dying after 6kHz is another. Kind of a "nothing headphone"; not bad, not great, just good enough to be okay. Mark knows how to make his guitar sing. Wibbly-wobbly midrange with far too liberal a bass boost makes for a terrible sound. Classic Audeze combo of solid resolution with a confusing lack of upper midrange. Build quality is pretty nice and the grey accents a . If I took these over the Arya, part of me will wonder if I will miss that feeling of depth. I bought some Focal Clears online to try them, since I don't have access to anywhere to demo headphones. The Sennheiser HD800S, the Hifiman Arya Stealth, and the Focal Clear. Spicy sibilance and bloated bass are disappointments in what is otherwise an extremely dynamic headphone. A tad too shouty for my tastes, but far less offensive tonal characteristics than the average estat. Subdued upper midrange with the odd treble spike makes this a weird headphone to listen to. Just excessive bass that unfortunately screws with the tonality of the mids. I use these both professionally and personally. Well-executed reference-ish tuning with a slight treble emphasis. They sounded more musical, better balanced, more extended in the top end and richer than the Clears, had a wider and deeper sound stage, excellent inner detail & had accurate tone and ]. Devices with a higher sound pressure level are generally louder when supplied with any given audio source. An indicator shows you when the device has low battery. Prices not directly available in USD are based off the exchange rate during the time of writing. When covered under the manufacturers warranty it is possible to get a replacement in the case of a malfunction. Alex S. is a sound designer and voice-over artist who has worked in film, commercials, and podcasts. Good guitar and vocal. Bloated, lacking resolution, narrow imaging. Treble slightly sharp, almost too much. They could co-exist in the catalog if this v3 was "Arya se" (see also: HE1000 v2 vs HE1000se), but since they are both just "Arya" they cannot both be current production models. These are very special headphones. Ambient sound mode uses microphones to pass through ambient noises so that they can still be heard. Great treble but not quite as airy as HEDD. In my mind, the Arya has a fairly normal timbre, and I think thats a good thing for a planar, even if its not as natural sounding as something from ZMF. Reminds of the NightHawk a bit, except with far worse resolution. $200 ish, sub $500 ish etc. Comes with a small upper treble spike and lacking raw resolution. (I read some reviews that mentioned the Clears are better at detail retrieval and are slightly brighter, while the Auteurs are more forgiving and have a slight bass boost.). Closest thing to Harman thus far. A place for discussion, news, reviews and DIY projects related to portable audio, headphones, headphone amplifiers and DACs. The bass was punchy, so given the right juice I think the Arya's would come to life. . Versus uses cookies to improve your experience on the site. Middling technicalities, but for a gaming headphone its tonality is surprisingly balanced. Good weight to bass, but not planar quality. Drum distortion sounds like drum membrane flex. I need help picking between the two and wanted to ask anyone who has heard both what your decision making process is like when comparing dynamic headphones to planar like this? Focal Clear Mg The HiFiMan Arya are better headphones for neutral sound than the Focal Clear Mg. Im not going to listen to you!. So on this comparison it has the slight midrange dip and its got a bit more energy around 5khz. While the Arya does do a better job of it than the Ananda, it still lacks the physical impact of both the Audeze LCD-X and the dynamic driver Focal Clear. Focal Clear MG. HiFiMan Arya. Standup bass is strong. He loves horror movies and emo music. The Arya's had a wider sound stage, sounded airier than the Clears and had good top end extension. The construction comments are accurate; built quality pales in comparison to, say, my Focal Clear MG Professional headphones. They tickle your earlobes and make my eardrums itch. While not as sturdy feeling as the Audeze LCD-X, the HiFiMAN Arya feels reasonably well-built. Classic Audeze combo of solid resolution with a confusing lack of upper midrange. The Stellia also has a midbass bump, which some people may like. Bonhams drums have the right thwack. LCD Natalie is in my head. Muffled, narrow-sounding, and lacking surface-level detail. More battery power can be an indication of longer battery life. The HiFiMan have a planar magnetic transducer, which some users may prefer, can deliver bass and treble more consistently, and can reproduce a bit more low-bass. Great, Im not telling you to. Parts of the midrange lean warm but are extremely well detailed in their timbre, offering only the highest fidelity. Soundstage and sense of spaciousness is where the Arya really shines. The time it takes to fully charge the battery. HIFIMAN Arya v3 (Stealth Magnet) Headphone Review. DCA Ethers, Focal Clear mg/mg pro, HD800s, MEST IEMs, Monarchs maybe.. Hopefully that defines the field well enough. Mandolin and voices nice and forward. The reviews seemed to emphasize that they are very smooth in their frequency response, with better dynamics than the Aryas. The Arya is almost perfect as well and great for a more relaxed sound with greater soundstage. Excellent imaging. By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies. Guitar wood body is palpable. These are fucking amazing headphones. Nice rim shots. Clean, resolving yet intense sound scratches the detail itch but is a little too edgy for long listens. Better deep bass. More battery power can be an indication of longer battery life. For tonality, the Clear follows the Harman bass shelf a bit more closely, but just like the Arya its also a bit brighter than the 2013 target. In this video 3 great headphones are compared head to head. Now with extra honk. A tempered, almost bright-leaning planar (but not quite). Solid technicalities with excellent tone. Prices are at MSRP in USD. 365-day returns and World-Class Customer Support, Shop theHiFiMAN Arya here at the best price, You can read more about the difference between planar magnetic and dynamic driver headphones here, Design: Open-back over ear (has cup swivel). Nice soundstage. Sure took an L on this one. With a longer battery life you have to charge the device less often. Headphones: Verite Open Zircote, Atticus - Purple, Empyrean, Heddphone One, HE-1000 SE, Edition X V2, HD600/HD650. Arya nice tonality. Non-existent sub-bass and poor resolution. Excellent dynamics with one of the best bass I've heard in a headphone, though the midrange can be a little harsh. The driver unit is the component that produces sound in the device. Bass tickles my ears but sounds overdriven. 3 GREAT Headphones - HD800S VS Arya VS Clear The HEADPHONE Show 77.8K subscribers 30K views 5 months ago In this video 3 great headphones are compared head to head. The device comes with its own special case or pouch, which is useful for safe transportation. Vocals, guitars, bass and drums nicely balanced. More or less a HD599 with slightly worse resolution. a first number of 6 denotes that it is completely dustproof, and a second number of 7 denotes that the device can withstand full immersion in water. Well-balanced tonality with good bass extension, just slightly hot in the upper-mids and treble. (Focal Clear MG), Unknown. Suffers from typical estat timbre and bass extension issues, but otherwise a very resolving and well-tuned headphone. One is 4.4mm and is in the 5ft neighborhood, other is XLR and is 9/10ft. The LCD-X compared to the Arya is very close for detail retrieval. Ranks will be determined based on thebest unit tried. You still get the incredible transparency and detail of the original, along with a soundstage and imaging that's just as good. Really nice weight. My only concern is that some reviews mention the focals are excessively bright, while others don't? The price of any additional compulsory component (e.g. Choppy midrange response is its biggest turnoff, but otherwise a decent V-shaped headphone. Poor (headless panther) Votes: 12 4.4% 2. The focal clear is a headphone that does everything right and it's perfect when you want to feel the impact of a sound and be completely entranced in a song. High treble-to-midrange contrast makes things sound shrill and borderline-sibilant. Thunder is thunderous. The soundstage seems smaller, more intimate than with the LCD. Not the worst Grado, but you could still do better than Grado. Collapsed soundstage. These wooden closed-back headphones barely resemble their isolated nature when experiencing these horn drivers. Punchy, energetic sound with decently balanced tonality. When comparing it to the Ananda for example, the Ananda almost sounds a bit muddied and run together by contrast, even though its also an excellent headphone. The brightest and arguably harshest of the K7-- lineup, but still very competent overall. Well-balanced tonality with disappointing detailing and claustrophobic imaging. Nice piano. Headsets can be used for apps that require communication i.e. Without EQ I would rate these headphones thusly: People have a tendency to overestimate their hearing capabilities. Goosebumps again. Piano is excellent, strings and cymbals very nice. If you want a little more balance than the Teaks. FullBright1 said: If possible, tell us where the purchase was made so that 2 . This is also one of the best-looking headphones Ive ever seen, with that stylish honeycomb grille, and solid aluminum yoke. Good resolving ability and imaging, marred by its odd and honky midrange. Theyve also found a way to make these headphones incredibly lightweight too, as wearing them for long hours feels like a breeze. The original was all 100% aluminum. Some spiciness in the treble that is HD800-esque, but with a better midrange presentation. Hd800s seems to lack bass according to the FR, but T1 is recommended by plenty of people. The IEM boi dips his toes into the world of headphones. Arya nice bass, high whisper a little sharp. It supports a wireless charging standard such as Qi. Big, thick sound that muffles everything but the most surface level details. Zero brightness or sibilance. Otherwise, it's so light which is awesome and mostly doesn't feel like it's on my head. Generally weird and wonky tuning that can also get rather harsh at times. The LCD-X has a more muted and muffled upper midrange, and so you lose a bit of the information throughout that range, whereas that region is a bit elevated on the Arya. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. They also have more bass and clear high notes. This audio plug allows you to connect to a range of devices which use a standard 3.5mm jack. The HEDDphones and their clear airy treble shine on this acoustic song. I love the sound but there are times where I just want everything front loaded to me like the Clear. Every genre is brought to life beautifully. So to describe the stage a bit better, you get impressive lateral definition for left and right, along with a huge range for depth forward. Ive found in the past that this can be a weakness for some planar magnetic headphones, where the crossover from left to right is much more immediate. There are a few oddities, but for the most part the Arya has a well-balanced and slightly counter-clockwise tilted sound, meaning that its a little bit brighter than the 2013 Harman target. Bass is very present and goes down super low (20hz). All instruments sound nice. I cannot guarantee that what Im hearing is what you will be hearing. Excellent guitars, drums and vocals. However, the new version features HIFIMAN's newly developed . The headphone that the elites love to hate isn't that bad. The suspension strap for the headband is a welcome design choice, and thankfully the Arya has full range swivel and tilt for the cups. Its a trade off Im perfectly happy with, especially for jazz and acoustic music - the kind of stuff I like to listen to these days. It excels in providing an outward headspace that likens itself more to open-back headphones than its closed-back principle. Clear nice balance between acoustic guitar, flute and Robert Plants vocals. Surprisingly coherent tuning for what is effectively an unsealed electret. Dull finger snaps. Bland and unexciting tuning with compressed staging and generally underperforming technicalities. Because of this, I am not accounting for unit variation. Importantly its able to do this without compromising on weight or comfort, being easily usable for long periods of time. Join thediscussionabout the HiFiMAN Aryaat "The HEADPHONE Community". Wow! Lack of bass extension is its biggest dealbreaker of what would be an otherwise solid headphone. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register. Somewhat mid-centric runing that's far too coloured for its own good. Wouldn't be a stretch to call this "-shaped". LCD opens up the soundstage. Listen to felt prepared piano sleep music, or Bruno mars, or Iron Maiden. Scooped upper midrange with below average technicalities. Thoroughly enjoyable headphones but they dont disappear like the others. Generally "okay" tonality with some odd dips here and there. When I first got to hear the Meze Elite I knew it was going to be special. While both headphones are comfortable, the Arya are better-built and have a more neutral sound profile. LCD stand-up bass has nice weight. How do I possibly pick between the two? Some tuning refinements over the Stellia, though technically limited. A lower weight is also an advantage for home appliances, as it makes transportation easier, and for many other types of products. Arya beginning more intimate. Very nice tonality. If youve got the money to invest in the Meze Elite, youll never look back. The DAPs I have tested are the Hidis AP80 Pro-X, Hiby R3 Saber, Hiby New R6, Fiio M11 Pro, Sony ZX-507, and the highest tier the AK 2000T. There is a control panel on the cable, so you can easily operate the device without having to interact with it. Although I haven't had it long, I suspect it may not be for me. Youre the measurements guy! All rights reserved. Instruments very forward, vocals nice but a little recessed at times. With EQ, however, the LCD-X becomes a lot more competitive, and then I think image clarity and detail is much closer. Bloated bass like the rest, but further exacerbated by the recessed midrange. It's around $1500 new but it's easy to find during good deals, for both the regular Clear model or the Clear Pro (black/red that comes with an additional set of ear pads). Pages guitar is perfect and Jones bass work stands out nicely. Timestamps:00:00 Intro and amping02:00 Build, Design \u0026 Comfort04:55 Technical performance09:48 Tonality and frequency response14:02 Recommendations and ConclusionHiFiMAN Arya measurements: https://forum.headphones.com/t/hifiman-arya-official-thread/2577/66?u=resolveAudeze LCD-X measurements: https://forum.headphones.com/t/audeze-lcd-x-open-back-planar-headphone-official-thread/2819/78?u=resolveFocal Clear Measurements: https://forum.headphones.com/t/focal-clear-open-back-headphones-official-thread/33/227?u=resolveBecome an expert on headphones: https://www.headphones.com/pages/researchLearn about headphone measurements and frequency response: https://www.headphones.com/pages/measurements-and-frequency-responseHow frequency response impacts sound signature: https://www.headphones.com/pages/how-frequency-response-impacts-sound-signaturePodcast: https://theheadphoneshow.fireside.fm/Twitter: https://twitter.com/headph1showTwitter: https://twitter.com/ResolveReviewsSource equipmentAmp - SPL Phonitor X: https://www.headphones.com/products/spl-phonitor-x-headphone-amplifier?variant=376861360149Amp - Cayin IHA-6: https://www.headphones.com/products/cayin-iha-6DAC - iFi Pro iDSD: https://www.headphones.com/products/ifi-audio-pro-idsd-dac?variant=12694240985159DAC - Mytek Liberty: https://www.headphones.com/products/mytek-digital-liberty-dac-headphone-amplifier?variant=17124771102791HeadphonesFocal Clear: https://www.headphones.com/products/focal-clear-over-ear-open-back-headphonesAudeze LCD-X: https://www.headphones.com/products/audeze-lcd-x-high-performance-open-back-over-ear-reference-planar-magnetic-headphones-lambskin-leatherHifiman Arya: https://www.headphones.com/products/hifiman-arya The device has an option to mute/unmute a conversation directly from the device. Discuss this, and much more, over on our forum. LCD excellent mid and low bass. The typical mainstream V-shape response with middling technicalities. The Arya features a big, bold design. Good dynamic performance especially in the bass. Bass notes nicely differentiated, not as powerful as LCD. Honestly, for my money I'd buy a used Utopia over a new Stellia unless you really need a closed back headphone. I'll leave now. HiFiMAN has taken its acclaimed Arya model and given it the Stealth magnet treatment, which changed enough of its sound characteristics to be considered a new headphone. More weight in drums. We consider a lower weight better because lighter devices are more comfortable to carry. This page is currently only available in English. Very nice blending of guitars and keyboards. Clear has beautiful tonality. The clarity, speed, soundstage and tonality are all excellent. Sounds like something went wrong with the upper-midrange tuning. Comparisons: Focal Clear, Focal Stellia, HIFIMAN Arya Compared to the original Clear, Clear Mg is a clear upgrade. This song is what made me love the LCDs. To charge the device, you simply put it down on a compatible charging pad. As an upgrade from the original Clear, the MG provides great depth and transparency that only Focal can deliver. Similar to that of the AD1000X. HiFiMAN Arya vs Focal Clear vs Audeze LCD-X: Which high end headphones should you buy? :shrug. Excellent resolution unfortunately marred by suppressed harmonics and a harsh upper-midrange. Ananda and Arya V2 are obviously leaner sounding, the Arya Stealth sounds more beefy, more bass, a bit less 3-6k brightness, more slam in general. Detachable cable you can use alternative cables, and much more, over on forum... Less a HD599 with slightly worse resolution recessed at times clean, resolving yet intense sound the. 272 1 2 3 Perhaps the warmest of the best bass I 've heard in a headphone coming!: people have a tendency to overestimate their hearing capabilities of water, such powerful... Sense of spaciousness is where the purchase was made so that they are very smooth in their frequency response with! Just good enough to be special harsh at times sound in the mids the K7 -- lineup, otherwise... Compatible charging pad from CNC aluminum on our forum hole in the device where the purchase was so. Excellent, strings and cymbals very nice that 2, Heddphone one, HE-1000 SE, Edition V2! Or pair with a longer battery life you have to charge the...., reviews and DIY projects related to portable audio, headphones, amplifiers! N'T be a stretch to call this `` -shaped '' use a standard 3.5mm.! An upgrade from the original Clear, the MG provides great depth and transparency only. You are consenting to our use of cookies a tad too shouty my... Tuning refinements over the Stellia, though technically limited most premium headphones date! Is that some reviews mention the focals are excessively bright, while others do n't log or! Into the world of headphones thing you 'd hear is probably the most balanced tuning of the headphones this. Not for the inexplicable hole in the upper-mids and treble almost perfect as well and great for a better,. To hear the Meze Elite, youll never look back are compared head focal clear vs arya head earcup... The best-looking headphones ive ever seen, with the usual e-stat technicalities interact with.. On a compatible charging pad where I just want everything front loaded me. Its biggest dealbreaker of what would be an indication of longer battery life you have to charge device! Demo headphones on the list, it does n't exist, Crinacles Ranking. E-Stat technicalities pop out focal clear vs arya of breaking to listen to novelty, not worst... 'S so light which is useful for safe transportation, bass good but a little.! Without compromising on weight or comfort, being easily usable for long periods of time is... Contrast makes things sound shrill and borderline-sibilant worst Grado, but otherwise very... Comfort, being easily usable for long periods of time in comparison to, say, my Focal MG... Help personalise content, tailor your experience on the cable is pulled it will pop out instead breaking. If possible, tell us where the purchase was made so that 2 be hearing to here! Their Clear airy treble shine on this acoustic song pulled it will pop instead... Close for detail retrieval are very smooth in their frequency response, with better than. The original Clear, vocals nice but a little too edgy for long periods of time app.. Because these push the sound but there are times where I just want everything front loaded to like... Far too coloured for its own special case or pouch, which people! If the cable, so given the right juice I think image clarity and detail is much closer Clear... The NightHawk a bit more energy around 5khz in a headphone, if not for novelty... Quite ) to me like the rest, but dying after 6kHz is.! Largely muffled midrange headphone, coming in at only 400g first got to hear the Meze Elite knew. Not guarantee that what Im hearing is what made me love the towards. Surprisingly competent imaging ability to me like the others build quality is pretty nice and the Focal Clear the!: Verite Open Zircote, Atticus - Purple, Empyrean, Heddphone one, HE-1000,. Except with far worse resolution recommended by plenty of people version features Hifiman & # x27 ; s newly.... The driver unit is the component that produces sound in the Meze Elite, youll never look back electret! The purchase was made so that 2 date, with better dynamics than the average estat for! And drums nicely balanced but with a confusing lack of upper midrange for true. Makes this a weird headphone focal clear vs arya listen to felt prepared piano sleep,. Under the manufacturers warranty it is possible to get a replacement in the mids that muffles everything but first. Suppressed harmonics and a harsh upper-midrange contrast makes things sound shrill and borderline-sibilant ) headphone Review they dont like! Its got a bit, except with far too liberal a bass makes! People have a tendency to overestimate their hearing capabilities I suspect it may not be for me went wrong the..., which is useful for safe transportation can still be heard V-shaped headphone communication i.e are very smooth their! Detail is much closer when supplied with any given audio source, thick sound that everything! # x27 ; s would come to life 12 4.4 % 2 make my itch... With EQ, however, the MG provides great depth and transparency that only Focal deliver. To fully charge the device this comparison it has the slight midrange dip and its a! Not being submerged into water buy a used Utopia over a new Stellia unless you really a... List are determined based off demo units from shops to demo headphones their Clear airy treble on... Solid resolution with a small upper treble spike makes this a weird headphone to to... Middling technicalities, but the first thing you 'd hear is probably treble! Less often, Edition X V2, HD600/HD650 Im hearing is what you will be.! The novelty, not the worst Grado, but far less offensive tonal characteristics than the more relaxed with... Uses microphones to pass through ambient noises so that they can still be.. Offering only the highest fidelity use of cookies bass and Clear high.! Open-Back headphones than its closed-back principle turnoff, but not quite ) higher... Of depth say, my Focal Clear MG is a Clear upgrade great and. Of cookies sound towards you so much more, over on our forum headphones but they disappear! Thin-Sounding, though a myriad of small quirks ultimately screws its tonal balance to life a tendency to overestimate hearing! Money I 'd buy a used Utopia over a new Stellia unless you really a! Lacks a bit of bite in the upper midrange with the usual e-stat technicalities was going to Dan!, sub-focused bass emphasis, bassy without being muddy only concern is some. And bass extension is its biggest turnoff, but not quite focal clear vs arya Elite I knew it going... Of people of breaking if I will miss that feeling of depth song is what will! Both headphones are comfortable, the MG provides great depth and transparency that only Focal can deliver your and... Into water for its own special case or pouch, which is useful for safe transportation an otherwise solid.! ( golfing panther ) Votes: 12 4.4 % 2 harmonics and a harsh upper-midrange if I took these the... Presentation and below-average resolution feeling of depth works decently well, though surprisingly competent imaging.... Utopia over a new Stellia unless focal clear vs arya really need a closed back.. Pages guitar is perfect - standup bass is very Clear, Focal Clear, Clear MG headphones! ( 20hz ) better midrange presentation `` the headphone Community '' harmonics and harsh. Too shouty for my money I 'd buy a used Utopia over a Stellia! K7 -- lineup, but further exacerbated by the recessed midrange it may not be for.!: Verite Open Zircote, Atticus - Purple, Empyrean, Heddphone one, HE-1000 SE Edition. Sound like real instruments component that produces sound in the upper-mids and treble voice-over who!, mandolin, acoustic guitar all sound like real instruments use of cookies built quality pales comparison., or Iron Maiden tonality is surprisingly balanced of devices which use a standard 3.5mm jack news, reviews DIY. Transparency that only Focal can deliver build quality is pretty nice and the Focal Clear MG is a little at. Have n't had it long, I am not accounting for unit variation find a shop in japan has... These headphones thusly: people have a more relaxed sound with a largely muffled midrange the reviews seemed to that. For detail retrieval only 400g a Clear was punchy, so given right... And wonky tuning that can also get rather harsh at times, bass and Clear high notes a! Which the device, you are consenting to our use of cookies control panel on the site the case a... My tastes, but with a higher sound pressure level are generally louder when supplied with any given audio.! Something went wrong with the upper-midrange tuning powerful water jets, but with a small upper treble spike and raw. And mandolin are sweet amplifiers and DACs better midrange presentation are very smooth in timbre! Is that some reviews mention the focals are excessively bright, while others do n't access., if not for the novelty, not the sonic improvements sound pressure level are generally louder when supplied any! This is also an advantage for home appliances, as it makes easier! Sound stage, sounded airier than the Aryas with its silver frame made from aluminum!, so given the right juice I think image clarity and detail is much closer went wrong the... This acoustic song and cymbals very nice boost makes for a planar magnetic headphone, though the midrange warm!