Focal Clear

Discussion in 'Headphones' started by The Alchemist, Nov 15, 2017.

  1. iFi audio

    iFi audio MOT iFi Audio

    Joined:
    Oct 3, 2017
    Likes Received:
    1,284
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Many places.
    Home Page:
    Thank you!

    ...and you too!

    That's exactly what I was looking for.
     
  2. mark47

    mark47 New

    Joined:
    Dec 30, 2017
    Likes Received:
    4
    Trophy Points:
    8
    Location:
    Italy
    I recently bought focal clear.
    Fantastic headphone!!!! :)
    I'm using it with Schiit rag 1.

    What do you think of the matching rag 1 + focal clear?
     
  3. klyrish

    klyrish Facebook Friend

    Contributor
    Joined:
    May 4, 2018
    Likes Received:
    167
    Trophy Points:
    43
    Location:
    Nowhere
    I just got a used Ragnarok 1 last week and absolutely love the pairing. Ragnarok was a big step up from Jotunheim to me. I love the additional punch the Clear get through Rag and there's something so much more musical and enjoyable about the Rag.
     
  4. mark47

    mark47 New

    Joined:
    Dec 30, 2017
    Likes Received:
    4
    Trophy Points:
    8
    Location:
    Italy
    Do these headphones need to be burn-in?
     
  5. gixxerwimp

    gixxerwimp Professional tricycle rider

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 30, 2015
    Likes Received:
    5,773
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    small island claimed by China
     
  6. mark47

    mark47 New

    Joined:
    Dec 30, 2017
    Likes Received:
    4
    Trophy Points:
    8
    Location:
    Italy
    I'm using it on gain 2.
    which gain do you use?
    In your opinion, which gain setting is the best in rag 1 with these headphones?
    thank you
     
  7. klyrish

    klyrish Facebook Friend

    Contributor
    Joined:
    May 4, 2018
    Likes Received:
    167
    Trophy Points:
    43
    Location:
    Nowhere
    I left mine alone for just about 48 hours after getting them with music playing constantly. Initial impressions were very disappointing. After 48 hours of burn-in, I was absolutely stunned at how crisp, clear, and detailed music was.

    I've been using Gain 2 as well. From what I've read on this board as well as Head-Fi, it seems that Gain 2 is the preferred setting for headphones. Gain 3 for speakers and I'd assume Gain 1 for IEMs. I'm also using the balanced connection.
     
  8. mark47

    mark47 New

    Joined:
    Dec 30, 2017
    Likes Received:
    4
    Trophy Points:
    8
    Location:
    Italy
    I'm not an expert.
    Please can you tell me in detail how you burn-in?
    thank you
     
  9. klyrish

    klyrish Facebook Friend

    Contributor
    Joined:
    May 4, 2018
    Likes Received:
    167
    Trophy Points:
    43
    Location:
    Nowhere
    Like I said in the post you quoted: I left music playing through them for 48 hours.
     
  10. mark47

    mark47 New

    Joined:
    Dec 30, 2017
    Likes Received:
    4
    Trophy Points:
    8
    Location:
    Italy
    48 consecutive hours?
     
  11. AdvanTech

    AdvanTech Friend

    Pyrate BWC
    Joined:
    May 13, 2016
    Likes Received:
    1,667
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    NYC
    Why not get it over with and let it run as much as you can?
     
  12. yotacowboy

    yotacowboy McRibs Kind of Guy

    Pyrate Contributor
    Joined:
    Feb 23, 2016
    Likes Received:
    10,697
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    NOVA
    Home Page:
    [​IMG]
     
  13. ChaChaRealSmooth

    ChaChaRealSmooth SBAF's Mr. Bean

    Staff Member Pyrate Gearmaster
    Joined:
    Dec 6, 2018
    Likes Received:
    10,827
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    The Complex
    20190507_144402.jpg
     
  14. zonto

    zonto Friend

    Pyrate Contributor
    Joined:
    Sep 30, 2015
    Likes Received:
    4,975
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Boston, MA
    I tried Utopia on medium gain on Ragnarok 1.5 off and on and never really jived with it. Almost sold Utopia multiple times. Then tried low gain again and was amazed and how much better it sounded to me. Takes just enough of the edge off to leave me constantly in awe, and can listen for hours (off of Yggdrasil Analog 2) to crappily recorded rock/alternative.

    Edit: I do agree though that medium gain is better for high impedance Sennheisers. The Focals though are already aggressive sounding, but much more sensitive and relatively low impedance, so think low gain is a better match on the Ragnarok.

    The comments above have me really wanting to try an HD800S to compare though.
     
    Last edited: Jul 19, 2019
  15. mark47

    mark47 New

    Joined:
    Dec 30, 2017
    Likes Received:
    4
    Trophy Points:
    8
    Location:
    Italy
    I wasn't born with integrated knowledge and so I don't know certain things.
    Fortunately for me, in my life and in my work, I have many doubts and few certainties.
     
  16. yotacowboy

    yotacowboy McRibs Kind of Guy

    Pyrate Contributor
    Joined:
    Feb 23, 2016
    Likes Received:
    10,697
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    NOVA
    Home Page:
    [​IMG]
     
  17. Lyander

    Lyander Official SBAF Equitable Empathizer

    Pyrate Contributor
    Joined:
    Feb 25, 2017
    Likes Received:
    10,961
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Philippines, The
    Whether or not burn in makes any difference is something that's been discussed to death here, on head-fi, on InnerFidelity, on Reddit, and just about any other place where people might have a tangential interest in audio gear. My personal opinions aside (it makes an appreciable difference for some headphones while others don't really change very much), this is something a quick Google would have turned up more than enough reading to satisfy anyone's curiosity, which might explain the snippiness.

    P.S.
    @yotacowboy HAHAHAHA.

    No one has integrated knowledge of anything, I think, other than eating, sleeping, excreting, fornicating, and maybe the interpretation of subtle nonverbal nuances in communication (as relevant to specific sociocultural contexts). When it comes to niche hobbies like this, it's all just reading, making mistakes, and having fun.

    ... Aaaaaand not taking things too personally when undercaffeinated nonagenarians-at-heart have fun pooping on people. Blame the lack of adult diapers.
     
    Last edited: Jul 19, 2019
  18. mark47

    mark47 New

    Joined:
    Dec 30, 2017
    Likes Received:
    4
    Trophy Points:
    8
    Location:
    Italy
    hahahahahahaha
     
  19. Dzerh

    Dzerh Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Apr 1, 2018
    Likes Received:
    425
    Trophy Points:
    63
    Location:
    San Ramon, CA, US
    For people reporting low impedance head phones play with much less distortion on lower volume levels - can it be that the amp in your chain just can't provide enough current?
     
  20. mark47

    mark47 New

    Joined:
    Dec 30, 2017
    Likes Received:
    4
    Trophy Points:
    8
    Location:
    Italy
    I did a gain test on schiit rag 1 and focal clear, my impression is that on gain 1 there is more spatiality and that on gain 2 the bass is more swollen.
    What do you think about it?
    I'm not sure, I have many doubts.
     
    Last edited: Jul 20, 2019

Share This Page