Focal Clear MG Open-Back High-Fidelity Over-Ear Headphones

First off I got to say that there is a break-in period the headphones “rattled “ for a period, just put on really loud music for 2 days and let them play ,(cover with blanket) after that…WOW ,WONDERFUL! I made a great choice , money well spent! Buy a good amp and you will never look back at your purchase !I found out about "LOSSLESS" Sound setting on my computer , perfect clear sound , the amp I use has a balanced connection, what can I say this mid-priced Focal was a great choice. why spend more when these play music I just love to hear!!!I have now owned these for a couple months now, and don't let people tell you there is no base when the "break-in " period is done, they handle Metallica with ease. I have become addicted to acoustic, everything sounds WonderfullUPDATE; I have now owned these headphones for 11 months and I believe they are fully "broken in" I have to say since I made some changes I am just thrilled with the sound.I first had them hooked up to the iFi Neo iDSD then I saw a add for McIntosh headphone amp. I KNOW ,I KNOW, why would someone buy a $1,500 headphone a get a $2,500 amp?....Simple, I just purchased an amp for my surround sound system and it really opened up the speakers. So being a big fan of McIntosh and knowing they stand for uncompromising quality I decided to get a DEDICATED headphone amp , ..no Dac, no frills, ... and WOW the sound is clear & clean, the focal clear MG,s perform at a next level. If you bump the impedance up on this amp to 100 ohm these baby's are pure enjoyment and don't forget to EQ to you liking.If you put HI-RES lossless source and good clean power to this headphone the desire to purchase a more expensive ( for now) will be tamedI,m going to add one last thing, I noticed that these headphones and your amp will take 5-10 mins to "warm up" some of the mids are fussy but after that amount of time the drivers settle and you are rewarded with some Wonderfull music. Keep in mind that you will have streaming issues from time to time that WILL EFFECT the sound, or there will be electrical issues that will from time to time make the headphones not perform at their best on that day.I listen about 1-2hrs every other day watching soccer with the sound off on the T.V. when everything is is clicking this system will make me just sit there in total bliss.... enjoy!!!

I have the (closed-back) Focal Elegia's which are excellent. Wanted to add an open-backed option for private home listening so plumped for these. As with the Elegia's, yes they have low enough impedance to be driven straight from a cell phone or laptop, but UNLESS you have an external DAC/headphone amp to drive these, DON'T WASTE YOUR MONEY. Quite why you'd drop 4-figures on a high end set of audiophile cans and then plug them straight into a laptop or phone thinking you'll get great results is beyond me anyway. The DACs in phones and laptop are cheap and crappy and that's what they make these headphones if that's all you have to drive them. A headphone amp though (Chord's excellent MOJO for example) really takes these up thru the gears and boy are they incredible! They look amazing, but the design is actually acoustically functional, not just aethetically pleasing. Amazing build quality: leather and brushed aluminium. Everything you'd expect from a FOCAL product. They are even more comfortable than the Elegia's which I didn't think possible and the sound stage (as expected with open back) is impressive. Much clearer, with tight, clear, punchy bass. The mids and trebles, as noted in other reviews, really are something else. Definitely a worthy purchase at this price point, but again, a waste of money without a DAC/amp to drive them.

The FOCAL MG is truly something special, both in looks and sound. It's the kind of headphone that could be considered the ultimate destination for audio enthusiasts. The bass hits with a satisfying punch, but it never feels too heavy-handed. The mids are wonderfully rich and intricate, drawing you into the music. And the treble adds just the right amount of sparkle without any harshness. Overall, the FOCAL MG creates a warm, inviting sound that's incredibly immersive, with fantastic imaging and staging.The packaging and accessories are pretty standard. Unfortunately, the included cables are of low quality, which is a letdown given the FOCAL MG price. I strongly suggest investing in a third-party cable. I bought Youkamoo cables on Amazon for less than $20, and they're excellent for the price. On the bright side, the carrying case that comes with the headphones is sturdy and doesn't feel cheap at all.The FOCAL MG are quite easy to power and work well with nearly any source, though they do get a slight boost from a quality DAC/amp setup. Personally, I've paired them with the Fiio K7, and the combination works beautifully for a desk setup. On the go, I pair these with the Hiby R6 Pro II, and the sound is nearly indistinguishable from my desk setup using a balanced outputOverall, I rate these a 4.5/5.

Probably the best unboxing experience I have had for a set of headphones at any price point. Visually the headphone itself is unique and pleasing. I really wanted to like it.However, I did not find the Focal ear pads and headband comfortable. My ears got too warm after not many minutes. As for the sound, I was disappointed with the way vocals, particularly female vocals, seemed recessed - clear enough but somehow too laid back. Soundstage was not great but instrument detail and separation was not hindered by that. Bass and mids both sound good to me. If not for the discomfort, and disappoining tuning in the vocal range this could have been a great addition to my collection. Still giving it four stars as these things are subjective and it might be exactly what some people are looking for.