Focal Clear Mg Professional Open-back Reference Studio Headphones Reviews

I have a small bedroom studio that I've been using for years. My mixes have always been ok but never could get them up to the next level. Especially in the low end. All my mixes came out either muddy sounding or really thin. These headphones have opened up the whole eq spectrum big time. Also, I can finally hear the details of all the plugins. Not to mention each track and nuances of all the instruments. It takes the room acoustics out of the equation. I love these headphones. My first mix was done in about 7 attempts. Some of those first mixes were just me fixing bad habits I developed from poor acoustics. Wish I would've just bit the bullet on these sooner. But better late than never. If you've been debating on these, just do it. It'll save you so much time and headache if you're using a small studio in the house like me.

My longtime Sweetwater SE Mike Picotte recommended these headphones and rightly so! Wow! These are easily the best cans I've used in recording studio. I feel like I am wearing a great pair of monitors. The cans are very comfortable to wear for hours on end and there is little to no ear fatigue. Truly amazing! They also come with a carrying case that is well designed. Yes, they are expensive. But if you are the type who spends many hours listening and mixing, they are worth every penny, imho. My only aside is that I could use a little longer cable than the two provided due to my set up. That said, I suspect a shorter cable fosters better overall sound performance. Kudos to Focal for engineering a superior product!

FINALLY a headset that I can mix with if I have to! These are unreal for making those precision moves when mixing (like taming the low end, and low mid). I don't notice any ear fatigue, though mind the volume as dynamics can sneak up on you (i.e. things can get louder than you'd expect, these are sensitive drivers).

I have to force myself to take breaks when using them. They are very comfortable, to the point that I forget I have them on. Them seem quite large, but they fit so well I don't notice them.

This is the first pair of headphones I can honestly say that have that detailed, open and full 3D soundstage you hear companies talk about but never seem to deliver. None of the frequencies are hyped… they're all balanced with each other and sound as if they are near field speakers floating around your head. They're Heavy in the hand but very comfortable on the head. This is quality built and the only pair of phones that rival top of the line near field speakers. They're impossible to ignore once you try them… I can see composers working exclusively on these headphones and must warn you… once you put them on, you won't want to take them off.

Been a focal user for about 10 years, and my ears are like in tune with the sound they emit that i find it difficult using any other brand. So having headphones, that are like speakers, oh yes!!!

5/5, 10/10! However you what to break it down, these headphones are the best. You can spend hours in these cloud lined gadgets and still have hours to go before ear fatigue and headphone head begins.

ill be honest the first initial impression I was not impressed, but after 3 days OMG ! you need break these in and your ears needs a few days to adjust, your mixing decisions will becoming laser pin point accurate.

So these headphones caught my eye due to their design. I thought they looked slick, so I started researching, and decided to purchase based on tons of positive reviews.

Subjectively, they have perfect clamping force, they don't get hot, and to my ears are very flat and soothing compared to some other headphones I have in my office.

They've become my daily headphones for comfort, they take EQ well without distortion, and they're just fun to wear!

Great product from Focal, you won't regret it!

Immediately, I heard things in my mixes, and other artists' finished albums I'd never heard before. I was skeptical, and now I am converted—a must-own for anyone who mixes.

I have a pretty good line-up of headphones, and it's not that those other headphones are bad. It's that once you hear these, it's hard to use anything else. Fantastic.

These headphones are so worth it. The detail and clarity and bass I love. Mixing before these and after made a difference especially if you combine this with sonarworks reference 4.

I'm a huge fan of the Focal Clear MG Pro Open-backs. Fantastic detail, definition in the lower midrange, clear low end, phenomenal stereo image. 100% worth the price tag.

After several years working in film post production with the M50x's (which are great for the price BTW), I decided to take the plunge into a set of high end headphones that offered world class performance, but also weren't ridiculously expensive. I wanted something that was great at everything so I researched for several months and ended up ordering a pair of Clear MG Pros.

These things are glorious... the sound is smooth, the best way to describe it is crystal clear with an effortless feel. Female vocals and pianos sound especially good. I use them for everything, mixing dialogue, SFX, listening to music on Tidal, gaming, movies... everything. The truth is that I've only listened to a handful of high end headphones, but these blow them all out of the water (for my ears at least)

Non audio people who have tried them out all say the same thing: "They sound so clear" It's kind of like putting reading glasses on your ears. And no one wants to take them off.

The build quality is amazing (as you'd expect for the price). It's almost an experience every single time you put them on. They look great, sound amazing, and feel like a luxurious cushion of sound floating around your head.

CONS: One downside is that out of the two cables included, one of them kind of sucks. It's stiff and short. The longer coiled cable is much better. The other note I have is that if you are mixing/mastering, I'd recommend having some decent studio monitors to check your mixes on.

Ear fatigue is greatly reduced unless I listen at high high levels for too long. And even then, just take a few minute break and you can get back to work. I'd guess that these give me about 1/4 the ear fatigue at than my old Beyerdynamic dt990s and once again, I only notice at high volumes.

These things actually make me excited to get back to work and that to me is priceless.
I am now making a large investment into a pair of Trio6 monitors because I love these headphones so much. That's the biggest compliment I can give.

Definitely the best pair of headphones I've ever owned. The detail and clarity is pretty amazing. I'm not in a great room acoustically. After getting these I don't even use my monitors anymore, hardly for any critical decisions. They just give me such a better representation of what's really happening. So far so good the mixes are translating perfectly with only a very subtle "headphone mix thing" thats just inevitable. That being said you would probably never know after handing it off to mastering. Good stuff.

I have many different types of headphones. Some are clear in the mids and highs but lack low end. Some are more well balanced across all frequencies, but lack clarity. Some are bass heavy and do not give an accurate representation of reality. And some just sound funky and slightly off in some way. I decided to invest in a more expensive set of headphones and see how much better they really are.

The Focal Clear Mg Pro headphones sound incredible! They have the good frequency balance I need when forced to mix with headphones, and they are clear across the spectrum. I can go from my Focal Twin6 Be monitors to the Clear Mg Pro's and they sound very similar. I am impressed!

The search for my perfect headphones is over! We done Focal!

In a former life (1974-1983)I was an Audio Engineer and spent 10 years on the road with International acts ranging from ABBA to ZZ Top. Did I have 'favorite' acts? Sure. Black Sabbath, Judas Priest, Pink Floyd, Rush - there's a few more but I digress. Naturally, headphones were/are an essential and indispensable tool of the trade. Many times isolation was needed so closed back headphones were necessary. Back then there wasn't really a lot to choose from and I relied on Koss Pro 4A's with a boom mike attached for communications. The liquid filled ear pads did a remarkable job of sealing out the ambient noise but the drivers, by todays standards, were 'average'. In the studio it was Koss ESP 9's (outstsnding electroststic unit) or AKG K240 Pro's (600 ohms)from back when AKG owned AKG and 6 drivers per earpiece were a 'thing'. I still have the AKG K240 Pro's.

Around 2000 I bought a pair of Sennheiser HD600 headphones (I still have them) and for the most part have been pretty satisfied with them. Times have changed and technology has made vast improvements in audio reproduction. Time, once again, for another upgrade.

This brings us to the Focal Clear MG Pro. Originally, I had planned on getting the Sennheiser HD800 but after checking out a pair owned by a friend I found that they didn't quite fit right, was a little light on the bottom frequencies (maybe because of the poor fit) and appeared to be about 90% plastic. For $1700 I expected more. Changing gears, I looked at the Focal line of headphones. While familiar with the brand name, I had never put a pair on and listened to them. Sooo .... back to my friend's house to try his (version 1) Focal Clear's. Fit, finish and materials were first rate and the sound (for me) was spot on. As picky as I am about these things, I couldm't find a single thing to complain about. The lack of plastic parts everywhere was just a bonus for me.

I rolled the dice and bought a pair of the new Focal Clear MG Professional headphones. While "new model" doesn't necessarily mean "better model", these MG's are indeed 'better' than the original Clear. Same quality build as the original Clear's but for me, a better bottom end. Hard to do with open backed headphones. Are they worth $1500? Absolutely! I consider this purchase a WIN. Yes, I'm aware Focal makes the Stellia and the Utopia but seeing as how I am no longer an 'audio professional' I couldn't justify the expense. That said, for those looking for super high end headphones, those two should do it for you. OR, you could just do what I did and get the Clear MG's. You'll love them.

If I had complaint it would be that they don't come in all black. No doubt that over time the red headband lining and the red earpads will show dirt/stains. It's unavoidable. I have solved that issue but that is a story for another time.

Bottom line on the Focal Clear MG Professional headphones? DO IT!!

These are by far the most expensive headphones that I have ever purchased. I own a number of higher end units from AKG, Sennheiser and Neumann as well. Of course, price is not always an indicator of quality. However, after using these phones for a couple of months on a wide variety of acoustic and electronic projects, the old adage 'You get what you pay for' has never been more true then with the Clear MG Pro. I'm often in situations where I have to mix on-location with headphones so the sense of depth and placement of the sources is crucial to achieving a natural sound. Even before the phones had broken in the spatial acuity and it's translation over speakers back in the studio was quite remarkable. Frequency response seems very un-hyped and the mid-bass frequencies translate very truthfully through multiple sources. The cords seem a little short for my taste, but the included carry case is a huge plus as I never have to worry about how I am going to pack them securely. To say I am thrilled is an understatement. If you have the budget I see no downside to getting these phones. One last plus, they are awesome Hi-Fi headphones as well when you just want to enjoy music in all of it's glory.

I have been a Focal user for years now. I started with the Shape 65s back in 2017. For tracking, I bought the Spirit Pros and then the Listen Pro headphones.
However, I always needed excellent reference headphones for mixing and mastering. So, I decided to purchase these new Focal Clear MG Professionals.

My review in a word... Amazing!

Though the Shape 65s are excellent in their representation of any mix, my studio has yet to be fully acoustically treated. When I first put on the Focal Clear MG Professionals, it was like stepping into a perfectly treated listening environment.

The level of detail that I heard from my previous mixes was unbelievable. Though they were previously mixed well, these new headphones have revealed details that allow me to instantly tweak the mix to perfection!

It's unbelievable, but the bass extension gives you the impression that you are listening to excellent Midfields in a perfectly treated room. The overall dynamic quality is smooth and flawless, providing a very distinctive stereo image. The mids are present, but not colored in any way. The highs are airy, without being harsh at all. The quality of workmanship is unparalleled... A delight to behold! Wearing comfort is like sitting in a favorite leather wingback chair.

I know that some would consider the four-figure price to be prohibitive, but I kept thinking as I was debuting these awesome headphones what a great value they are! I mean… How important it is it to be able to represent your artistic creations to other listeners in a way that will best reflect your musical vision? Paramount. Worth every penny!

Much appreciation to Focal, Sweetwater and my sales engineer Dontae Harris for their great help in providing the gear I need to make my musical vision come true.

Thank you!

Gabriel

True Love Music

Very clear and balanced, just make sure you run sound through them for 30+ hours to break them in. Easy to listen to and not fatiguing. Dialogue, music, movies and games all sound great. Build quality 10/10

The Focal Clear Professional open back headphones came out in 2017. We see now in about 4 years they updated them with the new Clear MG Professional. The the sound is very close to the original Clear's which had received high praise by many.

The only difference between Clear MG's and Clear MG Pro version is the color and what is offered in the box with the cables.

The new MG's has a 40-mm magnesium (Mg) M-dome driver replaced Clear's original 40-mm aluminum/magnesium driver. They are a lighter driver which helps add a little more cohesion to the music as well as slightly better dynamics.

Construction of the headphones is top notch. The microfiber pads are very comfortable and your ears won't sweat as much as you might on other headphones with some materials being used. Packaging offers a fancy box, a 2nd pair of ear pads, a coil and straight cables. They do weigh more than some other headphones but are still comfortable.

So how do the headphones sound? Very balanced. You hear a solid strong bass, great mid's and high's that are very even. I personally would prefer if there was a tad more treble response from these headphones. On my NAD preamp, I put the treble to +1 or 2 db to hear the cymbals and snare sound a little more open. With not having strong high's like the Beyerdynamic 1990's or Sennheiser 880's, the sound stage is not a big compared to the other two. While the others have a bigger sound stage including a more open top end, the mid's on those headphones are thinner than the Clear MG's. You also hear more sss when people sing with them. When I hear drum toms on the Clear's from Neil Pert, they are solid and have a good presence. On the 1990's and 880's they have a lighter sound and they are not as full sounding. The Sennheiser 660s actually sound similar in character to the Focal Clear MG's with the exception that the Clear's offer a little more detail information including the ability to hear the reverb tails better.

Audiophile fans and those who work in a studio who want headphones they are even and provide good detail, the Clear MG's are a great option. Is the higher cost for these headphones worth it? Being able to have monthly low payments interest free from Sweetwater does make it easier to work with, but $ for headphones is a lot of money. But once you compare them to other headphones, its hard to go back to your older less expensive headphones. All in all the Focal Clear MG Professional headphones are a joy to hear music through. If you want a solid sound, with music more in your head, these headphones are a great option. Again the one thing I don't love but like is the treble response. Some reviewers say these headphones are warmer sounding due to the high end not being enhanced.

If you want a larger sound stage, lighter headphones, more treble response so you can hear details and separate out the instruments more, the Sennheiser 800's are the way to go. If you don't want to spend as much money for the 800's but want something similar with treble presence and sound stage, go for the 1990's. If you want something similar in character as the Focal Clear MG's but less money, go for the Sennheiser 650 or 660's. These lower cost headphones are roughly 85% as good as the Clear MG and Sennheiser 880s.

First and foremost, I believe that we are blessed to have Sweetwater available to meet our pro audio needs. I've been dealing with them for many years and Mike Arango has been exceptionally helpful and always prompt in returning calls and emails.

I recently purchased the Focal Clear Mg Pro headphones primarily for mixing and mastering. I have a pair of Focal Shape 65 monitors that I like very much and I thought that the Clears would be a good complement in terms of voicing and soundstaging. Indeed, they are eerily close in terms of timbre and dynamics. I'd imagine that the magnesium alloy drivers present in both units are partially responsible. The headphones also have their drivers positioned slightly forward pointing back toward your ears which provides a very monitor-like experience and eliminates the need for dodgy crossfeed circuitry. There is a generous amount of acoustic space between the drivers and your ears as well, which produces a wide open soundstage. Like all Focal products that I've owned over the years including the amazing audio system in my car, they are well built to tight tolerances. Extra cables and ear pads along with a nice storage case are pretty much expected at this price point. Neither cable will work for me. The coiled cable likes to knock stuff over and send water bottles to the floor. The shorter straight cable is totally useless. It barely reaches my ears from my preamp. This is not acceptable considering their retail price.

They sound very accurate, especially in the low end. The Clears handle bass guitar and bass synths with ease and never feel like they are breaking a sweat below 100 Hz. It's very much like having a subwoofer that can prop up everything in the mid and high end. Impressive. The rest of the frequencies are well balanced, although I believe that the top end between 4-10 kHz is slightly recessed. I have a pair of Byerdynamic DT 1990's and the level of detail in the top end is remarkable, so getting used to the Focals took some time. On the plus side, listening fatigue is somewhat mitigated. The Clear Mg Pros are fairly heavy but exceedingly comfortable, even more so than the Byer DT 1990's which I start to feel below my temples after an hour or so.

One thing that the Clears have demonstrated to me--the Byer DT 1990's at less than half the price of the Focals are a fantastic bargain if you like the Byer sound. They won't provide the monitor-like experience of the Clears, but they are highly detailed and have the uncanny ability to convey a precise sense of vertical height to the various elements in the mix. The Clears fall slightly short in this area. However, if you're after a pair of monitoring cans that will give you an impressive sense of acoustic space like a great pair of speakers, the Clear Mg Pros are hard to beat. They will not replace my Focal Shape 65's, but they are a great tool to use in my studio. As for my Byer 1990's, they aren't going anywhere. I love the way they sound and they complement the Focals perfectly, each providing slightly different insight.

I gave them 4 stars because they are very good.Build and comfort are top shelf.Audio quality good,although they seem to have a sort of a veil like they have more to give but don't give it.I don't think they're worth the $ price tag.In my opinion, maybe $800 or so would be a fair price.I also own Beyer 1990s, and, although they can be a touch bright,they are a better choice for about a third of the cost of the Mg pros.

im still getting used to them but so far, they sound fantastic! deep bass and high's that go beyond my ears. i got them while i was working on a mix and they immediately let me know of a few vocal lines that were popping out.

as far as quality goes, they look and feel great and are packaged superbly! My one gripe is that the straight cord is TOO SHORT! i get that it's probably made to connect to your ipod for on the go listening, but even for that purpose-if your a taller person, you'll be putting your ipod in your shirt pocket. Another thing to consider is that the weight of these is fairly substantial and i personally wouldn't want to be walking around with them on my head for that reason-and the fact that they aint cheap!

To be honest I was excited about these headphones and had high expectations since they're from Focal. These sound good, but when I compared them side by side with Audeze MM-500 they fell short in every area. In terms of sound, they didn't have the same level of clarity or detail. For the price, I expected the build quality to be more robust. These are definitely well made, but in my opinion, they don't feel or sound like $ headphones. The cables provided are also frustrating given the price point, they are extremely short and simply did not work in my studio.

I don't like giving critical reviews like this, but when researching which headphones to buy I found very little information directly comparing headphones in this price range. Please keep in mind I was using these specifically for mixing music, not for enjoyment, gaming, or anything like that. To me, these are not headphones I can confidently use in the studio. They are good headphones without a doubt, but ultimately I returned them and stuck with the MM-500.

I tried to like these, and I do, but they're just not that great as studio montiors to my ear. Guitars have to sound faint on these to sound right on any other kind of speaker. They're very, very "musical" but I honestly got better mixes with my K712's, which are a fraction of the price. If you wanna listen to music, and turning up the treble isn't an issue, then these are great. They are a fantastic headphone, but not for me at least, studio monitor headphones.