The Focal Clear Mg are audiophile headphones with a very premium design and a comfortable fit. They're the next generation of the Focal Clear, and unlike their predecessor, their drivers have M-shaped inverted magnesium domes. These are advertised to improve their damping capacities as well as make them lighter and more rigid. They have a smooth and warm sound profile that reproduces clear and accurate vocals and lead instruments. However, their treble range is a bit recessed, which veils the upper harmonics of vocals while sibilants are dull. Even though their soundstage doesn't sound as spacious or wide as other open-back headphones, they can still offer an immersive audio experience suitable for studio use.
Our Verdict
The Focal Clear Mg are very good for neutral sound. They have a smooth and warm sound profile with a flat mid-range, well suited for accurately reproducing vocals and lead instruments. However, they lack a bit of low-bass, and their underemphasized treble range veils and darkens sibilants. While they have consistent bass delivery, their treble delivery can vary depending on fit and seal. That said, although their soundstage doesn't sound as wide or spacious as other open-back headphones, it still feels like audio is coming from speakers placed around you, rather than as if coming from inside your head.
- Comfortable fit.
- Very well-built.
- Great overall frequency response consistency.
- Underemphasized treble range.
The Focal Clear Mg are poor for commute and travel. They aren't designed for this purpose as they're big, bulky, and not very portable. Their open-back design allows audio to bleed, so other commuters can hear whatever you're listening to, and they don't block out almost any background noise. On the upside, they're comfortable and very well-built.
- Comfortable fit.
- Very well-built.
- Don't block out background noise.
- Bulky design that isn't very portable.
- Leaks a lot of audio.
- No music or call controls.
The Focal Clear Mg are disappointing for sports and fitness. They're not designed for this purpose as they're bulky, not very portable or stable, and lack an IP rating for dust and water resistance, although we don't currently test for this. Their over-ear fit can also make your ears sweat more. They're very comfortable, though.
- Comfortable fit.
- Very well-built.
- Don't block out background noise.
- Bulky design that isn't very portable.
- Leaks a lot of audio.
- No music or call controls.
The Focal Clear Mg are poor for office use. Although they have a comfortable design, they're open-back headphones and leak a lot of audio, which can annoy coworkers around you, and they don't block out almost any background noise. They also don't have any call or music-related controls and are pretty bulky. On the upside, their wired design means that you don't have to worry about battery life.
- Comfortable fit.
- Very well-built.
- Don't block out background noise.
- Leaks a lot of audio.
- No music or call controls.
The Focal Clear Mg are wired-only headphones and can't be used wirelessly.
The Focal Clear Mg are okay for wired gaming. These headphones lack a microphone, so you can only receive audio on PCs or consoles. They're comfortable enough for long gaming marathons, and their wired design ensures virtually no latency. Their warm sound profile can also help bring out sound effects in gameplay.
- Comfortable fit.
- Very well-built.
- Don't block out background noise.
- Leaks a lot of audio.
The Focal Clear Mg don't have a microphone and can't be used for taking phone calls.
Changelog
- Updated Aug 31, 2023: We've added a comparison between these headphones and the HiFiMan Arya Stealth Magnet Version in Treble Accuracy.
- Updated Nov 05, 2021: Converted to Test Bench 1.5.
- Updated Apr 21, 2021: Review published.
- Updated Apr 16, 2021: Early access published.
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Differences Between Sizes And Variants
The Focal Clear Mg comes in one color variant: Chestnut. These headphones also come in a professional variant called the Focal Clear Mg Professional. The Professional have a black design and come with more audio cables. As the Professional are tuned the same as our model, we expect both headphones to perform similarly.
If you come across another variant of these headphones, please let us know in the discussions, and we'll update our review.
Popular Headphones Comparisons
The Focal Clear Mg are premium audiophile headphones. They're the next generation of the Focal Clear, and unlike them and the Focal Stellia, these headphones use magnesium domes within their drivers, which is advertised to improve their audio reproduction and make them lighter. That said, they maintain an outstanding build quality and have a very comfortable fit. Although they don't sound as neutral as the Sennheiser HD 800 S, some users may prefer their smooth and warm sound profile.
Check out our recommendations for the best audiophile headphones, the best studio headphones, and the best open-back headphones.
Both the Sennheiser HD 800 S and Focal Clear Mg are premium open-backs geared at audiophiles. While both headphones are very comfortable, the Sennheiser have a more immersive sound and a more breathable design. However, the Focal have a better build quality and a warmer treble, if that's your preference.
The Focal Clear Mg are open-back headphones, while the Focal Celestee have a closed-back design. The Clear Mg can reproduce bass more accurately, and their passive soundstage is more spacious, open, and large, which can help immerse you in your audio. However, the Celestee are better at isolating noise around you and leak less audio.
The Focal Clear Mg are better headphones for neutral sound than the Focal Stellia. The Clear Mg have a more neutral sound profile, more consistent audio delivery, and a more immersive soundstage. However, the Stellia are closed-back headphones, which some users may prefer since they leak less audio and isolate against more background noise.
The HiFiMan Arya and Focal Clear Mg are similar open-back headphones. The HiFiMan are significantly less expensive and have a similar sound profile. However, the Focal feel better-built and come with a case.
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