Focal Clear MG

It immediately gets a coveted ‘Applause Award’ from StereoNET as an all-rounder “with impeccable timing and excellent dynamics, but its sense of space is where it really shines” – imagine that. The same publication elected it Best Over-Ear Headphone in its Products of the Year shortlist 2021.

Headfonia reckon our favourite French “have gone and made one of the most instantly easy-to-love high-end headphones with their all-new model” – TechHive similarly awarded it their Editor’s Choice gong and a 5 ⭐ ranking from What Hi-Fi? followed soon after. Headphonesty states Clear MG closes in on perfection.

Everything’s made possible by sporting Focal’s famous M-shaped driver with a new magnesium dome for the perfect lightness, rigidity and damping.

By being even lighter than beryllium, together with a driver suspension that’s super pliant and a magnet that can produce more than one tesla of force, this magnesium grants Clear MG transient speed and detail without harshness.

Built to be extremely pistonic in motion, the potential travel of the driver gives Clear MG’s bass great low-frequency presence, speed and dynamics.

These are traits that remain as frequencies rise. Focal’s humble 40mm driver dimensions and the superb damping qualities of magnesium means movement stays pistonic and doesn’t deteriorate into harsh modal break-up up top.

Treble detail stays inherently warm and natural. Clear MG’s portrayal of air and soundstage is aided by a M-shaped honeycomb grille protecting the correspondingly built driver that’s exceptionally open. Air exits the back of the cups via bigger, smoother passages, with enlarged grills inside and outside.

Tuned linear in the continued tradition of Clear, with a slight tint of refined warmth, Clear MG continues to be Head-Fi’s reference where ever you listen. T3 say “very few headphones make it so enjoyable to get lost in your music”. HIFI Trends praised the “masterful” MG for “speaker-like vibrancy and fireworks”.

An included 4-pin XLR cable completes the package for pairing with your desktop set-ups, while a Focal carrying case, 3.5mm jack and 55ohm portable friendliness takes care of you from a music player on your travels.

Perfect candidates for the latter are Cayin Audio‘s RU7, HiBy Music‘s R6 III, R6 Pro II and R8II, plusiBasso Audio‘s DC07 Pro and DX180.

To upgrade further, consider iBasso Audio‘s 4.4mm CB17 silver-plated copper cable. Also check out the rest of Focal’s line here, or our other headphones here.