Focal Clear MG Professional Review | 93 Data compared

The Focal Clear Mg Professional headphones feature top-notch construction, luxurious packaging with extra accessories, and comfortable, sweat-preventing microfiber ear pads, though they are heavier than some competitors. Sound-wise, they offer a cohesive, well-balanced profile with robust bass, even mids, and improved transient dynamics from the magnesium drivers, while exhibiting a slightly relaxed top-end that may need a treble boost. While praised as magnificent, the review notes the marginal performance gain over the original model may not justify an upgrade, highlighting a "con" in its high cost-to-performance ratio for existing owners.

In the featured review, the author evaluates the Focal Clear MG Professional headphones specifically for daily studio sound design workflow. Designed with 40mm inverted "M"-shaped magnesium dome drivers, these open-back circum-aural cans operate at a low impedance of 55 Ohms and have a broad frequency response of 5Hz–28kHz. The reviewer notes that this low impedance allows the headphones to be easily driven directly from standard professional audio interfaces without the strict need for a powerful standalone headphone amplifier.

The Focal Clear Mg Pro ($1499) represents a distinct, warmer shift from the brand's traditional open-back house sound, closely resembling their closed-back models like the Elegia and Stellia. Visually, it features a striking black and red color scheme with a new honeycomb cup pattern, and comes packaged with a carrying case, an extra set of ear pads, and both short and coiled cables. In terms of audio presentation, the headphones offer a thicker, richer, and full-bodied low-end alongside non-fatiguing smoothness that makes them exceptional for long, multi-tasking listening sessions across multiple genres. However, this warmer tuning introduces notable drawbacks, most significantly a measurable veil and dip in the upper-midrange and presence region, which places a "sheer curtain" over guitar chords and female vocals. Additionally, the headphones lack the intense macrodynamics, hard-hitting punch, and slam factor found in older models like the Elex. They also deliver an intimate soundstage that lacks exactness in instrument separation and piano notes, ultimately performing as a well-rounded but less exciting addition to the Focal lineup.

The Focal Clear MG Pro delivers a remarkably balanced, near-neutral sound profile that defies online measurements suggesting a dark or veiled signature. Reflecting Focal’s signature house sound, the headphones offer exceptional, deep, and dynamic bass impact that closely rivals the much pricier Utopia 2022. The midrange is smooth, organic, and full-bodied, utilizing a 4–5kHz dip to effectively polish away vocal harshness. Treble execution is highly precise and lively, benefiting from an upper treble boost above 15kHz that drastically reduces the metallic sheen found in the original Clear OG, resulting in improved clarity and crisper imaging. However, the headphones do come with several notable drawbacks. The soundstage remains typical for Focal, meaning it is somewhat limited in both horizontal and vertical expansion. Vocals carry a slightly polished coloration that may lack absolute realism for listeners seeking a perfectly raw presentation. Additionally, the Clear MG Pro struggles to match the transparency and airy openness found in similarly priced planar magnetic or electrostatic headphones. Finally, the frequency response is highly sensitive to how the headphones are physically positioned on the head, meaning slight...

The Focal Clear Mg Professional offers a smoother, less fatiguing treble than its predecessor, effectively eliminating the harsh sibilance found in the original model. While maintaining high comfort and a premium aesthetic, this iteration suffers from a bloated, unrefined bass response that sacrifices overall audio precision. Furthermore, the headphone features a compromised, diffused center image alongside significant long-term ownership drawbacks, including a non-replaceable headband and costly $200 replacement ear pads.

The Recording Magazine review highlights the Focal Clear Mg Professional Headphones as a premier, audiophile-grade studio tool featuring superior build quality, high comfort, and an exceptionally neutral, detailed sound. Pros include an extended high-end without fatigue, precise, non-boomy low-end, and a focused, deep soundstage ideal for critical mixing and monitoring. The primary drawback, or con, is the high cost, with the headphones retailing at roughly $1,490. Additionally, the very flat and uncolored, monitor-like presentation may feel too stark for listeners accustomed to artificial sound enhancements.

The Focal Clear MG Professional is an open-back studio reference headphone priced at $1,490, engineered specifically for technical use, mixing, and monitoring. It features a rigid, premium build with an aluminum yoke, a perforated microfiber and leather headband, and a red-and-black aesthetic utilizing a new honeycomb outer grille. Internally, it integrates a new full-range 40mm 'M'-shaped magnesium dome driver with a frameless copper voice coil. Operating at a low impedance of 55 Ohms, it is highly versatile and easy to drive across various amplifiers and audio interfaces. The package is comprehensive, offering a hard carrying case, a 1.2m straight cable, a 5m coiled cable, a quarter-inch adapter, and two spare earpads. Sonically, the headphone is defined by an unapologetically flat, analytical sound signature that prioritizes precise, holographic imaging and uncompromised clarity over a "fun" or colorized casual listening experience. The primary pros of the Clear MG Professional include its highly accurate reference sound signature, exceptionally rigid and luxurious build quality, and overall versatility when pairing with EQ or outboard gear like bass boosters. Conversely, its main cons include its high...

The Focal Clear Mg ProfessionalGo is an open-back, moving-coil headphone meant for studio mixing and critical listening. This model updates the older version by adding a new honeycomb grille design and a pure magnesium dome driver. It keeps the same red-and-black style, comfortable fit, and detachable cables, while costing £1,199 in the UK or $1,490 in the US. A major benefit is the clear, precise high-frequency sound and the impressive, rich low-end punch. The open honeycomb cups help stop inside reflections from altering your music. Also, with a low 55Ω impedance, they are very easy to run from almost any headphone jack. However, the reviewer points out a few negative details. It is still needlessly hard to tell the left and right earcups apart when putting them on. Sonically, there is a slight boost around the 100Hz sound mark, which means they do not have a perfectly flat or neutral response.