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

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 output Overall, I rate these a 4.5/5.

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 Wonderfull UPDATE; 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 tamed I,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.

I acknowledge that sound quality is very subjective, so your experience may differ. But for me, the sound quality is not 5x better than my Hifiman Sundara, so I'm struggling to justify paying 5x more for them. They definitely have more bass than the Sundara, but at the same time the beats are not as tight. Everything else as far as imaging and detail is comparable between the two, in my humble opinion. I would give them 3 stars for the price, but the carrying case is so luxurious and they look so beautiful that I'm adding a star. It feels to me like you're paying for the aesthetics here, because the sound is maybe 1.25x better than the Sundara, but they look and feel far more luxurious. But yeah, I care more about how they sound so these are going back. I'm gonna try a Hifiman Arya next and I'll update this review of those blow my mind. For now, I recommend you give Sundara a try.

Why did you pick this product vs others?: Pricy, but worth the money. Focal is known for its excellent headphones and the Focal Clear MGs don't disappoint. I also have a pair of Sony XM5s and while very good, don't really compare to the Focals. The only other headphones that come close are the Grado RS1x. I alternate between the Grado and the Focal. Excellent clarity, highs and lows and the soundstage is impeccable. I also use a THX Onyx DAC Amplifier with the Focals. Though not required, provides additional power. Overall, if you want high end, high quality, excellent sounding headphones, try the Focal Clear MGs.

These are the best headphones I own. The sound signature is brilliant!

I wanted so badly to love these headphones and add them to the collection - they are certainly the most beautiful pair I've ever laid hands on. Absolutely stunning cosmetically, and quite comfortable...a bit more clamping pressure than I prefer but nothing I couldn't live with assuming the sound was right. Unfortunately it wasn't. I probably listen at slightly louder levels than the average person due to some minor hearing loss from childhood infections in my right ear. But I don't listen at extraordinary levels - I still have a good left ear to protect, after all. At "slightly above average volume levels" with any bass-heavy track, I would instantly get the dreaded clipping that apparently plagues these otherwise phenomenal headphones. I listen to rock, much of it acoustic singer-songwriter material - no hip hop. But a heavy slap on a bass guitar or a stand-up, or Keith Moon wailing on double bass sent these headphones crackling every time. Again - only moderate volume - frankly not even loud enough to reach that point of "feeling" the music. I even exchanged for a second pair of these to make sure I didn't have a "lemon," but they were both exactly the same. It's not a quality control problem...it's a design problem. I will concede - the sound at low levels was outstanding. Very large soundstage, excellent balance, and pristine mids and highs. If you're a person who never has the urge to listen at the heavy end of the sweet spot...these might be great for you. But if you're like me and you seek that fully immersive FEEL from your headphones...you need a bit more headroom than these can deliver to fully sweep you off your feet and fly you away...and that is simply a deal-breaker for me. Such a shame. Ultimately I ended up with the Sennheiser HD 800S, a mindblowing feat of German engineering. I recommend the Sennheisers without any hesitation or drawbacks aside from the slightly higher price over these Focals. Evertything the Clear MGs did well, the Sennheisers do better, at any volume level, which makes them a better piece of equipment and a better value in the end. I should mention that I plug my phones into clean, high-quality sources and power, including both a Beyerdynamic A2 solid state headphone amp and a Woo Audio WA6-SE tube amp. Clipping occurred with both headphones and both amps at approximately the same volume.

These headphones provide a realistic three dimensional space with air around the notes and instruments. They occasionaly fool me when the music begins by making me believe that I have left the speakers on in the room. The top end was a bit bright at times, causing me to swap out my pure silver after-market cables, in favor of pure copper. That turned them from fatiguing to fun, while retaining all of the clarity I wanted. These phones also benefit from a warmer sounding headamp. When I switched to a tubed headamp/DAC from RME and the THX 789 AAA, these headphones became even more like being there and hence more fun to listen to. The build quality and finish are excellent and they are very comforable over extended listening. Hence, after close to a year, and paired with the right equipment, they are my favorite openbacks. They are benchmark clear. Enthusiastically recommended.