Submitted by blorg t3_ywukqt in headphones
LyrMeThatBifrost t1_iwm0aag wrote
Reply to comment by TakeThatRisk in HD6XX back down to $199 by blorg
The sound lol. There’s something comforting about the way they sound. It’s hard to explain. Just very easy to listen to.
blorg OP t1_iwm51qj wrote
I have the HD800S as well but I still appreciate the HD6XX, it is a very different headphone. Technically, the HD800S is much better, but tonally, the HD6XX, and there are times I prefer that. It's also simply more compact, which can be better if lying in bed. To be honest the logical tonal upgrades to the HD6XX are really more the Focal Clear and Utopia, which I listen to more than the HD800S.
"Comforting" is right.
on9desu t1_iwmiufm wrote
I’ve been thinking of upgrading to the Focal Clear but hesitant because of the weight difference compared to the HD6x0. Comfort is a big factor for me because I wear headphones for 5+ hours a day. How is the comfort on the Clear in your opinion for long hour usage?
blorg OP t1_iwmjwxc wrote
I find it extremely comfortable, if anything the Clear is more comfortable than the HD6XX/HD600 because the clamp force is lower. It's not too low, it's still perfectly stable, just right. The HD6X0s aren't problematic for me, but I feel the clamp more, the Focals just dissolve away more. The HD800S is also very comfortable and with a light clamp, incidentally, but the Focals feel just a bit more stable.
For my head, at least, Focal make extremely comfortable headphones, I can wear them indefinitely. I did add a headband cover which spreads out the contact a bit but it's comfortable either way.
One issue with the Clear, it has a bit of a creak. It's not a major problem actually on the head but it does creak a lot putting it on, or handling it off the head. Just sort of a "$1,000 headphone shouldn't really do this" sort of thing.
on9desu t1_iwmok83 wrote
That is very helpful. Thank you. Clamp force actually doesn’t bother me that much. I’m one of those maniacs who doesn’t feel the need to stretch the headband on a brand new HD600 lol. But I dislike headphones that dig into the top of my head after wearing them for awhile. Unfortunately most higher end headphones are quite heavy so a lot of good sounding ones are out of my consideration. The NDH30 I tried recently had this problem even though it is just 350 grams. I had to return it due to the discomfort even though it sounded great. The DT 900 pro X has about the same weight but for some reason I don’t have a problem with it. So it is hard to tell with just the weight alone.
Yes the creak! I tried the Clear MG at a local store and that was the first thing I noticed as I was putting it on. I agree an expensive headphone shouldn’t be doing that. Definitely felt a bit cheap but everything else on it is super nice that kind of make up for it I guess lol. I’ve only tried it at the store so I couldn’t tell the long term usage on it. Thanks for the help!
KawaiifuWorks t1_iwnqlzk wrote
The weight isn't enough to really bother me. And the pads are more comfortable. I found it overall nicer to wear for extended durations.
Almost_Ascended t1_iwmplt9 wrote
Honestly, the brittle plastic headband is literally the only reason I've not considered them, even after their discount. It's simply unacceptable.
Sachdeva-Yusaf t1_iwncjiy wrote
Is it comparable to the HD598? The comfort and weight I mean. Barely feel like I’m wearing headphones with those
L4t3xs t1_iwnmdpi wrote
It took some breaking in for me as they clamped pretty hard imo. Now they feel perfect.
Not a fan of either of the pro version's cables, though. Coiled one is pretty heavy and the other one is short as hell.
HD660S was more comfortable for me initially but Focal is better after a while. Where my ears would touch the padding in the middle with Sennheisers there is no such problem with Focals.
KawaiifuWorks t1_iwnq9wr wrote
I'd agree. The Clears are what I ended up with after the HD6XX
TakeThatRisk t1_iwm0ehq wrote
Have you tried eqing your hd800s?
blorg OP t1_iwm59s0 wrote
It's still not the same, the HD800S EQs extremely well but is always going to sound somewhat ethereal and diffuse. It's a much better headphone technically, but the HD6XX does provide a different, more intimate presentation and is tonally possibly more "right" and natural sounding out of the box than any other headphone. If I could only pick one, sure I'd take the HD800S any day and EQ it. But for $199 can probably afford to keep the HD6XX around too.
LyrMeThatBifrost t1_iwm0gka wrote
Of course
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