About 3 months ago I was on my patio listening to music as I do often. I had some bose bc earbuds II, I had "upgraded" twice over the last year (Jabra Elite 75t, Sony wf-1000XM4), I wondered "how good it could get?" So I started researching SQ-focused BT options and ended up with the Focal Bathys. I got on Reddit during this time, read more about wired sound, etc.....now I have Focal Clear OG, Sony MDR-Z1R, and sony ier-z1r. I Now I'm offically deep down the rabbit hole and loving the journey!

Agree with the Clears too. Ironically I ended up with the Sony mdr-z1r which is closed back to compliment the clear but it serves as more of more bass wider soundstage mood.

Please give us your thoughts on how they sound!

And the best?

I had to go listen to them again. Also, forgive me as I am terrible with terms and comparing lol. I got the Bathys first to upgrade my Bluetooth experience, but kept researching and went down the wired rabbit hole so once I went wired I don't use them much.

Listening to both, definitely prefer the Z1R to the Bathys. You can listen to the Bathys wired through a usb-c, I initially purchased with that as a plus, but now that I have other wired ones I would never listen to them that way, actually prefer how it sounds BT vs wired. The bathys aren't as comfortable with smaller ear cups(i have bigger ears my ears don't touch the cups but it does touch the actual speaker which is uncomfortable just a little irritating sometimes), and more clamp force, also the Soundstage is much smaller so compared to Z1R some songs sound a little busy if that makes sense just a lot of sounds overlapping. One of the best things I like about the Z1R is how warm and laid back it sounds, Bathys is bright and vocals can feel shouty on some songs just because of how forward the midrange is. Z1R also the sound just sounds fuller to me compared to the focals but that could be the "warmer" part. Bathys have good bass which i like but its a little more punchy vs the Z1R is more rumble which I prefer.

I still prefer my Clear over everything but Z1R are the best-closed back I have heard. Bathys I tried pretty much all the BT options and for me, I think it was the best, you could argue the ML 5909, it was better technically but it wasn't as enjoyable musically for me, felt more analytical to me than for casual listening.

I have the Clear, I love them! The Z1R it's something about their sound it's kind of addictive. Deciding between the ier-z1r or the mdr Z1R closed back for my sound isolated needs.

That's what I love about the Clear, all the details I'm getting that I never heard before!

Are those open? Have you ever tried the LCD-X?

I'd say just to have a good reference, the Noire is half the price of mdr-z1r...Mdr-z1r is better to me, is it worth 2x as much compared to the Noire...you have to decide. I think you would prefer the midrange on the Mdr-z1r.

Yup! Worth it, going to use them a lot, so you can justify the cost! Enjoy the journey man! Definitely let me know what you think of those Clears and MDR-Z1R. I'd say try those Noire too for close back. I love rap on my Clears, bass is there when needed and not overdone. It's rap so if the song is supposed to have bass it's there just not exaggerated.

My testing Playlist has a ton of genres. I think the radiance are very good. For me I have a weird issue with the cups on the radiance my left ear feels a lot of pressure, no one else I let try them didn't have that issue, I've had it with other closed back it just depends. The mdr-z1r is just a different sound than the focals which i enjoy they are very v shape, but vocals sound great. The radiance are great but to me it just was a redundant sound as focal does have a "house sound" so they feel like Clears with more bass. Mdr-z1r is very warm, didn't really understand that term until I tried them. The noire the mids were just more recessed than the radiance you can easy eq that I just don't do much eqing.

For me the "clear" is emphasized on the Clears more than any headphones I have(besides some iems ive tried). The Clears allowed me to hear so much new detail from songs I've heard a million times. Some don't like the Soundstage of the Clear for open back it's very intimate, but not veiled it's very clear and forward. I don't want to oversell them but I just don't think you can go wrong picking them up. I've never heard the HD 600 but I know they are loved.

Trust I understand I tried a lot of phones. Finally, just got burnt out and realized I'm always gonna have FOMO. I listen to the noire I did like them, they just didn't sound better than my wife's radiance so I didn't keep them but very good phone at the price. I like the Sony MDR-Z1R, just grappling with the cost a little, but I like the sound and they are extremely comfortable.

Let me know, seems like those with my preference prefer mg more so I'm a little curious, but the Clears just sound so good that if I did upgrade it would have to be utopia, but like you, I just can't imagine they sound 3-4x better than either clear to justify the price. Diminishing returns is very real pass 1k.

Those 660s2 peaking your interest at all?

I haven't, I was thinking MG because I read it was more bass-heavy, but the Clear seem to be more of the favorite overall from my research, and it's half the price now so I went with the Clear OG. No complaints. I bought them final sale so I definitely understand but honestly it's the best headphone purchase I've made.

Yeah, I got the lcd-x and was disappointed I wasn't expecting the Clears to sound so good and I think bass everything is just right and I listen to bass heavy stuff, but it's at a level I can listen to for long sessions. Some of those bass-heavy phones just give me a headache after a while.

Want to try these hear that bass is great.

I'd say just the typical open back issues, depending on environment volume may need to go louder, but I just drive them either with my DAP (fiio m11 plus), or bluetooth with my ifi go blu bluetooth dac. I haven't had any comfort issues I love how the Clears fit and everything just sounds great to me.

Preference is so crazy, i have the Clears and sony, and if the situation allows I'm reaching for the Clears. I think I just prefer headphones over iems, but the sonys are great which is why I still have them.

How are they modded?

Best/worst decision of my life 🤣🤣

Great headphone especially at the price point. Yes they are so comfortable!

🤣🤣🤣🫢

I love the X2HR too! Thought about picking them up since they are so cheap, but I really wanted a close back to compliment my Clears. Isolation isn't as big of a thing for me, more leakage, but agree none I've tested seem to be great at isolation.

Agreed. My wife has the Focal radiance, I prefer the noire, but overall the radiance do sound better so ultimately I couldn't really justify keeping them both, but I have thought about getting them again as I'm still deciding how I feel about iems, and the Sony mdr-z1r I enjoy, but the price tag still tough to swallow lol.