Focal Clear MG

The Focal Clear MG has premium build quality at the 76th percentile, but the sound only lands at the 67th percentile. Comfort is a weak spot at the 30th percentile, and calls are nearly unusable at 12.5 out of 100. At $1,599, you're paying for the Focal name, not the performance.

The 40mm dynamic driver is the star here, and Focal's 'M'-shaped grille is supposed to improve high-frequency reproduction. The frequency response of 5Hz to 28kHz is wide, but the sound score of 67th percentile means it's not translating into best-in-class audio. You're getting above-average sound, sure, but at this price you'd expect top-of-the-charts performance. The open-back design helps with soundstage, and the honeycomb grille is meant to make things even more open. But the numbers don't lie: this is a solid performer, not a standout.

The build quality is the real highlight. At the 76th percentile, the aluminum yoke and leather-and-microfibre headband feel premium. The 205g weight is light for an over-ear, which helps. But the comfort score of 30th percentile is a red flag. Light weight doesn't automatically mean comfortable, and the yoke that molds to your face shape might not work for everyone. The battery score of 46th percentile is irrelevant since these are wired, but our database still tracks it. Connectivity at the 40th percentile is also unremarkable for a wired headphone with a 3.5mm jack.

Stacked against the competition, the Clear MG has a tough time. The Sony ULT WEAR WHULT900N/B and Technics EAH-A800 both offer wireless connectivity and likely better comfort scores for a fraction of the price. The Sennheiser HDB 630 is another open-back option that probably delivers comparable sound without the Focal tax. The JBL Tune 670NC and TOZO HT3 are budget-friendly alternatives that will crush the Clear MG on value. The Clear MG's only real advantage is build quality at the 76th percentile, but that's not enough to justify the $1,599 price when the sound is only at the 67th percentile.

At $1,599 USD, the Focal Clear MG is asking a lot. The build quality is there, but the sound score of 67th percentile doesn't justify the price tag. You're paying for the Focal name and the fancy aluminum yoke, not for best-in-class audio. The budget score of 33.4 out of 100 says it all: this is not a value play. If you're spending this much, you'd expect the sound to be in the top 10 percent, not the top third. The single US listing at $1,599 means you're not going to find much price variation either.

The Focal Clear MG is a weird one in our database. It's a $1,599 open-back headphone with a 40mm dynamic driver and a frequency response that stretches from 5Hz to 28kHz. But the scores tell a strange story. Build quality sits at the 76th percentile, which is solid, but sound quality only lands at the 67th percentile. For a headphone this expensive, that's not the flex Focal probably hoped for. The comfort score is even rougher, sitting at the 30th percentile, which means most people will feel these on their head after a while.

The Clear MG is clearly aimed at studio use and critical listening. The perforated microfibre earpads and honeycomb grille are supposed to open up the soundstage. But the best-for scores are underwhelming: 52.3 for studio and 49.3 for music. That's middle of the pack at best. And the weakest area is calls at 12.5 out of 100, which is one of the worst we've seen. If you're buying these for Zoom meetings, don't.

Skip the Clear MG if you care about comfort or calls. The 30th percentile comfort score means long listening sessions will likely get uncomfortable. And the 12.5 out of 100 calls score makes these useless for meetings or gaming chat. If you want wireless connectivity, look elsewhere, since these are wired-only with a 3.5mm jack. And if you're on a budget, the 33.4 budget score tells you everything: there are far better values out there.

The Focal Clear MG is a beautifully built headphone that doesn't quite deliver where it counts. The 76th percentile build quality is impressive, and the 205g weight is nice. But the 67th percentile sound score and 30th percentile comfort score make this a tough sell at $1,599. The calls score of 12.5 out of 100 is a dealbreaker if you need a headset for work. If you're a Focal fan with money to burn and you only care about build quality, go for it. Otherwise, there are better options for less.