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In Reply to: RE: How long have you been using the Clear's? posted by EdAInWestOC on October 22, 2018 at 11:46:43
I've had them for a few weeks, so probably after 30-40 hours of use to date. When I first got them, I did not like the sound using the cable with mini plug; it was muffled and dull. I don't know, maybe the cable was defective, but after listening to the Clears for a few hours, I switched to the cable with the 1/4" plug and the sound greatly improved.
I'll hook them up to an audio source and break them in for a few days to see if I hear the improvement you did.
Follow Ups:
nt
We don't shush around here!
Life is analog...digital is just samples thereof
I set them up this morning before work, repeat-playing a CD with variegated tracks that I use to test new equipment and settings.
Well, they are now broken in on a single movement of a Bach cello suite that apparently has played all day--I didn't operate the REPEAT button correctly on the CD player remote!
It could still use more break in, imo. The founder and head of one of Focal's high end headphone competitors advised to use bass heavy music "loud but not crazy loud" for about 100 hours. Some found even longer time was useful.
How does the phones sound after this long break-in, versus before break-in.
Thanks!
I just finished the break-in. I did not by any means dislike what the headphones sounded like prior to break-in.
After 4 days of nearly nonstop break-in, there is a subtle improvement. I listen almost exclusively to classical music. What I noticed that on a couple of rather muddy recorded orchestral excerpts from older Chandos recordings, I can now pick out individual instrumental lines better. Bass remains solid and taut: My test selection for bass is the last part of the Saturn movement from The Planets (Dutoit)--an organ pedal comes in on a very low note and then climbs the scale--the note was clearly defined, and the volume level remained equal as the pedal line rose, and there was no audible distortion or nonmusical rattling going on. I know what a live pipe organ sounds like, and this was clear as could be.
My first pair of good headphones was the AKG K702, which I still own and use mostly for watching TV late at night. Now, the AKG had dramatically better (deeper) bass after 100 or so hours of break-in. In contrast, the degree of change in the Focals after break-in was much smaller.
And vs the HD600s? Worth the money?
I take my HD580's to audio shows, and find it's difficult to find a set that I think is distinctly better that's worth the money.
Sometimes I feel like Sennheiser solved headphones in 1998, the rest is fashion.
I second that emotion.The HD600 and HD650 (HD650 = specifically for classical music) remain as two of the few that can be called "timeless benchmarks", at least for me.
Grado RS1 (for Rock music) and AKG K701 (best for jazz) are two others, for me.
Edits: 01/13/19
Well, now there is something rattling in either the right earpiece or the rightmost section of the headband when I turn or move my head. It's mechanical and not electrical. I've head the Clears for about two weeks. The online (authorized) dealer has agreed to exchange them without cost.
Well, tell us how you like their warranty response.
Hope the replacement works out okay!
8^)
The dealer (headphones.com) readily agreed to exchange the Clears; they've sent me a return mailing label and have offered to send me the replacement as soon as the label has been scanned in at UPS (which will happen today).
This is sterling customer service. And their price can't be beat.
A company that stands behind its products make all the difference, in end-user enjoyment!
8^)
I agree--excellent service. Headphones.com sent out the replacement set on Monday as promised from their place in Washington state, and it's due here in the midwest by tomorrow.
mt
How bad they sounded before breakin. I bought $1500 headphones and expected dynamic and detailed, great headphones. When I got the headphones I was very impressed by the phones themselves and everything that came with them. This was definitely a high end set of cans.The way they sounded was disappointing to say the least. There was hints to how good they could sound but the bass was dry and weak, the treble barely there and the midrange was inconsistent. Listening to them made you feel like you were ripped off.
I was advised to wait until they were broken in and that the break in would take 100 hours. So I hooked them up to my work system where I have over 3000 songs, most of which are 24/96 or better, and let it play, set to random.
The result was a different set of headphones. The bass was deep and full, the treble was open and resolved and the midrange was clear and realistic. In short they sounded how the reviews said they sound.
Just wait,
Ed
We don't shush around here!
Life is analog...digital is just samples thereof
Edits: 10/25/18
Well said, I certainly concur. Only thing I would mention is that the amount of break in required can very widely between headphones (the same as in large speakers, electronic equipment and other equipment.) I've had cheaper headphones that didn't appear to improve at all with break in, other headphones that improved slightly and others that improved significantly. And the amount of time required can vary widely. Most seem to think that 100 hours is a good amount.
But the good news is that even if you don't do enough separate break in, the item will eventually improve to its maximum just by using it. Break in is automatic and free!
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