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Head to head · for music listening
HIFIMAN Sundara vs Focal Clear MG
More people recommend the HIFIMAN Sundara overall (79 vs 22). None of the 13 comments that name both says outright which one to buy, so read the loves and complaints and decide by taste.
- Comments naming both
- 13
- Say they own both
- 1
- Choose the Sundara
- 0
- Choose the Clear MG
- 0
Preference evidence:Limited0 explicit choices among 13 comments naming both.What the levels mean
Counted across 11 review videos, harvested Sep 2026. A comment counts as a choice only when it says so in plain words (prefer X over Y, upgraded from Y to X); questions never count. Quotes are whole sentences of 12 words or fewer, linked to where they were said. How we count.
 |  | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical price | $179cheaper | $1499 |
| Overall rank | #7higher | #24 |
| People who recommend it | 79more | 22 |
| Say they own it | 109more | 30 |
| Mentions | 806more | 255 |
| Type | open-back planar wired | open-back wired |
| Known for | Planar detailHomeAmp helps | DetailPunchNeeds amp |
| Best for | The planar most often recommended under $200, by people who already have, or will buy, a small desktop amp. | The money-no-object pick people recommend for punch and warmth instead of analytical detail. |
| Buy | Amazon · $179 | Amazon · $1499 |
#7 overall
HIFIMAN Sundara
1 of the 13 comments naming both come from people who say they own this one.
What owners love
- Planar speed and detail that people say is unmatched at the price
- Good soundstage and imaging; responds well to EQ
- Frequently on sale or open-box direct from HIFIMAN, which is how many owners bought it
- Comfortable and clean; several owners say they stopped shopping after buying it
The complaints
- Needs a proper amp or DAC/amp; weak from a phone
- Older units had driver failures and some people call HIFIMAN build and quality control poor
- Tuning takes getting used to; a couple of listeners simply do not like planars
In their words
“I bought the Sundara on your recommendations and really love it”
A commenter under Sundara v 660S v 1990 (Under $500 Headphone Comparison) (Joshua Valour) · Feb 2020
“I got my Sundaras at a crazy price, and I love them”
A commenter under The Best Deal in Audio... Period. (Joshua Valour) · Nov 2024
“I use the sundaras and i would recommend them”
A commenter under Why Do All Streamers Use These Headphones? (Dagwummy) · Jul 2023
#24 overall
Focal Clear MG
2 of the 13 comments naming both come from people who say they own this one.
What owners love
- Punch and dynamics owners rate above any planar; several call it their daily driver over the Arya
- Warm, even tuning that makes every recording sound good, without fatiguing treble
- Built and finished like a luxury object
The complaints
- Price, and Focal's steep discounting means owners who paid full price feel burned
- Focal drivers can clip on very bass-heavy music at high volume
- Pads and headband discolour; cables wear
- The original Clear was cheaper and some prefer it
In their words
“I also love my Stellias, and focal Clear MG's”
A commenter under the GIANT headphone tier list (end of 2023) (The Headphone Show) · Dec 2023
“I love my Focal Clear MG Pro's”
A commenter under The Best Headphones for Mixing and Mastering (ALL Models Compared) (SonicScoop) · Aug 2023
“You could get a focal clear for under 500, in decent shape”
A commenter under The Best Value in Audiophile Headphones (The Headphone Show) · Aug 2025
Questions people ask about this pair
Every answer is built from the counts on this page, not from our own listening.
- Is the HIFIMAN Sundara better than the Focal Clear MG?
- None of the 13 comments naming both says outright which one to buy. Overall, 79 people recommend the HIFIMAN Sundara and 22 the Focal Clear MG. Read what owners love and complain about below and decide by taste.
- Which is cheaper, the HIFIMAN Sundara or the Focal Clear MG?
- The HIFIMAN Sundara is cheaper: $179 against $1499 when we last checked. Prices move, so the buy buttons show the live price.
- Which do more people recommend, the HIFIMAN Sundara or the Focal Clear MG?
- The HIFIMAN Sundara: 79 people recommend it against 22. On the site-wide leaderboard the HIFIMAN Sundara is #7 and the Focal Clear MG is #24.
- Do people own both the HIFIMAN Sundara and the Focal Clear MG?
- Yes. 1 of the 13 comments that name both come from people who say they own both pairs. 1 say they own the HIFIMAN Sundara and 2 the Focal Clear MG.
- What do owners complain about on the HIFIMAN Sundara and the Focal Clear MG?
- The most repeated complaint about the HIFIMAN Sundara: needs a proper amp or DAC/amp; weak from a phone. About the Focal Clear MG: price, and Focal's steep discounting means owners who paid full price feel burned. The full lists are on each side below.