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Head to head · for music listening
Sennheiser HD 600 vs Focal Clear MG
More people recommend the Sennheiser HD 600 overall (117 vs 22). None of the 10 comments that name both says outright which one to buy, so read the loves and complaints and decide by taste.
- Comments naming both
- 10
- Say they own both
- 0
- Choose the HD 600
- 0
- Choose the Clear MG
- 0
Preference evidence:Limited0 explicit choices among 10 comments naming both.What the levels mean
Counted across 8 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 | $300cheaper | $1499 |
| Overall rank | #4higher | #24 |
| People who recommend it | 117more | 22 |
| Say they own it | 149more | 30 |
| Mentions | 1,279more | 255 |
| Type | open-back wired | open-back wired |
| Known for | NeutralVocalsLong sessions | DetailPunchNeeds amp |
| Best for | Recommended as the reference headphone by people who care about accurate, fatigue-free music listening. | The money-no-object pick people recommend for punch and warmth instead of analytical detail. |
| Buy | Amazon · $300 | Amazon · $1499 |
#4 overall
Sennheiser HD 600
0 of the 10 comments naming both come from people who say they own this one.
What owners love
- The most natural, neutral mid-range people can name; a 25-year reference
- Super comfortable for long sessions
- Timbre and tone that owners call perfect for acoustic, classical and vocals
- Owners who tried many others keep coming back to it
The complaints
- Needs a decent amp to open up; weak from phones and laptops
- Small, intimate soundstage; some call it boring
- Bass does not go deep
In their words
“My favorite headphones are my painted hd600s with a custom matching cable”
A commenter under Crinacle's ULTIMATE Guide to Headphones (crinacle) · Dec 2024
“After trying all other options, we highly recommend the HD 600”
A commenter under Why You SHOULDN'T Buy HD 600... & What To Get Instead (The Headphone Show) · Sep 2025
“I love my HD600 but have to compensate for the weak bass”
A commenter under Almost all headphones are inaccurate. Only these are good. (AP Mastering) · Dec 2024
#24 overall
Focal Clear MG
0 of the 10 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 Sennheiser HD 600 better than the Focal Clear MG?
- None of the 10 comments naming both says outright which one to buy. Overall, 117 people recommend the Sennheiser HD 600 and 22 the Focal Clear MG. Read what owners love and complain about below and decide by taste.
- Which is cheaper, the Sennheiser HD 600 or the Focal Clear MG?
- The Sennheiser HD 600 is cheaper: $300 against $1499 when we last checked. Prices move, so the buy buttons show the live price.
- Which do more people recommend, the Sennheiser HD 600 or the Focal Clear MG?
- The Sennheiser HD 600: 117 people recommend it against 22. On the site-wide leaderboard the Sennheiser HD 600 is #4 and the Focal Clear MG is #24.
- Do people own both the Sennheiser HD 600 and the Focal Clear MG?
- Not that we found. Of the 10 comments naming both, 0 come from owners of the Sennheiser HD 600 and 0 from owners of the Focal Clear MG, and none says they own both.
- What do owners complain about on the Sennheiser HD 600 and the Focal Clear MG?
- The most repeated complaint about the Sennheiser HD 600: needs a decent amp to open up; weak from phones and laptops. 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.