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Head to head · for music listening
Sennheiser HD 800 S vs Focal Clear MG
More people recommend the Sennheiser HD 800 S overall (71 vs 22). None of the 25 comments that name both says outright which one to buy, so read the loves and complaints and decide by taste.
- Comments naming both
- 25
- Say they own both
- 2
- Choose the HD 800 S
- 0
- Choose the Clear MG
- 0
Preference evidence:Limited0 explicit choices among 25 comments naming both.What the levels mean
Counted across 16 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 | $2000 | $1499cheaper |
| Overall rank | #10higher | #24 |
| People who recommend it | 71more | 22 |
| Say they own it | 71more | 30 |
| Mentions | 675more | 255 |
| Type | open-back wired | open-back wired |
| Known for | ClassicalHuge spaceNeeds amp | DetailPunchNeeds amp |
| Best for | Recommended for classical, acoustic and anyone who wants the biggest sense of space from a headphone. | The money-no-object pick people recommend for punch and warmth instead of analytical detail. |
| Buy | Amazon · $2000 | Amazon · $1499 |
#10 overall
Sennheiser HD 800 S
4 of the 25 comments naming both come from people who say they own this one.
What owners love
- Huge soundstage and detail; the classic end-game dynamic headphone
- Several owners keep it as the serious-listening set beside a cheaper everyday pair
- Comfortable despite its size
The complaints
- Lean bass and bright treble; can be analytical rather than fun
- Needs a good amp and good recordings
- Price
In their words
“Ok, i got encourage to get the HD800 after i saw this”
A commenter under Sennheiser HD 800 Unboxing, Review & Shootout w/ HiFiMAN HE-500 Headphones (Music + BF4) (Barnacules Nerdgasm) · Oct 2013
“I have all sennheiser hp and hd800 my daily driver”
A commenter under Is Sennheiser's new headphone REALLY an upgrade? (The Headphone Show) · Feb 2023
“I use HD800s as my daily driver”
A commenter under Open vs Closed Back Headphones for GAMING - Which Is Best? (Hardware Canucks) · Jul 2019
#24 overall
Focal Clear MG
2 of the 25 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 800 S better than the Focal Clear MG?
- None of the 25 comments naming both says outright which one to buy. Overall, 71 people recommend the Sennheiser HD 800 S and 22 the Focal Clear MG. Read what owners love and complain about below and decide by taste.
- Which is cheaper, the Sennheiser HD 800 S or the Focal Clear MG?
- The Focal Clear MG is cheaper: $1499 against $2000 when we last checked. Prices move, so the buy buttons show the live price.
- Which do more people recommend, the Sennheiser HD 800 S or the Focal Clear MG?
- The Sennheiser HD 800 S: 71 people recommend it against 22. On the site-wide leaderboard the Sennheiser HD 800 S is #10 and the Focal Clear MG is #24.
- Do people own both the Sennheiser HD 800 S and the Focal Clear MG?
- Yes. 2 of the 25 comments that name both come from people who say they own both pairs. 4 say they own the Sennheiser HD 800 S and 2 the Focal Clear MG.
- What do owners complain about on the Sennheiser HD 800 S and the Focal Clear MG?
- The most repeated complaint about the Sennheiser HD 800 S: lean bass and bright treble; can be analytical rather than fun. 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.