Over-Ear
Focal Clear Mg
77Great
$1,500
Full review dataFocal Clear Mg vs HiFiMAN Arya Unveiled: which should you buy?
On aggregated review scores the HiFiMAN Arya Unveiled comes out ahead with a HearWiki score of 84. The full breakdown - sub-scores, specs and what reviewers actually said - is below.
Our pick: HiFiMAN Arya Unveiled - Outstanding overall at around $1199.
Over-Ear
HiFiMAN Arya Unveiled
84Outstanding
$1,200
Full review dataScore breakdown
Each axis is a 0–10 blend of what reviewers scored, not a lab measurement.
HiFiMAN Arya Unveiled leads on 4 of 4 measures.
- Focal Clear Mg
- HiFiMAN Arya Unveiled
HearWiki score
77
84
Sound
8.9
9.4
Value
6.2
8.0
Price (USD)
$1,500
$1,200
Generation & platform
The scores rank quality. This is the other question: is the newer one actually newer technology, or the same platform in a new shell?
Same generation
The HiFiMAN Arya Unveiled is 3 years newer, but it is the same generation of hardware: nothing in the radio, the codecs or the noise cancelling separates them. Nothing separates them on convenience features either, so the choice comes down to tuning and price. For 3 years between them, that is a thin return - treat this as a restyle rather than a new platform.
- Clear Mg2021
- Arya Unveiled20243 yr newer
Specifications
Clear MgArya Unveiled
- Type
- Over-Ear
- Over-Ear
- Price (USD)
- $1,500
- $1,200
- HearWiki score
- 77
- 84
- Released
- 2021
- 2024
- Availability
- Still sold new
- Still sold new
- Driver
- 40 mm dynamic
- planar magnetic
- Driver type
- dynamic
- planar
- Driver size
- 40 mm
- -
- Drivers per side
- 1
- 1
- Frequency response
- 5 Hz - 23 kHz
- 8 Hz - 65 kHz
- Impedance
- 55 Ω
- 27 Ω
- Sensitivity
- 104 dB/mW
- 94 dB/mW
- Active noise cancelling
- No
- No
- Weight
- 450 g
- 413 g
- Detachable cable
- Yes
- Yes
- Connector
- XLR
- 6.35 mm
- Balanced connection
- Yes
- Yes
What reviewers said
Focal Clear Mg
The Focal Clear Mg is a premium open-back wired headphone that delivers detailed, dynamic sound with a warm, engaging character. Its robust build and comfortable fit make it suitable for long sessions, though it shines best with quality amplification. While it lacks noise cancellation and leaks sound, its performance justifies its high-end price for audiophiles.
- Pro:Excellent resolution and instrument separation
- Pro:Punchy, dynamic bass response
- Pro:Comfortable for extended listening
- Con:Very expensive
- Con:Open-back design leaks sound and offers no isolation
- Con:Warm tuning may color some recordings
HiFiMAN Arya Unveiled
The HiFiMAN Arya Unveiled is a high-end open-back planar magnetic headphone that delivers exceptional detail, tonal accuracy, and a balanced soundstage, making it a strong contender for audiophiles. Its grill-less design reduces reflections for cleaner audio, and it offers easy drivability for its class, though the exposed drivers require careful handling. With a neutral-to-warm tuning and broad frequency extension, it provides a compelling blend of technical performance and musicality.
- Pro:Excellent detail retrieval and tonal accuracy
- Pro:Spacious and well-defined imaging
- Pro:Comfortable for extended listening sessions
- Con:Exposed driver design requires careful handling
- Con:Limited connectivity options out of the box
- Con:Ear-cup material may not appeal to everyone
Summaries are AI-condensed and paraphrased from published reviews and specs - not original hands-on testing. More on our method.
Compare something else
Swap either side out, or start again from the picker.