Sennheiser HD 800 S vs Focal Clear MG
Both are dynamic open-back headphones.
The HD 800 S is 120 g lighter, at 330 g against 450 g.
The HD 800 S needs 7 dB more power to reach a loud 110 dB peak, so it asks more of the amplifier.
The Clear MG lists for $401 less.
$1,999.95
$1,599
Side by side
HD 800 SClear MG
- Driver
- Dynamic
- Dynamic
- Diaphragm
- 56 mm ring radiator with 40 mm in-house wound voice coil
- Magnesium M-shaped dome
- Driver size
- 56 mm
- 40 mm
- Enclosure
- Open-back
- Open-back
- Weight
- 330 g
- 450 g
- HD 800 S is 120 g lighter
- Impedance
- 300 ohms
- 55 ohms
- Sensitivity
- 102 dB SPL (1 V)
- 104 dB SPL / 1 mW @ 1 kHz
- Power for 110 dB
- 20.9 mW, 2.50 V
- 3.98 mW, 0.47 V
- HD 800 S needs 7 dB more
- Drive
- Easy to drive
- Easy to drive
- Frequency response
- 4 Hz – 51 kHz (−10 dB)
- 5 Hz – 23 kHz (±3 dB)
- Made in
- Ireland
- France
- Released
- 2016
- 2021
- List price
- $1,999.95
- $1,599
- Clear MG is $401 less
From each maker’s published figures; sources are on each headphone’s page. Power for 110 dB is worked out from sensitivity and impedance.
Amplifiers that drive both
How the matching worksEach of these has 10 dB or more in reserve above a loud 110 dB peak on both headphones, so one amplifier serves either.
Where to buy the HD 800 S
List $1,999.95
- Headphones.comIn stock online$1,799.95
- Audio46In stock online$1,799.95
- Moon AudioIn stock online$1,799.95
Retailer prices checked 2026-10-21. We may earn a commission on purchases. How this works
Where to buy the Clear MG
List $1,599
Retailer prices checked 2026-10-21. We may earn a commission on purchases. How this works