Focal Utopia Review (Headphone)

[MOCKBA]

Amir's equipment costs around $15,000. "The retail cost is around $15,000 so this was another significant investment in our toolset to quantify performance of audio products." But the equipment targets products in price range < $2,000. So, the bar should be lifted.

 

[solderdude]

Learned something today. It's probably what makes my Utopia measurement worthless.
My total test equipment cost was 1/20th of the Utopia or 0.05UTOPIA or 5% of 1 Utopia

 

[MOCKBA]

Therefore rely on your ears, they are priceless.

 

[edahl]

And what was that thought?

That group delay was somehow responsible for spatiality

 

[Stephen]

That group delay was somehow responsible for spatiality

Thats what a sound engineer told me too.

 

[Helicopter]

I got the pair @Inner Space generously donated to ASR this afternoon, and I concur, they sound excellent and impressive to my ears, both without EQ, and with Amir's EQ. So far I prefer the spatial effects and tonality of the Utopia to the HD800s and the OG Clear, with Utopia spatiality being less pronounced than HD800s, but ultimately more balanced. I am very much in the honeymoon phase having gotten them earlier this hour, but I am definitely impressed.

 

[AdamG]

I got the pair @Inner Space generously donated to ASR this afternoon, and I concur, they sound excellent and impressive to my ears, both without EQ, and with Amir's EQ. So far I prefer the spatial effects and tonality of the Utopia to the HD800s and the OG Clear, with Utopia spatiality being less pronounced than HD800s, but ultimately more balanced. I am very much in the honeymoon phase having gotten them earlier this hour, but I am definitely impressed.

Congratulations on this. I am completely consumed with Envy!

 

[Tachyon88]

I got the pair @Inner Space generously donated to ASR this afternoon, and I concur, they sound excellent and impressive to my ears, both without EQ, and with Amir's EQ. So far I prefer the spatial effects and tonality of the Utopia to the HD800s and the OG Clear, with Utopia spatiality being less pronounced than HD800s, but ultimately more balanced. I am very much in the honeymoon phase having gotten them earlier this hour, but I am definitely impressed.

What is your impression of the bass with or without EQ in comparison to the HD800 ?

I want to try ! There is a used one for sale that I almost bought, but I resisted my primal urges.

 

[AdamG]

I just want some headphone porn @Helicopter ….

 

[Helicopter]

What is your impression of the bass with or without EQ in comparison to the HD800 ?

I want to try ! There is a used one for sale that I almost bought, but I resisted my primal urges.

I think I prefer a bit less bass than the target, and find Utopia to have acceptable levels without EQ, while the HD800s is a little thin without EQ. That Utopia has better response without EQ also goes for the rest of the spectrum overall.

What I really like is that imaging seems more accurate or at least more realistic with Utopia.

 

[Rottmannash]

What is your impression of the bass with or without EQ in comparison to the HD800 ?

I want to try ! There is a used one for sale that I almost bought, but I resisted my primal urges.

Give in to your urges!

 

[Helicopter]

I just want some headphone porn @Helicopter ….

I think they look nice, but I would like to see some Clear Mg DNA in the next itteration. That honeycomb is prettier than the woven wire. The radial arms on the cups feel like fiber reinforced composite. It reminds me of the chassis of an expensive Japanese market Panasonic mini laptop PC I had in the late 90s. It is nice and goes well with the carbon fiber headband parts. Overall, they feel better than the OG Clear, but are not quite as pretty. I am most impressed with the sound.

Give in to your urges!

A4L has some refurbs for $3k

 

[Helicopter]

Anyone know the part of the Lemo connectors?

This is between the kinked OG Clear and the nice Celestee cable, but like the HD800s, it is 6 feet longer than I need on my desktop.

I see some connectors on Moon Audio and other headphone sites, but I want to get them from Mouser or Digikey because I also need some XLR4 connectors and some TS connectors for a friend's guitar cable.

 

[AdamG]

I find it ironic, that your Focals are out of Focus! But thank you for the pic. They look sooooooo elegant.

 

[Pirx]

Anyone know the part of the Lemo connectors?

Connectors are here to buy (sure, not cheap and only silver version) https://www.tme.eu/pl/details/fgg0b302clad52z/zlacza-lemo/lemo/fgg-0b-302-clad52z/

 

[Helicopter]

I find it ironic, that your Focals are out of Focus! But thank you for the pic. They look sooooooo elegant.

Now there is some natural light here.

 

[Helicopter]

Connectors are here to buy (sure, not cheap and only silver version) https://www.tme.eu/pl/details/fgg0b302clad52z/zlacza-lemo/lemo/fgg-0b-302-clad52z/

Thanks!

Looks like FGG.0B.302.CLAD52Z

 

[SimoF]

I think that Utopias are one of the few totl Headphones that sounds already really good without EQ.
Another advantage over other high end HPs Is that you can drive them even with lg V20 to deafening volumes (but ofc with better gear the performance increases)
And if you can't/don't want to EQ to get a little more bass you can just use a 10ohm (or more) jack adapter

 

[mkawa]

i've heard really surprising imaging (like woah am i sure i have headphones on? that sound is coming from in front of me) from my elex, so i believe it

 

[Helicopter]

i've heard really surprising imaging (like woah am i sure i have headphones on? that sound is coming from in front of me) from my elex, so i believe it

I first experienced that with Clear OG, but these are better. HD800s pushes the effect further, but to the point of being less convincing to my ears. I don't think I ever took off HD800s to check where the sound was coming from like with Focals; HD800s is more like 'Oh wow, that's cool' less, 'was that real and out in the other room or outside... did I leave a system on in the other part of the house...'