Focal Utopia Review (Headphone)

[AdamG]

Now there is some natural light here.
View attachment 125401

My envy and lust only grows. They are, shall I say, Sexy and alluring. I must resist….

 

[solderdude]

I must resist….

 

[Malfunkt]

On the question of spatial qualities, this is *hugely* dependent on content. I have collected a library of content for headphone testing which shows this effect. Without it, it is easy to conclude that there is no such thing.

Also, frequency response in 1 to 3 kHz is a large determinant of this effect. Take any headphone you have and boost this region and listen for spatial qualities. Likely you hear the effect (ignore the tonality difference -- just listen for externalization of the sound).

As a Utopia owner, I just wanted to chime in on and add to the discussion with regards to soundstage. This isn't aimed at anyone in particular, and others including Amir may already know the of the following.

First, really appreciate the review and measurements on this headphone by ASR and members of its community (ie. SolderDude at DIYAudioHeaven).

Soundstage is one of those aspects that is greatly misunderstood in the headphone community. What is important to understand, is that the vast majority of music is designed for listening on stereo speakers in a room environment. When placing instruments in the stereo soundfield, an audio engineer can use a number of techniques including panning as well as spectral delay, eq and phase changes to make it appear that an instrument is positioned in space simulating both depth and imaging (stereo placement). When listening with speakers, your ears hear a blend of both channels, and this is required for these spatial cues to translate properly. In addition, you will also hear room reflections which impacts the presented frequency range and introduces transient delay, softening the sound and providing a degree of ambience.

In contrast, when listening to these same recordings on a headpphone, each stereo channel is heard discreetly, and without the natural room reflections. The resulting sound is that there is no effective 'center'. Instead, music can sound hard panned, like it is coming from directly left and right. You can adjust to this sound after a while but it simply incorrect. Many dedicated headphone listeners will also have acclimated to this sound, and spatial audio can take a bit to adjust to.

Crossfeed on its own cannot correct this. To hear proper soundstage on headphones would require you to listen to binaural recordings or stereo/multichannel content processed by spatial DSP. In both occasions, it would require that your headphones match a particular frequency curve and that your own individual HRTF (head related transfer function) is approximate to the DSP target model (or in the case of binaural recordings, the dummy head/ears used).

Now, headphones can sound spacious, but that is different than proper soundstage. Ive owned the HD800 in the past, and that headphone is very unique in that its frequency curve combined with the spectral delays introduced by its housing (speculating here) creates an effect somewhat similiar to a listening to a seashell. It was designed in a time before DSP was available outside of studio plugins. To a degree it created this effect, but at the expense of natural timbre.

The best I've heard for incredible soundstage and immersion is the Utopia using Waves Abbey Road Studio for stereo music, and Dolby Atmos for Headphones when processing multi-channel. Also, on its own the Utopia is incredible with most binaural recordings. Waves NX is freely available on iOS/Android but is no longer supported and has a clunky interface that resets parameters. It is still worth it, but it also is not as refined as the studio versions, as it introduces some peaks. With Abbey Road, you can choose from multiple speaker emulations and on the Utopia it is almost lifelike, like listening in a room to these speakers at different ranges. Interestingly, when I tested the same DSP with other headphones (ie. HD600), they cannot really render depth of field changes in speakers as well as the Utopia. I've set Abbey Road up on my Mac using a VST/Audio Unit host and bussing my audio through it. The program I use for this is Sound Source by Rogue Amoeba. I only use the stereo side of this on the Mac as bussing multichannel internally on the Mac is a huge pain. On Windows, the OS was designed with spatial audio in mind. It is simple to install the Netflix app and Dolby Atmos for Headphones to test. You need to use the app as Netflix through most browsers is only stereo.

There are other software that you can test this on. here is a a demo of https://www.redscapeaudio.com/pages/preview (make sure to turn off any processing on your computer). YMMV depending on the tuning of your headphones and individual HRTF. Eventually, spatial DSP will be very common and easy to setup. A large driver of this being the gaming industry. Already there are some incredibly immersive games out there, and their spatial audio is typically built in. Also game audio is embracing object oriented positional audio instead of just surround sound on a single plane.

Lastly, in ear monitors can also do a great job with spatial audio. But this is another topic. I'll just say that the Etymotic IEM can be great with binaural content, but so can others (my recent BLON BL-05S being incredible especially for the price).

 

[Bow_Wazoo]

Btw.
Im selling a new pair of original black Lemo plugs.

 

[FullBright1]

I was able to compare this Utopia with the Meze Empyrean (around same price level, 3k€) and to my ears the Meze was way superior. The Meze had enough bass and it was... how to say... 'savoury'? The Utopia was straight and punchy while the Meze more relax and 'playful'. Now, I am not a specialist, I will wait for the Meze measurements and more importantly: psychologically accept to put 3k in a headphone...

A reviewer, Metal 571, described the Meze as....>"a $1500 sound inside a $6000 frame"

I'd have to agree, having owned them.., as they do nothing well, perfectly.
They are designed to immerse your ears within a soft warm round sonic hug.
Comfort of the Godz.
Probably the most un-offensive headphone sound ever created other then the Sony MDR-MA900.

Perhaps the philosophy behind their creation was...>"create the perfect non-offensive sound, and charge a lot for this experience, and make it's comfort also perfect".

 

[FullBright1]

InnerFidelity wrote :
-

The frequency response and impedance (based on measurements from the reference-audio-analyzer.pro website):

 

[Bow_Wazoo]

A reviewer, Metal 571, described the Meze as....>"a $1500 sound inside a $6000 frame"

I'd have to agree, having owned them.., as they do nothing well, perfectly.
They are designed to immerse your ears within a soft warm round sonic hug.
Comfort of the Godz.
Probably the most un-offensive headphone sound ever created other then the Sony MDR-MA900.

Perhaps the philosophy behind their creation was...>"create the perfect non-offensive sound, and charge a lot for this experience, and make it's comfort also perfect".

I also owned both.
Now only the Empyrean is left.
Both are useless for me, without EQ.
Especially the Meze. The tuning of the Empyrean I find creepy....

Tuned to Oratory, both are a revelation!
(Empyrean with leather pads).

The Utopia is a Ferrari for me.
The ride with him is incredibly exciting.
However, it also demands a lot of attention and thus energy.
That becomes relatively exhausting after a short time.

The Empyrean is a Bentley.
It has power, and can be fast.
But at the same time it is capable of relaxed cruising.
This means you can drive it for hours without it getting exhausting.

I love the Utopia.
But in the end, the Empyrean gives me the more pleasant listening experience.

 

[Helicopter]

After assembling 3 Utopia cables yesterday, I have come full circle on the LEMO type connectors. They are really nice, and clearly better than 3.5mm TS. The only advantages of the 3.5mm on lower level Focals are price and availability. Makes sense to use LEMO on TOTL. They are even French AFAIK. LEMO are super sturdy, meticulously made, and easy to engage and disengage. They are also a joy to solder and assemble.

 

[Vini darko]

After assembling 3 Utopia cables yesterday, I have come full circle on the LEMO type connectors. They are really nice, and clearly better than 3.5mm TS. The only advantages of the 3.5mm on lower level Focals are price and availability. Makes sense to use LEMO on TOTL. They are even French AFAIK. LEMO are super sturdy, meticulously made, and easy to engage and disengage. They are also a joy to solder and assemble.

View attachment 139432

Nice work and a fun evening soldering and playing

 

[Helicopter]

Nice work and a fun evening soldering and playing

Thanks!

I have a DIY cable thread about the cables, but I thought I should stop by here to retract my earlier impression that Focal should have used 3.5mm TS for intercompatability with other Focals and common parts. After some time and experience, I agree with the decision to use the LEMO connectors.

 

[nerdoldnerdith]

Could you measure the headphone after applying your EQ to see what the effect is?

 

[Bow_Wazoo]

That's all you need

https://www.dropbox.com/s/cl7jfxccsgmoxok/Focal Utopia.pdf?dl=0

 

[DEF]

I have had the Focal Utopia for 14 days. Soundwise they were the best I ever had. But I could not wear them for long. The comfort was bad.
Perhaps because I have a more pointy head.
What would you guys recommend me instead?

 

[deafenears]

I have had the Focal Utopia for 14 days. Soundwise they were the best I ever had. But I could not wear them for long. The comfort was bad.
Perhaps because I have a more pointy head.
What would you guys recommend me instead?

Maybe a HiFiMAN suspension headband swap?

 

[DEF]

Maybe a HiFiMAN suspension headband swap?

I need a good grip, as I play Piano with the headphones on. I'm uncertain if they won't slide off with the mod.
I'd like it to be great at default.
I currently no more own the Utopia

 

[Helicopter]

I need a good grip, as I play Piano with the headphones on. I'm uncertain if they won't slide off with the mod.
I'd like it to be great at default.
I currently no more own the Utopia

Sorry to hear they didn't fit well. Mine are comfortable on my big round head.

 

[DEF]

Sorry to hear they didn't fit well. Mine are comfortable on my big round head.

Well, considering that the headphones weigh also something, it's much to ask.
I want to be able to wear great headphones almost all day.
2-3 hours with the Utopia was OK.

But, the comfort isn't comparable to a Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro with a Custom one pro headband.

I had the Sennheiser HD-650 tested, but they weren't comparable at all and their comfort was worse.

What would you get?

 

[Helicopter]

Well, considering that the headphones weigh also something, it's much to ask.
I want to be able to wear great headphones almost all day.
2-3 hours with the Utopia was OK.

But, the comfort isn't comparable to a Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro with a Custom one pro headband.

I had the Sennheiser HD-650 tested, but they weren't comparable at all and their comfort was worse.

What would you get?

HD800s is super light and comfortable, but needs a powerful amp and equalization. I hardly feel it on my head compared to others.

I don't have hands on experience with DCA Stealth, but that is very highly regarded. You would want a headphone amp for that too, but I would say equalization is optional.

 

[Bow_Wazoo]

I know several people who don't think much of the Stealth (like me by the way).
In my opinion, the Stealth is a typical
"DCA Smoothie".

The Utopia is far superior to the Stealth in terms of sound.
Just my opinion.

 

[Aerith Gainsborough]

Well, considering that the headphones weigh also something, it's much to ask.
I want to be able to wear great headphones almost all day.
2-3 hours with the Utopia was OK.

Huh... so I'm not the only one that has that problem with the Focal cans.
As much a I love my Clear, I can't wear it for more than the length of a movie.
Certainly could never use it as my "any day-all day" can.