Focal Utopia Review (collective stream of consciousness)

Having tried this combo now, I couldn't agree more. The Utopia plays better with lower end gear than other headphones scale.

That said, I wouldn't pay full price for a Utopia. I'd wait to see one go used or something.

 

Torq, given your extensive experience with TOTL (or purported TOTL) DACs I will be very curious to see what the Utopias reveal. Yggdrasil (or whatever you consider the best DAC) into whatever TOTL amp you have, then compared against your other TOTL headphones, should be interesting. Similarly, swapping between Modibit and Yggdrasil with Utopia and your TOTL amp.

 

That is going to be interesting for me, as well.

I'm almost hoping it's a dose of "new toy" syndrome, coupled with just having done a lot more listening with the Abyss and LCD-4 and thus the Focal's being a major shift/breath of fresh air ("you most desire what you haven't just had"), but so far the Utopia are to be blamed for me, largely out of nowhere, seriously wondering about a major rationalization of my current headphone stable.

And it that happens it'll change the evaluation model I've used with DACs I've auditioned so far vs. those that are to come. Not a terminal issue, but probably less than ideal.

 

Indeed. Even on the Cavalli CTH, the volume knob need never rise above 9 o'clock and in some cases is better at less than that.

While more impervious to amplification requirements, the Utopia is sensitive to source in my experience.

 

Concluding the third day of owning this headphone, I am very tempted to commit to the statement that this is the best headphone I have ever heard or owned, even if other admittedly modest yet incredibly upward-punching headphones (HD650 modded, HE-6 ohhg modded, HD800 SDR +Cork Mod) may impress me more forcefully in special cases. My gf, ironically the one who pulled me into this hobby and who shows an even stronger passion for personal audio than me, very much agrees with this sentiment, as is evident from beautiful photos I captured of her yesterday in which she is sincerely giddy about the Utopia:

 

haha do they sound better backwards?

 

Oh wait, I did that too. Must be right.



Didn't realize it looked so weird. Silly Batman helmet.

 

You have got to be shitting me. Did Focal assemble these wrong? We are using them according to the R/L labeling on the headphones.

 

no they're fine, OJ's 800s are just piercing his brain in funny ways

 

Heh. They look different on such a small face too. I thought they were backwards also in that one shot where they're almost covering her cheek.

 

Got it. I underestimated the power of the "neg" suffixed to OJ's name.

 

Some thoughts after a few days listening. These are in contrast to my HE1K with Silvergarde cable.

Chain: REGEN->Mutec + (dual-rail custom PS to power each)->Pavane->Studio (with AVVT Mesh 2A3's / WE417's).

Ok. VERY different presentation than the HE1K. Tight imaging / staging vs. slightly diffused imaging / wide staging. That may be the biggest hurdle for those who like the HE1K / HEX. It honestly take a bit of time (~4 hours for me) to 'calibrate' back from the HE1K. Once you do, the staging is tighter, more accurate than the HE1K. What I mean is, the HE1K will widen / diffuse the stage; regardless of the source. Utopia does not. If the source is wider / deeper, it'll present as such. If not, then it'll present as recorded. The point being - no artificial altering of staging with the Utopia.

Utopia excels in three key areas:
1. Tonality / texture / resonance / decay. The most accurate I've ever heard in a headphone.
2. Seperation. While highly musical, you can follow each voice, each instrument. Well known tracks have more to reveal.
3. Detail. HE1K is no slouch detail wise, but Utopia wins.

I wouldn't repeat many of the well-noted strengths (frequency balance, comfort, build quality). I'll just add one more thing: At this stage, I see the HE1K / Utopia combo as highly complementary. While that will only apply to someone who enjoys what the HE1K brings (and can afford them both), I find I enjoy both. I'm a but curious as to whether that will remain true as I log more time with Utopia.

 

Yea, I get it. 4K is a chunk of change. One other note / comment; held it back at first, cause I think it's more about me vs. Utopia. I'm 59, and my hearing rolls off at around 16k. I'd like a bit more treble presence, but again - still acclimating, and fairly certain it's what it should be. I've always had a high tolerance for cans with active, or accentuated treble. They never 'present' that way to me, being partially deaf

 

Thanks, just the impressions I've been hoping for as I wait for my dealer to get a Utopia in for demo (eta couple of weeks). I suspected the main sacrifice moving from the HE1K would be soundstage, but of course give it long enough and the brain adjusts. If the Utopias presentation is accurate and imaging pin-point then it could be a worthwhile tradeoff. I understand why some people like to have complementary cans, but personally it just screws up my brain. I tend to fall into the trap of noticing the differences too often which inevitably gets in the way of the music. I'm more into 100% brain adjusted, blissful ignorance kind of thing...so I guess I need a genre master kind of headphone. Reports suggest the Utopia might tick that box .

Btw if you haven't tried Maxx134's foam ring mod on your HE1K then I'd recommend giving it a try. It's gone some way to fixing the softness & bringing some slam to my HE1K
http://www.superbestaudiofriends.org/index.php?threads/hifiman-he-1000-version-2-5-mods.2664/

 

Hey 16k is decent..... I'm 44 and top out at 14k. Must be all those years of my ex-wife shouting at me ;-)