Focal Utopia Review (collective stream of consciousness)

Discussion in 'Headphones' started by purr1n, Aug 25, 2016.

  1. AllanMarcus

    AllanMarcus Friend

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  2. drbobbybones

    drbobbybones New

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    Saw this too. Want to measure mine now just for sheer curiosity to see if I'm as treble sensitive as I thought I was. My pair sounds great to my ears.
     
  3. ultrabike

    ultrabike Measurbator - Admin

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    LOL! Damit these things are expensive. Send me a PM if you would like me to measure them.
     
    Last edited: May 3, 2017
  4. AllanMarcus

    AllanMarcus Friend

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    Thanks for the offer, but it's not worth the shipping cost to me. Maybe in July when I visit my Dad in San Diego I'll take a field trip to Irvine, if that works out. I might just wait until RMAF/CanJam and hope for a measuring rig then.

    I have a calibrated mic, so it also might be time to set up my own rig.
     
  5. cskippy

    cskippy Creamy warmpoo

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    @AllanMarcus take a look at some of the measurement rigs posted here

    http://www.superbestaudiofriends.or...t-setups-post-your-rig.141/page-8#post-129786

    It's really easy to make a basic one, just use an Amazon Kleenex sized box, maybe stuff it with some form or rigid material , poke a hole through, slightly offset if you're going to use a MiniDSP UMIK-1 like I did, and place a CD, 2mm foam or leather, and felt ring on the outside. You might have to play with it slightly but this is a great basic setup that should get you consistent results.
     
  6. murphythecat

    murphythecat GRU-powered uniformed trumpkin

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    after reading that innerfidelity article, ill build a measurements rig and measure my Utopia! I already have a behringer ecm8000 mic.

    do anyone know what Focal will do with the bad variations of the Utopia drivers (if there is really one)?

    the Innerfidelity article suggest that Focal may replace the bad units???:"My friend has already contacted Focal for a replacement headphone and they are being very cooperative
    Read more at
    http://www.innerfidelity.com/content/katzs-corner-episode-16-smoking-gun#vBcus57cdm1OTdhs.99
    "
     
  7. sorrodje

    sorrodje Carla Bruni's other lover - Friend

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    If every Utopia Owner makes his own measurement rig , you won't be able to do proper comparison. Each rig induces its own "coloration".

    A much better option is to make one "ready to use" and easy to ship rig including a mic and a coupler and open a loaner. then all measurements should be easy to compare. Everybody could install and use REW and this Software recognize immediately any miniDSP UMIK1 microphone. Good settings for REW are easy to find here or there and Several people can help if necessary.

    It would be great community work for sbaf . Just Sayin'.
     
  8. Rthomas

    Rthomas Friend

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    I love this idea. We could actually find out if these high end manufacturers are really doing their job. I know none of you guys get compensated for this and this hobby takes time from your family life but if a bunch of SBAF utopia owners could get together and measure them it would be a great help to the hobby.

    I'm absolutely willing to contribute to any shipping costs to get to the bottom of this.
     
  9. sorrodje

    sorrodje Carla Bruni's other lover - Friend

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    If necessary ,one of us ( could be me or anyone used to REW) to make all plots and compile results. .mdat files are easy to share through any Cloud Storage.
     
  10. drbobbybones

    drbobbybones New

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    I hear ya. That's why I'm going to @ultrabike 's place to get measured. He already has a measurement for one, and we can see how mine compares.

    My guess is that there is a difference between an early run (Tyll's copy) and the later runs, likely as they were ramping up production after getting some good reviews. It would be interesting to find out where that delineation is with respect to serial numbers. And I am super curious if my Nordost cables will measure any differently than the stock Utopia cables as well--because they sure sound different.

    That said, I would fully support a standardized measurement setup (hardware and software). If we could figure out a way to put one together, I think a lot of people would be interested in buying into this. This sounds like something that would actually be perfect for a crowdsourcing platform like Kickstarter.
     
  11. Armaegis

    Armaegis Friend

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    I would have concerns about said measurement rig getting rattled about during shipment and parameters changing (box integrity, mic placement, stuffing, coupler seal, etc) as it goes from person to person. How robust and stupid proof can we make it?
     
  12. cskippy

    cskippy Creamy warmpoo

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    If you put the mic in a box with stuffing, you can place clamps on either end to keep it in place then stuff the box full and seal it up nice and tight.

    Going to a Hifi store near me with Utopia, Elear, some Grados, and Mcintosh Pryma. Bringing Gungnir Multibit, Jot, and measurement rig.
     
  13. AllanMarcus

    AllanMarcus Friend

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    Might be better off sending a headphone around as a calibrator. I think Marv proposed this at one time.
     
  14. cskippy

    cskippy Creamy warmpoo

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    That's a good idea too. I've taken measurements of Marv's original modded HD650. I guess a new one could make it's rounds.
     
  15. Serious

    Serious Inquisitive Frequency Response Plot

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    They won't, just as virtually all DACs and amps measure the same unless output impedance is very high.

    You do realize that even if the measurements are near identical with one headphone doesn't mean they're identical with a second headphone? It doesn't work that way. In that case if it was about measuring Utopias you would have to send around a Utopia.

    Honestly if we were to make a coupler that everyone is able to build I would want it to be better than what we currently have. The V1 coupler is not practical at all and I don't like the V2 measurement results at all, because for most headphones it gives FR and CSD measurements that I just plain don't agree with. Even the Utopia measured very resonant in the treble with the V2 coupler. That's what the creatology foam does.
    I actually think that measurement repeatability would be better if instead of making a coupler we would send a tiny mic that everyone inserts into their ears. Ears and heads have different shapes, but are all made from very similar material. It won't be exact, but two couplers won't be exact. either.

    I've wanted to compare different foams as a coupler for a while, but I'm not sure which ones are best. Before we make a universal coupler it'd be better to make a thread that clarifies the tradeoffs said coupler has compared to others. No flat plate coupler will ever give us FR measurements that are accurate.
     
  16. sorrodje

    sorrodje Carla Bruni's other lover - Friend

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    Mine is 100 % robust and stupid proof. I brought it with me during my US trip. Easy to use .

    http://www.superbestaudiofriends.or...nt-setups-post-your-rig.141/page-3#post-16531


    @Serious : yup , no measurement rig would be perfect but the point here is to make one, easy to use and settle that allow everyone to provide the "same" measurements we can compare to see if there's significant FR variation. Even if the FR is not 100 % accurate to tthe way the headphone sounds for real does not matter much. If the headphone we would like to measure would be a Stax ,I would be more cautious becaus placement is critical. Same for the HD800 as well. but IME , the Utopia is super easy to place on the coupler and measure.

    In any case, one imperfect coupler used for all measurements is better than several measurements made on different couplers.
     
    Last edited: May 6, 2017
  17. sorrodje

    sorrodje Carla Bruni's other lover - Friend

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    Just saw Tyll is getting a few samples to measure. Just let him do the job he's better at than us :)
     
  18. AllanMarcus

    AllanMarcus Friend

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  19. TonyNewman

    TonyNewman Validated by Tyll removing Utopia from WOF

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    Mine were about as bright as a (modded) HD800 - not crazy bright, but there was excessive treble emphasis for my tastes. That wasn't why I sold them. The forward and edgy character of the Utopia got to me. The brightness didn't help, but I think it was much more than just the tonality. I have a low tolerance for forward + edgy delivery. Throw some brightness into that mix and I get fatigue after about 30 mins. YMMV.

    I am kinda hoping that there is some rational explanation for Tyll's glowing opinion of the Utopia, compared with my not so great experience. It's all a bit strange to me since I usually align pretty well to Tyll's thoughts on gear.
     
  20. murphythecat

    murphythecat GRU-powered uniformed trumpkin

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    wow, as bright?
    interesting, my hd800 SBAF + SDR is definitely obviously brighter then my utopia.
    maybe you did indeed got a bright Utopia?
     

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