Focal Utopia Review (collective stream of consciousness)

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

  1. dubharmonic

    dubharmonic Friend

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    I think both Stax and Utopia are great for classical, it would be tough to permanently pick one over the other. Both are fast, precise and on the leaner side, but my Stax SR-L500 are restrained and graceful while the Utopia is extroverted and ready to slap the listener in the face if they’re not paying complete attention.
     
  2. Darren G

    Darren G Friend

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    I may be wrong, so please take it as-is, but if there is any issue with the Utopia and classical, I think the issues mostly lie in the classical recordings that are taking advantage of the full dynamic range of 16-bit Redbook audio. There is a lot going on down there at very low levels, and so any noise, and limits of the recording, really stand out when listening through the Utopia. Nothing wrong with a headphone that adds a bit of romantic overtones, but the Utopia's strength is also its weakness here. You get it raw (and a bit mechanical too), like it or not.
     
  3. Audiophile

    Audiophile New

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    Now that the focal hype has calmed down, Which of them is better based on sound quality alone, an Utopia or a well amped Stax sr 009/007?
     
    Last edited: Jan 8, 2018
  4. MrButchi

    MrButchi Gear Master Europe

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    ... doesn’t make sense.sorry.
     
  5. AllanMarcus

    AllanMarcus Friend

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    please define "better"
     
  6. Audiophile

    Audiophile New

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    "better" as in a better genre master or which plays better with a wider range of music and more technically capable.
     
    Last edited: Jan 9, 2018
  7. slankoe

    slankoe Tongue tastes of LH butthole

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    I had the privilege of a three hour listening session with Utopia today, it wasn't my first session ever, but what never fails to impress me, is this headphone.

    Focal Clear seems hard to fault in sound, but Utopia actually does have incredible imaging and staging in direct comparison. All those hyperboles people throw around about the Utopia are not actually far from the reality. This headphone points to exactly where an instrument is placed, in such a realistic-for-a-headphone type of way.

    I really wonder what Tyll at Innerfidelity hear with his first, so called "defective" Utopia for review. Would I prefer it over the unit commonly available? Who knows, the thing is a unicorn I guess.
    Clear isn't as good for classical music as Utopia is.
    Edit: still not sure which one to keep, might have to keep both...
     
    Last edited: Jan 10, 2018
  8. phaeton

    phaeton Acquaintance

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    I will answer based on my own definition of "better", i.e. which of the two cans I like most with the music I tipically listen to (mainly all variants of jazz, some downtempo trip-hop, some '80-'90 rock) and with my own rigs (see my sig).
    009+BHSE/KGSSHV can deliver sublime sound, but I have chosen Utopia+tubes (2A3/300B SE, even if very specific and somewhat atypical) because to my ears was better.
    one critical thing with Utopia is GIGO. it is really much more sensitive to the quality of DAC and amplifier than other cans. at least, this is my experience. the pairing with the MSB is really something magical (again IMHO and to my ears)
     
  9. cskippy

    cskippy Creamy warmpoo

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    These are f'ing great! That is all...
     
  10. AllanMarcus

    AllanMarcus Friend

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    Please prove your statement with measurements from at least two different rigs

    :)
     
  11. cskippy

    cskippy Creamy warmpoo

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    Just one...
    [​IMG]
     
  12. AllanMarcus

    AllanMarcus Friend

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    Fuckin' great!
     
  13. Jozurr

    Jozurr Facebook Friend

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    Congratulations! Between these and the Code-X, I'm set.
     
  14. phaeton

    phaeton Acquaintance

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    please find hereafter my 4 measurements with different rigs
    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    :):):)
     
  15. jowls

    jowls Never shitposts (please) - Friend

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    Pavane is a great pairing with Utopia. It seems to ameliorate some of the occasional treble glare from cymbals etc that I was getting with ADI-2 Pro. It’s weird because at the same time treble doesn’t seem rolled at all. This is with DSHA2.

    [Insert psalmazar reference to samurai swords glinting in the setting sun here]
     
  16. jowls

    jowls Never shitposts (please) - Friend

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    Further to this, it would be interesting to hear other people’s experiences of Utopia with NOS DACs specifically...
     
  17. jexby

    jexby Posole Prince

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    Paging @MisterRogers .
    Please pick up the nearest white courtesy phone in the terminal to submit your impressions.
     
  18. drgumbybrain

    drgumbybrain Science Nut

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    I prefer the utopia with Zana Deux Amp
     
  19. k1arg

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    @jowls, if you have further comments/impressions on Utopia from DSHA2, I'd be very interested. Even just which other amps you have tried and prefer the DSHA2 over. I keep considering the DSHA* amps, but have not yet managed to hear one. For context, I'm currently running Utopias from a Torpedo III and the magnitude of the difference between low and high Z modes has me wondering if the interaction between the amp and the Utopia impedance curve isn't entirely harmonious, and there is a way to get the bass control of low Z without going a bit bass light.
     
  20. zerodeefex

    zerodeefex SBAF's Imelda Marcos

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    one month ban for garbage posting and having zero understanding about this place.
     

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