Hi-Fi can be full of surprises. Yesterday I had a chance to listen to and compare three fine headphones, under very good conditions: The Neumann NDH 30, the Focal Clear MG Pro and the Focal Utopia (2022). On a 3-day family vacation in Athens I took my NDH 30 with me, just in case I could find some time for hi-fi shopping. On Monday a very helpful dealer told me on the phone that there was a good opportunity for headphones auditioning since there were no bookings for loudspeaker system demos for the day. I rushed there with my Neumann in hand and I was able to listen for just less than 2 hours, in a mostly quiet environment, through the Naim Uniti Atom - Headphones Edition (a streamer/dac/head-amp, rather expensive at about € 2.800 but what a fine device!) and using Tidal.
As a matter of fact I went to the shop thinking I could finally have a good listen of the Clear MG but arriving there I saw that the Utopia 2022 was also available for listening. So I asked for the single-ended cables for both Focals and listened to all three headphones using the exact same electronics (the Naim single ended output). The Focals were well used/"broken in", they where demo units after all.
It is true that one or two hours is not really enough for definite conclusions, so please consider the following as just first impressions with a degree of uncertainty. (I am trying to do the same). So here it is:
I listened to many tracks, initially giving equal time to all three headphones. I must say that their differences where rather minor by absolute standards and all three where indeed of very high class sonically. They also sounded nicely balanced with no need for EQing. But soon an unexpected thing happened: I started to feel that one headphone was very slightly left behind by the other two in terms of fine detail, vocal/instrumental timbre and above all naturallness. It was the Clear MG. Compared with the other two it sounded just a little bit shouty at times, which I felt was masking some very fine timbral detail. Also I had a constant sense of a little more natural and smooth mids and highs with the Utopia and the Neumann. The music was flowing a bit more effortlessly, coherently and naturally with these two than with the Clear MG Pro. Thus, instead of comparing the NDH 30 with the Clear Mg as I intended, gradually I lost interest for the Clear MG and ended up comparing the 30 with the Utopia(!) I had to listen very carefully and methodically because these two were very close. They seem to share a quite similar natural balance, but also a very close resolving ability, to the point of not being able to tell if one was more resolving. However, there were times that the Utopia sounded ever so slightly smoother or better flowing, offering a little more seductive presentation, while the Neumann had some "fresher" and crisper moments. Returning to the NDH 30 after the Utopia never sounded like a downgrade or a change of price class. The NDH 30 stays up there at the top, sounding frighteningly resolving, natural and dynamic. It also sounds like offering a little fuller sub-bass than both the Focals but the Utopia is very close. Returning to the Clear MG after any of the other two, only gave a slight sense of loss of their finest qualities and never sounded like bringing something interesting. One thing of which I am very certain is that the Utopia 2022 is audibly and definitely superior to the Clear Mg. If I had to place the NDH 30 somewhere between them it would be much closer to the Utopia than the Clear.
After my listening time ended (it was nearly closing time), the kind person that helped me at the shop accepted my offer to listen to the NDH 30 with great interest, as he never had the chance before (the NDH 30 is hard to find available for demoing). I will continue with this part an more impressions in another post.
