I posted the following thoughts on the Utopia thread, but thought it might be of interest/value to those perusing the AFC thread, so here it is...
Some guy tried to start a debate with me on reddit yesterday when I asserted that while I believe my Utopias are the better headphone, the AFC have fewer "strings" attached, which allow me to enjoy them just a little bit more than the Utopias. I wasn't trying to take anything away from the Utopia, only trying to express my high regard for the AFC, while offering my input for someone who was asking for direct comparisons. What I said was that with the AFC, I really get lost in the music. With my Utopias, there is always this thought in my head while listening, that I am listening to a really expensive pair of headphones...and its really kinda distracting. I think he was mad that I had an expensive pair of headphones sitting on a stand, not getting the love they deserve?? Or he was just your typical passive-aggressive reddit troll trying to goad me into a fruitless argument??
I wear my AFC nearly all day at work (because they are closed) with my Hugo2. If I could wear my Utopias at work, I would probably sell the AFC…well maybe. But, because I can’t wear open headphones at work, the Utopias only get worn at home and usually only for shorter listening sessions, splitting time with my speaker setup. It also usually takes a little while for my ears to adjust to the Utopias, especially after listening to the AFC all day. For the first hour or so or listening, I’m listening, but not really listening. Mostly, I’m wondering to myself whether they are really “worth” their weight in carbon fiber and lambskin. I doubt many who own the Utopias would experience this feeling unless they, like me, only get to listen to them for a couple/few hours throughout the week. But it usually takes a while for me to warm up to them each time I put them on. But once my ears adjust, they are simply stunning. Eventually I get to a point when I get lost in the music, just before I fall asleep. But, there is always, at least for me, a stigma attached to my pair of Utopias and it takes away from my overall enjoyment while listening to them. This is not a feeling I get while listening to the AFC. The AFC and Utopias are very different from each other. I do believe one is objectively/subjectively better than the other. I’m really glad I own and get to listen to both. But, in my opinion the AFC are unquestionably the better value...and for some, like me, might find them more enjoyable too.