Just double posting here, from the Focal Utopia thread, regarding the Lazuli Reference cable.
I have just bought the Utopia to use with my HMS TT2 and can report it works splendidly. Both the demo pair I first heard and the final purchase - no variation at all in that sample of two. Utopia also works like a dream with my original Hugo TT. I have never heard the TT sound so good.
Re the cable, I strongly suggest trying the Lazuli Reference before making a final decision. Mine has just arrived via international purchase. I am based in the UK and had to buy the cable unheard. Now that was a bit nail biting. But I need not have worried, the people at Danacable were v helpful and it all went smoothly and quickly - just over a week door to door.
Frankly I am amazed that a cable can make such a difference. The sound stage has opened up beautifully - so important with Chord DACs. I tried the Heimdal 2 which was better than stock - more detailed and refined but a bit thinner. The Lazuli was a big step up from both and I have hardly burned it in yet.
On the Utopia thread, in response to a further query, I added:
The prices are on the Danacable website (
http://danacables.com/) in $USD and depend on the cable choice, length and termination. International enquiries are asked to email Vinh Vu (
gingko@gingkoaudio.com) who quoted me $85 for shipping direct. The £/$ exchange is good at the moment - almost 1.5x when I did it - which made it easier.
Vinh was very helpful and answered all my questions promptly. The company maintained their 30-day no questions returns policy even internationally. Not that I will be sending the cable back.
I'm no cable expert so please do not take my comments in alone. A lot depends on what music you prefer, how you listen and how your brain works. This cable just seemed to be v highly regarded for the Utopia and was a similar price to the Heimdal 2 (which I was not convinced about) so I decided to take the plunge. I also needed a 1/4" plug for the TT2, although there are cheaper ways of doing that
I listen to a lot of classical music so good instrument tone and clear resolution of melodic lines and counterpoint are important to me. So is sound stage. I hesitated for a while before purchasing the Utopias because I felt they were a bit closed in - slightly claustrophobic - with a narrow stage, even though they starred on the other criteria. To my delight, the LR cable has opened up the sound stage nicely. Not as wide as my HD800s but very natural - easy to place performers across the stage and front to back.
If I just listened to popular music (which I do like, of course) I would not demand nearly as much of my audio system. I'm not listening for strong, rhythmic bass or exciting, full blooded sound - such as Fleetwood Mac's
Rumours would sound great with. That album and many great jazz and blues recordings already sound excellent on any of the systems I have owned for the past couple of decades. They sound even better now, as you would expect, but not so much I would pursue improvements at such a cost and with so much energy.
FInally, I should mention there is a dedicated thread on Head-Fi for the LR cable, in case you have not seen it:
https://www.head-fi.org/threads/danacable-lazuli-reference-thread.855143/ Seems like the LR is popular with many other TOTL headphones as well.