You know what they say, ''garbage in, garbage out'', well, I'm still trying to figure out how the Utopia have managed to make chicken soup out of chicken poop!
That's right, some songs sounded OK, most sounded good, and a few like Jewel's Foolish Games sounded very good.
It is true that Utopia made a lot of things to sound good and smooth, even bad tracks...lol. Utopia actually was tuned this way, a way that it compromises 1 thing for another. What the Utopia compromises is very little, but it gains so much right on the whole spectrum. It is like an art how they engineered and tuned it this way. When I went looking for it, i found what it is, but I can not complain, that is just because everything else sounds so "damn right", and we all know "nothing is perfect".
These following are my own experiences, observations, impressions to my ears and from my system, specifically a comparison between Z1R and Utopia, and why I pick Utopia to be a better performer Vs Z1R.
What I found out was that Utopia Dynamic resolution is freaking crazy down right to the deepest sub-bass. I had Z1R before, and what I heard was that Z1R had a boosted sub-bass and it reaches deep. The closed back and the cups design boosted it with that warmth of the tonal body into everything, the Z1R sounded unnaturally boosted but in a very fun and enjoyable way. Utopia bass has no artificial color or flavor added, it is pure, it is raw, and it is super vivid, diving in deep, and authentic rumbles.
Then in bad records, the vocal and the trebles could be harsh at time in Z1R. The thing is that Z1R had so much details into the upper of lower treble, some of it sounded harsh. In comparison to Utopia, everything is so smooth, Utopia is actually more musical and enjoyable to me than Z1R in this way, together with the open feeling, Dynamic, natural, Utopia is a better Headphones to me. Utopia is compromising a very slight-bit somewhere around 2-4 kHz in comparison to Z1R. It is still there, but mostly is controlled. Here, I do feel like the Utopia can benefit from (Pure Silver wires for cables I love bass, I go for silver-gold). I went looking for the Utopia and Z1R chart comparison, and I am surprised that it is real. Look into this picture, it compromises somewhere (1.5-5.5 KHz) areas in comparison to Z1R and LCD-3. It shares a very similar curves with HD-800 from 5Khz . Only in some Modern Pop and EDM that some synthetic plays may Have strong trebles run in this sections but could be sibilant and harsh with Z1R
The instant where the measurements just can't explain it, how come Utopia bass has so much, and still so right ? It is unbelievable
I forgot to repeat the strong points of Z1R, it also has so much bass even though somewhat boosted, and touch of color, but is very enjoyable in an unbelievable way as well. It also has a more expressive Vertical rendering than Utopia....nothing is perfect!
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Over-all, the Utopia has this beautiful Balances, Neutral, Open, Super-vivid Dynamic and resolutions, and so unbelievably Natural. It makes every listening sessions priceless. The punches, impacts, rumbles, natural and realistic timbres everywhere. How do I complain about Utopia "restraining back" some of those trebles ? It is like Focal did it a favor, and toned down those harsh details, and most importantly very little in the while of keeping balances in this specific sections, very little at the right places, and gaining momentum at other right places to achieve a beautiful blend of balances. As a whole completed package, there is no complains about the Utopia, it is so addictive. Wait....how did a little control can turn out to be so awesome ? Details are still oozing because my ears are not being fired upon with sibilants ? No harshness anywhere ? Just Pure Magical
In my conclusion as of why I sold Z1R and choose to stay with Utopia. It is simple, Z1R sounds more artificial like an over saturated super amoled vs Retina HD (Utopia) in the Dynamic resolution and it body, it makes Utopia to have real High-definitions Bass while Z1R bass is colored with warm body and a bit unnatural in comparison. Yes, the Z1R performs better in the lower trebles, but can be sibilant in places and harsh. Then ultimately, the sources that I connect with, Sony new Signature TA-ZH1ES and WM1Z Walkman, both pieces are warmer, which made Utopia to be the best choice for it. Simply put, Natural vs warmth, harsh caramel bits vs clear jelly smooth, open vs closed, synergy, and the physical forms, Z1R is too large for me to lay down in bed with or taking it around the house but not Utopia
Ironically, it wasn't Sony who voices the headphones in great synergy with the system, but Focal and it Utopia. This is somewhat a ritual of classic statement I recalled from my oldest brother in law, "Japan sources and European speakers" for the best of it
....he was talking about stereo system though....and never thought I would have found it here in the Portable worlds.
I never thought I would say this, but Focal had beautifully achieved a master piece in balances, dynamic, expression of openness, smoothness, musicality.... so much right. It is an art, Utopia is an Art, and is a very sophisticated piece at it. I agree to Tyll statement "it is the best headphones yet" in a whole package.
Expensive though!
