[reddog]

So far

Utopia - too expensive
Elear - too u shaped
Listen - who cares

Lol

 

[Whitigir]

Are we in the golden age that anything have to be at the least of $3999 to be considered of the naming of "high-end" ?

 

[Roderick]

I wish someone could compare Utopia to Pioneer se-master 1....

 

[Whitigir]

imagine the price of flagships in 5 years 

$8,000 - $10,000 

With this direction, I don't even think it will need 5 or 10 years.

 

[TokenGesture]

I wish someone could compare Utopia to Pioneer se-master 1....

Apparently Master 1 not sold in the US

 

[Roderick]

Apparently Master 1 not sold in the US

Still it would be interesting comparison. Master 1 and utopia are to my knowledge the two most expensive open back dynamic headphones currently in production. Both are easy to drive and both are described more natural sounding than hd800.

 

[Nomax]

For one, HD800(S) are probably the best dynamic headphone in years so it's natural to use it as reference to judge a newcomer (tremendously helpful for me as I know what the HD800/S sound like).
Second, the Utopia is actually rather similar in design (very open baffle, similar size cup it seems, different tech but very rigid/quick driver).
AKG K1000 is a whole different beast with its pad less design. In other words, it's not because Focal rep says they put a miniaturized speaker in front of your ears that you must believe everything they imply about soundstage / reproducing the Utopia loudspeaker experience.
As a matter of fact, I am yet to read some impression that the Utopia images well / better than other similar tech headphones.

arnaud

@arnaud yes thats right,the K1000 from the past is similar to the Uropia

NOMAX

PS.RYBACK&RENNER(contributors from K1000)are also working on a New Flagship.....first look here at the pic lol

 

[bmichels]

So... From the first listening impressions here, It looks like Focal has not clearly reached the goal that they mention In Jude´s video : " make, Thanks to a VERY open design, an headphone that sound more like a 2 channel speaker system than any other headphone.

They claimed to offer an experience close to listening to the Big Focal speaker !

Unfortunately this seems not to be the case. Am I correct ?

 

[JayLam]

@arnaud yes thats right,the K1000 from the past is similar to the Uropia

NOMAX

PS.RYBACK&RENNER(contributors from K1000)are also working on a New Flagship.....first look here at the pic lol

Jesus...what the hell is this? K1000's successor!? When will it be released? Exciting!

 

[up late]

I wish someone could compare Utopia to Pioneer se-master 1....

x2 but i won't be holding my breath

 

[raypin]

mmm......a few weeks ago,.I had a chance to audition (and own) the Pioneer SE-Master 1. My dealer here had exactly one unit. I ignored the offer. I should have auditioned it, at the very least. BTT, at least we now have more impressions coming in........keep it coming.

 

[up late]

mmm......too bad

 

[up late]

Are we in the golden age that anything have to be at the least of $3999 to be considered of the naming of "high-end" ?

those kinda posts ain't appreciated 'round these parts - just sayin'

 

[phonomat]

Apparently Master 1 not sold in the US

 
Hm, in this video from RMAF 2015 the Pioneer rep says that they were going to bring them to the North American market starting in Spring 2016.
 
http://www.innerfidelity.com/content/canjam-rmaf-2015-pioneer-se-master-1-flagship-headphones#xPaHofHtAXxTJKeE.97
 
Then again, he also says that they've been available worldwide for a couple of years, which definitely doesn't add up, so maybe he just doesn't know what he's talking about. 

 

  Still it would be interesting comparison. Master 1 and utopia are to my knowledge the two most expensive open back dynamic headphones currently in production. Both are easy to drive and both are described more natural sounding than hd800.

 
I would also be interested in such a comparison. From what I've read here (and owning the Pioneer), it sounds to me like Master1 does about everything Utopia does in regards to SQ, BQ, comfort while exceeding it in terms of bass quantity/quality and soundstage, but I'm admittedly biased. Still, so far I get the impression that, obviously very generally speaking, SE-M1 > Utopia > HD800(S) while Elear > TH-900, but I could be wrong, of course.
 
In any case, the concept is interesting, the Focal guy in the video seems to know what he's talking about, and I'm curious to see (i.e. hear) if Focal has succeeded in creating a headphone with a "speaker-like" sound, which I would probably be inclined to like. I know Pioneer already has (and for almost half the price at that -- which is still a LOT of money, mind you).

 

[phonomat]

  mmm......a few weeks ago,.I had a chance to audition (and own) the Pioneer SE-Master 1. My dealer here had exactly one unit. I ignored the offer. I should have auditioned it, at the very least. BTT, at least we now have more impressions coming in........keep it coming.

 
I'm that close to giving you mine as a gift if you just stop purring. 

 

mmm......too bad

 
I got a TH-900 for you, but I think you already have one.