[Currawong]

  I agree with this in essence, but rather than call it a problem, I'd phrase it a bit differently:  I'd say that unless you own really high end source gear, you're not going to be taking advantage of everything the Utopia has to offer. It hardly seems worth spending $4k on a headphone that won't be used to its full potential.  If you already have a really nice headphone like the HD800, but your source chain isn't quite TOTL yet, you might consider upping your source chain first otherwise you might be disappointed that the Utopia isn't sounding as good as people say it should.

 
Yup, I can't disagree with this. They were just as obviously capable out of a balanced portable amp from Cypher Labs or ALO Audio. 
 

   I guess I would have to disagree with Currawong about the Utopia's requiring someone to already have a super high-end rig to even be considered.
 

 
For me, since I'm so over-sensitised to small differences in sound. I was listening in the Cavalli/AK/Kimber room and my first thought was "I want to use a different source that I like better." because I could tell instantly (at least I believe -- anyone else is welcome to think I'm nuts) what aspects of the sound were the amp and what were the AK streamer through the Utopias.
 
There are obviously people out there who want to drop $4k on the Utopias and I think they are mostly people who will drop an equal amount on the other gear too. Best results will be, IMO, if those people indeed do that.
 
@meomap Decisiveness is good.

 

[meomap]

Yup, I can't disagree with this. They were just as obviously capable out of a balanced portable amp from Cypher Labs or ALO Audio. 


For me, since I'm so over-sensitised to small differences in sound. I was listening in the Cavalli/AK/Kimber room and my first thought was "I want to use a different source that I like better." because I could tell instantly (at least I believe -- anyone else is welcome to think I'm nuts) what aspects of the sound were the amp and what were the AK streamer through the Utopias.

There are obviously people out there who want to drop $4k on the Utopias and I think they are mostly people who will drop an equal amount on the other gear too. Best results will be, IMO, if those people indeed do that.

@meomap Decisiveness is good.

Both Focal cans using ALO CDM/ qp1r are very good, but I think using Esoteric K5 DAC or CD/SACD at home is also an excellent choice too. If not then I can always hit the vinyl as an end game of enjoyment.

 

[meomap]

Hi,
Speaking about high prices in magnitude, MSB just come out with headphone dac/amp = $145K. Chord Dave is now considering very cheap.
Now, go get it.
This is outrageous!

 

[heliosphann]

Hi,
Speaking about high prices in magnitude, MSB just come out with headphone dac/amp = $145K. Chord Dave is now considering very cheap.
Now, go get it.
This is outrageous!

Does that come with a live-in DJ that will telepathically know what I want to listen to?

 

[FredrikT92]

You know... Stuff like that is what scare people away and make hifi look like a very unserious business... $145k system that you probably wont really hear the difference between in a blind test versus much cheaper stuff. 

 

[griff2]

Hi,
Speaking about high prices in magnitude, MSB just come out with headphone dac/amp = $145K. Chord Dave is now considering very cheap.
Now, go get it.
This is outrageous!

$145k, madness.

 

[conquerator2]

Whoever thinks it's Ok to make a product like that should be fired and deported to Greenland.

 

[brent75]

Anyone have any idea if these will be at Rocky Mountain Audio Fesr in October? I may buy Elear on the spot.

 

[meomap]

Anyone have any idea if these will be at Rocky Mountain Audio Fesr in October? I may buy Elear on the spot.

MSB will be Can Jam in London.

 

[Beagle]

  You know... Stuff like that is what scare people away and make hifi look like a very unserious business... $145k system that you probably wont really hear the difference between in a blind test versus much cheaper stuff. 

 
Very true. And you could buy a house instead..

 

[TSAVJason]

Anyone have any idea if these will be at Rocky Mountain Audio Fesr in October? I may buy Elear on the spot.

Yes and Listen Up in Denver will have them by October in time for RMAF

 

[brent75]

Yes and Listen Up in Denver will have them by October in time for RMAF

Fantastic - I'm looking forward to trying everything out. It will be my first ever audio show!

 

[vert]

  The problem I think with the Utopias is this: I wouldn't buy them unless I owned no less than something along the lines of full Rag/Yggy rig, a Chord Dave, or any completely dialled-in high-end rig. They were just TOO brutally revealing of gear, and I'm too sensitive now. Ditto LCD-4s (which I auditioned again later out of a Resonessence Mirus + Audeze King).

 
If the Utopias are as good as advertised, you would need a dialed-in high end rig to hear everything it was capable of.
 
I'm talking top notch isolation stand, power conditioning, grounding box, and cables.
 
At that point your rig is in the multiples of tens of thousands of dollars.

 

[vert]

Originally Posted by XERO1 /img/forum/go_quote.gif
 
Actually, there is an argument to be made for first starting with the best headphones (to your ear) that you can afford, and then start upgrading your gear.  The benefit is that you will already have headphones that are high-res enough to allow you to easily hear the difference/improvement between any downstream component change that you make down the road.
 
That being said, the Elear's would still be a great place to start if the Utopia's are just to far out of your budget.

 
You don't need to spend as much as the Utopias to be able to hear slight changes in your system.
 
You could spend half or less on headphones. 
 
I have an LCD-3 and I can hear every little change I make.

 

[TSAVJason]

If the Utopias are as good as advertised, you would need a dialed-in high end rig to hear everything it was capable of.

I'm talking top notch isolation stand, power conditioning, grounding box, and cables.

At that point your rig is in the multiples of tens of thousands of dollars.

Nonsense you do not need to spend 10's of thousands or even $10k to take advantage of the Utopia's prowess! That's a total exaggeration! I do think everyone is entitled to their opinions but the words "Brutally Accurate" are also a bit over the top. Kind of on the dramatic side. IMHO