Jul 2, 2024 at 5:29 AM Post #1,996 of 2,142
Have you tried the headphones with a different source than your PC? I assume you have an amplifier you can connect to a different PC, smartphone, or some other kind of player. It's possible you could have damaged the drivers if playing a very high volumes or improperly powered. HD600 are not the easily cans to drive and do require some a pretty good of power to drive well.



If this is true, this is most likely some poorly insulted wiring or the fan itself. It's possible the fan could have been vibrating the GPU card or the sound card which caused the issue.
not sure I think maybe this song and some other are too bad for the utopia ? like they have too much bass and the utopia just stop itself , I read that they put some kind of protection system. it was crackling with the SXFI AMP but with other card it doesn't , it just sound too bassy like 300$ headphones . I guess it's the song it self because some other songs are fine. with the hd800s the same song sound good.
 
Jul 2, 2024 at 7:39 PM Post #1,997 of 2,142
Help Help Help.

If I have a DAC, any DAC for example the Z8 EverSolo, I can use the USB and Optical, when I use the USB I have the options to choose FULL RANGE SPEAKERS, when I use the optical I don't have this option, this is one CRITICAL option for any studio headphones espically the Utopia 2022 and HD800s, why it's not exist in the menu and how can we set it when it's optical

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Jul 2, 2024 at 8:15 PM Post #1,998 of 2,142
... If I have a DAC, ... can use the USB and Optical, ... USB ... options to choose FULL RANGE SPEAKERS, ... optical I don't have this option, .... studio headphones espically the Utopia 2022 and HD800s...

This can be DAC specific. It also could be a driver issue with Windows. Others, you cannot use USB and optical at the same time.

On a side note, neither of the headphones are "studio" headphones. Don't know what you're trying to do achieve, but in general, it's not a good idea to mix/create music using headphones. Should be a using a quality set of monitors. If you're a DJ, this does not apply.
 
Jul 3, 2024 at 2:07 AM Post #1,999 of 2,142
not sure I think maybe this song and some other are too bad for the utopia ? like they have too much bass and the utopia just stop itself , I read that they put some kind of protection system. it was crackling with the SXFI AMP but with other card it doesn't , it just sound too bassy like 300$ headphones . I guess it's the song it self because some other songs are fine. with the hd800s the same song sound good.
I'm not sure how power hungry the Utopia may be. As far as I know, Focal headphones do not require a lot of power to run well, unlike most of the Sennheiser lines. I'm assuming this is case with HD800s. The Focal Stellia are extremely easy to drive.

My thinking, you may be over powering the Utopia. This is assuming the Utopia driver's haven't been damaged. What you're describing is typical for a blown voice coil. I did this early on in car audio because my amp was too powerful for the speakers I was sold. Try connecting to your cellphone with your amp; I assuming you have a USB-3.5mm or lighting-3.5mm adapter somewhere. See if the they play better. If it's under powered, they won't get very loud. There's other issues that can develop from under powering speakers.
 
Jul 3, 2024 at 9:13 AM Post #2,000 of 2,142
I'm not sure how power hungry the Utopia may be. As far as I know, Focal headphones do not require a lot of power to run well, unlike most of the Sennheiser lines. I'm assuming this is case with HD800s. The Focal Stellia are extremely easy to drive.

My thinking, you may be over powering the Utopia. This is assuming the Utopia driver's haven't been damaged. What you're describing is typical for a blown voice coil. I did this early on in car audio because my amp was too powerful for the speakers I was sold. Try connecting to your cellphone with your amp; I assuming you have a USB-3.5mm or lighting-3.5mm adapter somewhere. See if the they play better. If it's under powered, they won't get very loud. There's other issues that can develop from under powering speakers.
I couldn't really overpower them . I remember the sound was weird when I got them at first. I used mayflower amp with gsx1000 and chord mojo 2 and eCLARO HT OMEGA with Burson audio 7v vivid upgrade. now I am with z8 eversolo using low gain I always preferred low gain with them .
 
Jul 5, 2024 at 9:37 AM Post #2,001 of 2,142
At this stage, my impression is that the 2022 version doesn’t seem to have the same level of dynamic, in comparison with the OG. I compared them side by side listening to several tracks and the difference was quite clear. TBH it’s a bit boring to listen to. FYI, my setup is in my sig (amp is V281 / Cable is Dana’s Lazuli Ref).
Is this the consensus view? If the 2022's dynamics fall short of the OGs, that would be a deal-breaker for me.
 
Jul 5, 2024 at 9:50 AM Post #2,002 of 2,142
Is this the consensus view? If the 2022's dynamics fall short of the OGs, that would be a deal-breaker for me.
The 2022 wasn't as upper mid forward as the OG which relays the impression that it is not as energetic. The Danacable lends weight and warmth/body to the Utopia OG whereas it doesn't synergise as well with the Utopia 2022. I have my Utopia 2022 paired with a Norne Vykari v2 copper/silver hybrid and I wouldn't fault the dynamics.

It's personal preference. I found the 2022 easier to pair and less fatiguing. That and the 4-pin XLR on the Danacable means I usually don't pick up the OG.

Oh *** it. I'll go grab my portable amp and listen to Utopia OG tonight. SP3000 + Orphy IC + MK475. That Norne V2 and Utopia OG.

As smooth as the Penon Impact I was listening to is ... it's not even a close comparison to the Utopia. I can think of very few IEM's that would give me a similar experience.


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Jul 5, 2024 at 10:46 AM Post #2,003 of 2,142
Thanks. I’m much less interested in perceived differences in cables than the differences in the headphones themselves.
 
Jul 5, 2024 at 10:49 AM Post #2,004 of 2,142
Thanks. I’m much less interested in perceived differences in cables than the differences in the headphones themselves.
Goes hand in hand. Have to consider the whole chain. The Utopia is rather sensitive to changes up the line.

And it may partially explain why the 2022 doesn't seem to have the same level of dynamic as the OG.

I'm going out of my way to do an A | B as I actually own the Utopia OG and 2022 using the same cable. I'm also currently still working from home so be nice. It takes a good hour or two to A | B something. :)

*edit: On an initial impression - it may very well be that different in the mid tuning between the OG and the Utopia which gives it that perceived energy. Not dynamic is far from how I would describe either Utopia. If anything I thought the Utopia 2022 was subtly ahead but I'm not confident in calling it.

I find the Utopia 2022 better balanced with a tad more body in mids. It sounds slightly warmer and smoother as a result. And I will stand by my assertion that the Norne Vykari V2 synergises well with Utopia 2022*.
 
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Jul 5, 2024 at 11:06 AM Post #2,005 of 2,142
I do appreciate you taking the time.

I am a cable non-believer. Not trying to start a debate, just putting it out there.
 
Jul 5, 2024 at 11:12 AM Post #2,006 of 2,142
I do appreciate you taking the time.

I am a cable non-believer. Not trying to start a debate, just putting it out there.

I was. Until I did. Perhaps it's like MSG. But then I listen to an interconnect or cable totally blind to what it is (especially if sheathed) and it's cost - and can describe how it changes the sound consistent with the chap across the room who handed it to me who is familiar with it. It's like the Chord filters. You either can hear the difference. Or you can't. It's subtle in some cases and not in others. I put cable debates into the evangelism category -> If you believe, great. If not, you've saved a whole heap of money and time.

On topic - mids on the Utopia 2022 are better balanced and rounded. I much prefer it over the Utopia OG. I found I had to pair the Danacable LR + to mitigate the brightness and add that lower mid body on the OG which the Utopia 2022 does better. It comes down to personal preference - do you prefer slightly bright, upper mid forward and energetic or would you prefer the sound a tad more balanced with more lower mid weight and warmth. The tuning difference isn't night and day.

The Utopia 2022 on the right source is well in A+ / S tier.

Having listened that little bit more - Utopia has never been faulted on dynamics as far as I can recall. The 2022 is no different and I've listened to everything from classical, Haliene, Lady Antebellum and trance in the last half an hour.
 
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Jul 5, 2024 at 4:45 PM Post #2,007 of 2,142
I do appreciate you taking the time.

I am a cable non-believer. Not trying to start a debate, just putting it out there.
I’ve find that with the Utopia headphones (I’ve owned both and currently using the 2022) that they’re such chameleons that the difference between them is quite dependent on the amplifier. For example, the OG from an Arche has more balance, body and intensity than the 2022, t straight from a HMS/TT2 the OG can be very lively compared to the 2022’s warmth and extra heft. The headphone you prefer might well come down to amplification.

It’s the same with the Utopia speaker line - total chameleons that have that wonderful ability to sound many different ways but still maintaining their core strengths of ease, detail, etc. Contrast that with say, a Klipsch Cornwall that holds onto its “sound” much more. I’ve never owned an LCD4, but from the people write about it, it seems to be in the Klipsch camp in that regard.
 
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Jul 6, 2024 at 2:28 AM Post #2,009 of 2,142
... I am a cable non-believer. Not trying to start a debate, just putting it out there.
Too late, those are fighting words around here, LOL.

I'm don't sway either way. For me, I think cables have some change, but not a significant change. I do believe cheap, crappy cables do have a negative impact. Overally, I would say one wants a good build quality and cable that is not microphronic. Don't want a cable that is going to fall apart or project every bump on the cable.
 
Jul 6, 2024 at 8:02 AM Post #2,010 of 2,142
I was. Until I did. Perhaps it's like MSG. But then I listen to an interconnect or cable totally blind to what it is (especially if sheathed) and it's cost - and can describe how it changes the sound consistent with the chap across the room who handed it to me who is familiar with it. It's like the Chord filters. You either can hear the difference. Or you can't. It's subtle in some cases and not in others. I put cable debates into the evangelism category -> If you believe, great. If not, you've saved a whole heap of money and time.

On topic - mids on the Utopia 2022 are better balanced and rounded. I much prefer it over the Utopia OG. I found I had to pair the Danacable LR + to mitigate the brightness and add that lower mid body on the OG which the Utopia 2022 does better. It comes down to personal preference - do you prefer slightly bright, upper mid forward and energetic or would you prefer the sound a tad more balanced with more lower mid weight and warmth. The tuning difference isn't night and day.

The Utopia 2022 on the right source is well in A+ / S tier.

Having listened that little bit more - Utopia has never been faulted on dynamics as far as I can recall. The 2022 is no different and I've listened to everything from classical, Haliene, Lady Antebellum and trance in the last half an hour.
Yeah it's literally just a question of tuning preference. The OG has a bit more sparkle and sense of excitement in the upper mids and top end; on the flipside the 2022 version has (to me at least) richer and more fleshed out mids.

One thing I will say - the bass on the 2022 version is addictive. Precise and impactful.
 

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