You could also opt for pigtails … I have these with my Lavricables Grand Silver 3.5mm cable. The pigtails allow for connecting the cable also to my ZMF and Utopia. (the pigtails in the picture are in fact also Lavricables Grand Silver)
Focal Utopia 2022 Review, Measurements
- Thread starter jude
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ShortBtwnHdset
100+ Head-Fier
What is your setup, PrTv, if you don't mind me asking? I had been considering the Lazuli Rhapsody for widening stage, I'm currently running the Silver Dragon cable. Love the feathery highs, but again, would like to widen the soundstage.
PrTv
500+ Head-Fier
My setup is in my sig, but in summary
- Roon Nucleus One as Server
- Into a HQ Player dedicated PC (JCAT NetCard XE with Optio Nano)
- Into Holo Red > Holo May KTE (upsamlling to DSD512 with DAC Correction)
Amplifiers are Feliks Euforia Evo (RCA) and Violectric V281 (XLR)
About widening the soundstage, I think the Rhapsody is a step up from Reference I had, I actually love many things with this Newtopia + Rhapsody combination, but I always crave for more dynamic and punch.
I also have Silver Dragon cable and IMO, while the SD is not a bad cable, it’s in different league from something like Rhapsody.
I’m considering Brise Audio’s offering right now https://briseaudio.com/en/products/bshp_for_utopiasg
As it seems to be more lively cable.
Hifiearspeakers
Headphoneus Supremus
Finally got to hear these. Well this will be very short. These are simply the best headphones I’ve ever heard at any price. Their timbre, tonality, balance, punchiness, detail and resolution make these a 10/10.
As someone who has heard the Susvara, HE1000 entire series, the entire LCD line except the 5, numerous Grado, AKG, Beyerdynamic, ZMF Atrium-Verite-Caldera-Auteur, Sennheiser 600/6XX/650, Sennheiser 800 and 800S, Abyss Diana, and many more.
I’d take these over all of them without batting an eye. These are as close to perfect as I’ve ever heard.
As someone who has heard the Susvara, HE1000 entire series, the entire LCD line except the 5, numerous Grado, AKG, Beyerdynamic, ZMF Atrium-Verite-Caldera-Auteur, Sennheiser 600/6XX/650, Sennheiser 800 and 800S, Abyss Diana, and many more.
I’d take these over all of them without batting an eye. These are as close to perfect as I’ve ever heard.
up late
Headphoneus Supremus
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^ yep, the utopia is an exceptional dynamic headphone that has been lauded by owners and reviewers since its introduction in 2016 for good reason. i've also spent time with a number of the other totl offerings and not once have i felt disappointed upon returning to the utopia.
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I did look in your 'About' section and I assume you're referring to the original Utopia, unless you haven't updated your 'headphones', correct?
up late
Headphoneus Supremus
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correct. posted in the wrong utopia thread i guess.
be that as it may, the 'nutopia' and og utopia sound more similar to me than they do different - if that makes sense.
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I was pretty sure you had the original Utopia.correct. posted in the wrong utopia thread i guess.
I haven't had the opportunity to hear the '22 - but I can understand you saying "the 'nutopia' and og utopia sound more similar to me than they do different" because they're cut from the same cloth.
chesebert
18 Years An Extra-Hardcore Head-Fi'er
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Took years but it looks like we finally agree on something. IMO: LCD5 is not competitive with OG or 2022. Also, 007, 009S and CRBN OG are not competitive. Grado HP2 has similar sound profile but technically weaker. Aperio is competitive but $30k. No DCA is competitive. Composer is not competitive. AB1266 phi TC is not competitive.
Finally Eddie Current Balancing Act with Elrog or Takatsuki 300B is the best amp I have heard with Utopia. It’s better than CFA3 and Mass Kobo 465.
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number1sixerfan
Headphoneus Supremus
I'm sorry but this is ridiculous lol
If you prefer them FINE. Articulate that as such. But to say the none of these are even competitive is just ridiculous lol
Hifiearspeakers
Headphoneus Supremus
I have not heard all of those e stats. I just can’t get into their sound. They sound so artificial to me and they never seem to have enough bass to ground/drive the music.
I loved the bass on the Composer, but it was just too bright for me everywhere else. I do wonder what it will sound like if they ever release the mythical “Nomax” earpads…
chesebert
18 Years An Extra-Hardcore Head-Fi'er
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I did say IMO. When I listened to those I tend to focus more on gear. When I listen to Utopia I forget about gear and focus on music. When I say not competitive I don’t mean technically not competitive (LCD5 for example is technically excellent as is Composer). I value how fast I can forget about the gear and focus on the music. If the gear keeps on calling itself out then it’s not competitive to me.
007 (T2)- weak holography and bass; weak PRaT
009S (T2) - weak PRaT, weak treble realism, weak impact
CRBN1 (Blue Hawaii) - weak PRaT, wonkiness in upper mid, weak bass
AB1266 - just overall wonky frequency response and lacking timbre realism.
Except for AB1266 (which sounds wrong to me), none of the electrostat sounds bad but I think about their weakness from time to time during my listening session.
When I demoed Aperio I was solely focused on the music so that was great. Same goes for Valkyria.
Edit: Notice I didn't say anything about X9000, which I think sounds really good on T2 and I can see myself preferring X9000 over Utopia for some music. I was very much into the music when I listened to X9000, only occasionally noticing a slightly unevenness in the upper mid and lower treble. Utopia is also not perfect. Nothing is.
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Tanalasta
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LCD5 is competitive. But innately different being a planar set with a mid forward tuning. In that sense, it’s more similar to Utopia OG than 2022. LCD5 has a wider stage, more air and space with similarly high levels of detail.
Whilst I prefer the 2022 tuning from a personal preference perspective, often I pick up my ZMF just for something different.
Utopia has always scaled and is like a chameleon with sources. Has been said time and time again.
I own all three.
Whilst I prefer the 2022 tuning from a personal preference perspective, often I pick up my ZMF just for something different.
Utopia has always scaled and is like a chameleon with sources. Has been said time and time again.
I own all three.
+1 - Utopia scales excellently.
jlbrach
Headphoneus Supremus
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this guy is always out to make waves so ignore
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