Focal Utopia 2022 Review, Measurements

[helljudgement]

Is the Utopia 2020 worth to go for over 2022 Utopia at about half the price?

Briefly heard the new Utopia. It is more laid back in terms of tuning with a slightly darker tonality to the original. Does seem to have a bit more emphasis on bass than the original but that doesn't mean it is better quality than the original and the overall bass extension and slam for both the original and the 2022 pales in comparison to planar like the d8000. Only real difference here is the tuning. My preference leans heavily towards the original so it's a hard no for me.

 

[Roasty]

just got the new Utopia delivered today. one set for myself, and the others for two of my friends.

lovely packaging and unboxing experience, as usual, from Focal. the new leather box feels much nicer than the old Utopia and doesn't seem like it'll peel off like the faux leather on the old box.

I do, however, prefer the old Utopia hard carry case over the new one. so am leaving the new one alone and just using the old one that I already have. I'm not sure if this is the case for everyone, but mine came with two stock cables; one with black lemo connectors and 4pin xlr and the other with silver lemo connectors and a 3.5mm plug. looks like there is an option to screw on a 6.35mm plug adaptor.

as mentioned previously, the new Utopia feels better built to me. has a more solid feel overall, and perhaps a bit more heft/weight. no creaking sounds at the yokes/headband interface. the leather pads are really soft and plush. I'm a big fan of the new look; I think it looks great, very modern and also quite understated, not calling too much attention on itself.

am leaving both stock cables in the box as I recently acquired a DHC Prion4 cable which I will use with the new Utopia. Will hope to get some listening time tonight! in the meantime, enjoy the pics, all!

big thanks to my dealer who managed to secure these sets for me and getting them delivered safely! the price was really quite good too. just message me if u guys wanna find out more.

 

[Rhodey]

just got the new Utopia delivered today. one set for myself, and the others for two of my friends.

lovely packaging and unboxing experience, as usual, from Focal. the new leather box feels much nicer than the old Utopia and doesn't seem like it'll peel off like the faux leather on the old box.

I do, however, prefer the old Utopia hard carry case over the new one. so am leaving the new one alone and just using the old one that I already have. I'm not sure if this is the case for everyone, but mine came with two stock cables; one with black lemo connectors and 4pin xlr and the other with silver lemo connectors and a 3.5mm plug. looks like there is an option to screw on a 6.35mm plug adaptor.

as mentioned previously, the new Utopia feels better built to me. has a more solid feel overall, and perhaps a bit more heft/weight. no creaking sounds at the yokes/headband interface. the leather pads are really soft and plush. I'm a big fan of the new look; I think it looks great, very modern and also quite understated, not calling too much attention on itself.

am leaving both stock cables in the box as I recently acquired a DHC Prion4 cable which I will use with the new Utopia. Will hope to get some listening time tonight! in the meantime, enjoy the pics, all!

big thanks to my dealer who managed to secure these sets for me and getting them delivered safely! the price was really quite good too. just message me if u guys wanna find out more.

Not that it matters because the cables are meh, tho I’ll probably use the 5ft, 3.5 cable for my mojo2, but it’s cool/interesting your XLR cable came with black lemo connectors. Mine came with silver on both cables. I personally think the black looks better. Especially with this style of utopia. I definitely can see me picking up another cable down the road with the black lemos.

Hope you enjoy! I think it’s an excellent headphone.

 

[Nomax]

@Roasty

Nice time with the Nutopia

NOMAX

PS.i use this cable

 

[Focux]

just got the new Utopia delivered today. one set for myself, and the others for two of my friends.

lovely packaging and unboxing experience, as usual, from Focal. the new leather box feels much nicer than the old Utopia and doesn't seem like it'll peel off like the faux leather on the old box.

I do, however, prefer the old Utopia hard carry case over the new one. so am leaving the new one alone and just using the old one that I already have. I'm not sure if this is the case for everyone, but mine came with two stock cables; one with black lemo connectors and 4pin xlr and the other with silver lemo connectors and a 3.5mm plug. looks like there is an option to screw on a 6.35mm plug adaptor.

as mentioned previously, the new Utopia feels better built to me. has a more solid feel overall, and perhaps a bit more heft/weight. no creaking sounds at the yokes/headband interface. the leather pads are really soft and plush. I'm a big fan of the new look; I think it looks great, very modern and also quite understated, not calling too much attention on itself.

am leaving both stock cables in the box as I recently acquired a DHC Prion4 cable which I will use with the new Utopia. Will hope to get some listening time tonight! in the meantime, enjoy the pics, all!

big thanks to my dealer who managed to secure these sets for me and getting them delivered safely! the price was really quite good too. just message me if u guys wanna find out more.

cables look very underwhelming, especially with the rubber hose finish and black tape look on the lemo connectors..

 

[Rhodey]

cables look very underwhelming, especially with the rubber hose finish and black tape look on the lemo connectors..

Yeah I don’t have the heat shrink on mine. It’s just rubber like the 5ft cable with silver lemos.

 

[Arniesb]

cables look very underwhelming, especially with the rubber hose finish and black tape look on the lemo connectors..

Rubber use in cables is terrible for leng term durability.
Skin oil can easily penetrate rubber and destroy cable.
Even more premium Pc gaming accessories have more premium cables so why high end headphones cant do it?

 

[ra990]

just got the new Utopia delivered today. one set for myself, and the others for two of my friends.

Congrats and let me know if you're looking for any more friends!

 

[joseph69]

just got the new Utopia delivered today. one set for myself, and the others for two of my friends.

Congratulations
Knowing how much you enjoyed the Utopia/WA33 combo I'm really looking froward to reading your impressions.

 

[Roasty]

Congratulations
Knowing how much you enjoyed the Utopia/WA33 combo I'm really looking froward to reading your impressions.

probably haven't run it in enough yet. so far, wa33 using 300b 2.5v tubes is a bit too much bass bloom and overall quite thick sounding. i feel it pairs much better when using the wa33 with kr 2a3 tubes.

not sure if I want to continue using the utopia with the DHC prion4 cable. just did some comparing with my ArcticCables palladium (gen1), and the DHC definitely has more low end but also a bit of rolling off the top. whereas the AC has less low end, but sounds tighter, and has stronger central imaging and clearer vocals; that little bit of sparkle which I enjoy the utopia for. strumming of guitars sounds better with the AC too.

waiting on people to try the Lazuli Ref Plus with the new utopia to chime in with their thoughts.

 

[Tanalasta]

waiting on people to try the Lazuli Ref Plus with the new utopia to chime in with their thoughts.

Will audition at my local dealer when I manage to find time (probably be a few weeks). Waiting for local audition stock.

I suspect it will not be dissimilar to how it sounds with the OG. The Reference plus fleshes out the sound, giving the mid-range more body. The plus is supposedly got a tad of silver so the highs are not lost. It opens up the Utopia beautifully. Without hearing it, the gut feel is it may emphasise the darker body which may/may not be up to individual taste.

I'm glad to hear initial impressions that have (almost) clinched the upgrade-its that all audiophiles get. Seeing what Focal have done with the Focal Clear/Mg I'm not surprised by the initial thoughts. Seems more like an iteration update rather than a full evolutionary one (e.g. LCD-4 to LCD-5)

I've moved onto the LCD-5 for much of my listening and just need to find someone who has the right adapters!

 

[NYanakiev]

Just got mine in the UK. Liking the new design quite a bit, as well as the more solid build quality.

I also like the new carry case, as it is more understated compared to the old.

No long impressions on the sound yet, other than the more pleasant low end response and the seemingly bigger staging.

Ordered a new Danacable Lazuli Reference to go with the Nutopia too.

EDIT: Forgot to mention the thing that struck me the most: I hate the new cables with a passion. An absolute disgrace, especially considering the price increase.

 

[Musicophilesblog]

Just got mine in the UK. Liking the new design quite a bit, as well as the more solid build quality.

I also like the new carry case, as it is more understated compared to the old.

No long impressions on the sound yet, other than the more pleasant low end response and the seemingly bigger staging.

Ordered a new Danacable Lazuli Reference to go with the Nutopia too.

EDIT: Forgot to mention the thing that struck me the most: I hate the new cables with a passion. An absolute disgrace, especially considering the price increase.

When I fried our the Newtopia I was also puzzled by the new cable. I actually prefer the braided cables that came with my Utopia 2020.

 

[Focux]

What’s a good pairing with the Utopia in 2022?

 

[NYanakiev]

When I fried our the Newtopia I was also puzzled by the new cable. I actually prefer the braided cables that came with my Utopia 2020.

I thought the previous Utopia's cables were fine but nothing special.

The new cables manage to impress even less, somehow. Cost-cutting....