[TaronL]

So, I asked my dealer when he is gonna ship my 2022 Utopia, and he said within 2 weeks. Are other places shipping it earlier? I looked at Headphones.com, but it's not clear when it ships there either

We're shipping today with free overnight shipping and free Saturday delivery. Just need to get your order in before 12:30pm PST for the FedEX rush cutoff at our warehouse. If not, it would ship on Monday and be there on Tuesday.

 

[Nomax]

A few words from me about the NEW UTOPIA

I once wrote that if you don't hear the difference right away you should throw it out of the window, but that won't happen from my end
For some, the old Utopia was too sharp on one side or the other.... the new 2022er now is toned down a bit, but in the right place in my opinion
(no worries...not dark as the MG or the LCD5 to my ears)
At this point a big compliment to Clément and Ludovic

I make also big difference in dynamics with my ears
Is it the new voice coil?the new grill?that's a guess...who knows
I still remember putting the new one on in the summer and listening to the first few seconds of a track...oh man...but it really pushes you from the bottom up
What is it? I don't know

Now for the level stability.... I certainly didn't spare it from the 300+ hours of playtime and gave it heavy fare with levels over 95 db without clipping
Again..no problems or driver failures.

Since I also still own the old Utopia...now a word about it.
Which of the two would I prefer?
Clearly the new Utopia 2022...why?more about that later
Sell the old one? No!

There is only one reason to sell your old Utopia, and it has a name
It is the DCA Stealth with his very special qualities compared to the old Utopia as well as the New Utopia points, namely with its tonality

But now the big but, as much this is impeccable, things have a hock/a disadvantige to the NEW UTOPIA
It is the technical characteristics of the French that show DCA the rear lights
Speed, propulsion, hardness, accuracy in the low end...all this points here goes clearly to France
Also a big advantage of the Utopia...it can be driven on the daps I know of...with the Stealth not...very hard to drive (exept.M17 DC Mode)

In summary/my conclusion

The New Utopia 2022 and the DCA complement each other like no other pair I know of
If I had to choose between the two, I couldn't.
Before I do, I'll throw both of them out the window, because I still have a model
which has the characteristics of a NEW UTOPIA and the DCA that combines them like no other and this one goes by the name HE1

I have never had anything like this in the last 20 years...no personal favorite (exept my marblestone)

NOMAX

PS.lol

Oh and last but not least,a big kiss from Austria to .......

 

[rthomas]

This thread is full of hyperbole.

New Utopia is that much more detailed than old Utopia?

I'm sorry but in my humble experience old Utopia extracted all the details that music had to offer. Most of the totls these days do that.

As soon as somebody says new flagship is ''much'' more detailed than old flagship they lose a bit of credibility with me.

Yes it is possible if they completely alter the FR like LCD4 to LCD5 but otherwise it's just boys getting a bit too excited with their new toys

 

[Ciggavelli]

A few words from me about the NEW UTOPIA

I once wrote that if you don't hear the difference right away you should throw it out of the window, but that won't happen from my end
For some, the old Utopia was too sharp on one side or the other.... it was toned down, but in the right place in my opinion
(no worries...not dark as the MG or the LCD5 to my ears)
At this point a big compliment to Clement and Ludovic

I make also big difference in dynamics with my ears
Is it the new voice coil?the new grill?that's a guess...who knows
I still remember putting the new one on in the summer and listening to the first few seconds of a track...oh man...but it really pushes you from the bottom up
What is it? I don't know

Now for the level stability.... I certainly didn't spare it from the 300+ hours of playtime and gave it heavy fare with levels over 95 db without clipping
Again..no problems or driver failures.

Since I also still own the old Utopia...now a word about it.
Which of the two would I prefer?
Clearly the new Utopia 2022...why?more about that later
Sell the old one? No!

There is only one reason to sell your old Utopia, and it has a name
It is the DCA Stealth with his very special qualities compared to the old Utopia as well as the New Utopia points, namely with its tonality

But now the big but, as much this is impeccable, things have a hock/a disadvantige to the NEW UTOPIA
It is the technical characteristics of the French that show DCA the rear lights
Speed, propulsion, hardness, accuracy in the low end...all this points here goes clearly to France

In summary/my conclusion

The New Utopia 2022 and the DCA complement each other like no other pair I know of
If I had to choose between the two, I couldn't.
Before I do, I'll throw both of them out the window, because I still have a model
which has the characteristics of a NEW UTOPIA and the DCA that combines them like no other and this one goes by the name HE1

NOMAX

PS.lol

Oh and last but not least,a big kiss from Austria to .......

What are your thoughts on the Expanse though? I too like the Stealth, and I'm sure I'll like the new Utopia. It's cool they are complementary in your opinion, and I'm glad to have both in my collection. I don't have the HE-1, but my alternative would be the Abyss 1266 Phi TCs (I know you don't like them though). Given how much you like the Stealth and Utopias, I'm guessing you probably will like the Expanse too. I'm not sold on the Expanse at the moment, as I fear it will be too similar to my Stealth, and therefore redundant.

 

[dsrk]

It looks like a Drop version of the Utopia. Xutopia ? so should be cheaper rather than more expensive

It looks more like open back Radiance.

 

[Nomax]

What are your thoughts on the Expanse though? I too like the Stealth, and I'm sure I'll like the new Utopia. It's cool they are complementary in your opinion, and I'm glad to have both in my collection. I don't have the HE-1, but my alternative would be the Abyss 1266 Phi TCs (I know you don't like them though). Given how much you like the Stealth and Utopias, I'm guessing you probably will like the Expanse too. I'm not sold on the Expanse at the moment, as I fear it will be too similar to my Stealth, and therefore redundant.

@Ciggavelli
I'll answer your question about Expanse soon...but I think since you have a Stealth you need something fast with body but also bright enough

NOMAX

PS.Abyss is not bad in Sound...It is only the student-like constructs

 

[Trance_Gott]

A few words from me about the NEW UTOPIA

I once wrote that if you don't hear the difference right away you should throw it out of the window, but that won't happen from my end
For some, the old Utopia was too sharp on one side or the other.... it was toned down, but in the right place in my opinion
(no worries...not dark as the MG or the LCD5 to my ears)
At this point a big compliment to Clement and Ludovic

I make also big difference in dynamics with my ears
Is it the new voice coil?the new grill?that's a guess...who knows
I still remember putting the new one on in the summer and listening to the first few seconds of a track...oh man...but it really pushes you from the bottom up
What is it? I don't know

Now for the level stability.... I certainly didn't spare it from the 300+ hours of playtime and gave it heavy fare with levels over 95 db without clipping
Again..no problems or driver failures.

Since I also still own the old Utopia...now a word about it.
Which of the two would I prefer?
Clearly the new Utopia 2022...why?more about that later
Sell the old one? No!

There is only one reason to sell your old Utopia, and it has a name
It is the DCA Stealth with his very special qualities compared to the old Utopia as well as the New Utopia points, namely with its tonality

But now the big but, as much this is impeccable, things have a hock/a disadvantige to the NEW UTOPIA
It is the technical characteristics of the French that show DCA the rear lights
Speed, propulsion, hardness, accuracy in the low end...all this points here goes clearly to France
Also a big advantage of the Utopia...it can be driven on the daps I know of...the Stealth very hard to drive

In summary/my conclusion

The New Utopia 2022 and the DCA complement each other like no other pair I know of
If I had to choose between the two, I couldn't.
Before I do, I'll throw both of them out the window, because I still have a model
which has the characteristics of a NEW UTOPIA and the DCA that combines them like no other and this one goes by the name HE1

I have never had anything like this in the last 20 years...no personal favorite (exept my marblestone)

NOMAX

PS.lol

Oh and last but not least,a big kiss from Austria to .......

Wait as you hear the Expanse

 

[jellyfriends]

Doesn't the Beyer T1g3 have a patented formerless voice coil, as well (and helped them lower the price)? +an aluminum & copper composition? This would point to a cheaper, more consistent driver in production... similar to an A-T ccaw coil. maybe, the naim acquisition has something to do with the change in taste/priorities?

 

[Nomax]

Wait as you hear the Expanse

Wait as you here from him

(when the time comes i am already curious about the faces )



NOMAX

PS.What did he mean when visiting him with my stealth,if he makes an open back he will need much more power,and we see,he was right
He was also saying about an open back stealth that.....and about this,i have to check with my hearing first myself with the Expanse,whether he is also right here
If not, the Expanse will probably find a home with me too
But mostly he has right

 

[Whitigir]

This thread is full of hyperbole.

New Utopia is that much more detailed than old Utopia?

I'm sorry but in my humble experience old Utopia extracted all the details that music had to offer. Most of the totls these days do that.

As soon as somebody says new flagship is ''much'' more detailed than old flagship they lose a bit of credibility with me.

Yes it is possible if they completely alter the FR like LCD4 to LCD5 but otherwise it's just boys getting a bit too excited with their new toys

Agreed on the details front. I also think that the original Utopia top ends were as realistic as can be. A real cymbal splash are never smooth to the ears….I only want more soundstage and I haven’t seen anyone to comment on that yet

 

[jamato8]

I have never had a clipping issue with the Utopia. Never even read about it until today.

 

[Ciggavelli]

I have never had a clipping issue with the Utopia. Never even read about it until today.

Same, and I listen to extremely bass heavy hip-hop and metal. I only listen at like 75db though, so maybe if you're in the 80s that might change things.

 

[jamato8]

Same, and I listen to extremely bass heavy hip-hop and metal. I only listen at like 75db though, so maybe if you're in the 80s that might change things.

I have a meter, to make sure I don't go to loud but I can hit peaks of 85 and sometimes 90, but not a constant level but no clipping, bass heavy or not.

 

[Arnold Schwartz]

 

[Alenotta]

Really excited to try these. I have a ton of respect the original Utopia for detail, but it was a bit too aggressive for me in the treble. It's going to be a long line at Can Jam...