[TDinCali]

Just my opinion. When Utopia 2022 was rumored / announced I was super excited. Mind you, Focal's announcement for their TOTL release was when every other manufacturer was coming out with their new flagship, LCD5, DCA, Stax, etc. I was excited to see what Focal could come up with to a) hopefully disrupt the new bunch of TOTLs b) see what a Utopia successor would be after so many years (Utopia OG and Utopia 2020 are basically the same except for some bells and whistles).

In the end, seems they just rinsed and repeated a new "facelift" and slapped another $1k on it. Slightly underwhelming, market seems to agree with me given how Adorama are offloading these so early for so little.

Personally I think you’re being a touch harsh.

Adorama “offloading” aka having a sale, of maybe 10 units in stock is hardly a market sign.

If you listened to Focal during announcements, even they downplayed it. This community played it up and made it seem like it was this brand new thing when it fact it was just a minor refresh.

I see you have susvara. Retail is what $6K? I paid $4k from a dealer for a brand new set. It’s been the same headphones for years. Are you complaining about Hifiman?

 

[dleblanc343]

Personally I think you’re being a touch harsh.

Adorama “offloading” aka having a sale, of maybe 10 units in stock is hardly a market sign.

If you listened to Focal during announcements, even they downplayed it. This community played it up and made it seem like it was this brand new thing when it fact it was just a minor refresh.

I see you have susvara. Retail is what $6K? I paid $4k from a dealer for a brand new set. It’s been the same headphones for years. Are you complaining about Hifiman?

I think it's mostly a case of inventory control.

Probably a bit too much MOH and cash tied up and this was just a quick 2-day corrective measure.

Just a blip in the grand scheme of the market, but I would say also a sign of general slow-down on top of it.

 

[mainguy]

.

In the end, seems they just rinsed and repeated a new "facelift" and slapped another $1k on it. Slightly underwhelming, market seems to agree with me given how Adorama are offloading these so early for so little.

you keep insinuating the price went up. It actually went down by $200 after inflation...

 

[donlin]

you keep insinuating the price went up. It actually went down by $200 after inflation...

Thank you for pointing that out. Also, the original Utopia didn't include 2 cables. The changes are more than "rinse and repeat". For me, the changes in sound quality made the difference between not keeping the original and considering the 2022 as one of my favorites.

 

[AussieMick]

I would not be happy to learn that Adorama half the price just for the storage.
This is not my definition of inflation or diminishing returns...
Feel like everyone is milking while the cows sing.

Do you want a Ferrari or a Rolex at half price, too?

 

[chesebert]

Do you want a Ferrari or a Rolex at half price, too?

Ferrari and Rolex are well recognized status symbols. Utopia is just another pair of headphones that few have even heard of - not even in the same realm of comparable.

 

[AussieMick]

Ferrari and Rolex are well recognized status symbols. Utopia is just another pair of headphones that few have even heard of - not even in the same realm of comparable.

My point was that premium products in any category, regardless of how niche, carry a certain price premium that is attached to pride if ownership, prestige, etc.
Bikes, fishing rods, furniture, cars, knives, pots and pans, clothing, spanners…the price sets a kind of “we really mean business with this, it’s a statement” vibe.
Yes, it’s marketing. It’s everywhere. EVERYWHERE. It’s a point that is too often laboured about the most expensive products but nowhere else, demonstrating the writer’s bias. How many times have we read someone saying a multi-thousand dollar product is a rip off because it’s only got $200 worth of parts in it? I’ve honestly never seen that criticism levelled at a Topping product. Criticisms over price often seem to come out as sour grapes.

I assume people criticise the price because they’d actually really like to own one, which speaks to the desirability of the product. Why is it desirable? Because it performs at a really high level.

Why can’t headphones be premium products? And why does Focal seem to cop way more criticism than HifiMan over price? Utopia costs a certain amount, Susvara costs more.

 

[AussieMick]

Also, do you want to be in a free market economy? Do you want to be in a democracy? Being critical of price seems to be a bit of, “come on, let’s make this affordable for everyone” (a sentiment with which I whole heartedly agree). But of course that’s leaning towards socialism. I think people should examine their biases and compare them to their broader real world realities a bit more often. How much government regulation do you want? And if one isn’t actually intellectually committed to one’s comments, it’s just a petulant rant.

(I live in a democracy with socialised medical care where there’s an independent body set up to protect consumers from scams, which obviously informs my view of things)

 

[jlbrach]

Personally I think you’re being a touch harsh.

Adorama “offloading” aka having a sale, of maybe 10 units in stock is hardly a market sign.

If you listened to Focal during announcements, even they downplayed it. This community played it up and made it seem like it was this brand new thing when it fact it was just a minor refresh.

I see you have susvara. Retail is what $6K? I paid $4k from a dealer for a brand new set. It’s been the same headphones for years. Are you complaining about Hifiman?

susvara is going on 7 yrs old...big difference...and still better or as good as anything newer IMHO

 

[mainguy]

Thank you for pointing that out. Also, the original Utopia didn't include 2 cables. The changes are more than "rinse and repeat". For me, the changes in sound quality made the difference between not keeping the original and considering the 2022 as one of my favorites.

honestly it gets on my nerves how people just forget inflation exists. I see it constantly with all manner of tech people compare accross the ages, 'games are so expensive now!' no they're not, exact same/less after inflation...Same goes for graphics cards and all the other things people moan about lol.

Utopia is actually a good example like you say, cheaper and more accessories/nicer package overall.

 

[LoryWiv]

Thank you for pointing that out. Also, the original Utopia didn't include 2 cables. The changes are more than "rinse and repeat". For me, the changes in sound quality made the difference between not keeping the original and considering the 2022 as one of my favorites.

I agree. I never really liked Utopia OG which was too analytical for me and the brought treble caused fatigue while the bass seemed a bit anemic. Utopia 2022 to my ears corrects, or at least markedly improves, all of these issues, with continued excellent technicalities but more euphony, a touch more bass / warmth and taming of the treble without "neutering" it. Just one man's opinion, of course.

 

[chesebert]

Utopia is not a "premium" product from the view of Focal. Utopia (headphone) was created as an accessory to Utopia (speakers). How can you tell, easy. Manufacturers typically support their premium products beyond warranty period but they don't give a crap about their mass market consumer line.

Susvara for example is supported well past their warranty period by HFM (you do have to pay a reasonable repair cost and one-way shipping cost). Utopia (headphones) on the other hand is a throw away product past the warranty period if anything breaks (someone corrects if me if I am wrong). Utopia (speakers) are well supported past warranty and you can buy drivers and what not to repair the speakers.

TBH, the best way to own Utopia is buy new and sell after 4 years to some fool who thinks they got a good deal used for $1800-2000. Or you can just toss it away after it breaks post warranty.

 

[up late]

fascinating theory. my utopia "accessory" is more than five years old and i have no intention of throwing it away.

 

[Coolmoose]

TBH, the best way to own Utopia is buy new and sell after 4 years to some fool who thinks they got a good deal used for $1800-2000. Or you can just toss it away after it breaks post warranty.

Dang it, looks like I'm a fool now for buying a used Utopia last year. But hey, good news is that mine is only 3 years old, so all I have to do is to sell it to someone more foolish within the next year and redeem myself

 

[kumar402]

Someone who got the Utopia from Adorama uses it for 5 years…I guess they will recover the cost. The cost of ownership comes at around $1.65 per day and if they manage to sell it off then that’s the bonus.