Focal Utopia 2022 Review, Measurements

[Roasty]

I’m likely to go with the Cardas Beyond but sheesh … paucity of reviews and damned expensive.

I feel cardas hp cables should be getting more attention. I'm using the Clear with my U22 and I love it. complements the sound perfectly. have not ventured to the Clear Beyond; you're right the price is up there and I was concerned on the weight of the cable. the Clear is nice and lightweight and not cumbersome at all. looking forward to your review of the Beyond!

 

[Tanalasta]

The Beyond is surprinsgly light and ergonomic. I wouldn’t say it was more cumbersome than the clear or dragons

I’m not a fan of the hardware bling but otherwise it was a graceful, clear and well defined sound. More neutral and susvara sounding out of the sp3k with the cable.

Auditioned at the dealership.

 

[elisiX]

Hi all,

What’s the verdict on the Utopia 2022 + Naim Uniti Atom HE pairing?

 

[Tanalasta]

Hi all,

What’s the verdict on the Utopia 2022 + Naim Uniti Atom HE pairing?

Great dynamics. Utopia is well driven. My headphones have not enough hours to really pass judgement.

It works. Especially if you’re happy with the warmer overall tuning. I’m likely to roll cables and for now think it will end up synergising better with the Chord

Need to find time to get the stock XLR cable out. The danacable i normally cable to utopia is too warm

I think it will work very very well with your TT2

 

[elisiX]

Great dynamics. Utopia is well driven. My headphones have not enough hours to really pass judgement.

It works. Especially if you’re happy with the warmer overall tuning. I’m likely to roll cables and for now think it will end up synergising better with the Chord

Need to find time to get the stock XLR cable out. The danacable i normally cable to utopia is too warm

I think it will work very very well with your TT2

Thanks for the quick reply.

I’ve actually sold everything (I have not updated my signature). Took a break from the hobby entirely this past year.

I will say that towards the end, I landed on Utopia and Empy for my favorite headphones. However my primary listening is EDM and I just can’t get past the dynamics of the Utopia.

The deals on Focal and Naim in AU is hard to look past.

In some ways it would have been nice to still have the TT2, I loved that thing, but the Naim seems to be another great all in one (even more so with the streaming capability).

 

[Tanalasta]

If you’re in Au I would suggesting jumping on things before they sell out. I wouldn’t be that concerned with warranty - the 2022 utopia don’t have known reliability issues.

Compared to where you were you might be left wanting. The Utopia are a step up from the Empy in terms of detail. But not as airy, spacious as the empy are with the microfibre pads.

Depending on which state you are in ; can always audition.

To be really honest, I’m not convinced the 2022 Utopia are a necessary upgrade on the original. It’s mostly a tuning difference. Smoother, slightly warmer and richer. Less of that treble brightness. They took the OG utopia and tuned it to what the masses fed back they wanted.

 

[elisiX]

I’m in Sydney and pass A2A on the way to work

My Empy went to a friend so I’d be buying them back to go with the Naim.

 

[Tanalasta]

I’m in Sydney and pass A2A on the way to work

My Empy went to a friend so I’d be buying them back to go with the Naim.

sold the empy and didn’t regret it … there was always something lacking compared to the utopia or lcd 5.

If you don’t have the utopia still - perhaps worth an audition!

 

[thecrow]

I’m in Sydney and pass A2A on the way to work

My Empy went to a friend so I’d be buying them back to go with the Naim.

i have not heard the naim HE but have read reviews a number of times, including now that a2a is clearing stock.

the naim appears like a great value all in one.

having owned the empyreans, utopias and hekv2 and hekse i would think the empyreans would be the least best suited of all of those options due to them being the warmest of all.

but all the others have great pricing at the moment.

if you bought the utopias and later chose to sell it you would not end up losing too much $ i would think.

hifiman also offers a 30 day return period. I returned the ananda some years ago when i bought it and there was absolutely no issue returning it.

but as i said, i have never heard the naim myself

 

[elisiX]

i have not heard the naim HE but have read reviews a number of times, including now that a2a is clearing stock.

the naim appears like a great value all in one.

having owned the empyreans, utopias and hekv2 and hekse i would think the empyreans would be the least best suited of all of those options due to them being the warmest of all.

but all the others have great pricing at the moment.

if you bought the utopias and later chose to sell it you would not end up losing too much $ i would think.

hifiman also offers a 30 day return period. I returned the ananda some years ago when i bought it and there was absolutely no issue returning it.

but as i said, i have never heard the naim myself

Hey mate - been a while!

Appreciate your thoughts as always.

I have been reading a few things for the past hour or so and plenty of good things said about the new Utopia and Naim.

I don’t have the passion for playing around with multiple devices anymore, but I do appreciate a high-end desktop setup.

If I’d kept my TT2 and picked up the new Utopia I think I’d be happy, but the Naim looks the goods as an all in one.

 

[Tanalasta]

Having owned the TT2 ; the tt2 is the significantly better dac implementation. Soundstage, technicality, placement, separation etc …

However, the Naim is currently half the price of the tt2 with the sale and incorporates an all in one solution, steamer and 4.4mm jacks to keep most happy.

 

[Sound Eq]

those deals on addicted 2 audio store are crazy, i wonder if anyone can help me in buying a focal headphone and ship it to me overseas

how come those deals are offered by a2a store those are insane prices

 

[elisiX]

those deals on addicted 2 audio store are crazy, i wonder if anyone can help me in buying a focal headphone and ship it to me overseas

how come those deals are offered by a2a store those are insane prices

Focal / Naim are in the process of switching distributor in AU.

 

[Tanalasta]

those deals on addicted 2 audio store are crazy, i wonder if anyone can help me in buying a focal headphone and ship it to me overseas

how come those deals are offered by a2a store those are insane prices

You'd have to accept that there would be no international warranty ; and that A2A at the moment are only honouring a 1 year support rather than the typical 2 year headphone + 5 year driver. Postage is usually approx $100US although the huge Utopia box would put that up a significant amount.

So ...

The reasons for the clearance sale has been covered on previous posts. But it is basically a stock liquidation.

 

[DivineCurrent]

You'd have to accept that there would be no international warranty ; and that A2A at the moment are only honouring a 1 year support rather than the typical 2 year headphone + 5 year driver. Postage is usually approx $100US although the huge Utopia box would put that up a significant amount.

So ...

The reasons for the clearance sale has been covered on previous posts. But it is basically a stock liquidation.

Yeah I was also considering it at one point (getting someone in Australia to ship a Utopia to the US for me) but I don’t want to give up the warranty. There’s plenty of US dealers who I’m sure would offer a discount and help immediately if there was ever an issue.