Focal Utopia 2022 Review, Measurements

[mainguy]

Did anyone get the addictedtoaudio deal on these? I'm wondering if Focals global warranty would apply if I shipped them to Europe. I see AA has a 1 year warranty note, but surely Focal covers them for 5 years regardless? hmmm

 

[LeeJB1970]

Did anyone get the addictedtoaudio deal on these? I'm wondering if Focals global warranty would apply if I shipped them to Europe. I see AA has a 1 year warranty note, but surely Focal covers them for 5 years regardless? hmmm

Yes I did. I've read that Focal covers the drivers regardless. Would like to see confirmation from Focal somewhere.

 

[HappyDragon]

Did anyone get the addictedtoaudio deal on these? I'm wondering if Focals global warranty would apply if I shipped them to Europe. I see AA has a 1 year warranty note, but surely Focal covers them for 5 years regardless? hmmm

I did. I registered the headphones on Focal website and received a proof for 2 years warranty right away. I used my credit card with extended warranty for an additional 1 year warranty. So I think I am covered at least for the first 3 years.

 

[mainguy]

I did. I registered the headphones on Focal website and received a proof for 2 years warranty right away. I used my credit card with extended warranty for an additional 1 year warranty. So I think I am covered at least for the first 3 years.

Ah thanks, how does the credit card extension work?

3 years is a good duration I think any faults would make themselves known in that time.

 

[Tanalasta]

It’s a credit card insurance policy that is part of the credit card program. You make a claim through the credit card program rather than directly through focal for the extra year.

 

[HappyDragon]

Ah thanks, how does the credit card extension work?

3 years is a good duration I think any faults would make themselves known in that time.

Depends on the credit card issuer. Some credit cards have perks like travel insurance, purchase protection,…
You pay the excess which is $200 AUD for me and the rest of the repair cost will be covered by the credit card company.

 

[M700LTR]

Did anyone get the addictedtoaudio deal on these? I'm wondering if Focals global warranty would apply if I shipped them to Europe. I see AA has a 1 year warranty note, but surely Focal covers them for 5 years regardless? hmmm

I registered the Clear OGs and got 2 years. I didn't open my Utopia 22s yet because they arrived later, and after demo-ing the Stax X9000 in Japan that's where my head is at. Also, when I had a brief demo of the Utopia 22 off the Niimbus, I didn't enjoy them as much as the Utopia 2020 off my Phonitor xe RME ADI2.

 

[RustyGates]

After running the Holo Bliss in for a few hours, it goes incredibly well with Utopia '22. This amp really helps to pull the soundstage right out and sounds so smooth and clean with zero harshness or fatigue.

 

[TheMiddleSky]

After running the Holo Bliss in for a few hours, it goes incredibly well with Utopia '22. This amp really helps to pull the soundstage right out and sounds so smooth and clean with zero harshness or fatigue.

How is it against enleum for nutopia?

 

[RustyGates]

How is it against enleum for nutopia?

The Enleum and Bliss each have their strengths, one is NOT better than the other contrary to what GoldenSound puts it.

- Both are incredibly transparent.

- The Bliss has no noise whatsoever, whereas you will hear a hiss through the AMP-23R at high enough gain (but this is at a gain which is too much for the highly sensitive Utopia)

- The Bliss sounds cleaner whilst the AMP-23R has more tonal richness.

- Both have incredible bass control, but the AMP-23R with that hint of tonal richness makes the bass sound "faster" and more impactful.

- What the Bliss does do much better is soundstage, it can take a HP like the Utopia that I thought had a "closed in" stage and pulls it way out and makes the HP sound very open.

The DAC is Tambaqui, the Tambaqui-Bliss combo is phenomenal with U'22; the Bliss just provides the best presentation of neutral and allows the Tambaqui to shine right through. Coupled with the soundstage boost, that results in making the Utopia sound its absolute best, sounding like I never thought it could with the Beryllium driver just disappearing all together- very smooth, clean, highly dynamic, crisp and OPEN. It also makes me realize how much more I'm enjoying the U'22 in comparison to the OG.

The Tambaqui-AMP23R combo is not too far off specifically for the U'22. I think that combo will do better with a HP like the Abyss 1266TC which already has a huge soundstage.

 

[chesebert]

Anyone here thinks 5-7k needs to tone down by 1-2db for more natural timbre? I am using a thin layer of front damping material for now.

 

[iDesign]

Anyone here thinks 5-7k needs to tone down by 1-2db for more natural timbre? I am using a thin layer of front damping material for now.

The 2022 Utopia has a tendency to sound more focused and compressed in that area of the frequency range compared to the 2016 Utopia. However, I suspect it also has to do with the shallower cup and new ‘M’-shaped grille following the curve of the speaker driver. I agree there is subtle trait that isn’t ideal and I’ll have to continue testing the 2022 Utopia.

 

[chesebert]

The 2022 Utopia has a tendency to sound more focused and compressed in that area of the frequency range compared to the 2016 Utopia. However, I suspect it also has to do with the shallower cup and new ‘M’-shaped grille following the curve of the speaker driver. I agree there is subtle trait that isn’t ideal and I’ll have to continue testing the 2022 Utopia.

It’s subtle but it’s the last 0.1% that makes all the difference between completely natural and not.

 

[559938]

It’s subtle but it’s the last 0.1% that makes all the difference between completely natural and not.

Can you describe what you find unnatural?

 

[chesebert]

Can you describe what you find unnatural?

Timbre of voices and string instruments are not quite believable as the real thing notwithstanding the smooth and refined treble and mid. It‘s not harsh or digital sounding. To my ears, a thin layer of damping material made the cans sound real with ease and flow like listening IRL.