Focal Utopia 2022 Review, Measurements

[kkrazik2008]

1000%. With the WA33 elite it is better than the 1266 phi TC. In the Hugo 2 it is better than the lcd4z. Both of these are meaty headphones. U22 better than both.

To provide a differing view, off my 300B tube amp the Abyss is more meaty (refuse to use the word better as that’s just as subjective) than either original Utopia or the 2022 Utopia. However off a Stratus, they both Utopia’s fare better. There are not absolutes.

 

[rsbrsvp]

Thanks. Perhaps this is my question in different words. Are the Utopia 2022 MEATY headphones?

I appreciate the answers. I consider the 4z a very meaty headphone- so if Utopia 2022 is on that leverl- it is a player for me.

 

[up late]

^one man's meat is another man's poison. sorry, couldn't help myself. in answer to your question and fwiw, some folks have described the og utopia as thin sounding but i'm not one of them. the nutopia didn't put any more meat on the bones but it did attenuate the treble to my ears.

 

[rsbrsvp]

^one man's meat is another man's poison. sorry, couldn't help myself. in answer to your question and fwiw, some folks have described the og utopia as thin sounding but i'm not one of them. the nutopia didn't put any more meat on the bones but it did attenuate the treble to my ears.

understood. but attenuated treble may be perceived as more meat. perception is reality in this game.

 

[ToneItDown]

Months waiting for the opportunity to try the Utopia 2022 in Madrid, more for freetime than for desire... my first reaction...



Just WOW, it's that moment when you rediscover real music and real hi-fi, the kind you've been hearing about and reading about for years from people who really know about it. All of you.

I tried them in Studio 22 with the Naim Uniti Atom HE, from my point of view the perfecto combinataion in a moderate level of prices.... I was going to be 15-20 minutes, I was ecstatic for 3 hours.

We took the opportunity and also tried the LCD-5, in the same price range... and the Meze 109 Pro for my son.

I ended up taking home the Naim and the Meze,... And the Utopia for January or February, when to fill the pockets again.

how similar would you say they are to the clear or mg

 

[joherdi]

how similar would you say they are to the clear or mg

Clear or Mg? I assume you mean Mg Clear.

From my point of view (hearing ), the Utopia is brighter, with better detail. The MG doesn't make a huge difference, but I notice that it's a bit softer, darker and the bass is more noticeable. Both are very good ones, but...

The Utipia has much more detail, everything is there and everything is in the right quantity, as if they were cooking the dish with the best ingredients and all measured to perfection so that the result is the best possible.

I don't know if I'm making myself clear, or if I'm making the comment worse.

 

[Playtron]

Thanks. Perhaps this is my question in different words. Are the Utopia 2022 MEATY headphones?

I appreciate the answers. I consider the 4z a very meaty headphone- so if Utopia 2022 is on that leverl- it is a player for me.

U22 is hands down better than 4z. I have both. Better on hugon2. Absolutely spectacular on the wa23 or 33e with all the meat you could want. 1266 level

 

[up late]

understood. but attenuated treble may be perceived as more meat. perception is reality in this game.

yep, mids and bass may seem fuller as a consequence

 

[vonBaron]

U22 is hands down better than 4z. I have both. Better on hugon2. Absolutely spectacular on the wa23 or 33e with all the meat you could want. 1266 level

Utopia is not on the same level as 1266, listen both on few high-end gears.

 

[up late]

i was thinking that a p*ssing contest was overdue in this thread

 

[bells]

So…did you get your HA-300MK2 yet?

Didn't see this - i did! It's beautiful.

My HD800S actually had the biggest improvement. Didn't really enjoy them too much on the Topping stack. First thing I used on the tubes. Immediately a different headphone. Soundstage was even better, it actually had an enjoyable bass presentation, and it took away a lot of the overly bright characteristics I felt it had.

On my Final D8000 Pro LE's it's just as gorgeous. Super enjoyable experience. Can't say much about the sound without listening more to it.

The utopias are a bit of a different story though. Sometimes I feel like it adds a bit too much bass and can be shouty. Overall it still sounds really good, but it's lost a bit of imaging/clarity and can sound muddy. As where on the A90 it was super clean for its imaging. Still making my mind up on how I feel about it.

I've not used it a huge amount with my IEM's since I'll need to sit directly in front of it for that. Cables are just slightly too short at 1.2m. Will need to buy an extension for it.

 

[bells]

1266 level

What if I wanted to reach level 1267? How much grinding do you need to do from 1266? Does my utopia need to go through a three-episode training arc?

i was thinking that a p*ssing contest was overdue in this thread

Peace is temporary. "My opinion is correct" wars are forever. I'm just shocked that people aren't fighting over what cables are best yet.

 

[Playtron]

Utopia is not on the same level as 1266, listen both on few high-end gears.

I have them both.... and use them both on WA33 Elite.... my preference is easily the U22. In fact Ill be selling the 1266 its a bit of a disaster IMHO.... overrated.

 

[Playtron]

i was thinking that a p*ssing contest was overdue in this thread

hold my beer

 

[Playtron]

What if I wanted to reach level 1267? How much grinding do you need to do from 1266? Does my utopia need to go through a three-episode training arc?


Peace is temporary. "My opinion is correct" wars are forever. I'm just shocked that people aren't fighting over what cables are best yet.

My U22 was blessed by Joseph Campbell during the great cable war of 1788.