Focal Utopia 2022 Review, Measurements

[Barnstormer13]

Does anyone get neck pain from using the Utopia 22? I had an OG but sold it because of this. I tried the 22 at a show a few months ago and it seemed to be more comforatble and fit better, but it was a brief demo. Hard to know if it would be an issue long term.

Never tried the OG. Never had problems with any of the Focal HPs I’ve owned, including the ‘22, so I’m probably not the best person to ask either.

 

[PrTv]

Does anyone get neck pain from using the Utopia 22? I had an OG but sold it because of this. I tried the 22 at a show a few months ago and it seemed to be more comforatble and fit better, but it was a brief demo. Hard to know if it would be an issue long term.

I had them side by side for a few months and can confirm they're exactly the same in terms of fit and comfort. If you don't like the OG, I don't think the new one will fix it.

 

[OscarJr]

Long-shot, I know, but does any Utopia 2022 current owner here listen to extreme metal the likes of Napalm Death, Morbid Angel, Marduk, Burzum, Emperor, Deicide, Cannibal Corpse, etc on their set?

 

[DillingerEP]

Long-shot, I know, but does any Utopia 2022 current owner here listen to extreme metal the likes of Napalm Death, Morbid Angel, Marduk, Burzum, Emperor, Deicide, Cannibal Corpse, etc on their set?

Yeah me.
I like the punch and slam for that type of metal. The technicalities of the Utopia can keep up with the high speed. The overall sound is slightly warm but with crisp highs. The mids are forward sounding, that brings vocals and guitars in front. The sound is very engaging and dynamic.

Thats all what i hear. Very powerful and forward sound, maybe not for everyone.

 

[OscarJr]

Yeah me.
I like the punch and slam for that type of metal. The technicalities of the Utopia can keep up with the high speed. The overall sound is slightly warm but with crisp highs. The mids are forward sounding, that brings vocals and guitars in front. The sound is very engaging and dynamic.

Thats all what i hear. Very powerful and forward sound, maybe not for everyone.

Thanks, you answered the question I had on my mind. I might pick up a set. How would you rate the performance at higher SPLs especially with double bass blast beats going full throttle?

 

[DillingerEP]

Thanks, you answered the question I had on my mind. I might pick up a set. How would you rate the performance at higher SPLs especially with double bass blast beats going full throttle?

Oh sorry, i did not see, that you asked another question.
Of course it depends on how loud you go. In my experience the sound is very clear, the kicks are well seperated and have some pressure when delivered by the Nutopia. The bass has a little more smoothness compared to a drier sounding planar like a HE1000 hp. I think the Nutopia is a little more „fun“ sounding.

But that is all just my opinion and im really no expert to describe it. I just want to say that the Nutopia, like the Clear, ist a good headphone for extreme metal, because it gives you a punchy sound that is a little more forgiving compared to a HE1000 or a HD800 for example. It really works well with rock snd metal.

 

[OscarJr]

Oh sorry, i did not see, that you asked another question.
Of course it depends on how loud you go. In my experience the sound is very clear, the kicks are well seperated and have some pressure when delivered by the Nutopia. The bass has a little more smoothness compared to a drier sounding planar like a HE1000 hp. I think the Nutopia is a little more „fun“ sounding.

But that is all just my opinion and im really no expert to describe it. I just want to say that the Nutopia, like the Clear, ist a good headphone for extreme metal, because it gives you a punchy sound that is a little more forgiving compared to a HE1000 or a HD800 for example. It really works well with rock snd metal.

No worries, I had edited my original post that's why . I'm pretty sure I will pick up a set. The other headphones that I would love to have are the Dan Clark Expanse's. But I guess in a way, there's no way I can go wrong coming from B&W PI8's going to Nutopia's, lol.

 

[OscarJr]

Oh sorry, i did not see, that you asked another question.
Of course it depends on how loud you go. In my experience the sound is very clear, the kicks are well seperated and have some pressure when delivered by the Nutopia. The bass has a little more smoothness compared to a drier sounding planar like a HE1000 hp. I think the Nutopia is a little more „fun“ sounding.

But that is all just my opinion and im really no expert to describe it. I just want to say that the Nutopia, like the Clear, ist a good headphone for extreme metal, because it gives you a punchy sound that is a little more forgiving compared to a HE1000 or a HD800 for example. It really works well with rock snd metal.

It does not disappoint.

 

[DillingerEP]

Very nice. So, how do you like the Utopia?

 

[OscarJr]

Overall they are absolutely amazing. One thing I noticed off the bat compared to the Dan Clark's is the massive difference in sensitivity. I knew about it from the ASR measurements, but yea easily 2.5x as sensitive. I need ~50/100 on my laptop volume on the DC Expanse's to get the same volume as 20/100 on the Utopia's.

You were dead-on about them being very suited to rock/metal. The sound profile quickly reminded me of how I have my home 2-ch stereo setup, usually around +6 to 7 dB Low-Freq shelf from around ~95Hz downward to get that resounding double-kick drum sound and to feel the bass guitar at my listening position. I think I might even dial the Utopia's down a just bit by about 2-3 dB on a low-shelf when I end up adding EQ via DSP.

I was just listening to Nightwish as I started to type this reply, as they have very well-produced albums, and oh yea, I can hear deep into the layers (on some songs) that I never heard before, not even on my 2-ch home stereo sporting Legacy Audio Calibre's in a semi near-field setup (it is not fully optimized though, so they're at a disadvantage ).

Now listening to Burzum's Hvis Lyset Tar Oss and Filosofem, and ooohhh yea, got chills like I'm in the cold Norwegian forest at night, except the kick drums now have a little heft to them. It's funny how Varg used the crappiest microphone (or headphone) to record these vocals and I now use a top-tier headphone/s to listen to them in all their glory; the irony!

 

[OscarJr]

So playing around with EQ, sure enough it sounds better (to me) with a low shelf of -2.5 to -3.5 dB @ 120-130Hz with a gently sloping Q of ~0.6. Quite surprised they were tuned this way to be honest. I don't mind it as the mids/highs and resolving capability make up for having to make this little adjustment. Loving them thus far!

 

[DrSeven]

Overall they are absolutely amazing. One thing I noticed off the bat compared to the Dan Clark's is the massive difference in sensitivity. I knew about it from the ASR measurements, but yea easily 2.5x as sensitive. I need ~50/100 on my laptop volume on the DC Expanse's to get the same volume as 20/100 on the Utopia's.

You were dead-on about them being very suited to rock/metal. The sound profile quickly reminded me of how I have my home 2-ch stereo setup, usually around +6 to 7 dB Low-Freq shelf from around ~95Hz downward to get that resounding double-kick drum sound and to feel the bass guitar at my listening position. I think I might even dial the Utopia's down a just bit by about 2-3 dB on a low-shelf when I end up adding EQ via DSP.

I was just listening to Nightwish as I started to type this reply, as they have very well-produced albums, and oh yea, I can hear deep into the layers (on some songs) that I never heard before, not even on my 2-ch home stereo sporting Legacy Audio Calibre's in a semi near-field setup (it is not fully optimized though, so they're at a disadvantage ).

Now listening to Burzum's Hvis Lyset Tar Oss and Filosofem, and ooohhh yea, got chills like I'm in the cold Norwegian forest at night, except the kick drums now have a little heft to them. It's funny how Varg used the crappiest microphone (or headphone) to record these vocals and I now use a top-tier headphone/s to listen to them in all their glory; the irony!

That's something I found also to be magical about my Focal Clear. Lots of good (old) metal like this is produced like crap but the headphones make it sound amazing. (Well except for Nattens Madrigal maybe xD).

 

[jlbrach]

a headphone that makes crap sound good will also make great recordings sound less than they should...

 

[John Buchanan]

a headphone that makes crap sound good will also make great recordings sound less than they should...

I've got to disagree with this - it's an old audiophile chestnut.
TOTL equipment should make anything sound as good as possible - not worse than bad gear. If not, it isn't TOTL. Same applies to speakers. People often mistake very bright gear as TOTL - and their albums sound mostly brighter (and worse) than when reproduced by truly TOTL gear. Cheap headphones never sound better than true TOTL gear, no matter what you are playing.

 

[RustyGates]

Oh no, sorry to hear. Keep us updated in regards to how Focal handle this.

All I can say after 7.5 months is, don't f* buy a Focal Utopia 2022 in Australia. Westan (the distributer than took over from A2A) don't have a proper support system in place and its a circus between Addicted to Audio (who just abandoned their Focal customers really after that divorce with Focal) and Westan to get it fixed.

I contacted A2A initially, they put me onto Westan, I sent my utopia '22 to Westan, they tried to send it to Focal in France to get it fixed, cross border issues related to paying import tax resulted in the Utopia being bumped back TWICE, Westan then said sort it out with A2A and sent it back, I then sent it to A2A, A2A are now trying to send it back to Westan. You can't make this s* up.

I have sent many emails, the latest one pretty angry because Westan is now trying to send it back to France; the turnaround time will be another 4 months (won't have my Utopia's for >1 year).

I'm requesting a brand-new replacement unit or total refund. It sucks because if I get a refund, the price of the '22 Utopia has jumped from 6,999 AUD to 8,900 AUD. I bought it in mid '23. Worst case is I get a legal rep and go all in with the Victorian Civil and Admistrative tribunal.

If I get a refund, I am NOT coming back to Focal. Done & dusted; didn't expect the '22 to fail in the first place.