[jscmd2000]

I think part of the problem with the clear vs utopia debate is price.....it is impossible for a reviewer not to take price into consideration but it seems to me that tyll should say that for 1500 dollars he thinks the clear is the best available or something to that effect....if you have the money available i am quite sure the utopia is the better choice but if you are ranking based upon bang for the buck it might well be different....the 100K mercedes is better than the 40K mercedes but if taking price into account the 40K might be the better choice...personally i think the HP should be rated in terms of performance without price and then one can choose based on their budget otherwise i think we confuse things...just my 2 cents
The Chord Dave is better than the Yiggy but for the price perhaps the Yiggy is the better choice...etc

I agree. I love my Yggy.... I do love my Dave but not 4-5 times as much. Wish I did. Definitely in the diminishing return territory with these and utopia/clears.

 

[wldcohso]

@PeteSTRADAMUS
The Clear is definitely not "several levels lower in sound quality" than the Utopia. Think about what you're saying?
You may prefer the Utopia to the Clear for its differences (which is fine) but that's just a matter of personal preference because they both have 2 totally different presentations, and both are very good at what they do.

The Focal Clear is nice, but only an incremental improvement compared to Elear based on reviews. it’s definitely several tiers below Utopia.. the price point reflects that and most reviews pin the Clear closer to Elear rather than Clear to Utopia..

 

[soullinker20]

What it comes down to me is that I really, really enjoy the detail and realism the Utopia provide for me. Fun to my ears is nitpicking the track apart. I don't want calm relaxing sound. I'm in love with the attack, that's calming to me I guess.

this is what make me really enjoy these
everything is thrown at me but not in an aggressive manner

 

[PeteSTRADAMUS]

The Focal Clear is nice, but only an incremental improvement compared to Elear based on reviews. it’s definitely several tiers below Utopia.. the price point reflects that and most reviews pin the Clear closer to Elear rather than Clear to Utopia..

Booyakasha lol.

 

[Luke Thomas]

@PeteSTRADAMUS
The Clear is definitely not "several levels lower in sound quality" than the Utopia. Think about what you're saying?
You may prefer the Utopia to the Clear for its differences (which is fine) but that's just a matter of personal preference because they both have 2 totally different presentations, and both are very good at what they do.

Well said. Some do not welcome cans with bold clarity.

 

[jscmd2000]

Well said. Some do not welcome cans with bold clarity.

Bold clarity... Excuse my ignorance. Obviously the Clears have bold clarity, but what particular sq do you mean, or do they mean, by "clarity"? Transparency? Do the Clears have more clarity than the Utopia?

 

[PeteSTRADAMUS]

Let's be Frank here, The Utopia is a Ferrari La Ferrari, and the Clear is the Ferrari 458 Italia, it might be quick like a Ferrari, but it's no way, shape, or form a LA FERRARI!!!!

 

[Luke Thomas]

Bold clarity... Excuse my ignorance. Obviously the Clears have bold clarity, but what particular sq do you mean, or do they mean, by "clarity"? Transparency? Do the Clears have more clarity than the Utopia?

Yes very clear, but not to bold. Especially with the balanced cable.

 

[up late]

if the utopia is the more resolving headphone (and i presume that it is), perhaps that might explain the difference between clarity and "bold clarity"

 

[Jozurr]

my reaction to the hd800s is similar to @AnakChan. while i preferred it to the hd800, i didn't like it enough to want to own it. the sr-009 also left me cold tbh.

What headphones do you own and what is your priority of liking them? Seems like we have similar taste in music

 

[up late]

some of them are listed in my profile. they have different sound signatures and i like them all. i don't prioritise them as such, tho the utopia is getting the most head time currently because it's the newest addition to the collection.

 

[PeteSTRADAMUS]

So, yesterday I had a friend over, he tried out some Led Zeppellin on the Utopia... Looked like he almost started getting teary-eyed from the emotional rollercoaster the sound gave him. He isn't into headphone audio and he was quite marveled by the way the sound is presented.

 

[Allanmarcus]

So, yesterday I had a friend over, he tried out some Led Zeppellin on the Utopia... Looked like he almost started getting teary-eyed from the emotional rollercoaster the sound gave him. He isn't into headphone audio and he was quite marveled by the way the sound is presented.

I guess the song doesn't remain the same! It can get better.

 

[PeteSTRADAMUS]

I guess the song doesn't remain the same! It can get better.

Yeah, it probably will not sound the same listening on anything else now. lol

 

[GryphonGuy]

Yeah, it probably will not sound the same listening on anything else now. lol

Correct!

Regards
GG