[dannybgoode]

May I ask why do you pick the 931 over the 933 driving the Utopia? How do you discribe the difference in sound?

2 factors - economics and ergonomics! The 933 (in the uk at least) around 2.5 times more expensive and the sound quality, at least to my ears, is only very slightly better.

On the ergonomics a) I don't like 2 boxes for my situation and b) I don't like the fact the 933 is remote control only. I like a volume knob and the fact the 933 is essentially bricked if you lose the remote.

For these reasons I think the 931 is the better choice.

 

[DancingBlue]

they just a pair of headphones,they ain't mind blowing if I'm honest,two minds if to sell them, waiting for the Nordost heimdall 2 cable and see were I go from there but I ain't feeling the buzz.I've owned some of the best kit in the world but did I enjoy it and make me happy... No it made me miserable, I've got a fantastic system for the money and it sounds fun and I've got my utopia system for headphone Bliss but maybe my dad being ill I ain't feeling the music the same.Moral of the story is I've spent thousands but the system I've got now is making me more happy, just sit down and relax knowing it ain't the best but I'm buzzing listening to it.When you got the best your constantly flicking CD s to show its best,now I can relax and finally just enjoy the music, the addiction of buying the latest hi-fi I think is destroying the enjoyment of music.I'm a hi fi critic when I listen through the utopia but I've have more fun listening to my fairly average speaker system.Doesn't matter how much you spend on hi-fi after a month of listening to it,it becomes the norm so your wanting more.The perfect dealers dream.hi-fi can be like gambling very highly addictive

 
Hoo boy does this resonate with me! All the gear in my sig, what do I listen to most? somafm.com and calmradio.com through the NAD and totem dreamcatchers, which are set up as near-fields at my computer, and so I'm not even doing THEM proper justice. Using the McStack or the "battle bridge" Bel Canto/Woo combo and any of the big guns cans...well, as I mentioned in the Fostex TH900 thread, I end up focusing TOO much on the listening experience.
 
As you say, I love the gear and the sound it produces, but sometimes simpler is better because I can just let the music wash over me without being "overawed" by it.

 

[Allanmarcus]

Anyone try the utopia with a Bottlehead mainline?

@dancingblue, I love the XR50's! When set up properly in the right room, those speakers can sing. I tried them in my house, and they didn't work well, but I've them sound totally awesome.

 

[buzzlulu]

2 factors - economics and ergonomics! The 933 (in the uk at least) around 2.5 times more expensive and the sound quality, at least to my ears, is only very slightly better.

On the ergonomics a) I don't like 2 boxes for my situation and b) I don't like the fact the 933 is remote control only. I like a volume knob and the fact the 933 is essentially bricked if you lose the remote.

For these reasons I think the 931 is the better choice.

Is this amp sold in the US?

 

[TheMiddleSky]

  Just got my Focal Utopia.
Going to be a long night of listening...
 
It's a great headphone, that's for sure.
 
Took some shots of it with my Abyss and Moon Neo 430.

 
We are still waiting for your pics

 
 

Stock cable is all copper.

The Danacable I am using at the moment is all copper as well.

IMO silver does give off a brighter sound.

There are tons of arguments going around about copper vs silver cables. I feel like it all comes down to synergy. If you have a fairly bright source/amp already then silver cabling will enhance that even further which might be too much.

From my experience, silver cables don't always sound brighter nor sharper than copper. But, silver always sound more "neutral" or more "plain" compare to copper. Feels like a food with less seasoning (could be bad or good really depend on the food itself of course). Ymmv.
 
For myself, I would chose a high quality copper cable for Focal, as I love the original cable sound, only craving for more black background effect and more apparent in texture.

 

[dannybgoode]

Is this amp sold in the US?

Don't know I'm afraid but I do know the excellent High End Headphones will ship internationally.

The amp is handmade in London and I don't know if they have a US distributor.

 

[paul2qute]

jesus i'm not logging into here again when on the red wine,sorry for the rant from my last message.Trilogy are making a reference headphone amp costing over six grand so be interesting to see what that sounds like with the Utopias

 

[phase0]

  jesus i'm not logging into here again when on the red wine,sorry for the rant from my last message.Trilogy are making a reference headphone amp costing over six grand so be interesting to see what that sounds like with the Utopias

 

 

[bigfatpaulie]

  jesus i'm not logging into here again when on the red wine,sorry for the rant from my last message.Trilogy are making a reference headphone amp costing over six grand so be interesting to see what that sounds like with the Utopias

 
This is officially the best thing I've read on Head-Fi in a long time!!  Hahaha!  I suspect you and I could be good friends
 
Cheers!

 

[TSAVJason]

This is officially the best thing I've read on Head-Fi in a long time!!  Hahaha!  I suspect you and I could be good friends

Cheers!

Let's get together and do a shoot out with the Cavalli Liquid Tungsten see which fairs better.

 

[draytonklammer]

 

 

 
 
Somewhat of a preview...

 

[Jalo]

Let's get together and do a shoot out with the Cavalli Liquid Tungsten see which fairs better.

Jason, you didn't show me the liquid Tungsten when I was in the store a week ago. Don't make me come down again

 

[TSAVJason]

What was I thinking hahaha ....it's never out unless Warren is there too

 

[paul2qute]

2 factors - economics and ergonomics! The 933 (in the uk at least) around 2.5 times more expensive and the sound quality, at least to my ears, is only very slightly better.

On the ergonomics a) I don't like 2 boxes for my situation and b) I don't like the fact the 933 is remote control only. I like a volume knob and the fact the 933 is essentially bricked if you lose the remote.

For these reasons I think the 931 is the better choice.

Each to their own, I think for me the 933 is the better choice, you have one of the best headphones in the world so you want one of the best amps driving them,I think if something is better and you can afford it then get it, you have to pay a fortune for a slight improvement in sound quality but that's all it takes to make things sound even more special

 

[paul2qute]

This is officially the best thing I've read on Head-Fi in a long time!!  Hahaha!  I suspect you and I could be good friends

Cheers!

I think we already are, two glasses, fancy some Shiraz and we can put the hi-fi world to rights, cheers