[TSAVJason]

My comment is about Whitigir's comment about the relative price of Stax vs Focal. Nothing to do with Focal and DIY. You're being over-sensitive.

No not being sensitive at all. I was trying to understand what you were trying to say

 

[TSAVJason]

Well I guess another poster recognized that my prior comment was just based on the humor or irony inherent in the situation. What was out of line? What do you object to?

You really are full of yourself. I remember that from the Z1R thread and continues here.

No other Utopia owners had a problem with what I said but for some reason you jump all over me for no justifiable reason at all.

I haven't recognized any humor just your commentary. I told you what I object to. Let's put this back in a peaceful posture. I am not jumping on you, I just think that if you're going to present your impressions then it should be from personal experience not supposition or conjecture. Like I said before it's not you personally, it's anyone that affects an opinion on something they know little if anything about from personal experience.

 

[JimL11]

No not being sensitive at all. I was trying to understand what you were trying to say

Ok, let me make it crystal clear.

Whitigir was comparing the cost of Focal Utopia plus a cheap amp, vs SR-009 plus a TOTL electrostatic amp. Now that isn't totally fair as a TOTL headphone and TOTL amp should sound better than a TOTL headphone and a cheap amp, but we're playing a cost game here, so OK.

The SR-009 and SR-007 MkII are comparable TOTL Stax headphones, with the SR-007 being significantly less expensive. At a recent Albuquerque meet, about a half dozen people got to hear both through a BHSE and half preferred one, half preferred the other, so an SR-007 is a viable alternative. BTW. Utopia sounds tonally closer to an SR-009 in my brief audition at that same meet.

Whitigir has built a couple Gilmore amps, which cost probably around 3K each. The SRX Plus is a stat amp that is comparable in sound quality to a KGST (in direct comparison between my SRX Plus and a friend's maxed out KGST), and can be built for around 1k. So, SRX Plus at 1k, plus SR-007 at 1.5-2k is 2.5 to 3k total, which is less expensive than a Utopia alone.

This has NOTHING to do with DIY headphones, which is another topic altogether, although there are a couple of apparently very impressive DIY electrostatic headphones floating around out there, including a couple built by Currawong. AFAIK, nobody is going to attempt a DIY beryllium diaphragm.

Are we clear?

 

[TSAVJason]

Ok, let me make it crystal clear.

Whitigir was comparing the cost of Focal Utopia plus a cheap amp, vs SR-009 plus a TOTL electrostatic amp. Now that isn't totally fair as a TOTL headphone and TOTL amp should sound better than a TOTL headphone and a cheap amp, but we're playing a cost game here, so OK.

The SR-009 and SR-007 MkII are comparable TOTL Stax headphones, with the SR-007 being significantly less expensive. At a recent Albuquerque meet, about a half dozen people got to hear both through a BHSE and half preferred one, half preferred the other, so an SR-007 is a viable alternative. BTW. Utopia sounds tonally closer to an SR-009 in my brief audition at that same meet.

Whitigir has built a couple Gilmore amps, which cost probably around 3K each. The SRX Plus is a stat amp that is comparable in sound quality to a KGST (in direct comparison between my SRX Plus and a friend's maxed out KGST), and can be built for around 1k. So, SRX Plus at 1k, plus SR-007 at 1.5-2k is 2.5 to 3k total, which is less expensive than a Utopia alone.

This has NOTHING to do with DIY headphones, which is another topic altogether, although there are a couple of apparently very impressive DIY electrostatic headphones floating around out there, including a couple built by Currawong. AFAIK, nobody is going to attempt a DIY beryllium diaphragm.

Are we clear?

Crystal!

I personally am not fond of Gilmore or STAX amps otherwise I don't really disagree with you. On a great amp like a BHSE or Woo WES or Cavalli Liquid Lightning the SR009 & SR007 are all amazing but a little light on dynamics as in punch. There is a significant delivery difference between the Utopia and the ES cans in this aspect. Whitigir is speaking a truth from the perspective that the Utopia doesn't require a pricey amp to sound incredible. Of course when used with a great amp, the Utopia simply shines more.

It's great you have local meets. Good friends all sharing opinions and ideas!

 

[BunnyNamedCraig]

Im a big Stax fan (can I even say that, if we don't sell Stax?) anyways the Utopia also slays... I think it just depends on what one is looking for between the two.

 

[TSAVJason]

Im a big Stax fan (can I even say that, if we don't sell Stax?) anyways the Utopia also slays... I think it just depends on what one is looking for between the two.

Ah oh! Craig is back! My personal fav's are and in the exact order ...1) Utopia 2) SR009 3) Ether Flow 4) Eikon 5) Z1R 6) Elear

 

[buzzlulu]

Hey Jason
The British are coming

Nice to see your list in order of preference- I've been thinking of tip toeing in the Stax water this fall so it's good to see the Utopia is tops for you. No need for me to rush in for a swim! Curious to also see their new amplifier.

Ether Flow - what about the Ether Flow Closed vs. Z1R?
What about some saying the new Aeon gives the Flow Closed a run for the money?

Not to change topics however how long for breakin on the Axios Copper/Silver? I have about 150 hours on it - been a little up and down. From cold it was quite impressive - bass then disappeared however seems to have come back. Reminds me of my Chord Co. cables on my Naim - some days during breakin they sounded dreadful - in the end all good.

 

[TSAVJason]

Hey Jason
The British are coming

Nice to see your list in order of preference- I've been thinking of tip toeing in the Stax water this fall so it's good to see the Utopia is tops for you. No need for me to rush in for a swim! Curious to also see their new amplifier.

Ether Flow - what about the Ether Flow Closed vs. Z1R?
What about some saying the new Aeon gives the Flow Closed a run for the money?

Not to change topics however how long for breakin on the Axios Copper/Silver? I have about 150 hours on it - been a little up and down. From cold it was quite impressive - bass then disappeared however seems to have come back. Reminds me of my Chord Co. cables on my Naim - some days during breakin they sounded dreadful - in the end all good.

So funny you and this British thing. Ha!

I don't know if any of you guys ran into this but here's my problem. My top fav's are all significantly different. My choices are based on my desire to put them on my head. I listen to a lot of classical and contemporary jazz/fusion. I get into contemporary country and Canadian rock (nickleback) ....James Brown - Earth, Wind & Fire - Larry Carlton - Brad Paisley - Red Hot Chili Peppers - Beatles - Daft Punk - yoyo ma - Alison Kraus - Pink Floyd .... so you see I'm all over the map. This makes it really tough to commit to 1 headphone. So I have a love affair with my top 6 with the Utopia still my most often used.

So Mr British are Coming!

It all boils down to how I want to hear the music at the time I'm ready to sit and listen. One thing I can give you is NO the Aeon is great but the Aeon isn't quite as sweet as the EFC but it is a very serious closed headphone.

Cables can take up to 300 hours to full voice

 

[BunnyNamedCraig]

Yeah @TSAVJason I didn't get the memo that I wouldn't get alerts all the time like I used to... didn't realize that there had already been like 4 missed pages of this thread...

In regards to your line up the sr009 and the Utopia bounce back and forth for me. Its also the same thing for me, that it depends on my moods at the time for which I would want to grab. Which in my opinion is what makes this hobby great. The different flavors.

 

[jlbrach]

the ultimate irony here is that Tyll who reviewed the Utopia so positively was actually using a faulty pair that apparently sounded better than the proper pairs.....think about that...

 

[TSAVJason]

the ultimate irony here is that Tyll who reviewed the Utopia so positively was actually using a faulty pair that apparently sounded better than the proper pairs.....think about that...

Ok so I'm not taking sides but allow me this. Let's think about how many of the Utopia sold - weighted by "Pre-Tyll review". That number is over 500. At $4000.00 and all US sales only!!! ......I guess my point is I don't think Tylls review (right or wrong) had much to do with the popularity of the Utopia. I'm not discounting Tyll at all. Tyll's review likely swayed a few purchases but it was a seriously hot headphone long before his review posted. .....just a thought

 

[jlbrach]

My point is simply that Tyll raved about the Utopia,wrote a long detailed review praising it and it turns out he was listening to a bum pair....so the bad pair sound better than the proper model which means in essence that the HP's floating around are the functional pairs and they sound "worse"???...I do not understand how the faulty pair can be the one that sounds best?...the whole thing shows you why reviews have to be taken with a grain of salt at best.....

 

[TSAVJason]

My point is simply that Tyll raved about the Utopia,wrote a long detailed review praising it and it turns out he was listening to a bum pair....so the bad pair sound better than the proper model which means in essence that the HP's floating around are the functional pairs and they sound "worse"???...I do not understand how the faulty pair can be the one that sounds best?...the whole thing shows you why reviews have to be taken with a grain of salt at best.....

Reviewers and their reviews are great if the reviewer and his/her reviews are typically consistent with your findings. If you typically disagree with the reviewer it would make
sense you can't appreciate their perspectives. That said, I've always preached judging for yourself because even if a reviewer has similar tastes you're still likely to discover things that you don't appreciate in the product.

 

[phase0]

Ok so I'm not taking sides but allow me this. Let's think about how many of the Utopia sold - weighted by "Pre-Tyll review". That number is over 500. At $4000.00 and all US sales only!!! ......I guess my point is I don't think Tylls review (right or wrong) had much to do with the popularity of the Utopia. I'm not discounting Tyll at all. Tyll's review likely swayed a few purchases but it was a seriously hot headphone long before his review posted. .....just a thought

So Jason... how soon until can I send in my Utopias to be re-tuned for Tyll-Style? Haha ...Too soon?

 

[TSAVJason]

So Jason... how soon until can I send in my Utopias to be re-tuned for Tyll-Style? Haha ...Too soon?

Hahahaha not so sure that's ever going to happen