[Allanmarcus]

FYI, let's price a DIY silver for the utopia.

Let's use decent, but not overly expensive BTG cable silver plated copper. $1.00/ft
16 strands x 12' + 10% for braid loss = 212 feet
Add $50 for the headphone connectors.
Add $6 for the balanced connector
Braiding 16 strands the same as an Axios would be very very hard, but using a kumihimo disk, a different braid is doable. It would be easier, and look better to use 8 copper and 8 silver plated wires. Same cost.

So, DIY cost would be under $300. Would it sound better than the stock cable? Well, that simply depends on if you want it to

For "pure silver" you would need to move up to Toxic cable at 2-3 times the cost. Oh, add silver solder. Not sure the cost of that. Probably need a solder pot too.

Too many people conflate 'different' to 'better', IMHO. You have one of the best headphones in the world. Focal did put some though in to the cable. Money is probably better spent on a great amp, then a good DAC.

 

[Svatopluk]

The Utopia has the best bass that I ever heard from a headphone, EVER! Even better than all the planars, imho. It is so fast, clean and punchy! The bass quality of the HD800S is good, but not great. However, coming from the HD800S and changing to the Utopia, you probably will need some brain burn in. Its soundstage is much smaller (much less wide, but with good depth), but with very good separation and positioning, more intimate compared to the HD800S. At least 80 % of my listening time goes to the Utopia, but I decided to keep the HD800S too. I still like the latter very much with symphonic orchestras because of its artificially wide staging.

I agree with your assessment of the Utopia in comparison to the HD800S. In regards to Sound-stage, it usually takes my brain around 20 minutes to adjust after switching from the HD800S to the Utopia. Afterwards, I prefer the Utopia's with most genres.

 

[Svatopluk]

Can anyone comment on the bass in the utopia vs the bass in the hd800S (newer variant) and just a general opinion on the sound differences if that's at all possible?

I'm tossing up grabbing a pair of utopias and just debating if it's worth the upgrade, a lot of people tell me to just keep the HD800S as the upgrade just isn't worth it, and I hear the bass on the utopia is massivly lacking in comparison and that its a very analytical headphone.

I will use them for movies, gaming and music like rock, edm etc.

Thanks for any help guys!

Unlike the HD800S, the Utopia is capable of accurately producing clean sub bass. The only way to personally know if the Utopia is worth the upgrade would be to arrange an audition before purchase.

 

[TSAVJason]

When it comes to cables, you can go with brands company, or trusted 3rd party. Anyways, 3m is long and Silver is expensive, both in combination is....just expensive. But the alternatives would be to ask Lavricables, or other 3rd party cables vendors for it, like moon audio, norne, plus sound....etc....cheaper than that would only be DIY

Or he could call you up and have you make some of your cables that you feel are so good, right?

 

[Whitigir]

Or he could call you up and have you make some of your cables that you feel are so good, right?

Nope! That is not right, I don't have time for those stuff.....lol...people Can ask me how to make it Though.

 

[TSAVJason]

Nope! That is not right, I don't have time for those stuff.....lol...people Can ask me how to make it Though.

You never cease to crack me up Vince!

 

[Lappy27]

What ? Utopia lacking in bass is the worse joke I ever heard..and I like bass

Agreed 100%. I'm used to big bass with subwoofers (well integrated with the rest of the system) in my house and my car and I'm considering myself as a bass lover and the Utopia are simply perfect in this aspect. Tight, deep, impactful and incredibly accurate bass with the right sources.

As the analytical comment, the Utopia are ultra detailed but at the same time they are sounding full, musical and extremely natural. That is what make them really special in my opinion.

BUT they are super sensitive to the audio chain before them. They are not headphones, they are microscope!

 

[TSAVJason]

Agreed 100%. I'm used to big bass with subwoofers (well integrated with the rest of the system) in my house and my car and I'm considering myself as a bass lover and the Utopia are simply perfect in this aspect. Tight, deep, impactful and incredibly accurate bass with the right sources.

As the analytical comment, the Utopia are ultra detailed but at the same time they are sounding full, musical and extremely natural. That is what make them really special in my opinion.

BUT they are super sensitive to the audio chain before them. They are not headphones, they are microscope!

Of course, any precision playback speaker would show you the weaknesses in your system

 

[Whitigir]

Agreed 100%. I'm used to big bass with subwoofers (well integrated with the rest of the system) in my house and my car and I'm considering myself as a bass lover and the Utopia are simply perfect in this aspect. Tight, deep, impactful and incredibly accurate bass with the right sources.

As the analytical comment, the Utopia are ultra detailed but at the same time they are sounding full, musical and extremely natural. That is what make them really special in my opinion.

BUT they are super sensitive to the audio chain before them. They are not headphones, they are microscope!

Absolutely agreed, the fact of the 3 combinations

1/ easily effectively driven
2/ Microscopic
3/ Musicality

The Utopia is easily the best Dynamic headphones yet at this moment.

 

[TSAVJason]

Absolutely agreed, the fact of the 3 combinations

1/ easily effectively driven
2/ Microscopic
3/ Musicality

The Utopia is easily the best Dynamic headphones yet at this moment.

What are you doing to me today? Now you change your story again? You said your Utopias are so good you're going to sell your STAX. Doesn't that mean your Utopia is the best period? Now you're back to "Dynamic" specific again. You're confusing me again Vince.

 

[Whitigir]

What are you doing to me today? Now you change your story again? You said your Utopias are so good you're going to sell your STAX. Doesn't that mean your Utopia is the best period? Now you're back to "Dynamic" specific again. You're confusing me again Vince.

Lol, my bad for confusing you, I was thinking of selling Stax because I only wanted portable solutions where as Stax is impossible to be so....but no, Stax is another ball game lol! Still though, Utopia is something, or the only thing to make me think like this. It is crazy to think

 

[Svatopluk]

In my case, dynamic headphones are the only game in town. I gave up on alternative drivers many years ago due to reliability issues with the Yamaha orthos and Stax Lambda Pro.

 

[Allanmarcus]

In my case, dynamic headphones are the only game in town. I gave up on alternative drivers many years ago due to reliability issues with the Yamaha orthos and Stax Lambda Pro.

No more Fords either, because of the pinto?

 

[Svatopluk]

No more Fords either, because of the pinto?

Good point. However, years ago I actually owned a Pinto and it was far more reliable than the alternative driver headphones I spoke of, or the Fusion I'm currently driving.

 

[heliosphann]

Have to admit that gave me a good belly laugh!

Now- getting back on point in this thread

I have been spending the last few weeks burning in and playing with my new Sony Z1R's and just came back to my Utopias after a several week absence.

WOW - WOW - and WOW again.
I simply cannot imagine a better pair of headphones out there. They truly deserve every accolade which has been accorded them. Stunning in every way.

I think they're great complimentary headphones. I'm most likely going to get rid of most everything else and keep those 2.