[up late]

i don't know but i was using a single ended cable

 

[point1]

I just received the Eddie Current Afioconado courtesy of @cradon (Thank you for being so awesome to deal with!)

I must say the Utopias really opened up. This is my first foray into the tube world and I couldn't have been more pleased. I have a pretty decent 2.0 system with Anthem STR as a preamp with a pair of Parasound JC1s running Salk Sound HT3 Veracity (I have their newest, not yet released SS9.5 coming in a few months). I always thought I was a speakers type of guy as headphones to me were ok. Until I tried the Sony ZR1s and the Utopias. Hence the chase began.

My source for the AF and Utopia is the Yggy A2 (optical connection to Blue sound node 2i) I can say I find myself listening more and more to headphones. Can I get something better than the Utopia? Maybe... Right now though, I'm pretty happy.

For my office, I go back and forth between the Utopia and ZR1 connected to the TA-Z1ES. The sound is different but just as good IMHO. Just depends on my mood I guess.

 

[dontfeedphils]

I just received the Eddie Current Afioconado courtesy of @cradon (Thank you for being so awesome to deal with!)

I must say the Utopias really opened up. This is my first foray into the tube world and I couldn't have been more pleased. I have a pretty decent 2.0 system with Anthem STR as a preamp with a pair of Parasound JC1s running Salk Sound HT3 Veracity (I have their newest, not yet released SS9.5 coming in a few months). I always thought I was a speakers type of guy as headphones to me were ok. Until I tried the Sony ZR1s and the Utopias. Hence the chase began.

My source for the AF and Utopia is the Yggy A2 (optical connection to Blue sound node 2i) I can say I find myself listening more and more to headphones. Can I get something better than the Utopia? Maybe... Right now though, I'm pretty happy.

For my office, I go back and forth between the Utopia and ZR1 connected to the TA-Z1ES. The sound is different but just as good IMHO. Just depends on my mood I guess.

I enjoy my small, simple setup, but man am I jealous of this setup.

 

[tekkster]

I just received the Eddie Current Afioconado courtesy of @cradon (Thank you for being so awesome to deal with!)

I must say the Utopias really opened up. This is my first foray into the tube world and I couldn't have been more pleased. I have a pretty decent 2.0 system with Anthem STR as a preamp with a pair of Parasound JC1s running Salk Sound HT3 Veracity (I have their newest, not yet released SS9.5 coming in a few months). I always thought I was a speakers type of guy as headphones to me were ok. Until I tried the Sony ZR1s and the Utopias. Hence the chase began.

My source for the AF and Utopia is the Yggy A2 (optical connection to Blue sound node 2i) I can say I find myself listening more and more to headphones. Can I get something better than the Utopia? Maybe... Right now though, I'm pretty happy.

For my office, I go back and forth between the Utopia and ZR1 connected to the TA-Z1ES. The sound is different but just as good IMHO. Just depends on my mood I guess.

Geez. Now THAT’s a wicked cool setup. My utopias are mad at me now for not giving it the chain it deserves.

 

[pataburd]

Focal sent a replacement pair of the Utopia and they sound great right out of the box [R/L SPL now equal--the original pair had an imbalance]. Add the smell of brand new lambskin earpads and I could not be happier with these headphones.
Just ordered the ecp DSHA-3F balanced amplifier for the Utopia, which should be shipping at the end of March, as well as a balanced HeadphoneLounge FBI UP-OCC silver cable.
Meanwhile, the Utopia are breaking in on a heavily upgraded Bada-PH12 hybrid amp [3x 6SN7 (1x Brimar + 2x Sylvania GTA) and Toshiba mosFETs] and sound scrumptious.
Worth every penny. The best dynamic headphones I have ever heard/owned.

A photograph of the ecp DSHA-3F:

 

[up late]

i understand that doug designed that specifically for the utopia - beautiful

 

[franz12]

Today, I plugged the utopia directly into IPad Pro 12.9 (2018). I needed to use the usb-c to the 3.5mm female dongle as the new ipad does not come with a 3.5mm port any longer.
While the ipad did seem to have enough power to drive the utopia, imaging was very 2d.. Disappointed as I almost spent 2k in total on the ipad..

 

[cskippy]

That's the equivalent of driving an Indy car on the road in rush hour traffic.

 

[joe]

I've removed a handful of attacking posts. Let's stay on topic and avoid personal attacks, folks.

 

[meomap]

Today, I plugged the utopia directly into IPad Pro 12.9 (2018). I needed to use the usb-c to the 3.5mm female dongle as the new ipad does not come with a 3.5mm port any longer.
While the ipad did seem to have enough power to drive the utopia, imaging was very 2d.. Disappointed as I almost spent 2k in total on the ipad..

2k for an Ipad?

 

[franz12]

2k for an Ipad?

unfortunately, yes with added lte connectivity+smartfolio keyboard+apple pencil+apple care.

 

[leftside]

Don't worry - IPads are nice devices for a lot of things. Just not for driving such high end headphones

 

[emrelights1973]

Add a nice amp/dac and you got a decent transport with a screen, nice to watch Netflix as well

A mojo maybe or new woo

 

[Progisus]

Roon > iPad > Hugo2 > Utopia

Music + browsing Head-Fi

Doesn’t get any better!

 

[montanari]

ear hp4..but i m looking very hard to find a similir quality cheaper option..i think valve is the route to go