[LifeAspect]

i bought my utopia in 2017. i still have the original ear pads and they're fine. a driver failed within the first year of ownership, however. sorry if my experience doesn't fit with 'earpadgate'.

Good for you, but if you browse the forum you can see it's a common issue How common is another question nobody can tell really.

 

[up late]

i'm not sure which forum you're referring to but only a few utopia owners have reported the issue in this thread

 

[JLoud]

I have had 4 pair of Focal headphones. Basically everything but the Stellia, no pad or driver problems. I’m either lucky or the problems are limited in number. Not to discount those that have had problems. From the pictures it is a issue for some.

 

[vonBaron]

Next week i will join to the club
Utopia with Niimbus are great!

 

[XeNoNF50]

So after failing to order the Nordost Heimdall 2 I landed on the Moon Audio Black Dragon 4.4mm with Black Dragon extension cable for XLR and an affinity cables adapter for Utopia to Stellia on its way.

The cable arrived earlier today to the UK less than a week after ordering which is excellent from Moon Audio. First impressions, even without a burn in period yet, loving it. Seems preferable over the stock cable.

 

[lucasratmundo]

Any aftermarket cable recommendations for the Utopia? Silver or copper? Any brand you're particularly happy with? FWIW, I tend prefer very supple cables.

 

[dontfeedphils]

Any aftermarket cable recommendations for the Utopia? Silver or copper? Any brand you're particularly happy with? FWIW, I tend prefer very supple cables.

A search on that subject would do you good. This comes up a lot.

 

[MacedonianHero]

Any aftermarket cable recommendations for the Utopia? Silver or copper? Any brand you're particularly happy with? FWIW, I tend prefer very supple cables.

The DanaCable Lazuli, Kimber Axios are brilliant as is the Nordost Heimdall 2. I'm a big fan of the Moon Audio Black Dragon too if you're on a bit of a budget.

 

[Tanalasta]

How do the cables compare to the 2020 version cables as opposed to the older ones?

 

[MacedonianHero]

How do the cables compare to the 2020 version cables as opposed to the older ones?

A big improvement. The original cables were better than the 2020 version IMO due to the lack of microphonic nature of the 2020 cables.

 

[bpcans]

Any aftermarket cable recommendations for the Utopia? Silver or copper? Any brand you're particularly happy with? FWIW, I tend prefer very supple cables.

lucastratmundo, this is the headphone cable that I use with my Utopia’s. Until you actually hear what they can do in your system you don’t really know. And yes they’re god awfully boutiquey and outrageously expensive. But hey, you would be plugging them into a $4,000 pair of headphones. https://danacables.com/product/lazuli-ultra-fc/

 

[XeNoNF50]

The DanaCable Lazuli, Kimber Axios are brilliant as is the Nordost Heimdall 2. I'm a big fan of the Moon Audio Black Dragon too if you're on a bit of a budget.

Yep these are pretty much the ones I considered. In the UK at least, I ordered the Nordost but it was cancelled and was told it is discontinued. DanaCable doesn't ship to UK. Couldn't find Kimber Axios Cu terminated to Focal Utopia headphones at Russ Andrews the UK dealer of it. So a Black Dragon import seemingly my only option. But it is great and seems a noticeable upgrade on the old stock cable having used it a couple of days.

 

[ASIN]

The DanaCable are excellent, I purchased my Nirvana second hand after making sure it was legit, if you cannot find them for sale in the UK you may want to ask a friend in the US to buy them and post them to you, but make sure they are insured.

 

[Slim1970]

Welcome back Utopia! These arrived last night. After a year and half long hiatus I decided to purchase these again. I have them paired with a balanced Danacable Lazuli Reference and the sound is sublime out of the Luxman with the TT2/HMS at the front end. Time to re-familiarize myself with these.

 

[teknorob23]

Welcome back Utopia! These arrived last night. After a year and half long hiatus I decided to purchase these again. I have them paired with a balanced Danacable Lazuli Reference and the sound is sublime out of the Luxman with the TT2/HMS at the front end. Time to re-familiarize myself with these.

oooh is the Luxman new too? How you finding it with Utopias?