[archagon]

But shouldn't we expect that a $4000 product is made of the best and most durable materials possible?

 

[Arnold Schwartz]

@archagon

No, a Ferrari is not durable it’s high performance and there’s a trade off. You want durable buy sennheiser. It’s not often in life a product is both cutting edge and durable.

 

[iamoneagain]

But shouldn't we expect that a $4000 product is made of the best and most durable materials possible?

I don’t know. They seem to be be very well made, look high end, and haven’t seen any issues reported. The price is more about the sound and research and development than the actual cost of the parts. Not getting them because you don’t think the headband itself is high quality enough seems odd especially when there’s no widespread issues. They don’t look and feel like cheap headphones. Have plenty of weight, feel durable and metal is carbon fiber.

 

[bfreedma]

But shouldn't we expect that a $4000 product is made of the best and most durable materials possible?

No, the materials should be fit for purpose. "Best" and "Most Durable" would usually not be the same material anyway.

I'd be very surprised if anyone had an issue with headband durability under normal use. If someone chooses to abuse $4000 headphones, I don't see that as a manufacturing problem, nor would I want the additional weight likely to be necessary to prevent damage from abuse.

 

[archagon]

To circle back to my original question, I got an answer from Focal:

Yes, the headband is made mostly of plastic. However,it is known to be the sturdiest of headbands for Focal products.

My main concern is not whether the Utopias will survive a rough-and-tumble environment, but whether they will actually last me 10-20 years of regular, daily use.

 

[Saturday]

To circle back to my original question, I got an answer from Focal:

My main concern is not whether the Utopias will survive a rough-and-tumble environment, but whether they will actually last me 10-20 years of regular, daily use.

To be clear, is this a confirmation that the Utopia headbands are plastic or that the Clear ones are?

 

[archagon]

To be clear, is this a confirmation that the Utopia headbands are plastic or that the Clear ones are?

Utopia headbands.

 

[Saturday]

Utopia headbands.

I guess that’s not that surprising considering they use plastic trim over the grills as well.

 

[vonBaron]

Just don't bend them and everything will be fine.

 

[bfreedma]

To circle back to my original question, I got an answer from Focal:

My main concern is not whether the Utopias will survive a rough-and-tumble environment, but whether they will actually last me 10-20 years of regular, daily use.

While it doesn't prove anything conclusively, I don't remember seeing many (any?) posts about broken headbands. Having owned a Utopia for over 4 years, the headband has always felt very solid - I haven't ever worried about it.

 

[dontfeedphils]

Since when is plastic not durable? There are many types of plastic these days.

 

[iamoneagain]

Well nice that you got reply so quick. Not really sure what it all proves? All of that is hidden under leather headband, so had no effect on the looks. Also seem durable if no one has had issues. This would be the place for something like to show up. Also, unless they use brittle plastic, don’t think it’s going to break down after 10-20 years. It would be nice if these headphones lasted that long.

I had my previous headphones for 12 years with no issues but it was limited edition AT L3000 and was worried that once something did happen, I’d be out of luck. Luckily they sold right away and allowed me to buy a pair of open box Utopia’s with full warranty and still have some change leftover.

 

[TonyTripleA]

I thought I'd take some time to describe a journey with my Utopias. Not a short journey more like five years...

When I got them they were a step up from my Beyerdynamic T1 (satisfying, nice bass, mellow, detailed but in comparison veiled and no sparkle) and my HD800 (so good I still have them, classical "masters"). My wife was studying so I had most nights just enjoying the headphones. Over this period I've been using a initially a fostex DAC (nice but no Chord sparkle) and a few years ago I upgraded that to a Chord hugo 2 DAC (amazing) and for amps I've used Sennheiser HDVD800, I found the Hugo 2 amp a bit bass shy despite how good it is. The HDVD800 is a great amp for the HD800, but only so so for the focal utopias. I did the job is the best way to describe it.

But recently, after so many enjoyable years, I decided to try a good tube amp. I went from the Ampsandsound bigger ben to the Auris Nivana. Wow, the euphoric sound and so much more enjoyable bass was my immediate reward, no doubt there was an impedence mismatch with the Utopias and the HDVD800. Particularly saw the Utopias sparkle with the Nirvana, and after an input tube upgrade wow, everything just got better, amazing detail. But overall I just enjoyed listening more especially with the Nirvana. I thought to myself, what would a really nice solid state amp, more suited to the utopias, be capable of....???

Seeing some positive reviews here and having a colleague here in Australia endorse it... enter the Sparkos Lab Aries. I was blown away - one word for it "transparent". I have a Chord TT2 which I regard as pretty good but even the amp in it couldn't compare. I have A/B'ed the Hugo 2 and TT2 using the HDVD800 and thought there was a small improvement with the Utopias using the TT2 (5-10 percent, mainly in the better bass characteristics) but the Hugo 2 is good and I couldn't bear to take the TT2 away from the speakers where it normally is as they really do make a noticeable difference - the whole family can enjoy for the better, smoother, more pleasurable treble (less grain) and more defined bass. I must now spend more time to run the TT2 through the Sparkos to compare but I can already tell you, that Sparkos amp makes the sound better than the TT2 using its amp alone and that is saying something- at least to my ears.

So defining why the sparkos makes the Utopias "sing" is the question. What I can say from my experience is that the Utopias were underestimated by me... for many years. They are capable of upscaling with better equipment I know, but I didn't know just how much.

I'm now terrified I might audition a DAVE or a Bartok or something else... you know what I mean! These headphones deserve what you can throw at them!!!! But that said I think I'm good for another four or five years

Just my 2 cents. The Sparkos is here to stay as are the utopias.

T

 

[chrisnyc75]

Since when is plastic not durable? There are many types of plastic these days.

Exactly. Also, one would not want a headphone made entirely of metal. Such a thing would be terribly heavy and probably resonant.

Utopia drivers fail, this is well documented and worth criticizing. No one really ever reports a Utopia chassis breaking or falling apart. We're complaining about a problem that doesn't exist. Just because something is made of plastic does not make it low quality. Literally the entire Sennheiser line is made entirely of plastic (not even particularly high quality plastic) and we all know those last FOREVER.

 

[Roasty]

I thought I'd take some time to describe a journey with my Utopias. Not a short journey more like five years...

When I got them they were a step up from my Beyerdynamic T1 (satisfying, nice bass, mellow, detailed but in comparison veiled and no sparkle) and my HD800 (so good I still have them, classical "masters"). My wife was studying so I had most nights just enjoying the headphones. Over this period I've been using a initially a fostex DAC (nice but no Chord sparkle) and a few years ago I upgraded that to a Chord hugo 2 DAC (amazing) and for amps I've used Sennheiser HDVD800, I found the Hugo 2 amp a bit bass shy despite how good it is. The HDVD800 is a great amp for the HD800, but only so so for the focal utopias. I did the job is the best way to describe it.

But recently, after so many enjoyable years, I decided to try a good tube amp. I went from the Ampsandsound bigger ben to the Auris Nivana. Wow, the euphoric sound and so much more enjoyable bass was my immediate reward, no doubt there was an impedence mismatch with the Utopias and the HDVD800. Particularly saw the Utopias sparkle with the Nirvana, and after an input tube upgrade wow, everything just got better, amazing detail. But overall I just enjoyed listening more especially with the Nirvana. I thought to myself, what would a really nice solid state amp, more suited to the utopias, be capable of....???

Seeing some positive reviews here and having a colleague here in Australia endorse it... enter the Sparkos Lab Aries. I was blown away - one word for it "transparent". I have a Chord TT2 which I regard as pretty good but even the amp in it couldn't compare. I have A/B'ed the Hugo 2 and TT2 using the HDVD800 and thought there was a small improvement with the Utopias using the TT2 (5-10 percent, mainly in the better bass characteristics) but the Hugo 2 is good and I couldn't bear to take the TT2 away from the speakers where it normally is as they really do make a noticeable difference - the whole family can enjoy for the better, smoother, more pleasurable treble (less grain) and more defined bass. I must now spend more time to run the TT2 through the Sparkos to compare but I can already tell you, that Sparkos amp makes the sound better than the TT2 using its amp alone and that is saying something- at least to my ears.

So defining why the sparkos makes the Utopias "sing" is the question. What I can say from my experience is that the Utopias were underestimated by me... for many years. They are capable of upscaling with better equipment I know, but I didn't know just how much.

I'm now terrified I might audition a DAVE or a Bartok or something else... you know what I mean! These headphones deserve what you can throw at them!!!! But that said I think I'm good for another four or five years

Just my 2 cents. The Sparkos is here to stay as are the utopias.

T

Nice story and thanks for sharing! Yea the utopias certainly do scale well.

Holo May kte + Kinki pre/power combo + Zynsonix adaptor box + Dekoni fenestrated sheepskin.. I am floored. Best mids and bass I've gotten so far. And still retains that awesome layering and 3d imaging I get with the WA33, but overall a seemingly cleaner presentation.