I just wanted to make a post about my Utopia's (2017-2022).
Left driver failed. Not sure why, I had not used them in a long time (maybe a couple months) and it was just dead. There wasn't any cause AFAIK. It may even be easily fixable, I might try to find someone with some know how and see if I can fix it at some point.
I'm at peace with it - Empyrean had kind of replaced the Utopias as my daily drivers for a long while, since at least 2019, and when I would go back, although I would appreciate the Utopia's qualities, I didn't find myself enjoying them as much. Utopias replaced my previous HD800 cans. I am still sometimes missing that HD800 soundstage to this very day. (nothing else about them tho lol)
Because I bought them Grey Market, Focal can't help me, and I think this will be my last purchase of Focal Cans - I certainly am glad I never paid close to their retail price because I personally don't think they're worth that. Especially in the 2022 market.
Total Cost of ownership averaged about 500 dollars a year over 5 years which is quite good considering the enjoyment they brought to me.
RIP.
What will be replacing them ? Well, it's a no brainer. At their current 1300 dollar price on Amazon from the official Hifiman store, It will be the Arya Stealth. I think they will be a good alternative to the Empyreans (I'm not really having any issues with the Empys with my current rig, they sound incredible and have maybe only gotten better over time, but I always want a "back-up" or "alternative" pair with a different sound sig. My previous experience means I limited the amount of open back home cans I own at any given time to 2 as I know with more most won't ever be used)
So long, Focal, and thanks for all the fish.