Garpov
New Head-Fier
- Joined
- Jul 2, 2013
- Posts
- 46
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- 59
I'm surprised that the ear pads return to shape instantly? They're memory foam aren't they? The pads on the Focal Clear would slowly return to shape.
What's the history of the unit? I have tried different pads on Utopia and they all sound different, but in no case did I hear no bass or hot treble mess. I have even tried Utopia out of mojo2 and they sounded okay together.Everything I've read about the Utopia is that it's one of the best balanced headphones. All I'm getting is a hot trebly mess, no bass. I'm using Hugo 2 with or without Graham Slee Solo Ultra Linear. Music is anything I've tried, rock, pop, jazz, classical.
What's the history of the unit? I have tried different pads on Utopia and they all sound different, but in no case did I hear no bass or hot treble mess. I have even tried Utopia out of mojo2 and they sounded okay together.
Could this be a synergy issue? I’ve seen some people say Utopia OG and Hugo 2 make a bit of a funky pairing
Take a pic of the pads for us, may be able to help to see themNo idea on the history of the unit, the headphone itself seems to be in very good condition. When I said no bass I wasn't speaking literally, but the bass quantity is woefully low. The headphone becomes incoherent and trebly as you raise the volume.
While others say they're a great match. It's definitely either the headphones themselves or as I suspect cheap aftermarket pads. There's no way this is the intended tuning of the Utopia.
For some context, I'm not new to the headphone game, I've owned HD600, Focal Clear, Focal Stellia, Meze Empyrean, ZMF Verite Open.... They all sound completely different, but they all sound like great headphones. Something is amiss with these.
Can any more Utopia owners weigh in about the ear pads?
Hi, so I've just got my Utopia and it sounds horrendous, like comically bad. The ear pads look suspiciously new, so I'm guessing these are a cheap knock off pair.
Can I ask Utopia owners, if you compress the ear pads fully with your flat hand, how quickly do they return to original state?
The pads I have here spring back immediately, reminiscent of some of the cheap pads I tried on the Focal Clear.
From my experience of pad swapping on the Focal Clear, pads which essentially look the same can sound very different.Looks fine. Even if knockoff the construction and materials look about the same and should have minimal effect on sound. Just sell them as these are mostly likely out of warranty and would make no sense to have Focal examine for damage.
Edit: have you checked for cable or connector damage?
I have owned the Focal Clear as well, and the Utopias are not that different, they are just a bit more refined in every single department, but tonal balance are similar, so when is not the case, there is definitively something wrong.For some context, I'm not new to the headphone game, I've owned HD600, Focal Clear, Focal Stellia, Meze Empyrean, ZMF Verite Open.... They all sound completely different, but they all sound like great headphones. Something is amiss with these.
Can any more Utopia owners weigh in about the ear pads?
When did TAS review something from an advertiser and not give high marks?Nice Utopia review by Tom Martin of The Absolute Sound linked below:
https://www.theabsolutesound.com/articles/focal-utopia-updated-headphone-review/
In the other hand, I feel that my pairing of DMP-Z1 and Utopia 2020 has a very nice bass quality. By the way, I am using the stock pad from focal.No idea on the history of the unit, the headphone itself seems to be in very good condition. When I said no bass I wasn't speaking literally, but the bass quantity is woefully low. The headphone becomes incoherent and trebly as you raise the volume.
While others say they're a great match. It's definitely either the headphones themselves or as I suspect cheap aftermarket pads. There's no way this is the intended tuning of the Utopia.
For some context, I'm not new to the headphone game, I've owned HD600, Focal Clear, Focal Stellia, Meze Empyrean, ZMF Verite Open.... They all sound completely different, but they all sound like great headphones. Something is amiss with these.
Can any more Utopia owners weigh in about the ear pads?
In fairness, he does point out its shortcomings and places it in the context of other high end headphones, and explains that the Utopia isbt for everyone. It’s not a sycophantic praise-fest.When did TAS review something from an advertiser and not give high marks?