[JinTam]

$3K for the Empy's was plenty.

$4K for the Utopia's.............now THAT'S real money!!!

There's a reason why they cost more .
Nah, I got them both for the same price. So equal there.

 

[nwavesailor]

There's a reason why they cost more .
Nah, I got them both for the same price. So equal there.

OK.............Well played, you got me there,JinTam!

 

[Hifiearspeakers]

Focal Utopia
"Crazy detailed, but often sounds too forward, too bright and bass light. Often feels like a microscope, not necessarily the most pleasurable headphone."

This keeps coming up. I think it's pretty stupid. How can detail and clarity not be enjoyable and require attention?

It can be unenjoyable in the same way someone screaming at you can be unenjoyable. If I yell an answer at you, you’ll get all the detail and clarity of my message, but it may not be pleasant. Likewise, too forward upper mids and/or too much treble energy can sound shouty to those who are sensitive to those areas.

 

[ken6217]

There's a reason why they cost more .
Nah, I got them both for the same price. So equal there.

There’s also a reason why you see them on sale or bundled with another component.

 

[JinTam]

It can be unenjoyable in the same way someone screaming at you can be unenjoyable. If I yell an answer at you, you’ll get all the detail and clarity of my message, but it may not be pleasant. Likewise, too forward upper mids and/or too much treble energy can sound shouty to those who are sensitive to those areas.

I never heard this from any headphones except iems. But, I switched to tubes a long time ago and don't really like SS amps now.

 

[up late]

There’s also a reason why you see them on sale or bundled with another component.

folks sell their high-end headphones for all sorts of reasons. that's certainly not confined to the utopia and neither are promotional offers.

 

[ken6217]

I’m not talking about people selling used, I’m talking about new from dealers. I don’t see the Empyrean sold off price.

 

[JinTam]

There’s also a reason why you see them on sale or bundled with another component.

It might not sell like Beats but hey that doesn't say anything about sound quality of either.

 

[ken6217]

It might not sell like Beats but hey that doesn't say anything about sound quality of either.

You and I are not talking about the same thing. I’m talking about utopia being offered off price or bundled with another component from a dealer. Maybe they are priced too high and that’s why they’re offered on a deal. I don’t know the answer to that, but I do know they are offered that way and I don’t see the Empyrean or the LCD4 offered that way.

As far as sound quality, everyone has different likes and dislikes as well as how they like to hear music.

 

[up late]

I’m not talking about people selling used, I’m talking about new from dealers. I don’t see the Empyrean sold off price.

well the empyrean is a relatively recent release compared to the utopia, which has been around since 2016. who knows, you might see dealers discounting and bundling the empyrean before too long.

 

[ken6217]

well the empyrean is a relatively recent release compared to the utopia, which has been around since 2016. who knows, you might see dealers discounting and bundling the empyrean before too long.

They might if they change the tuning to become bright, analytical, lacking bass, and non-musical. Hmmm, what headphones does that sound like?

 

[up late]

They might if they change the tuning to become bright, analytical, lacking bass, and non-musical. Hmmm, what headphones does that sound like?

the hd800 perhaps? tho i've no doubt there are many hd800 owners who would vehemently dispute that. hearing acuity and personal preference vary as you know.

 

[ken6217]

the hd800 perhaps? tho i've no doubt there are many hd800 owners who would vehemently dispute that. hearing acuity and personal preference vary as you know.

I was actually referencing the Utopia. LOL.

Yes hearing acuity and personal preferences of course play into it. That’s what it’s all about. Likes and dislikes can’t be disputed On the other hand a general impression can be formed in terms of does something sound, warm, laid back, forward, bright etc.

For instance, we can all agree that ice cream tastes sweet and a pretzel tastes salty. However that’ doesn’t everyone likes pretzels or ice cream.

 

[up late]

I was actually referencing the Utopia. LOL.

Yes hearing acuity and personal preferences of course play into it. That’s what it’s all about. Likes and dislikes can’t be disputed On the other hand a general impression can be formed in terms of does something sound, warm, laid back, forward, bright etc.

For instance, we can all agree that ice cream tastes sweet and a pretzel tastes salty. However that’ doesn’t everyone likes pretzels or ice cream.

i'm well aware of your disparaging view of the utopia because you've expressed it here often enough, which is why i ignored your (barely) oblique reference to it.

i'm yet to see a so-called "general impression" of a headphone that hasn't been disputed in the forum threads by those who don't happen to share it. this is an inherently subjective pursuit after all. i also don't happen to find food (or cars for that matter) analogous to headphones.

 

[ken6217]

I guess we will agree to disagree.