[music_man]

I happened to hear the Utopia22 powered by an MHA150 and also Naim Uniti.

I head this as bright thin and tinny. Very scooped. Bass was sorely lacking.
Prat was lagging and stepping over itself. Very slow playing catch up,
I did however hear something I had not before. Very pronounced and accentuated sonics in the area of snare.
as to be forced and artificial. Perhaps this due to the vast sibilance I was to hear.
Very unimpressed.
They then switched to the HD820. Which I am familiar with but not my taste.
As well as the Clear, At least a lot better to me with either of the former.
I prefer closed back.

I really did not expect such disappointment with the Utopia.

They chalked this up to audio overindulgence.
Perhaps. I expected better out of this.

Our current system:
Crystal Cable Diamond throughout.
Hydra Sigma22>432 Evo Master>Select Digital Director>Select DAC>>Woo WA234>Axios Pure Silver>WA2022.
The front end also serving Levinsen No. 523>MSB M500>WAMM Master Chronosonic.

Was I simply expecting too much from lesser equipment as they felt?
Do the Utopia do better with a different amp?

We were there to purchase B&W Nautilus for the Master bedroom.
So no loss to them at least.
I just do not like to be disappointed.
This is not exactly Chi-FI.
To be fair my wife thought it sounded very nice.
I just could not see purchasing this however..

 

[chesebert]

Utopia22 reflects the quality of the chain. I have also heard the Naim unit and I think the dac/amp and Utopia sound bad together. btw I hear 0 sibilance with mine and can listen for hours without any ear fatigue - a smooth and natural sound.

 

[music_man]

I believe this to be the case. these are darn good headphones according to almost everyone.
Apparently the MHA150 does not have good synergy with them either.
With the HD820 I did not like the Mcintosh either. I am very familiar with the HD820. They are good headphones at their price IMO.
Overall I personally do not feel that the MHA150 is worth $5600. Perhaps the wrong choice with either.
The Mcintosh sounded better to me with the Clear.
I think with everything that appears to be in that amp it should sound much better.
I also prefer closed back but the Utopia should sound better than the clear.
I was surprised the Utopia Did not spill much sound at the volume I listen. A good thing to me. I am not sure how they manage that.
I would like to try them with a good amp match.
Both the amp and headphones should sound very good independently

Probably in the realm of my stuff.
I am just nuts and way into diminishing returns.

 

[Pastwa]

It could be the pairing (especially on the McIntosh side), very surprised with your Utopia 22 experience above, to me they show noticeable high frequencies roll off (above 5kHz) and overemphasized low end sometimes covering the mids. Would never ever guessed there will be any sibilance from them, even when trying very hard. Good pop music headphones.

 

[music_man]

Okay. Wrong amp.
Zeos jusr explained this to us.
They were just so-so until he used the Jolida BlackIce F11.

Since the are coming to install our Nautilus I will have them bring them here to audition.
I am guessing they sound like 5 Grand with the WA234 twins.

 

[music_man]

Indeed wrong amps. The MHA150 and Uniti are built to be budget components. There is a lot of stuff in these. Not just a headphone amp,
Some might think these have a high price tag. Considering what is in these they are simply built to a price point.

I heard the Utopia22 with my /woo /WA234 twins and I purchased after listening for 10 minutes.
They are not better than my W2022. Just different. Much different. Certainly worth owning IMO. The Utopia22 are very good headphones indeed. I almost skipped them.
I doubt they require a $18,000 amp but I doubt it hurts them either.
They are very good headphones. I am happy to now own them.

On that note the Nautilus are simply incredible as well.
Again, not a replacement for our Wamm Master Chronosonic, also well worth owning IMO.