New Focal Utopia for 2022: impressions

[ardilla]

How much better than the Stellia is the Focal Utopia 22 in the opinion of people who have heard both?

Much better

 

[Tanalasta]

Much better

Could you define “better”? As in what aspect? It’s subjective.

I preferred Utopia over Stellia. The soundstage on Utopia is relatively intimate and does not need to be closer. It also depends upon personal preferences and source/music.

I bought Utopia 22 over Stella. I wouldn’t say one is “better” than the other. I preferred Utopia’s sound signature when I auditioned it.

 

[silversurfer616]

Stellia is closed back and lacks the resolution both Utopia variants have…Stellia can sound too meaty/thick, if that makes sense.
Utopia is also faster and more explosive with the right music.
I should know …had the Stellia twice, the OG four times and Nutopia just once…crazy, I know.

 

[erik701]

The main question is, will we get new Stellia model (a.k.a. Stellia 2024) this year?
So far Focal updated all higher end models, except Stellia.
I would wait till September at least with the purchase of Focal Stellia headphones.

 

[Barnstormer13]

Some thoughts on the Utopia after listening for about a week:

Amazing headphone. It is an absolute detail and resolution monster, but its tonality is extremely well balanced. Soundstage is close, but fairly deep and sharply defined. Both macro and micro dynamics superbly done.

It does an outstanding job of capturing the detail, speed and clarity of my SS amp and just as good job capturing the musicality and engagement of my tube amp. I feel there’s nothing this headphone doesn’t do superbly well- TOTL all-rounder.

 

[Dodgerowl]

Thanks to all for your replies on the Stellia vs Utopia comparison. I currently have the Stellia but it now looks like when I have the pennies available I will have to give the Utopia a listen. Cheers.

 

[yrstruly]

So I've been borrowing my friend's OG Utopia and comparing with my Utopia 2022. To be honest, it's really very difficult choosing a favourite, as they have different strengths. The OG has more snap, crunch (I guess the term is dynamics) and is ultimately one for active listening. The 2022 allows for active listening but tuning-wise it's so natural and coherent that you can also relax with it. Surprisingly, the bass on the OG sounds a lot better than I remember it being - the impact and detail is very satisfying on the right chain. The mids on the 2022 are to die for and up there with the best I've heard - by contrast the mids on the OG can be a tad lean/unnatural *sometimes* (not often). That said, there's more of an etched clarity on the OG that allows you to peer into the recording.

Frankly they are yin and yang and there's a case for owning both...

 

[Drewligarchy]

I wanted to get something decent to replace the stock cable for now, frankly because the kinking rubber cables are pretty f'ing annoying.

I got the cable picture hear from Fog City Audio on Etsy which is just straight Mogami 26 awg, not expecting any sound differences as this is pro cable thus completely flat.

Well - not so fast. I'm listening and just like what the hell is going on. The upper mid to treble presentation is completely different and the headstage has expanded in all directions. I've been listening to these pretty much non-stop for the whole week so I have my brain dialed into their sound.

Now, I don't think the Mogami cable is doing anything. After all, it's just Mogami OFC. Rather - the stock cable is definitely even warmer, perhaps too much so - as I think this presentation might be significantly better. Going to listen a while longer to see if I get fatigued at all - but it's much clearer.

I guess Focal just going for the smoothest possible cable for the most unoffensive sound ...

 

[Drewligarchy]

Just swapped back to the stock cable; this is crazy - it's completely different. I'm surprised they included such a smoothed over stock cable. It's not subtle.

 

[Spawn300Z]

Mongami and Canare makes some good Bulk OFC cables. A lot of recording studios use them.

I would only pair the Utopia with a good Cooper or Hybrid cable. With hybrid being my number one choice.

 

[Drewligarchy]

Mongami and Canare makes some good Bulk OFC cables. A lot of recording studios use them.

I would only pair the Utopia with a good Cooper or Hybrid cable. With hybrid being my number one choice.

Perhaps ... but hard to know how you want to tweak the sound if you don't have a flat reference. I use Canare in my two channel as it was the smoothest, after demoing lots of high priced offerings.

 

[Spawn300Z]

Perhaps ... but hard to know how you want to tweak the sound if you don't have a flat reference. I use Canare in my two channel as it was the smoothest, after demoing lots of high priced offerings.

Agreed I’m just stating my experience. After tweaking my system. I use Danacable for interconnects and headphone cables. But still use Canare on my nearfields.

 

[Sonic Defender]

Just swapped back to the stock cable; this is crazy - it's completely different. I'm surprised they included such a smoothed over stock cable. It's not subtle.

It is crazy. How on earth is this even possible?

 

[Hifiearspeakers]

I’m resurrecting this thread, because the 2022 Utopia deserves it. First off, sorry I’m so late to the party, but I have never really liked Focal.

To my ears, the Nutopia is the closest thing to perfect I’ve ever heard, at any price. Its smaller soundstage is its only sonic weakness, but can also be a strength depending on the recording venue, so it’s only a “sometimes” weakness. It’s only other weakness is its cost.

It has great bass extension, unreal mid bass impact/punch, fantastic detail/resolution, just the right amount of forward mids without crossing into harsh/shout, and the most controlled treble response I’ve ever heard without sounding brittle/grainy/bright.

When you add all that together it reproduces the most perfect tonality in a headphone that I’ve ever heard. Since owning it, it has obliterated my curiosity for other headphones. I still love to hear what others say about the headphones they love, but I don’t have any desire to buy them.

As a former owner of the Composer, Sennheiser 800/800S (4x), Caldera, Atrium, Verite, Auteur, Abyss Diana, every LCD except the 5, almost every Hifiman including Susvara OG, DCA Expanse, Stealth, Ether 2, and too many more to mention, THESE STAND ALONE!

I completely agree with @Nomax. These are the KING. To me, they’re like a mythical Unicorn. I’ve always had an abstract idea of what perfect tonality would sound like, and ZMF and the 800S have come close, but these nail it.

 

[yrstruly]

I’m resurrecting this thread, because the 2022 Utopia deserves it. First off, sorry I’m so late to the party, but I have never really liked Focal.

To my ears, the Nutopia is the closest thing to perfect I’ve ever heard, at any price. Its smaller soundstage is its only sonic weakness, but can also be a strength depending on the recording venue, so it’s only a “sometimes” weakness. It’s only other weakness is its cost.

It has great bass extension, unreal mid bass impact/punch, fantastic detail/resolution, just the right amount of forward mids without crossing into harsh/shout, and the most controlled treble response I’ve ever heard without sounding brittle/grainy/bright.

When you add all that together it reproduces the most perfect tonality in a headphone that I’ve ever heard. Since owning it, it has obliterated my curiosity for other headphones. I still love to hear what others say about the headphones they love, but I don’t have any desire to buy them.

As a former owner of the Composer, Sennheiser 800/800S (4x), Caldera, Atrium, Verite, Auteur, Abyss Diana, every LCD except the 5, almost every Hifiman including Susvara OG, DCA Expanse, Stealth, Ether 2, and too many more to mention, THESE STAND ALONE!

I completely agree with @Nomax. These are the KING. To me, they’re like a mythical Unicorn. I’ve always had an abstract idea of what perfect tonality would sound like, and ZMF and the 800S have come close, but these nail it.

I agree they’re as close to Goldilocks tuning as I’ve found however they’re still pretty source dependent so can take some tweaking with chain to untap their potential (on some chains they can lean too analytical).

Just on the stage: it can get surprisingly grand actually and this and OG Utopia are nearly unmatched for stage depth.