[ubs28]

There is/was a new high-end headphone by Sennheiser in the works that would have upset the high-end market. I had a conversation with people from Sennheiser a few years ago and we were discussing on how to beat the Focal Utopia. And they had / have something that could do it (and i was very interested in buying it).

But seeing as that headphone has not been released yet, I wonder if that project was cancelled seeing also a few people at Sennheiser has left.

 

[SilverEars]

I want an HD650 with greater resolution and bigger sound stage

 

[BreadMaster]

There is/was a new high-end headphone by Sennheiser in the works that would have upset the high-end market. I had a conversation with people from Sennheiser a few years ago and we were discussing on how to beat the Focal Utopia. And they had / have something that could do it (and i was very interested in buying it).

But seeing as that headphone has not been released yet, I wonder if that project was cancelled seeing also a few people at Sennheiser has left.

WHAAAAAAT!????

 

[BreadMaster]

There is/was a new high-end headphone by Sennheiser in the works that would have upset the high-end market. I had a conversation with people from Sennheiser a few years ago and we were discussing on how to beat the Focal Utopia. And they had / have something that could do it (and i was very interested in buying it).

But seeing as that headphone has not been released yet, I wonder if that project was cancelled seeing also a few people at Sennheiser has left.

Discussing how to beat the Utopia? No no, they should think about beating Stax!

 

[Hifiearspeakers]

There is/was a new high-end headphone by Sennheiser in the works that would have upset the high-end market. I had a conversation with people from Sennheiser a few years ago and we were discussing on how to beat the Focal Utopia. And they had / have something that could do it (and i was very interested in buying it).

But seeing as that headphone has not been released yet, I wonder if that project was cancelled seeing also a few people at Sennheiser has left.

The Utopia is already beaten by the 800S, unless you prefer your soundstage to sound like it was recorded in a broom closet.

 

[MacedonianHero]

The Utopia is already beaten by the 800S, unless you prefer your soundstage to sound like it was recorded in a broom closet.

That's so completely not my experiences. Get the upfront rig right (and upgrade that pretty poor stock cable to a Dana Cable Lazuli) and the Utopia offer outstanding sound staging. Are they as artificially inflated as the HD800S? Nope...but in the end I find it quite satisfying. And I'm a huge HD800S fan FWIW, but when I play them with a recording that I know was recorded in a small setting, I still get put in the 50th row (thus my "artificial" comment).

 

[Beagle]

There is/was a new high-end headphone by Sennheiser in the works that would have upset the high-end market. I had a conversation with people from Sennheiser a few years ago and we were discussing on how to beat the Focal Utopia.

Just charge $4000 for it. Beat the Utopia by a buck.

 

[BreadMaster]

Just charge $4000 for it. Beat the Utopia by a buck.

LMAO...

 

[Hifiearspeakers]

That's so completely not my experiences. Get the upfront rig right (and upgrade that pretty poor stock cable to a Dana Cable Lazuli) and the Utopia offer outstanding sound staging. Are they as artificially inflated as the HD800S? Nope...but in the end I find it quite satisfying. And I'm a huge HD800S fan FWIW, but when I play them with a recording that I know was recorded in a small setting, I still get put in the 50th row (thus my "artificial" comment).

What do you mean by upfront rig? Does that mean amplifier? Because the 800/800S has an impedance of 300 ohms, and the Utopia is only 80 ohms. So the 800/800S is by far the more difficult to drive.
So if one can power the Sennheiser’s well enough to say they sound better than the Utopia, then I don’t think your critique of someone’s “upfront rig” is valid at all. Maybe some people simply like the 800/800S more than the Utopia and/or maybe some people believe the 800/800S is the superior headphone, regardless of cost.

 

[MacedonianHero]

Just charge $4000 for it. Beat the Utopia by a buck.

Exactly! Well said.

What do you mean by upfront rig? Does that mean amplifier? Because the 800/800S has an impedance of 300 ohms, and the Utopia is only 80 ohms. So the 800/800S is by far the more difficult to drive.
So if one can power the Sennheiser’s well enough to say they sound better than the Utopia, then I don’t think your critique of someone’s “upfront rig” is valid at all. Maybe some people simply like the 800/800S more than the Utopia and/or maybe some people believe the 800/800S is the superior headphone, regardless of cost.

The entire setup...amplifier, DAC, source material, cables, etc... And the Utopia are quite a bit more revealing our your source/DAC. As well, the stock cable is quite poor performing IMO next to the Dana Cable option. That said, "ease of driving" is so much more than impedance (they are both pretty efficient headphones HD800S: 102 db/mW and Utopia: 104 dB/mW)...most amplifiers can power both quite easily (and without break-in a sweat). But the quality of those amplifiers also comes into play as well. But again, I'm referring to the entire chain.

As mentioned, no chain will make the Utopia sound bigger than the HD800S, but getting it right will open them (Focal Utopia) up to a very satisfying level. And at times with more intimate recordings, I have found the HD800S can be artificially too big.

 

[richardxigua]

Orpheus 2 for 30k yen = 217 euro. Right!

I think it is $5000

 

[richardxigua]

hd820 is not good, I hope new products will be better.

 

[BreadMaster]

hd820 is not good, I hope new products will be better.

Nah man, Sennheiser don't care about high-end market. they goin after that $$$ from the cumsumer market.

 

[Silent Xaxal]

hd820 is not good, I hope new products will be better.

Sucks. Was thinking of getting an 820 down the road.

 

[BreadMaster]

Don't. Save that for the HD800 or new Senn fragship