It’s really funny how tastes and preferences evolve.
When I started getting serious about the hobby, I couldn’t get enough of over-ear headphones. I built up a collection, started reviewing so I could audition everything out there, and then injured my neck and back because of poor posture and the weight of heavy headphones, especially during the pandemic where I was pulling 14-hour days for my day job(s). My laptop being tiny meant I had a forward head posture as I was listening to the medieval torture device that was the AB 1266 Phi TC. All 640 grams of it.
My surface laptop
was small like I said and I paid no attention to ergonomics, like using a laptop stand or otherwise raising my laptop to eye level.
Fast forward to 2021, I was told by my doc to get off headphones to heal my neck and back.
At that point, I reluctantly entered in-ears. My first serious flagship foray was the Legend EVO, then the Traillii, the Jewel and the rest was history.
Earlier today, I borrowed the Utopia 2022 from a friend. Its a headphone I greatly appreciate and wanted to review for my viewers. Its smoother, ever so slightly warmer rendition of the Utopia OG and has a treble that is also slightly less “metallic” in timbre than the OG Utopia.
It is, overall, a delightful headphone, and off the Sony DMPZ1, an even better experience. The openness was a nice change from IEMs and it felt like I was experiencing a surreal rendition of a private concert around my head.
However, in the few hours I was listening to the Utopia and appreciating the change from IEMs so to speak, I couldn’t help but think of how something was missing. I couldn’t put my finger on it. And then I switched to my Trifectas which in some specific ways, resemble the Utopia, perhaps mostly in dynamic driver timbre and largeness of images and dynamic energy.
After switching to the Trifecta from the Utopia, I have to say my brain immediately adjusted from critical listening and taking of notes to listening for pleasure. I know people say you can’t compare headphones and IEMs and that they are apples and oranges but of course I disagree. You can compare apples and oranges. And if you prefer one over another, of course that in itself yields a comparison.
The Trifecta to me just sounded more natural and more lifelike. I actually perceive a wider stage on the Tri than the Utopia and I understand others may hear differently. I hear a deeper stage as well and far more impressive macro dynamics, punch, slam, and a far deeper bass, and a treble that is timbrally superior. But above all, above everything else, the Trifecta and then the Perpetua just sound more cohesive and coherent than the Utopia or any headphone I can think of.
In any case, I would have never traversed the world of IEMs had I not been compelled to by physical complications. However, now that I am fully into it, I am so grateful for the switch to IEMs. Can’t ever imagine becoming a headphone-first listener.