[KZCloud89]

The last time I listened to the Utopia was May of 2023 when I took that picture. Been busy lately exploring DAPs and IEMs. Neglect yes sure....forgotten definitely not .

 

[KZCloud89]

Guys, I have a serious issue with my Focal Utopia from 2017. They were purchased brand new back in 2017 and used them for a while, but then they were stored in their leather box. I just opened them up to try them out and am finding out there is no sound coming from the right side. Do you think this might be cable problem or a serious internal problem. Since these are way passed the original warranty. Any idea on how much these would cost to fix? Also how do you remove the cable on these things? Thanks for any guidance.

My guess is something wrong with the cable/Lemo connectors, not the driver itself.

 

[turbo87]

My guess is something wrong with the cable/Lemo connectors, not the driver itself.

That's what I am thinking also. best way to find out is to try another cable. Any cheap options I can purchase to try out and narrow the issue? Thanks

 

[KZCloud89]

Wat

That's what I am thinking also. best way to find out is to try another cable. Any cheap options I can purchase to try out and narrow the issue? Thanks

Watch the classified maybe for something like this https://www.head-fi.org/classifieds...e-for-focal-utopia-furutech-6-3mm-1-5m.66640/. Also anything related to Utopia is not cheap especially driver replacement.

Edit: There're plenty of cable with Lemo connectors on AliExpress if you don't mind waiting.

 

[BassicScience]

Guys, I have a serious issue with my Focal Utopia from 2017. They were purchased brand new back in 2017 and used them for a while, but then they were stored in their leather box. I just opened them up to try them out and am finding out there is no sound coming from the right side. Do you think this might be cable problem or a serious internal problem. Since these are way passed the original warranty. Any idea on how much these would cost to fix? Also how do you remove the cable on these things? Thanks for any guidance.

Did you check for the infamous pad gunk issue? That's what killed one of the drivers in my OG Utopia. Probably won't be cheap to fix if it's out of warranty, but you should probably confer with your dealer, and ask for leniency since they were in storage for a long time. Best of luck!

 

[thefitz]

That's what I am thinking also. best way to find out is to try another cable. Any cheap options I can purchase to try out and narrow the issue? Thanks

Why not try plugging in the side that's working to both sides one at a time?

 

[Tobes]

My guess is something wrong with the cable/Lemo connectors, not the driver itself.

Begs the question how that would happen. Cables/connectors don't go faulty stored in a box - unless at the bottom of the sea.
Maybe the OP tried to force the Lemo connectors off damaging the cable? Though the force would be pretty extreme.
Checking the continuity of the cable with a multimeter would be a start.

 

[Tobes]

Did you check for the infamous pad gunk issue?

Definitely worth checking. My 2016 pads deteriorated and caused a sticky mess under the pads, though it never migrated and caused a functional issue.
I would have thought you'd have to wear them to initiate the breakdown as I suspect heat was a factor. Maybe if stored in a warm climate/location?

 

[BassicScience]

Definitely worth checking. My 2016 pads deteriorated and caused a sticky mess under the pads, though it never migrated and caused a functional issue.
I would have thought you'd have to wear them to initiate the breakdown as I suspect heat was a factor. Maybe if stored in a warm climate/location?

I question your heat thesis, as I rarely used my Utopia after I acquired my Susvara (two years into ownership, and two years prior to failure), and I live in a temperate, moderate humidity climate (SF Bay Area). That said, heat could very well accelerate the seepage.

 

[Tobes]

I question your heat thesis, as I rarely used my Utopia after I acquired my Susvara (two years into ownership, and two years prior to failure), and I live in a temperate, moderate humidity climate (SF Bay Area). That said, heat could very well accelerate the seepage.

I think I called it a suspicion not a thesis.
I also live in a temperate zone, but it gets hot in summer and that's when I noticed mine. Hence my suspicion that ambient temp and added body heat was a factor in the breakdown.
I've seen pictures (here somewhere) of the goo migrating to the drivers, but I don't think that's a common occurrence.
There is a commonality with your lack of use and the OP, were yours stored in the box?

 

[BassicScience]

I think I called it a suspicion not a thesis.
I also live in a temperate zone, but it gets hot in summer and that's when I noticed mine. Hence my suspicion that ambient temp and added body heat was a factor in the breakdown.
I've seen pictures (here somewhere) of the goo migrating to the drivers, but I don't think that's a common occurrence.
There is a commonality with your lack of use and the OP, were yours stored in the box?

No, mine weren't stored in the box.

There have been a fair number of reports of Utopia driver failure due to gunk here on Head-Fi, FYI.

 

[Tobes]

Yeah, I've seen a few reported over the years.
I can see how gunk seepage could make the HP unserviceable - requiring driver replacement - but I'm wondering how that condition would lead to the electrical failure experienced by the OP?

 

[BassicScience]

Yeah, I've seen a few reported over the years.
I can see how gunk seepage could make the HP unserviceable - requiring driver replacement - but I'm wondering how that condition would lead to the electrical failure experienced by the OP?

The OP stated: "there is no sound coming from the right side". Gunk seepage may manifest as such, as it did in my case. Obviously, there are other possible causes of driver failure, but I was simply suggesting he start there. I didn't see anything posted that would rule out gunk seepage as a possible culprit, but maybe I missed something?

 

[Tobes]

The OP stated: "there is no sound coming from the right side". Gunk seepage may manifest as such, as it did in my case. Obviously, there are other possible causes of driver failure, but I was simply suggesting he start there. I didn't see anything posted that would rule out gunk seepage as a possible culprit, but maybe I missed something?

Like I said I'm just wondering how gunk seepage could lead to electrical failure?
As it happens I still have my old gunky Utopia pads in plastic bags, so I checked with a ohm meter just now, sticking the probes into seeping gunk at close proximity. It measures open circuit. Being non conductive it shouldn't short anything out, so I'm wondering how it could cause a driver to fail electrically.
Can't see how it could seize the driver motor either since that is on the other side of the diaphragm/pad etc.

 

[hakunamakaka]

Does anyone has any experience with replacing Utopias frame ? Sounds crazy but I accidentally sat on right earcup...Seeing how much focal charges for new earpads I have little hope for a budget fix here...