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UTTER UTOPIA; an unexpected uplift.

Mike Reed

Mike Reed

pfm Member
I've had HD650 for ages and my Focal Elears for a little over 4 years. Each complemented the other, being different but not a culture shock. I took a gamble a month ago due to my age-related hearing and not auditioning Utopias, but I'm glad I did. I also had Senn. 800 (S) earmarked as a bigger gamble.

The youngish eBay seller was an excellent seller. The cans were initially advertised with no lead, then the seller offered a good reduction, taking them down below the 2 grand mark. With some email exchange, I ended up with exc. condition cans, tatty box, original lead with one LEMO plug in bits plus his Forza Noir hybrid 1.5 metre cable to get me going. Oh yes, he also paid more than double the eBay postage cost simply for them to arrive on the Saturday morning !

I initially did the usual Elear/Utopia A-B testing, as my Myryad amp has 2 jack outs, but soon gave that up and revelled in the way these cans portrayed music. Initially I listened to live BBC studio broadcasts and recordings (R3) vis my Akai Ref. Master tuner. This, Classic FM and R2 (Sounds of the 70s) were an improvement. When I ran the record-player (Dais/12" PU7/Transfig. Proteus) through my EAR pre, I gave up A-B ing, such was the intensity of comparable involvement compared to the Elears (which were the best cans I'd had).

My friend, who was also smitten by the Utopia/Forza combo on vinyl), managed to fix the stock cable at a later date. This was a bit of a disappointment c/f the Forza, though understandable, I s'pose; 4 metres against 1.5 for starters plus, I'd imagine, over 300 euros should buy a decent cable !

I've now forsaken my speakers for a month and used the Utopias on my fav. radio prog's plus a Prom or two, vinyl for about 7 hours and my CDP (4 box Lector) for about the same. The uplift in dynamics, involvement (a.k.a. immersivity), unforced tonal balance and inner detail were heard on all my sources.

Even TV (line out Chord Cobra from TV to Myryad) seems clearer, with channel volume imbalances and poor recording dissonance being more bearable.

Think it's time to fire up the power amps and listen to my PMC 20.26 speakers again but not sure I really want to yet............ I've not really ever been a headphone man by choice but that situation may now need to be re-evaluated. Even the 4 metre lead onto my 5 m extension cable stretching to my favourite garden view sofa 7+ metres away from the kit (tried this weekend as final test, if you like) improves on the Elears AND allows an extra metre for comfort.

Guess I was a bit spoilt, in my ignorance of these things, by the Forza Noir, but the Utopia with stock cable is still an aural force to be reckoned with. That these cans represent among the top 3 or 4 means no upgrading hassles needed now that I'm using cans far more than previously.

Thought I'd share my thoughts and findings for those can aficionados out there.
 
Very interesting, thank you. Can I ask what the internal dimensions of the earpads are, ie the amount of space one’s ear has.
 
A few years ago I owned Utopia's and found them a satisfying uplift in music presentation over the HD800's and Hifiman HE-6's I'd been using.

Visiting a dealer some time later I was given Elears to quickly audition some other piece of equipment and I was shocked at how different (and not in a good way) they presented sound compared to the Utopia's. Some of that reaction is definitely down to taste as the Elears did nothing wrong but not a headphone I could live with. They were comfy though.

Utopia's are excellent headphones but you pay for the aesthetics and luxury positioning.
 
MarkW said:
A few years ago I owned Utopias and found them a satisfying uplift in music presentation over the HD800s and Hifiman HE-6s I'd been using.

Visiting a dealer some time later I was given Elears to quickly audition some other piece of equipment and I was shocked at how different (and not in a good way) they presented sound compared to the Utopias.
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Interesting that you considered Utopias an uplift over 800s (or were they 800S?) as I'd've thought the presentation would be utterly different, hence difficult to compare, except as regarding taste, of course. Hearing Elears AFTER Utopias isn't going to flatter them, I feel, and having just A-B ed the two, it's the presentation difference which strikes me; the former actually seeming to be more open, with a wider soundstage. However, the sheer involvement factor (how do they do that ?????) and inner detail/natural presentation of the Utopias eclipses the Elears. As you said, 'presentation', a major factor in audio comparisons.
 
Mike Reed said:
As near as damn it, 2" W x 2 5/16" H (or 5 cms x 6 cms). They seem smaller than my Elears, but are comfy and do cover my lug-holes.
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Many thanks; although a bit small for me, not that I ever thought of myself as having particularly big ears! It’s surprising that very few headphone reviews give these essential dimensions.
 
My HD800's were the original non-S variety. The Utopia's were much more solid, dynamic and revealing than the Sennheisers, with a richer tone and obviously a weightier low end. I think the technical aspects of that delivery go beyond just a presentation difference. Not huge differences, of course, but noticeable and more convincing to my (admittedly aging) ears.

Not to say anything negative about the HD800s in isolation. Thoroughly enjoyable taken on their own merits and let's not forget the Focal Utopia's at launch were three times more expensive than the HD800's.
 
MarkW said:
My HD800's were the original non-S variety. The Utopia's were much more solid, dynamic and revealing than the Sennheisers, with a richer tone and obviously a weightier low end. I think the technical aspects of that delivery go beyond just a presentation difference. Not huge differences, of course, but noticeable and more convincing to my (admittedly aging) ears.

Not to say anything negative about the HD800s in isolation. Thoroughly enjoyable taken on their own merits and let's not forget the Focal Utopia's at launch were three times more expensive than the HD800's.
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That pretty much mirrors my experience to a T. I still have my HD800's, can't quite bring myself to sell them, even though I've made a promise to my better half to sell all the gear I'm not really using!
 
Mogreg said:
I still have my HD800's, can't quite bring myself to sell them, even though I've made a promise to my better half to sell all the gear I'm not really using!
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A friend with high-end Naim gear in his lounge also has systems in his dining room, spare bedroom, office and kitchen. Not rubbish either; Naim (2 x NAT 01s, e.g.), Epos, CDPs etc. He lives alone !!!!!

I am the opposite; dislike having redundant quality stuff around. Members of my local hifi Mafia are similarly split on hoarding. Actually, quality stuff doesn't really depreciate beyond a certain point, and some (Naim that company!) actually appreciates in some instances, as I found in over 25 years on the latter's treadmill.
 
I have one system - one pair of headphones, one amp, one dac. That's it.

I bought a second pair of headphones with a different sonic presentation, kept them for a few weeks, then sold them on. Not a benefit to me.

I used to have several headphones at any one time but I ended up asking myself why? I only used one pair for months on end. I went through a number of iterations of my "one of everything" system, but I am at a great place now and just enjoy the music.
 
MarkW said:
I have one system - one pair of headphones, one amp, one dac. That's it.

I bought a second pair of headphones with a different sonic presentation, kept them for a few weeks, then sold them on. Not a benefit to me.

I used to have several headphones at any one time but I ended up asking myself why? I only used one pair for months on end. I went through a number of iterations of my "one of everything" system, but I am at a great place now and just enjoy the music.
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You’re right, I’m terrible with hoarding stuff. I’m selling off all the gear I don’t currently use, but I keep thinking ‘maybe I could just keep that…’ It’s an affliction! The HD800’s should probably go…
 
Mike Reed said:
Interesting that you considered Utopias an uplift over 800s (or were they 800S?) as I'd've thought the presentation would be utterly different, hence difficult to compare, except as regarding taste, of course. Hearing Elears AFTER Utopias isn't going to flatter them, I feel, and having just A-B ed the two, it's the presentation difference which strikes me; the former actually seeming to be more open, with a wider soundstage. However, the sheer involvement factor (how do they do that ?????) and inner detail/natural presentation of the Utopias eclipses the Elears. As you said, 'presentation', a major factor in audio comparisons.
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Mike, I knew you’d be surprised and delighted by the Utopias. I’ve never heard any headphone as resolving as these. I also believe there’s a strong case for the best cans you can afford especially if your hearing has deteriorated. For me they cut out all the problems of room reflections and the need to have speakers turned up to antisocial levels.
 
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TheDecameron said:
I’ve never heard any headphone as resolving as these.
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Nice to hear, Dec. Haven't had any experience of anything except Senn. and Focal. Mark W's comment above re. what I had earmarked as an alternative (HD 800?S) are also encouraging concerning resolution/detail but there's sth I can't put my finger on that makes listening to familiar music a new experience.

TheDecameron said:
I also believe there’s a strong case for the best cans you can afford especially if your hearing has deteriorated.
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This is interesting, and, I would've thought previously, a bit counter-intuitive. I'm sure you're right, but can't quite see how that may be.
 
alanbeeb said:
£1000 off the utopias until October in p/x for ANY other on or over-ear headphones.
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Sorry Alan, but I don't do unnecessary cookies and can't read that. Are they knocking a grand off Utopias (currently around £4500, I believe) when you trade in any other cans? Bit of a gimmick as the original/previous Utopias cost around £3500 anyway. Before I bought mine, I watched a couple of/few Utube videos of American can 'specialists' comparing the two; old and new. The upshot was that with the right partnering kit the new ones were marginally better in some aspects, but no way a grand better.

Not that I'd contemplated them, mind; just interested !
 
Mike Reed said:
Sorry Alan, but I don't do unnecessary cookies and can't read that. Are they knocking a grand off Utopias (currently around £4500, I believe) when you trade in any other cans? Bit of a gimmick as the original/previous Utopias cost around £3500 anyway. Before I bought mine, I watched a couple of/few Utube videos of American can 'specialists' comparing the two; old and new. The upshot was that with the right partnering kit the new ones were marginally better in some aspects, but no way a grand better.

Not that I'd contemplated them, mind; just interested !
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Yes.

£600 off the Stellia. £1000 off the utopias.

Some online dealers have a discount code published
... don't think they are too bothered about actually receiving the trade-ins.
 
Not sure why it was an unexpected uplift?

Headphones with rrp of £4500:eek: sound really really good and a lot better than ones that cost a fraction of it - who’d a thunk it?:rolleyes:

Still won’t get that hit you in chest, wobble your cheeks bass though.:p
 
unclepuncle said:
Not sure why it was an unexpected uplift?

Headphones with rrp of £4500:eek: sound really really good and a lot better than ones that cost a fraction of it - who’d a thunk it?:rolleyes:

Still won’t get that hit you in chest, wobble your cheeks bass though.:p
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Well funnily enough I used to think that about headphones, they'll never give the all over vibrations that a good speaker will..... and then the other week I decided to listen to Hans Zimmer's music for the move "Interstellar" on my old Denon AHD-5000. Eh Gosh..... when the organ kicked in I could feel it throbbing through my whole body. Psycho-acoustics, what a thing :D

None of my other headphones were able to match it..... they all have their strengths and weaknesses, just like speakers.
 
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