I don’t disagree with this one bit!
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I wasn’t sure how to interpret this. Are you saying that the Utopia is more emotionally engaging on a different amp than the MZ3 ?
This is the first time I own the OG and tested it first with the MZ3 so it’s more a general take of mine about my experience with the headphone and mentioning what I used vs actually comparing it to other pairings at this time. Perhaps it will turn out more emotional but might also just be how I experience them. They’re lots of fun.
I plan to try it with my Z10e, eventually HM1 and whatever else I try along the way. Maybe I manage to get a Stratus to try we’ll see.
It’s also not a bad trait imo, I really like them for what they are but it’s just a different listening experience vs Susvara and D8KPLE that’s all.
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I was just wondering if you meant that the Utopia is more engaging on the Z10e.
For instance, I find the MZ3 more laid back than the Ultralinear, which isn’t a bad thing, but it takes me a few minutes to adjust if I’m switching from one to the other mid listening session.
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Haven’t done that comparison yet since my Z10e is on loan but I also expect I’d find the MZ3 warmer richer and more laid back.
I’m sure the Utopia will sound different on it. If it’s better or not I guess is very subjective.
From memory, as an example, I prefer the D8KP LE on the Z10e over MZ3. I think that headphone works better with more linear dryer chains.
fwiw it’s not that I don’t find Utopia engaging. It’s very engaging even to an almost exhausting point sometimes. It’s just on a more fun energetic level than emotional for me.
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Do you guys have any experience with the shrill feeling with focal clear or focal in general with higher end stuff ?
I have the OG Clears and absolutely noticed what you’re hearing, on several different DACs and amps. I don’t hear it all the time but it’s for sure a little sharp on the high end; not quite painful for me but not enjoyable.
I did a pad swap to some Dekoni fenestrated pads and that quelled the sibilance enough for me.
I’m definitely one of the people who - for this reason - much prefers the Clear MG over the OG, but I know I’m mostly in the minority there.
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Count me in as well. The MG has a bit too much air, but it’s not as fatiguing as the upper mids/lower treble for my ears. I also enjoy the slightly fuller bass.
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This has probably been covered and I’m sure I knew the answer before but I forgot… Is Focal’s warranty transferable?
Why, are you selling your Utopia already? 
Might be for the Radiance he has up for sale.
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Yeah it’s for the Radiance. I’m pretty sure it’s transferable.
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Utopia OG is such an impressive headphone. Really gives you a feeling it can do so much and scale and wear different hats with different chains. I’d really want to explore how it can be pushed to its limits with tube amps.
Since getting it my hand reaches to it much more than D8KP LE and I like it much more than I liked the 22 version. Those two are spectacular headphones but they have what I’d consider simple sound. Their performance is really good, tuning widely acceptable, work well with many chains, but neither feel like they can really wow me. Both (LE and 22) are much better all rounder cans than the OG.
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I reacquired a 2020 Utopia recently, a deal which was too good to pass up! It was in new, fresh out of the box condition as it needed some time to burn in.
Why would I pick up a headphone i previous owned and replaced with the 2022 version? My audio memory is absolute shit, and with a few significant changes and tweaks I had the buzzing curiosity nagging me.
If one was hoping to hear a declaration of one being better overall than the other, that is not going to happen. I find them both to be quite different sounding on the same chains, enough where I would not be opposed to keeping them both in my collection.
I understand better now what Focal was trying to do with the 2022 model, and it’s an excellent headphone for those who prefer a more laid back and warmer tonality. It unfortunately also removes the airy treble energy, which many criticized as being harsh or metallic sounding (how the eff does a group come up with metallic as a description??).
This treble tilt was something I was missing and trying to find with a subset of tracks and genres I enjoy. The rest of my headphones already tilt warm, so I was missing a can to compliment this tonality change. I didn’t mind missing it as I thoroughly enjoy the 2022 Utopia, to the point I have barely listened to the other headphones since January!
This is not meant to be a write up of detailed impressions, only a share to indicate that now we are 9 months removed from the noise of the 2022 release, don’t count out the previous generation Utopia be it the 2016, 2018 (yeah there was a bundle with a portable player which came out this year, think it was a CMA DAP), or 2020 variants. There is a reason why Focal made a hardware, cosmetic, and tuning change for the 2022 model and that is because it can co-exist next to the original model.
I put my money where my thoughts are, and I’m not a habitual gear cycler. It’s a shame they stopped selling the original version, so if you see a deal and enjoy that sound I personally would not hesitate.
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Good to know, didn’t realize they were that different to where it’s potentially reasonable to own both, feel like most I’ve seen on them end up being really liking one over the other. Been hearing so many mixed things on them lol. I’ve debated getting the 2022 many many times, but it really seems like most that have tired them here feel like it’s more a different direction and they amp differently, although seems like people can’t figure out how different they are lol. I can already guess that for what I value them for, and how my chain is at the current moment that they likely wouldn’t be something I’d like as much as the OG ones, but still curious nonetheless
Terrible source gear, otherwise I don’t know lol (being fair even focal screws up their show demos at times). People look at them and think “easy to drive” when they are a fair bit more tricky on the chain than they look to be on paper. Although that’s good in a sense that it likely is one of the reasons why the OG is such a good value used lol
Yeah the questyle daps, previously was the QP2R then the QPM, they also sold a bundle with the CMA desktops I want to say but not fully sure on that one. Irritating they kinda don’t seem to do that anymore and now demo their stuff at shows with Naim when the Questyle stuff has way better synergy (and honestly are just better products in general from a sound perspective lol). QPM is very very good with the utopia for the money, especially considering you can find used QPM for around 1k which is just a steal. I do wonder if the more neutral slightly warmer slightly smoother approach of the Questyle was less of a good match with the new 2022 but would have to try to confirm
If only they didn’t discontinue it lol
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This may be an odd comparison, and in the opposite direction of tonality, the analogy would be:
D8k = 2022 Utoipia
D8k Pro = Original Utopia
Off my Stratus, with the same tube roll they are enjoyable.
Solid State:
Pass: toss up
Bryston: Original Utopia
DSHA-3F: Original Utopia, the 2022 made me think the amp was busted!
100% those Naim Headphone Amp editions are nothing like the Naim classic line boxes! Sure the Utopia can be driven off anything, does not mean they sound great. I tried them with my Mojo/Poly and honestly it would not be my first choice, rather use the usb-c/lightning dongle straight out of a mobile device and that is quite brutal.
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That makes total sense to me, in both tonality and how the final drive too lol
Yeah not at all lol
Honestly I’ve never been a fan of the chord synergy, direct out of the Dave or TT2 and such which a lot of people seem to do, but if they like them more power to them lol, I just don’t really get it. I did actually like the mojo for the price being portable, but that’s still not really high praise lol
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You know, I was one of those people and as strictly a headphone amp with the M-scaler the TT2 could drive the hell out of any headphone and give it great space and resolution. In the last two years my I’ve grown away from it as using it as a DAC only really loses a lot of what makes it enjoyable when using the headphone tap. I really began to notice it compared to other DACs I own or have borrowed recently it’s best suited for an all in one unit. In other words it lacks the flexibility needed for synergy.
There is a reason I’m going to sell this stack and use the money towards a totaldac or a Bricasti M1, or another high end modern DAC.
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That’s very interesting, and helpful information.
I have a U 2020, and am considering the Nitsch DSHA-3FN when it comes out. Plus, supposedly Zach was using one to demo some of his headphones, and liked the synergy of it. I also have an Atrium which I enjoy as a change of pace vs Utopia.
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This amp has a following on SBAF, where not many are fans of the Utopia. They tended to match this amp up with various ZMF headphones like the Auteur and Verite, and of course their beloved Sennheiser HD600/650 modded. My concern is something does no ad up with their raving impressions as I have tried it with a sampling of those models and seriously think mine has some issues. It was marginally better with the original Utopia than my ZMF Verite and the HD650, and of course the 2022 Utopia.
I’m in the process of confirming the issues I’m running into, hopefully it’s a bad component and all will be good, if not and this is indeed how the amp sounds I have 3-4 other solid states that pair better with all my headphones. In other words it’s a pricey onsie amp that may still not provide what the Utopia deserves. I say this wholeheartedly with disappointment as I’ve been trying to get this amp for a few years.
Hope I’m wrong!
Edit: a little clarity on what I have been experiencing, the amp has no energy, it’s presents like a horizontal ruler with no space or depth, I would go as far to say it’s as close to a mono sound without being mono. Not at all like anything I’ve read about it or heard from friends who have tried it at the ZMF booth or other shows.
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Well I guess they go Naim now as they are the same company. Naim is put into bentleys and the focal radiance Bentley connection is another example. The questyle collab daps had a slightly nicer colorway and the focal logo on them.
They also raved about the decware taboo and i could not get into it. They seem to really like things created within the community or that come from builders that have roots there. Which is not a criticism, much of that stuff is great and community centric, but i am no longer surprised if my thoughts do not align with the general sbaf consensus on pieces of gear.
What i am getting at is that maybe it’s not busted and it is just the way it is. They do sell extremely quick, which seems like it may be beneficial to future you.
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