Focal headphone thread, Radiance / Celestee / Clear / Stellia / Utopia

Headphones
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I would say that the Vio 281 has more in common with the BHA-1, whereas the Vio 550 is more revolving and forward. Personally that might have too much bite for the Utopia for my tastes.

In terms of stage with BHA-1 it is more width than height and depth if looking at 4 dimensional imagery. As in front/back, left/right, up/down. It will give the Utopia a bit more bass hit, though may come across as artifiical.

Are you tied to your DAC more than the Vio 550? Are tube amps out of the question? Something like a DNA Starlett would be a great match in that price category of the V550, $2k new or used as they retain value well.

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I’m looking to have a neutral engaging chain at the moment. A good all-rounder. As you said chain is a little too forward. I like it and can live with it, just want to try something different since 2 bha-1 hit the used market.

DAC wise looking for something neutral like Berkeley alpha 2 to maintain neutrality with a hint of warmth. or go full Yggy. But, I don’t plan to upgrade unless a crazy deal happens.

I have never tried tubes before. They could be more of a hassle in my setup. But, I won’t go all the way to get a tube amp just for the Utopia. I have a few planar headphones to try before committing to Utopia.

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Hey guys what’s your experience with the stock cable of the Utopia?

I have been using the stock-balanced cable since I got the Utopia. Yesterday I decided to swap the cable with a hart audio one. To my surprise, the uppermid shoutyness is gone. I’m getting a more mellow sound overall. The stock cable sounded airier, more detailed, more dynamically engaging, and with tighter slammy bass, but it can be a bit too much sometimes (Especially with my chain).

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I really don’t have an opinion, since I barely used it. I got my Danacable Ultra in just a few days after my Utopia and put the stock cables back in the box. I don’t recall them being bad, sonically at least. But that’s the best I can say.

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The Utopia stock cable is better than folks give it credit for. I don’t doubt your experience with the Hart, it may be the Hart is masking the issue (shoutiness) which your amp and DAC are creating with the Utopia?

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Actually is the other way around!

The hart cable is warm lush.

The stock one is better overall but shouty. My doubt came as people never like the OG utopia because of its forward shoutyness.

I think thats why people like the Dana it tames the forwarness and shoutyness.

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I used the stock cable for a while never really found it particularly shouty, though I have the OG cable (pre 2020) that doesn’t have the hideous stiff cloth covering.
The Dana Lazuli Reference is certainly better, but it’s not a must have to appreciate the Utopia IMO.

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We are saying the same thing.

My experience with stock cable or Ref+ never made the Utopia forward shouty, there are chains which work better than others for the Utopia. One chain which I could not take was the TT2 direct, it was a wall of detail, and this would be the case regardless of stock cable or Ref+.

From my experience the Utopia criticism is more from the wrong chain, rather than cables.

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I understand the chain play a bigger roll than a cable swap. I just couldn’t believe the change from the stock ofc utopia vs a hart cable. I’m mid sensitive, thats why I notice the difference.

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I agree here. My chain is one the warmer side and with the stock cable there were only a few times i got hit with that shoutiness in the upper mids. Though the Dana was the whipped cream, hot fudge, and cherry on the bowl of ice cream.

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That is a very accurate description, now I want a bowl :grin:

I would try another cable brand, had looked at the Arctic and DHC, and likely would lean Arctic. That way I don’t have to share one cable with two Utopias.

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My Viking Weave cable for Utopia is a very very good pairing in my mind (silver plated copper)

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Got the Dana Reference!!! (Thanks to the members of this forum)

First impressions are positive!

Stock cable: Resolving, dynamic, tight, airy, can get shouty.
Stock Hart: Warm, rich, not as resolving, unengaging.

Dana Reference:

For real, a mix of the best of both cables.

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I could use some advice on a cable for my Utopia 2020. I’ve re-read through the various cable threads, but I have no direct experience with the brands/cables I’m looking at.

I am currently using a Corpse Cable Gravedigger, which I picked up used here from a fellow member (good deal! :smile:). I like the cable sonically, I feel it made the Utopia smoother in the top end, with better bass control and impact. It also presents a bigger soundstage compared to stock. It is not microphonic, but it is pretty stiff and inflexible. Its ergonomics are not great.

My gold standard for ergonomics to date are the ZMF Lektrik cables. I have a 4 strand copper and a silver cable, and they are both excellent in terms of build and usability. Plus they sound good. I use the silver on an Atrium Open, and the copper on Verite Open,

In any case, my budget is $500-$700 for a cable. I need it in 5-6 ft length, 6 (2m) is better.

I’ve looked at the Norne Skollvar v3, a silver/copper hybrid at $600. I’ve also checked out several Arctic cables, the Vector ($540) and the Pallas ($660 for 1.5m). They are both silver /copper cables.

Arctic also has the Aperion ($550) which is all copper wire.

If I recall correctly some folks here have had issues with Norne? Also, Arctic seems to have too many different cables, it kind of makes it hard to differentiate between them (to some extent).

If you all have suggestions or other cables I’m overlooking I’d appreciate hearing.

FWIW my chain is a Schiit Yggdrasil OG DAC, and DSHA-3FN amp.

Thanks!

One other thing, do either company do Black Friday/holiday deals to anyone’s knowledge?

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I personally wouldn’t go silver with the OG. There’s the normal recommendations on here with the reference that seems to be a good option. Arctic has some good options too but I’d go copper or one of their hybrid options with a touch of silver only. I’d look for a thicker cable from arctic too. I went with silver but I also have the 22 version.

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@PaisleyUnderground is the Arctic Cable guru, he can provide details on differences. If you are patient, wait for a Lazuli Ref/Ref+ to come on the used market.

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I have a silver plated copper cable from Viking Weave that I’m very happy with for the OG (same as 2020)

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@Robson My recommendation, if you already have some ZMF cables that you like, would be to buy a Utopia-mini XLR adapter. I use those on my Utopia 2022.

Even if you still want to buy another cable, trying your OG with both a copper and silver Lektrik will help you decide what you want to get. And any new cable you buy could be terminated in mini-XLR, making it usable for your Utopia and ZMF headphones, so the adapter wouldn’t be a waste of money.

If you do pursue a new cable, then Corpse uses Cardas copper for their Gravedigger so I’m going to guess that the closest from the other boutiques is something made from OCC copper, or mostly OCC copper with a little silver mixed in, if you’re looking for a similar tone. I have a friend who uses a silver DHC Molecule Elite with his Utopia OG because it doesn’t add anything to the sound, but it doesn’t sound like that’s the direction you want to take.

I have an Arctic Cuprum (OCC copper), Gladius (half OCC copper, half OCC copper/silver blend) and Euphoria (lots and lots OCC silver).

The Cuprum was my first foray into premium cables, and I use it with my Stellia. It has a really nice tone IMO.

I’ve compared the Gladius to multiple other cables and it definitely sits in the “sounds like a copper cable” group, as the mids are nice and warm, but the treble is also extended without being bright, and I’m guessing that comes from the copper/silver blend. The Vector that you mentioned sounds like a “baby Gladius”.

The Euphora sounds very different from my DHC Molecule Elite (very neutral, neither warm nor bright) and closer to my memory of the Prion4 (still fairly neutral but the extra silver seems to give more body to the mids, without quite tilting the sound to warm).

Arctic doesn’t have sales IMO, which I think is smart for a boutique manufacturer, because it gives them steady cashflow throughout the year, instead of a rush of orders at sale time. I also have cables from Norne and DHC, and I think they’re all comparable in terms of quality, but the customer service at Arctic is second to none. If you email them with what you’re looking for, they’ll quickly respond with suggestions within your budget. They have a bunch of headphones that they test with, and have always been open with me about how a cable sounds with a particular pair of headphones.

Edit: I forgot to say that I’ll try to remember to bring my adapters and various cables to CAF in a couple of weeks, and I’m hoping to try the cables with an OG while I’m there.

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I like that he places a scale at the bottom of his measurement. It’s also interesting to see that there’s a measured difference from out of the box to burned-in.

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Just watched it. I saw the comparison with the OG vs U22. TBH, I think the U22 would be better for my current chain.

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