Nice! How much of that time were they on your head if at all?
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I listened a little yesterday morning after getting them. Wasnāt too happy. Put them on the bryston and came back late last night. They were better for sure. I listened a little bit and went to bed. This morning about 9ish I listened some more, and felt imaging and dynamics improved too. I donāt think itās all brain burn in. Maybe some, but I didnāt listen much yesterday after the initial morning secession.
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As someone who is really liking his Radiance and is looking at a Utopia as a future step, ill be keeping an eye out for your impressions.
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Same family, toned down bass, which is expected. Better at everything else. Do it. But give them time and let them burn in.
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There are some (read: a lot) of steps between here and there. But itll be interesting to see how these hit the used market.
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I regret that I turned down the opportunity to get a Utopia (OG at the time was all there was) on loan, but I was so enamored with the Susvara and I had just had a Stellia on loan and it was fine but not my cup of tea so I passed on the Utopia. I think I would like to listen to one, OG or 22. Perhaps after the holidays.
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Wanna go halfs on one?
Tempting, but I need to wait until after the first of the year/end of Q1 before I can look at anything.
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Sure, do you want the L or R cup? 
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Left please, thats my good ear.
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I know itās been a while since you owned a Stellia but how would you compare the new Utopia to your memory of the Stellia?
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I personally thinks itās an improvement all around. Stellia tilts warmer, even more than the new utopia. I think some may hear the new utopia is warmer and think stellia but theyāre not that warm.
The stellia may have some more elevated bass but the utopiaās bass is better. Faster and hits harder. The utopia is more linear in the bass too, itās really enjoyable. Bass guitars have this growl, texture, and itās fast. Itās just about perfect. And I feel it has body or a weight to it as well. Itās not a lean or thin bass with texture and slam. Itās solid. If I could ask for one thing, it would be a linear sub bass like the sus with its texture, but thatās a planar so we can have it all.
The utopia has crazy detail and clarity. Iām hearing things I havenāt before. I know people say that a lot, but itās true. Something about the way the utopia does it. It makes these little things pop out in the background or maybe a breath from a singer between lines, but itās not distracting or anything, just more detail but in natural way. Hard to explain, but I love it.
Much faster. The speed of the utopia is wild. The sus was fast but imo this is very, very good too.
A really nice stage, tho I understand the stellia is closed so thatās kinda not a fair comparison but the VC has a decent stage so it is what it is. And the utopia has excellent depth to the stage. Some of the best Iāve heard.
The mids on the stellia can be a little recessed at times (or maybe just off, sometimes it would just be odd, I think depending on the recording). And I found this to be more noticeable with vocals. The utopia comes off really nice in the mids to me. Guitars, drums, violins, vocals, etc. they all seem spot on to me.
Itās about as high as Iād want the upper FR to lean. It allows details to pop through without being too harsh. The highs are about perfect to me. It can sometimes seem like itās getting close to being too much but honestly, to my ears, on my chain it doesnāt get there. The sus was similar, close but never harsh. Just right. Even off the mojo 2, itās been enjoyable and that leans thinner than my main chain (sus was never ran off mojo2 
).
The imaging on the utopia is wild. So pin point accurate. I think it may be as good or better than sus in that area. Different chains tho.
Before the utopia the susvara was hands down the best headphone Iāve heard. The utopia trades blows with it imo. The sus has it beat on linear bass and texture (though the utopia does texture very well for a dynamic). And the sus may be a tad bit better in timbre but the utopias timbre isnāt bad at all. Itās close in the timbre department but Iād probably give it to sus. This is also comparing the two headphones off two different chains. Sus with holo may > wa33 and the utopia with Wavelight > stratus.
FWIW I sold the stellia after getting the radiance. I felt the radiance was close enough and I was ok with a little less detail and imo a better timbre from the radiance. I wouldnāt say the stellia is metallic when listening to it on its own, but in comparison to the radiance Iād say itās more metallic sounding. This is nitpicking tho. The utopia doesnāt come off metallic to me at all. I really liked the stellia and I donāt think itās a bad headphone but for the money, the radiance trades blows and neither were ever going to be my main headphone. Theyāre for when I need to use a closed back, using my mojo, and/or when Im listening around my family. So I felt my money was better spent with a more affordable closed back in the radiance and putting the extra money towards something else in my chain or collection.
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Dear headphone spearheads 
I donāt own any serious headphone and got an offer from a friend:
- Focal - Celestee: ā¬700
- Focal - Elkegia: ā¬500
PhonoAmp: would start with my Weiss DAC 501 mkII
So not sure, if this is a good thing as a newbie to start with?
BTW: I dont wanna go ridiculousā¦ just in case I need to listen via headphones, rarely using it.
I donāt know how helpful this is, but in the United States, the Focal Elegia has been sold for under $400 new for a while:
https://www.adorama.com/fofelegia.html?emailprice=t
I was surprised at how much I liked the Elegia (especially considering other closed-backs at the price), but Iāve never heard the Celestee to compare.
The Celestee is mehhhhh at least in my opinion. I still stand by the radiance but i dont know of thats the first pic for a headphone without trying it first.
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how can focal take two steps forward with the radiance then a step back with the celestee lol
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Testing the market
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My Utopia is still burning in and improving by the hour but I can already tell this headphone is special. A must listen for anyone in this hobby.
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Focal Utopia 2022 Reviewā¦? Impressionsā¦? Yeah weāll go with that.
Focal Utopia 2022 Impressions
Focal has updated the Utopia with a new blacked out look and a few changes internally. Most of the glossy black and silver is gone. It now has an updated voice coil made from 70% aluminum and 30% copper (The original was all aluminum). Inside the ear cups over the drivers, theyāve changed the flat grille to a M-shaped grille matching the shape of the driver. How will these changes affect the sound? Is Focal taking a step in the right direction with the updated looks and sound quality? In my opinion, yes!
TL;DR
In short, theyāre comfortable and very good. Get a pair!
Letās get into this!
Iām not a reviewer. I havenāt heard it all, but I wanted to give my impressions because Iām sure there are people like me who want some additional info on these beauties before buying.
Build
Which leads me into the updated looks and build quality. In my opinion theyāre beautiful. Even better in person. I think the refresh is awesome. I really like the blacked out look and the way the honeycomb hexagon pattern flickers as the light hits them. Itās just enough flash without being over the top. The looks kind of remind me of the Focal Radiance and IMO theyāre a great looking headphone, but these take it to another level. The forged carbon fiber on the yokes is a cool change up from the original. The OG Utopia has the weaved carbon fiber, which is nice as well and I could take either style, but this was a smart decision to change it up. If youāre refreshing the look, you have to do more than just the cups, so the new yoke style is a good move. I do like the location of the connectors now. I think it was wise to relocate them to the ring of the cup. Not sure if this helps to allow the grille to be more open, but regardless I think it was the right move. I donāt mind the Lemo connectors. I know some arenāt a fan but itās fine. I do think a simple 3.5mm connector like the rest of the Focal lineup would be best, but at least it isnāt a HD800S connector or something worse. I can live with them, theyāre easy on/off in my experience and thatās important to me. Which bring us to these cablesā¦ Theyāre amazing! Almost as good as Hifiman. Come on Focal, youāre so close to perfection! But in all seriousness, it comes with two cables. One 10ft, terminated in 4 pin XLR and one 5ft, terminated in 3.5mm. Both cables are janky and not the easiest to work with. They sound fine and do the job, but at this price point youād hope for a little more. Outside the cables, which many change anyways, Iād say overall a solid build. No real complaints here.
Comfort
Getting into comfort, I find them very comfortable. I can wear them for many hours with no problem. The weight could cause issues for some, but I donāt find them too heavy or a problem. The headband has excellent cushioning and I donāt develop a hotspot or anything on the top of my head. The pads are the same as the OG and I feel theyāre very good quality. And they should be (donāt look up the cost to replace them). I donāt find the leather ear pads get hot at all. Probably the best leather pads Iāve used. The perforations most likely help here and again, just really comfortable. Iāve owned just about all of the Focal headphones and Iāve never had an issue with comfort and these are no different. If you fall in this category then I think these will be comfortable for you as well.
Audio Chains Used
My main audio chain is Roon > Rockna Wavelight > DNA Stratus or Bryston BHA-1. I mostly use the Stratus but for a more affordable solid state option the Bryston does really well with the Utopia 2022. Itās a pretty solid pairing and still adds a little warmth for a solid state. The second audio chain I use is Roon > Chord Mojo 2 + Poly. The Mojo 2 leans a little thinner compared to the other two, but itās still enjoyable IMO. You lose some impact in the bass, warmth, and the holographic elements of the Stratus, but itās a portable AIO option so we canāt expect too much.
Burn in-Brain burn in-Adjusting
After about two weeks of owning these I feel like the Utopia has settled in quite well. I think some burn in definitely helped, though some will say it was all in my head, but I really feel it was a little bit of both. For the first 24 hours I didnāt really listen after the first initial impressions, which was quick and not the best. Afterwards, I let them play with some bass heavy music for about 24 hours straight and came back to a much better low end and a lot punchier headphone. I want to say the dynamics improved as whole as well. If you pick these up and think theyāre not right initially, Iād definitely give them time. Either use them right off the bat and ride out the burn in or just let them burn in while you work, go to the gym, watch cartoons, or whatever it is that you do. But give them some time.
Sound Impressions
Frequency Response
(No measurements, fancy graphs, EQ adjustments, or a pair of fake ears. Iām no Resolve and aināt no body got time for that!)
Bass
Starting out with the bass. The Utopiaās bass is very nice, itās fast and hits hard! Without ever hearing the OG Utopia I donāt know if Iād want less bass than this. I like what this is doing and it definitely fits my preferences. For a dynamic the Utopia is pretty linear in the bass too, itās really enjoyable. Bass guitars have a growl, texture, and itās fast. Itās just about perfect. I feel it has body and weight. Itās not a lean or thin bass with just texture and slam. Itās solid. If I could ask for one thing, it would be a linear sub bass like the Susvara with its texture. I found that trait of the Susvara really enjoyable, but thatās a planar and we canāt have it all.
Midrange
The Utopia comes off really nice in the midrange to me. Guitars, drums, violins, vocals, etc. they all seem spot on. Vocals arenāt metallic, they seem pretty natural. Nothing seems off here. Itās not recessed or pushed too forward. Various instruments that live in this range seem accurate. Guitars have weight and are crisp when needed. Drums have a nice punch and smack when called upon, natural as well. I feel like Iām repeating myself, but this area of the FR is pleasant and I donāt know what Iād change in the midrange. Itās just accurate to me.
Highs/Upper FR
This is about as high as Iād want the upper FR to lean, but donāt let that scare you away. Itās enjoyable! It allows details to pop through without being too harsh. Cymbals splashing are awesome. The highs are about perfect to me. It can sometimes seem like itās getting close to being too much (electric guitars really getting on it or higher notes from a violin) but honestly to my ears, on my chain it doesnāt get there. The Susvara was similar, close but never really harsh (maybe with some bad rock recordings the Susvara could be harsh but that wasnāt the norm). This area is just about right to me. Even off the Mojo 2 itās been enjoyable and it leans thinner than my main chain. I think they did a good job here. From what Iāve read about the OG Utopia, Iām not sure it would be for me if the upper FR pushes things any farther. Iād have to listen to be sure. Hopefully Iāll get an opportunity one day for a comparison.
Outside the FR
(Detail, Dynamics, Separation/Imaging, Stage, & Timbre)
This is where I feel the Utopia pulls away from the pack. The detail, dynamics, separation/imaging, and stage is awesome. Sure, some headphones do a few of these well, but not many do all of these well and I feel the Utopia is getting close to the total package.
Detail
The Utopia has crazy detail and clarity. Iām hearing things I havenāt before. I know people say that a lot, but itās true. Itās up there with the best that Iāve heard and Iām satisfied with its abilities. Something about the way the Utopia does it. It allows these little details to pop out in the background or maybe a breath from a singer between lines. Itās not distracting or anything, just more detail but in natural way. Hard to explain, but I love it.
Dynamics
The Utopia is one of the fastest and punchiest headphones Iāve experienced. And it does it in a smooth and enjoyable way. It comes off coherent and it just works. Its very musicalā¦ yes I said it. It is what it is and Iām not ashamed haha! Itās really good! Much faster and punchier than any dynamic Iāve experienced. The speed of the Utopia is wild. Itās almost planar fast, or as fast. The Susvara was fast but IMO this is up there and very, very good too.
Stage
A really nice stage! The Utopia has excellent width and depth to the stage. Some of the best Iāve heard (HD800S and Empyrean have it beat in width, but thatās probably it). I wasnāt expecting the stage to be as good as it isā¦ Maybe due to other Focal headphones having a smaller stage? Maybe thatās why Iām so impressed, but regardless I like it. Itās not congested at all. Instruments and vocals have plenty of room to work. The way it does depth is up there with some of the best Iāve heard. Other headphones will do width well but not depth. These do and itās really impressive how it does both so well. Itās very enjoyable off the Stratus. I love the holographic feel and how it uses the stage. Transients from things like cymbals or electric guitars float out into space. Certain tracks will have things zipping through the air by your head, and it does it probably better than any headphone Iāve had. Iām sure the crazy speed of the Utopia, along with its depth in the stage is assisting with this mind game. Itās trippy, exciting, and I dig it!
Separation/Imaging
The separation and imaging on the Utopia is great. So pin point accurate. I think it may be as good or better than the Susvara and HD800S in that area. Working from memory I think this may edge it out. Or itās possibly how my brain perceives it? Iām not sure, but itās very good. This was off different chains too, so that plays a part, but itās close! The presentation of the image is bigger off the Susvara, but I donāt find the presentation of the Utopia small. Itās just smaller when comparing the two.
Timbre
Before the Utopia, the Susvara was hands down the best headphone Iāve heard. The Susvara has it beat on linear bass, texture, and presentation size, though the Utopia does very well for a dynamic. I find the Utopia really engaging. Probably more energetic than the Susvara. Itās so dynamic, punchy, and just full of energy. The Susvara may be a tad bit better in timbre, but the Utopiaās timbre isnāt bad at all. Itās a close one in the timbre category, but Iād probably give it to the Susvara. Again, this is also comparing the two headphones off two different chains and also working from memory. But at no time while using the Utopia have I thought the timbre was off and this is coming from someone who loves Sennheisers (HD580, HD650, and HD800S).
Thanks for sticking it out to the end!
Whew! Maybe a little too long, but I wanted to do my due diligence and give you the best info I could offer. I hope this helps anyone that may be looking into this headphone. Throughout these impressions Iāve compared it to the Susvara and thatās saying something. It really does trade blows IMO. The Utopia scales really well with the chain you have behind it, so feed it well and itāll be an enjoyment. If you have any questions feel free to ask on the forum and Iāll do my best to help.
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Those impressions look awfully like something we might see on the front pageš¤
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