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

Really enjoyed that read. I found it extremely engaging, loaded with information and easy to digest.
Thank You!

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@Rhodey if you want to make it an article let me know, and Iā€™ll get you set up with it

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A hot Nu article for the hot Nu headphone, Nutopia!

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Quick thoughts: I picked up some of the ZMF Focal pads in lambskin for my Elex. (I was previously using some worn OG Clear Pro pads.)

The sound signature is very similar, so good on them for that. It changes the character of the Elex a little bit, in that it feels a little sharper (more emphasis on transients) and it feels a little more relaxed (likely less treble?), but if youā€™ve heard an Elex, neither of those tweaks are necessarily bad.

For some contrast, when I had the MGs in house, I felt like the MG pads kind of muddied whatever headphones that they were on, so at least in this regard, ZMF is doing better than modern Focal, lol. I havenā€™t heard a Utopia, but Iā€™d say the ZMF pads are a solid alternative for the Elex, and Iā€™d even feel pretty confident that they would perform well on an OG Clear.

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Itā€™s been added. I adjusted a few things here to mirror the article. Man did I look like a drunken fool haha! Prob shouldnt do something like that from a phone. Oof!

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Almost every time i write here on my phone i look back and think wtf did i press?! Ive partially written articles on the phone and, yeahā€¦ double check your work.

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Any 2022 Utopia impressions from OG Utopia owners?

I know @Rhodey and @orrman love their 2022ā€™s, but Iā€™m not sure if either have heard the OG. Iā€™d love to hear a comparison from OG owners.

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The few that Iā€™ve seen who had or have the OG like the Nutopia as well.

Guess time will tell. Iā€™m happy tho.

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Was there a preference among those that youā€™ve seen of one over the other?

If someone wants to send me a newtopia on loan I would be glad to do a comparison :laughing:

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Sure, what is your addreā€¦ Wait a minute!

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OG and 22 Utopia owners, letā€™s come together. We can agree on this.

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I didnt like the utopia off tubes lol, i preferred it off solid state

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Maybe the wrong tube amp? :stuck_out_tongue_winking_eye:

Or maybe ss was the right chain for you.

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It was an Eddie Current Aficionado. The SS I tried was the Enleum 13r. But I thought even the Burson 3x gt beat the eddie.

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Hmmm maybe that EC just doesnā€™t work with them. Definitely interesting tho.

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I think itā€™s just my preferences lol. Iirc, m0n said it wasnā€™t a bad combo

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My two tubes amp disagree lol

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I donā€™t know about the aficionado, but the Studio B is a god given gift for the Utopia and from what I hear the Studio T even more so :grin: Also DNA Stratus & Stellaris and LTA amps are other confirmed amazing combos. In comparison I almost never hear about great solid state amp pairings LOL

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Itā€™s just much easier to meat that bar now

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