Industry News, Rumors, & New Releases 🤐

[Gothique]

Under rated comment

@Alan_Cronin

the ‘new releases’ thread is the correct place for this news

Adding my congratulations!

[Polygonhell]

@orrman

Was there anything that really required upgrading the outgoing Utopia?

Could have been more resolving it’s a step down from the Susvara, 1266, MySphere 3.1.
Though given it could already come across overly aggressive/sharp on a lot of chains, it would have to be a careful update to bring that up and not hurt other aspects.
Making it easier to drive well would probably help it a lot, a lot of negative impressions were on poor source chains.
But I consider it the “bargain” TOTL given used prices, if you have the right chain for it, it can be quite spectacular.

[rgdelato]

@Polygonhell

But I consider it the “bargain” TOTL given used prices, if you have the right chain for it, it can be quite spectacular.

I’ve seen Utopias go for like $2300, but also I picked up my MYSPHERE 3.1 for $2500, so if you keep an eye out, they’re definitely within striking distance of each other. If anything, I feel like the used price on Utopia has been rising.

[Draaly]

Rofl. Exactly my take. Need to hear. No blind buys.

[Draaly]

@rgdelato

I’ve seen Utopias go for like $2300, but also I picked up my MYSPHERE 3.1 for $2500, so if you keep an eye out, they’re definitely within striking distance of each other. If anything, I feel like the used price on Utopia has been rising.

Ive owned 4 utopias ans never once paid over 2k flat. That said, imo, there are other better cans in a similar price ramge for most people given juat how damn source picky they are. Stuff like D8k OG, Rad-0, and maybe even hekse (havent heard the last one myself) make easier reqs because they are just easier to pair for less money

[hifiDJ]

Think I much prefer the OG looks-wise. These look pretty boring.

[Souldriver]

For me its the opposite, the OGs look like those early gaming pc cases, this looks more like a modern sleeker one (maybe a little more boring). Less CF?

I would of liked to have seen a better headband but for me the focal design is comfy so, no complaints.

I was thinking the utopia was a bit older but didnt expect a surprise new version.

@M0N now you need this and the new dsha-3F for your rumored impressions.

[hifiDJ]

@Souldriver

@M0N now you need this and the new dsha-3F for your rumored impressions

+1. M0N needs to have this on his upcoming utopia article otherwise, it doesn’t deserve the ‘at a glance’ title. lol

[Rmsanger]

there have been a few sub $2k

Sold: Focal Utopia

[Perogie]

@Draaly

Wonder if this is litteraly just a chassis update…

Everything Ive come across since this was rumoured about a year ago suggests just a chassis update, they may throw in a couple of different accessories or cables like with the previous update.

@Polygonhell

Making it easier to drive well would probably help it a lot, a lot of negative impressions were on poor source chains.

One of my hobbies, if Im really bored, is to look at the used markets for Utopia sellers and see if I can discern the source chain. I got mine used from a guy who was running them off an entry level schiit stack. I wonder how much of that is the DAC/AMP dont matter, measurements crowd, not that that stack measures particularly well.

Its always strange to me how you could run $4000 cans off a $200 DAC/amp combo and think that its the headphone that may be the issue?? I guess it depends upon you audio philosophy and if you are a heavy headphones matter most person.

[orrman]

@Perogie

Its always strange to me how you could run $4000 cans off a $200 DAC/amp combo

ASR makes a living from that idea

[M0N]

It is pretty ridiculous to see that, and that’s really what gives them a bad rap as well (in some circles at least). It’s also really weird to see people elsewhere basically ignore the amp but then focus all their energy on the dac with the thought bring that since they’re efficient the amp doesn’t really matter??? It’s the whole chain that matters, only as good as the weakest link, and the utopia are really quite sensitive to source and can scale very high, that’s imo the main reason there still plenty competitive today and an amazing value assuming you have a good chain for them. I don’t know why it’s so common to see people neglect the chain for such a headphone lol

[Andy77]

The concept of chain synergy, or the degree of importance of the source gear is definitely “next level” audiophile knowledge.

I think most beginners (myself included), take the common advice of “invest the most in speakers/headphones) to an over large degree.

[Perogie]

I was always curious about it as a headphone but held off until I had a rig that I felt would run it properly. Its my only can now and its a sound sig that I don think I could give up. I need some treble energy and popping dynamics in my life.

[Perogie]

@Andy77

I think most beginners (myself included), take the common advice of “invest the most in speakers/headphones) to an over large degree.

Headphone first is a good starting point, the inflection point is deciding at what time do you need to start looking at other components in the chain. Once you get to a certain level of headphone how everything gels and their overall capability matters a lot.

Im at a point where the only thing that really limits me, practically speaking, is recording quality - which is both good and bad but thats another discussion.

[orrman]

I dunno…
My early day upgrades (PC to Schiit stack to topping stack to RME) made me understand “oh shit there’s definitely more to this than just the headphones” and I think the two tips I hear the most for beginners are “invest in the transducers first” as you said but also “listen to as many things you can get your ears around” and the latter is what should lead you to explore more upstream gear.

I agree that the idea of synergy and matching gear to balance things or the emphasize things is more advanced and requires better understanding of what you’re looking for and what can be achieved

[dB_Cooper]

There’s a lot of cans that scale well beyond anything they reveal to a listener when they’re connected to mid-fi gear. Where you put your money in the beginning set a lot of the course unfortunately because so often we don’t get to understand what we like and why until a few years and a lot of trying different chains in the hobby.

Synergy is important and a must to extract the most of your gear. Knowing what you like is just as important and the two don’t automatically come to some sort of confluence organically. It takes work and nudging and a bit of luck to run into sometimes.

[mochi]

Whilst not as extreme as something like a 200USD entry Schiit stack, a lot of people seem to dismiss it automatically because it is a dynamic headphone and see it inferior to planar/estats. And also because it’s relatively “sensitive” they seem to think you don’t need some beefy amp for it.

[mochi]

It’s a delicate balance for sure because in non-high end level often if you add the cost of better chains and tweaks you are already looking at the more premium model in the lineup. In some cases perhaps a more high end headphone on an inadequate chain still sounds better than an inferior one on an adequate chain but a lot of people seem to mistakenly assume this applies to all cases

[Perogie]

So apparently some pamphlet dropped on headfi saying that the new Utopia has had some altered tuning. Im surprised. Will wait for reviews. Not an instant buy by any means.