Focal Utopia 2022 vs. DCA Expanse vs. Meze Elite vs. Audeze LCD 5 Headphones Happy Holidays, TSAV!

Focal Utopia 2022 vs. DCA Expanse vs. Meze Elite vs. Audeze LCD 5 Headphones Happy Holidays from all of us at TSAV!
Utopia 2022: Focal Utopia 2022: thesourceav.co...
DCA Expanse: DCA Expanse: thesourceav.co...
Meze Elite: thesourceav.co...
Audeze LCD-5: thesourceav.co...
OG Utopia: thesourceav.co...
Individual Videos for the headphones:
2022 Focal Utopia Video: • Focal Utopia 2022 New ...
Focal Utopia 2022 Live From CanJam SoCal with Chris Shaw from Focal!
• Focal Utopia 2022 Live...
DCA Expanse Video: • DCA Expanse Flagship H...
Audeze LCD-5 Video: • Audeze LCD5 Flagship P...
Meze Elite Video: • Meze Elite Flagship Pl...
Trade UP program for your old audio gear! thesourceav.co...
In no particular order, here are some other headphones and audio gear.
Woo Amplifiers:
Woo Audio WA2SE 2ndGen: thesourceav.co...
Woo Audio WA5 2ndGen: thesourceav.co...
Woo Audio WA7 Fireflies 3rdGen: thesourceav.co...
Woo Audio WA33: thesourceav.co...
Woo Audio Wa6 2nd Gen: thesourceav.co...
Other Amplifiers:
McIntosh MHA200: thesourceav.co...
ARC I/50: thesourceav.co...
Chord TT2: thesourceav.co...
Chord Hugo2: thesourceav.co...
Chord 2go: thesourceav.co...
Chord Qutest: thesourceav.co...
Yulong Audio DA1 w/Power: thesourceav.co...
ampsandsound Nautilus: thesourceav.co...
GSX Mini Head Amp: thesourceav.co...
Wireless Options:
Focal Bathys: thesourceav.co...
Momentum True Wireless 3:
thesourceav.co...
Momentum 4 over-ear:
thesourceav.co...
B&W Pi5: thesourceav.co...
Sony WF1000XM4: thesourceav.co...
B&W PX8 007 Edition: thesourceav.co...
B&W PX8: thesourceav.co...
B&W PX7: thesourceav.co...
B&W PX7s2: thesourceav.co...
Headphones and Speakers:
Meze 109 Pro: thesourceav.co...
RAAL Vari Mode Tube Amp:
thesourceav.co...
RAAL CA-1 Ribbon Headphones:
thesourceav.co...
REL T9/x Subwoofer: thesourceav.co...
The HEDDphone: thesourceav.co...
Audeze LCD-4z: thesourceav.co...
Audeze CRBN: thesourceav.co...
Audeze MM-500 Headphones: thesourceav.co...
Audeze LCD-X: thesourceav.co...
Audeze LCD-X Premium Package: thesourceav.co... thesourceav.co...
Audeze LCD-2: thesourceav.co...
FocalStellia : thesourceav.co...
Focal Clear MG: thesourceav.co...
Focal Celestee: thesourceav.co...
Cables and Power conditioners for speakers, subs, and interconnects:
Clarus Cables and Power Conditioners Product Page
thesourceav.co...
We hope you enjoyed this video and consider subscribing today to our KZbin Channel for many more future videos and live streams. If you are in the greater Los Angeles region come down and see us at our 10,000 Sqft showroom in Torrance, California to demo many headphones, speakers, amplifiers, digital-analog converters, Home Theater Systems, Televisions, Projectors, and more!

[@rustygates3367]

Bought the Utopia '22 after A/B'ing with Susvara; it was the more enjoyable overall.

[@halimj7]

That bass punch is what always draws me to Utopia. I really want to hear the Spirit Torino’s.

[@Nephilim-81]

Marcello! You are on a roll my friend! Great content. Thank you. 😊

[@TheSourceAVDesignGroup]

Thank you!!!

[@joeallison2779]

Thank you so much for this great comparison. As you point out in this review even with the best headphones available it comes down to what equipment you are using to drive them. I am very surprised that you don’t have tons more subscribers on your channel as you do some very well detailed videos.

[@TheSourceAVDesignGroup]

Thanks, @Joe Allison; we started creating content on this channel a little over a year ago and would love to have more people check out our videos. If you have any buddies you think would enjoy the channel, please tell them about us.

[@mareknowakowski1692]

I'm happy that you are always using the Elites for your reviews 🤗

[@diana73654]

maybe, because they are the best overall ;)

[@mareknowakowski1692]

@@diana73654 agree:) Epoque version looks cool but way too expensive just for new painting. I have Elites almost a year now and still enjoying them .

[@MikePio]

@@mareknowakowski1692 How do they compare to something like the HD800? I like classical, ambient and some electronic. Mainly looking for something more natural sounding yet still detailed and spacious. Do you think the Elite would be a worthy upgrade to the Sennheiser?

[@mareknowakowski1692]

@@MikePio Hi, I ' m just a user, not a reviewer, never had HD800 before

[@pedrogoncalves2948]

@@mareknowakowski1692 What amp do you use with elite?

[@norbsi]

Dont know the Audeze LCD-5 but the Utopia outperformed the DCA Expanse and the Meze Elites in regards to base slam, midrange clarity and details in my listening test.

[@TheSourceAVDesignGroup]

Utopia is a great set of headphones! @norbsi

[@goodriddance86]

How would you rate the midrange of the Utopia 2022 in terms of vocals? Specially female vocals? Thx in advance ^^

[@Nephilim-81]

The camera work is amazing in this video. Beautiful HD. ❤

[@TheSourceAVDesignGroup]

Thank you very much!

[@brothatwasepic]

Hey guys I have a super analytical headphone in the og HD800 and HE1000SE and find that when paired with a highly analytical ampdac combo such as the Topping A90 D90 the Focal Utopias actually sound phenomenal

[@disastrousemouse]

My LittleDot MkIII SE (this is very different from the MKIII NON-SE), puts out 2.5W at 32 ohm, 1.8W at 120 ohm, and 800mw at 300 ohm. Input impedance is 50 kohms, and it’s a class A amp.

[@TheSourceAVDesignGroup]

👍

[@MikePio]

Great video. Concise and straight to the point. I have my eye on the Meze Elite; looking forward to moving on from the HD800 (SDR). My system is RME ADI-2 to the Sennheiser HDVA- 600 amplifier.

[@x32i77]

So what did you choose ? 😃

[@tiffanyflanagan1892]

I’m glad the LCD-5 was the one I went for first out of all of them. I find the upper mids just right. I’m thinking about the Utopia, but I’m gonna take my time with that purchase. I’m kinda curious about the new ZMF Caldera as well. Are you gonna do a comparison with the Stellia like you did with the old Utopia?

[@TheSourceAVDesignGroup]

I think if you like the upper mids of the LCD-5 you may like the OG utopia more than the 2022 Utopia but definitely give them a listen. I don’t think I will have time to do that comparison as they have to go back to Focal next week.

[@tiffanyflanagan1892]

In your other comparison of the LCD-5 and older Utopia you said (and other reviewers as well) that the older Utopia has less low end than the 5. The 5 already is kinda lean for my preferences. It might be that either aren’t ideal for my preferences, but between the two Clears I prefer the MG even though it is darker. I love upper mid range but I’m more sensitive to treble. Which makes me wonder if I’ll have the same reaction to the old Utopia as a lot of people have, saying the treble is peaky. I’m definitely gonna do some A/B’s and not take a chance with it all when i get closer to pulling the trigger on them. Thank you for your input :)

[@TheSourceAVDesignGroup]

I just meant from an upper midrange perspective, ya A/B them for the win! =). Thank you for watching!

[@zxSwifty]

What did you end up getting? The Elite is a excellent headphone, highly recommend, also consider the Susvara.

[@HiLoMusic]

The LCD-5 is extremely flexible, I'd see it as the end-all be-all of headphones with EQ

[@joshuvaantonio]

So can someone explain why Sennheiser HD800/800s not included as it hails being the reference headphones by all audio engineers ? And about Utopia, the older version is better in my extensive testing.

[@ggdfggdfgdffgfddg34]

Which headphones have the most natural and natural sound so that instruments sound like in real life?

[@adamgreenhill110]

Definitely HE1000SE (with AutoEQ), or Susvara (with a very expensive system). LCD-5 with EQ comes close, but nothing beats the insane lifelike sound Hifiman can do

[@mareknowakowski1692]

Already waiting!

[@meest3r]

Which stands are the ones with the charms?

[@everettedl]

Comfort is the main detractor for the utopia for me, as I find the Clear Og uncomfortable. Would a Chord Mojo 2 or even a Questyle m15 be enough to drive the Expanse adequately on the go?

[@TheSourceAVDesignGroup]

I don’t think so the Expanse needs imo at least the chord Hugo 2 or more to be driven properly.

[@38201270298]

Elite is for analytical listeners! Oh, God, strange times we are living in! Just a few months ago nobody didn't dare to say that. 😂

[@TheSourceAVDesignGroup]

Well, that isn’t what was said exactly; what was said is the LCD-5 is the most analytical listen, followed by the Meze Elite then, followed by the other two headphones. I love the Elite, one of my favorite all-around headphones, but if you A/B it versus the 2022 Utopia and the Expanse I think it will make sense why that was said.

[@x32i77]

@@TheSourceAVDesignGroup you definitely have to compare those headphones to the ZMF Caldera

[@neilsnyder7915]

Weird. Had DCA Expanse. Sold it as it was a warm thick sound that was clearly outclassed by the utopia for speed, clarity, resolution , and imaging.

[@TheSourceAVDesignGroup]

@neilsnyder7915, what amp/dac were you running with it?

[@x32i77]

Did you try the caldera ?

[@norbsi]

Me too, Utopia had more clarity in midrange and treble and better base slam than Meze Elites and DCA Expanse. Utopia more lively and engaging where DCA and Meze sounded anemic.

[@x32i77]

@@norbsi did you try the ZMF Caldera ?

[@TheSourceAVDesignGroup]

What you are describing sounds like inadequate current delivery for planar magnetic headphones or maybe just the amplifier synergy. I personally wouldn't ever describe the bass of the DCA Expanse or Meze Elite as anemic, the bass of the HD800s I have referred to it as anemic from time to time. @norbsi

[@PartySpock]

Beyerdynamic T1 are the best

[@x32i77]

No it's ZMF Caldera actually