Focal Utopia (updated) Headphone Review

[@DavidGilden]

Hi Tom, Thanks for this great review. I personally own Focal Clear MG Professional Open-Back Headphones driven by a RME audio interface. On my first use I was blown away on how confirmable these premium headphones are and continue to be impressed by the quality sound they deliver. I can only imagine how good Focal's Utopia perform paired with appropriate electronics.

[@poturbg8698]

The Utopias are not thousands of dollars better than the Clears (which I own). It's the law of diminishing returns at work...

[@mikew9788]

I have the mg clear also, absolutely love them

[@davidn8656]

I love Focal I wish you talked about them more.

[@Rockapotamus91]

Would love to hear your opinion on the HD650 it measures and sounds like a high end headphone at an affordable price.

[@sarveshsharma9437]

It doesn't sound like high end headphones, but its tuning and timbre are pretty good. That's all. It doesn't have a low end extension, the bass texture and quantity is mediocre, and the soundstage and imaging are terrible. It's famous for its mids, and that's the reason I kept it all these years.

[@Wakeaholik]

Epic GreatGrandad win - what a legend!

[@andrewweis5857]

I like your KZbin reviews.

[@Nephilim-81]

Hey Tom. I gotta ask. I noticed you’ve got the Pass Labs HPA-1 Amplifier. Did you use it with the Utopia? Must be insanely good.

[@thomasmartin2219]

Yes, I used the HPA-1 with the Utopia, along with the Naim Uniti Atom headphone edition and the dCS Lina headphone amp. I’m starting reviews of those now. The HPA-1 has its detractors, but I think it has some small magic too. I should note, as I think I mentioned in the review, that the Naim worked well with the Utopia, and is a nice package (includes streamer and dac).

[@aceofspades6667]

Great review… might I also suggest you review: ZMF caldera, ZMF atrium, final d8000 pro LE, abyss 1266 phi tc, Mysphere 3.1, Warwick bravura, Hifiman Shang gr la.

[@thomasmartin2219]

Thanks for the ideas!

[@aceofspades6667]

@@thomasmartin2219 the caldera will give you similar quality capability as the susvara or Utopia but the source gear (Dac and amp) requirements are far lower so all in you can have the absolute best sound chain at a much lower price point.

[@thomasmartin2219]

We have reviews of the Warwick Bravura and Sonoma on The Absolute Sound site.

[@elasmojones]

Maybe when I win the lotto or something...

[@chrislj2890]

I know I commented on this video. Did you delete and repost this video? You just did that on another one recently.

[@jimomertz]

Yeah. What was updated? I’m not listening to all this again.

[@chrislj2890]

@@jimomertz I dunno, I'm not rewatching it either.

[@thomasmartin2219]

Sorry, we had to re-position the FR graphs. 6:27 and 8:01

[@chrislj2890]

@@thomasmartin2219 Thanks Thomas.

[@ptg01]

$5K seems insane... but hey, it's the free market at work.

[@gdubaz]

What’s insane is people buying Beats.

[@whocares2465]

​@@gdubaz dude, those are getting better and better ! Check them out before you speak !

[@sarveshsharma9437]

And Airpods Max.

[@beenthere6769]

why nobody talks about elevated upper mids that make it sound boxy ?

[@TASmagazine]

My listening, and measurements, show a slightly depressed upper midrange. This , however, could yield what you feel is a boxy sound. I described it differently.