Focal Utopia Circum-Aural Open Back Headphones

Assuming the rest of your signal path is looked after, does it matter if the final stage (your headphones) reaches above and below your hearing range? There are papers and papers that discuss this in depth with varying conclusions; but, in my experience, yes it does.

Focal’s Utopia headphones are a bleeding-edge statement from a pedigreed loudspeaker manufacturer that has made the most of its speaker-designing experience.

• +

  Beryllium diaphragm, Rock-star cosmetics, Fine-tuned highs and timbre

• -

  Expensive

If your primary listening space is a quiet spot in your home and you want the ultimate in dynamic ’phones, the Focal Utopia will have few, if any, peers. If you want to hear and feel just how good headphone listening can be, I urge you to give the Focal Utopia serious consideration.

During the last 04 months, I have listened extensively to Audeze LCD-3, Focal Elear and now the FOCAL UTOPIA. This headphone is loaded with great laurels. Excellent build,great aesthetics and superb comfort. The LEMO connectors and the long OFC cable are excellent.

• +

  Excellent sound, great resolution, three dimensionality. Very fast and resolving. Not even an iota of crossover. Build Quality , Comfort, LEMO connectors and Long premium cable

• -

  A bit shy on bass. Very honest headphone. Will not add any coloration. Demands decent source to shine

Its quality is amazing i thought it was ridiculous to pay that much for headphones, but for the quality they are amazing but other than that it is the BEST headphones ive ever purchased. They are sure to last me until i pass away!

• +

  Its quality is amazing i thought it was ridiculous to pay that much for headphones, but for the quality they are amazing but other than that it is the BEST headphones ive ever purchased.

• -

  The only problem ive found with these is the price but they're worth the buy for me.

Driven by a Pass Labs HPA-1. I like these over the Stax 009 driven by the SRMtII. The Utopia is more natural, has better dynamics, and is more comfortable. By comparison, the 009 struggles with the bass, is not as harmonically accurate, and does not dig as deep into the music.

Words cannot express how absolutely magical these headphones are! Pick one of your favourite tracks and listen to it on a pair of Focal Utopias paired with a great amp and you will be amazed how many little details in the recording you notice that you hadn't before. The resolution is second to none.

I've now auditioned the Audeze LCD-3s, Focal Clears, and Utopias for 2+ weeks each. You can find my comparison between the Clears and LCD-3s on their pages. In this review: "okay, tell me why the Utopias cost so much more. Do they really sound that much better?

• +

  * Sharp details, especially in high frequencies* They suit all listening needs well, pulling the details out of most any source.

• -

  * High frequencies can come across as harsh, like being hung over.* At this price I would prefer more cabling options.* Questionable cost vs. benefit relative to Focal Clears* The open backs on these broadcast themselves to the room more than e.g. my Grado SR-80s.

Poor sounding headphone! Very disappointed!

The Utopia has outstanding instrument separation and stage depth, but limited stage width and height. The Utopia has excellent frequency extension with sub-bass notes driving deep, and highs well extended. The bass extension on the Utopia, while impressive is not as linear as the HiFiMAN Susvara.

• +

  Overall Balance, Transient Response and Dynamism, Midrange Seperation and Layering.

• -

  Small Soundstage, Weird MidrangetoTreble Transition, Price.