That’s why this is my top reviewer channel together with goldensound. A scientific approach nowhere else to be met, which provides interesting insights, while not stopping on superficial level. This is killer content
Well articulated and thoughtful review, as usual. Pretty much agreed on everything you articulated about the Utopia. I'll add the Chord Mojo 2 as a good
Could you please request to review a higher end violectric like the V550 or the NIIMBUS? I go on all these forums and read about how legendary these amps are but lake people products rarely get reviewed on UA-cam. Your basically the only one.
You can get the 2022 version for $4K open box these days so that's a fairer comparison. It's also possible to get good condition OG for less than $2K so I agree it's one of the better deals in audio right now if the sound is for you and the chain is fitting. I recently bought a used OG for those exact reasons. I wish it had just a little more comfortable headband that's all.
GREAT review Wave, as always!! I really enjoyed it. If I sat in a chair with my smoking jacket on I’d need the “Sus”, but making a headphone that sounds as amazing as the HEKSE powered by portable gear that you can wear while running around the house dusting and chopping onions?? That’s nothing short of Fangtastic!!! Keep up the great work Wave, I always enjoy your reviews!! 👍👍
Hey WaveTheory, great video! I have bought both the Utopia 2022 and the Utopia 2020 and planning to sell one of them. Currently I’m leaning towards the 2020. Which do you personally prefer?
This is my next headphone and I will buy it used for a good price. I just hope they perform well with my Cayin HA-3A & Topping D90. I already have the HEKSE and you mentioned that the Utopia has better detail retrieval which excites me because the HEKSE is already so detailed, even more so than my LCD 4.
I have a focal Clear MG hooked up to a McIntosh MHA200 and I have to say there are some days the "chain" in not correct ( streaming /electrical interference) I get a annoying lack of crisp notes and I have to give up for that session , the next day all is well and so perfect I could just cry with the clarity. I also found that my MG,s perform at a next level when put on the 100ohm setting on my amp.
First here. Thank you for the very informative and entertaining sharing. Focal Utopia owner too - using only PC and Chord TT2. I listened to a lot of classical music and very curious about the Hifiman sound after this video.
Planar has better resolution, stages, separation and more spacious presentation. Imo, generally for classical music Planar will do better. As for music that need more speed I would go for dynamics.
Susvura .. the headphone itself is $$$ and I have to invest in a separate amp as I heard Chord TT2 alone cannot drive it properly. Thinking about the latest He1000 V2 Stealth edition 🤔
*THANKS for your beautiful articulation about the important aspects of the sounds out of these amazing inventions producing the music that was recorded and mixed. If I may ask a somewhat old and repeated question: How about the Sennheiser HD800 in-between your only/endgame headphones choosing. In other words, why wouldnwt the HD800S fit in to there?*
If you are reading this, and thinking about a used OG Utopia, it cannot be stressed enough just how important overall system synergy is. The entire reason that they go for almost half price on the used market is because people don't understand just how source dependent they are, buy them, and hate how they sound because they don't have the right DAC&. The 2022 Utopia is a bit more forgiving in that regard, but it will still scream at you if you put it on something it doesn't like. I've found out the hard way.
Great editorial. I have the '22 model, and it's a treat (coming from Clear which is already fantastic). It's feeding off the RME ADI-2 and seems to be happy. Plugged it into the FiiO M11 Plus and the drop in quality was mind bending. We're not talking "golden ears" subtleties here. If you happen to read this: have you tried the Utopia with tubes based headphones amp? Anything stood out in this context? Thanks and keep it up.
P.s. I think we have the same taste as I originally had a HE1000SE in my case, upgraded to a Susvara and complimented that with the Utopia 2022. I absolutley loved the education in this video man. Amazing job. I hope Focal and Hifiman actually sponsor you somehow haha.
Do you think headphones like utopia with a rising impedance curve will sound the best from a tube amplifier with a transformer in the output stage as they can produce very high voltage swings ? Can OTL tube amps or solid state amps control the utopia ? And do amps based on fully discrete topologies instead of op-amp based amps sound better ?
I steered clear of statements like "(amp type) is what you need." The reason being is that there isn't a magic bullet here. Can OTLs sound great with Utopia? Definitely. Do all of them? No. The same is true of other amp types as well. My best recommendation is to peruse the Head-Fi thread for Utopia. There is rich source gear conversation in there.
Hi WaveTheory, currently owning a V200 + V850 Stack and got a V281 used. It really sounds to energetic with the Utopia. So I am planning to sell the V281 again, as I really want to hang onto the Utopia. I don't particularly like Hifimans either. What DAC would you recommend should I get as a upgrade? Soekris 2541 or Bitfrost 2/64? Also would you consider the Erzetich Perfidus an upgrade over the V200?
I don't see OTL as the magic bullet for FU (hilarious abbreviation I probably can't be trusted with 🤣). Can Some OTL tube amps pair well? Absolutely! All? No. The same can be said for both transformer coupled tube amps and solid state amps as well. So I steered clear of saying things like "(type of amp) is what you need."
@@wavetheorysound I would have to strongly disagree with your approach to OTL. To be specific I use Feliks Audio Esspresivo for my (FC og) and sennheiser 650's and 6xx(those are not the same, cable makes a big difference) this amp makes sennheiser headphones magical (specially for the vocals) I suppose more expensive Feliks gear will sound even better. But make no mistake for high impedance headphones OTL IS the best way to go about it. Thanks for your videos, great job.
@@blejzerosamigos6115 You're welcome! I enjoy doing this work. I 100% get where you're coming from with the OTL thing. I agree with you that many OTL amps improve the performance of many hi-Z headphones; the Senn HD600/650/6xx being great examples. To my ear those benefits are most heard in the entry-level and mid-fi ranges. My HD6XX (and I'll throw my 600 ohm Beyerdynamic DT880 in here too) sound good on a budget-enthusiast solid state amp like a Schiit Asgard 3, but they sound GREAT on an OTL like a Bottlehead Crack. However, it is also true that the 6XX and DT880 sound just as or even more spectacular on solid state amps that can handle their voltage demands. The Violectric HPA V2?? series is a key example, and has models that can be had in the low $1000 range. They also sound great on a hybrid like the Monolith Liquid Platinum which drives headphones with a solid state amp stage. Furthermore, I've heard other hi-Z headphones, like about half of ZMF's line for example, that don't experience nearly as big of changes as the Senns when moving from solid state to OTL. These experiences have discouraged me from making blanket claims of the form 'amp type x is the best match for headphone y'. To me it comes down to the synergy of individual pairings. That is especially true of something hugely picky like Utopia. I'm even less confident in saying anything like 'amp type x is amp type for Utopia' because of how hard it is to satisfy. Make sense? Thanks for watching and for commenting!
How does the Utopia compare to the Clear? That headphone is my personal favorite and I’m wondering how much diminishing return I would get upgrading to summit-fi.
Frequency response graphs for headphones & IEMs only tell you part of a story. Definitely not the full one. There are more sonic attributes we cannot measure than the ones we can. Here are some qualities we cannot measure as there are no metrics for them: Engagement Sound stage width Timbre Sound stage depth Resolution Sound stage height Physicality Image size Separation Punch impact & slam Mid range body Airiness Bass texture Musicality Sub bass rumble Vocal realism Layering Decay Cohesion Attack Pitch definition Clarity Tonal density Accuracy (this depends if you’re a musician or singer) Etc.
I'll add one more layer of complexity to your question: how much money do I have at the time? In my '22 review I state the 22 is better and I had a slight preference for it overall. If cost were no object I'd likely take 22. But for me since cost is an object I went for the OG. And honestly I have no regrets.
@@wavetheorysound Thanks! I just recently watched your comparison between the OG and 2022 Utopias. I own the Focal Clear OG and agree that the MG just did not improved it. It's good to see they didn't falter with the new Utopia. I can't afford either of the Utopias right now, but if i'm going to have an unaffordable wish list, then i think i'm putting the 2022 Utopia on it.
That’s why this is my top reviewer channel together with goldensound. A scientific approach nowhere else to be met, which provides interesting insights, while not stopping on superficial level. This is killer content
Yeah, he's fine. Could learn to be a bit less dry. His personality is definitely in desperate need of some psychedelics lol.
Well articulated and thoughtful review, as usual. Pretty much agreed on everything you articulated about the Utopia. I'll add the Chord Mojo 2 as a good
Could you please request to review a higher end violectric like the V550 or the NIIMBUS? I go on all these forums and read about how legendary these amps are but lake people products rarely get reviewed on UA-cam. Your basically the only one.
Nitpick: the title could be expressed more succinctly as simply "My Gear"
You can get the 2022 version for $4K open box these days so that's a fairer comparison. It's also possible to get good condition OG for less than $2K so I agree it's one of the better deals in audio right now if the sound is for you and the chain is fitting. I recently bought a used OG for those exact reasons. I wish it had just a little more comfortable headband that's all.
I use a knitted handband cover with 2 small pieces of foam underneath. Makes it really comfortable.
GREAT review Wave, as always!!
I really enjoyed it. If I sat in a chair with my smoking jacket on I’d need the “Sus”, but making a headphone that sounds as amazing as the HEKSE powered by portable gear that you can wear while running around the house dusting and chopping onions?? That’s nothing short of Fangtastic!!!
Keep up the great work Wave, I always enjoy your reviews!! 👍👍
Hey WaveTheory, great video! I have bought both the Utopia 2022 and the Utopia 2020 and planning to sell one of them. Currently I’m leaning towards the 2020. Which do you personally prefer?
This is my next headphone and I will buy it used for a good price. I just hope they perform well with my Cayin HA-3A & Topping D90. I already have the HEKSE and you mentioned that the Utopia has better detail retrieval which excites me because the HEKSE is already so detailed, even more so than my LCD 4.
this m9 should sound killer with lessfox, but currently its at very bad state
cant score it just yet
I have a focal Clear MG hooked up to a McIntosh MHA200 and I have to say there are some days the "chain" in not correct ( streaming /electrical interference) I get a annoying lack of crisp notes and I have to give up for that session , the next day all is well and so perfect I could just cry with the clarity. I also found that my MG,s perform at a next level when put on the 100ohm setting on my amp.
First here. Thank you for the very informative and entertaining sharing. Focal Utopia owner too - using only PC and Chord TT2. I listened to a lot of classical music and very curious about the Hifiman sound after this video.
Planar has better resolution, stages, separation and more spacious presentation. Imo, generally for classical music Planar will do better. As for music that need more speed I would go for dynamics.
@@megadoodoo5088 Have to agree in most points. But speed - Hifiman planars Arya upwards are blazingly fast!
Susvura .. the headphone itself is $$$ and I have to invest in a separate amp as I heard Chord TT2 alone cannot drive it properly. Thinking about the latest He1000 V2 Stealth edition 🤔
*THANKS for your beautiful articulation about the important aspects of the sounds out of these amazing inventions producing the music that was recorded and mixed. If I may ask a somewhat old and repeated question: How about the Sennheiser HD800 in-between your only/endgame headphones choosing. In other words, why wouldnwt the HD800S fit in to there?*
If you are reading this, and thinking about a used OG Utopia, it cannot be stressed enough just how important overall system synergy is. The entire reason that they go for almost half price on the used market is because people don't understand just how source dependent they are, buy them, and hate how they sound because they don't have the right DAC&. The 2022 Utopia is a bit more forgiving in that regard, but it will still scream at you if you put it on something it doesn't like. I've found out the hard way.
The OG Utopia can be an end game combo with the Euforia AE, trust
Great editorial. I have the '22 model, and it's a treat (coming from Clear which is already fantastic). It's feeding off the RME ADI-2 and seems to be happy. Plugged it into the FiiO M11 Plus and the drop in quality was mind bending. We're not talking "golden ears" subtleties here. If you happen to read this: have you tried the Utopia with tubes based headphones amp? Anything stood out in this context? Thanks and keep it up.
Best series ever!
P.s. I think we have the same taste as I originally had a HE1000SE in my case, upgraded to a Susvara and complimented that with the Utopia 2022. I absolutley loved the education in this video man. Amazing job. I hope Focal and Hifiman actually sponsor you somehow haha.
Someday... Maybe someday...
Good series, man. 👊
I bought one for 2000€ used as a compliment to my Atrium. You are right, it is a very nice deal atm and it slaps HARD (even compared to Atrium).
the soundstage - is like a hotdog in front of you, standing...
Do you think headphones like utopia with a rising impedance curve will sound the best from a tube amplifier with a transformer in the output stage as they can produce very high voltage swings ? Can OTL tube amps or solid state amps control the utopia ? And do amps based on fully discrete topologies instead of op-amp based amps sound better ?
I steered clear of statements like "(amp type) is what you need." The reason being is that there isn't a magic bullet here. Can OTLs sound great with Utopia? Definitely. Do all of them? No. The same is true of other amp types as well. My best recommendation is to peruse the Head-Fi thread for Utopia. There is rich source gear conversation in there.
*cough* Headband Failure *cough*
Hi WaveTheory,
currently owning a V200 + V850 Stack and got a V281 used. It really sounds to energetic with the Utopia. So I am planning to sell the V281 again, as I really want to hang onto the Utopia. I don't particularly like Hifimans either.
What DAC would you recommend should I get as a upgrade? Soekris 2541 or Bitfrost 2/64?
Also would you consider the Erzetich Perfidus an upgrade over the V200?
I'm very surprised that you didn't mention OTL, that is like a must have for FU.
I don't see OTL as the magic bullet for FU (hilarious abbreviation I probably can't be trusted with 🤣). Can Some OTL tube amps pair well? Absolutely! All? No. The same can be said for both transformer coupled tube amps and solid state amps as well. So I steered clear of saying things like "(type of amp) is what you need."
@@wavetheorysound I would have to strongly disagree with your approach to OTL. To be specific I use Feliks Audio Esspresivo for my (FC og) and sennheiser 650's and 6xx(those are not the same, cable makes a big difference) this amp makes sennheiser headphones magical (specially for the vocals) I suppose more expensive Feliks gear will sound even better. But make no mistake for high impedance headphones OTL IS the best way to go about it. Thanks for your videos, great job.
@@blejzerosamigos6115 You're welcome! I enjoy doing this work. I 100% get where you're coming from with the OTL thing. I agree with you that many OTL amps improve the performance of many hi-Z headphones; the Senn HD600/650/6xx being great examples. To my ear those benefits are most heard in the entry-level and mid-fi ranges. My HD6XX (and I'll throw my 600 ohm Beyerdynamic DT880 in here too) sound good on a budget-enthusiast solid state amp like a Schiit Asgard 3, but they sound GREAT on an OTL like a Bottlehead Crack. However, it is also true that the 6XX and DT880 sound just as or even more spectacular on solid state amps that can handle their voltage demands. The Violectric HPA V2?? series is a key example, and has models that can be had in the low $1000 range. They also sound great on a hybrid like the Monolith Liquid Platinum which drives headphones with a solid state amp stage. Furthermore, I've heard other hi-Z headphones, like about half of ZMF's line for example, that don't experience nearly as big of changes as the Senns when moving from solid state to OTL. These experiences have discouraged me from making blanket claims of the form 'amp type x is the best match for headphone y'. To me it comes down to the synergy of individual pairings. That is especially true of something hugely picky like Utopia. I'm even less confident in saying anything like 'amp type x is amp type for Utopia' because of how hard it is to satisfy. Make sense? Thanks for watching and for commenting!
@@wavetheorysound yes that's fair. Cheers.
How does the Utopia compare to the Clear? That headphone is my personal favorite and I’m wondering how much diminishing return I would get upgrading to summit-fi.
hello , nice review . What cable have you used ?
Hey, do you think the ferrum oor + hypsos can drive the og utopia well? Thanks
how to explain hard hitting that ain't showing on FR?
Frequency response graphs for headphones & IEMs only tell you part of a story.
Definitely not the full one.
There are more sonic attributes we cannot measure than the ones we can.
Here are some qualities we cannot measure as there are no metrics for them:
Engagement
Sound stage width
Timbre
Sound stage depth
Resolution
Sound stage height
Physicality
Image size
Separation
Punch impact & slam
Mid range body
Airiness
Bass texture
Musicality
Sub bass rumble
Vocal realism
Layering
Decay
Cohesion
Attack
Pitch definition
Clarity
Tonal density
Accuracy (this depends if you’re a musician or singer)
Etc.
If you did not already own the Utopia OG, would you get that or the 2022 Utopia?
I'll add one more layer of complexity to your question: how much money do I have at the time? In my '22 review I state the 22 is better and I had a slight preference for it overall. If cost were no object I'd likely take 22. But for me since cost is an object I went for the OG. And honestly I have no regrets.
@@wavetheorysound Thanks! I just recently watched your comparison between the OG and 2022 Utopias. I own the Focal Clear OG and agree that the MG just did not improved it. It's good to see they didn't falter with the new Utopia. I can't afford either of the Utopias right now, but if i'm going to have an unaffordable wish list, then i think i'm putting the 2022 Utopia on it.
!