The Mighty Utopia: Focal Utopia Revisited

Discussion in 'Headphones' started by purr1n, Aug 13, 2020.

  1. AdvanTech

    AdvanTech Friend

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    Some of us are EQing a dip around 5k. Otherwise, curate other parts of your chain that dont exhibit any harshness up top.
     
  2. Darkstar1

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    Any suggestions Violectric is not a bright amp... The Gungir MB is generally not thought to be bright. Don't have a ton of DAC experience. I do have the V850 arriving to test later in October so maybe that will do the trick. I know I jumped into deep water with the Utopia but I like to swim. My wallet may not be ready yet.


    Other wise I will EQ (never done it) or go with a Used W8. Utopia and W8 were the only thing at camjamNYC that jumped out at me. For me these are almost perfect. Just a tad to bright sometimes.
     
  3. ChaChaRealSmooth

    ChaChaRealSmooth SBAF's Mr. Bean

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    The Schiit amps are kind of weird. You are correct in saying the Schiit house sound is more incisive and upfront, but certain amps in their lineup don't quite match this (Asgard 3, later Lyr 3, newer Jotunheim is more laid-back than the old ones, etc). The multibit R2R DACs do all follow the Schiit sound, including the Yggdrasil A2.

    Not sure which generation Gungnir you're running, but if you're running an A1 the Yggdrasil A2 will be along similar tonal lines. If you're running Gungnir A2, the Yggdrasil A2 will be noticeably warmer.

    ^this. Personally I find the Utopia fine and don't run EQ. If you do decide to run EQ, a small Q at 1k might also help (it's the Focal shout region).

    If you're talking about Gungnir A1 then you're correct. If A2, it's considered to be much cooler and brighter than the original; more along the lines of a X-Sabre Pro in terms of tonality.
     
  4. perogie

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    Regarding a more portable source Ive been surprised at how well the IFI micro iDSD BL works with the Utopia. Tonal balance is good, having the XBass toggled on adds just enough without any real notable distortion, at least nothing obvious to me yet. Dynamics/transients are good but maybe lacking a bit of incision. The treble is smooth enough to tame the Utopia.The staging is pretty narrow but there is still decent precision in imaging, just cramped. You can run them from the econ low power setting if you want to save battery but the normal mode really brings out the Utopia.

    Now it is an obvious downgrade from the BF2-Starlett rig I usually run them from but perfectly acceptable for day to day wandering around from place to place and perhaps would serve as a decent semi permanent setup that wont break the bank, especially if you found the Utopia at a good price.
     
  5. Darkstar1

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    I bought the Gungnir from a member here. I forgot what version I have pm him.

    Not looking for portable at all. Utopia will be staying in my house for sure. I truly like the W8 combo and Utopia over everything else. Crazy but I did.

    I sold a DNA sonnet to get me over the finish line for the Utopia. Starlett or W8 would be on my radar. Honestly if this settles down just a bit in the terrible I would be very happy to stay with the V281. Move to a balanced connection and then do a light EQ but I Iike the idea of having a SS and tube amp on hand.
     
  6. Clemmaster

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    Nobody ever mentions the Arche. Anybody tried it yet?

    While most likely not at the same level as the amps mentioned here, it was designed for Focal headphones specifically and we all know synergy matters more than pure individual performance (e.g. I prefer the Bifröst 2 to any other DAC with the ECP T4 - that includes the Burl B2 and Wavelight).
     
  7. Ksaurav402

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    NOS R2R DAC like latest offering from Metrum may do the trick for you if schiit Multibit feels bright to you. I hope you are using balanced out from Gungnir as single ended out does get little bright on top.
     
  8. insidious meme

    insidious meme Ambivalent Kumquat

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    Well for a limited time you can save $1,000 off a new Focal Arche with a qualifying Focal headphone purchase:

    https://www.focal.com/en/exceptiona...m_content=fr&utm_campaign=focal_voucher-arche

    Me thinks they're not selling as much as they expected.
     
  9. Darkstar1

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    I am using the balanced. I have always been curious on Metrum by the descriptions.

    Utopias were really changing quite a bit in the first couple of hours. Now sometimes they come off bright and others times perfect. Either its recording differences or they just need some more hours to take final sound.

    I do know somehow the Utopia keep on ending up on my head quite a bit. It really is a bit addictive.
     
  10. Clemmaster

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    It’s just your mood and depends on whatever gear and music you listened to beforehand.

    When I start a listening session with the Arya, putting on the HD660S feels like wonky thick mess (even though the senns have a much more even FR).
    Going the other way, the Arya feel bright and thin.
     
  11. neo_the_one

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    @purr1n will EC ZDS keep the detail retrieval of Utopia intact? One of the reasons I bought Utopia is its detail retrieval. I see one ZDS being resold, I am wondering if I should put an offer for that.
     
  12. AdvanTech

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    I've heard my Utopia out of both a ZDS and DSHA3F (amorphous core), and transparency was definitely a notch or so higher out of the DSHA3F.
     
  13. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    The 20-ohm Zout is ideal. The tonaly synergy between ZDS and Utopia is fantastic. There is stuff that is more resolving already discussed ECP (3F, EC SJR, DNA, etc.). However, ZDS is still no slouch. You aren't going to get better for less, and the typical stuff on HF sold for more will be worse.
     
  14. neo_the_one

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    I do not have permission to post in the For Sale forum. Is there a way I can ask if some member is thinking of selling ECP 3F or EC SJR?
    I have put up a post in HF but I think I would be luckier here.
     
  15. tommytakis

    tommytakis MOT: E.T.A Headphones

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    Just sign up for patron here: https://www.patreon.com/SBAF
    get the contributor badge for $20, I think it's more than fair considering all the crazy deals I've seen recently like the "ampocalypse"

    EDIT: I forgot we have patron now haha
     
  16. Ksaurav402

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    I haven't heard the pair personally but looks like BHA-1 is the best bet at that price if you want SS.There is one on sale in HF for $1200.
     
  17. ChaChaRealSmooth

    ChaChaRealSmooth SBAF's Mr. Bean

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    If you can find one, the EC Black Widow 2 (1 is ultra rare, but sounds similar).
     
  18. smileraidcall

    smileraidcall New

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    https://imgur.com/TgylWXt

    P750u with the Utopia really opens up the stage compared to the Mjolnir 2. It is like sitting at the 4-6 row in the concert hall, compared to sitting on the 1st row (Mjolnir 2). Vocals are more concentrated and solid with the Luxman. I actually started to notice that the Mjolnir 2's presentation a bit strange (the vocals is inside my head) when I bought the THX 789 and a few portable players and tested my headphone on those.

    Current setup Gungnir Multibit A1 > Luxman P750u > Utopia

     
    Last edited: Sep 23, 2020
  19. neo_the_one

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    Curious, why specifically this price range?
     
  20. zonto

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    Thanks for sharing! I just asked about this amp in the advice thread yesterday. Other than staging, how else does it compare to the Mjolnir 2, especially as far as tonality, slam (one of the Mjolnir’s strengths I’ve read), resolution and midrange/treble smoothness? Which tubes in the Mjolnir 2?

    (Also, am FYI a few of your image links are broken.)
     

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