Focal Elear and Utopia Impressions at Source AV

I'm not like super angry or anything. I just think that's pretty unprofessional. Or maybe I'm too nice lol, I can't imagine doing that to someone.

I called at the end of the day, I'm sure he was tired and whatnot.

Again it's fine. I'll call again tomorrow. The sole thing that would make me truly angry is if they blocked my number or something which I doubt they did. Short of that it's not a big deal. It's just I can't really recall being literally hung up on like that before I could say I still wanted to pay.

 

you might consider taking a different tack. After you explain you want to try it with their lending program, and if you like it, what kind of a deal they can offer you. Let them offer a price. If it's too high for you, just say that's too high for you, and see where the conversation leads. Negotiation is an art.

 

Yeah I know... I was way too upfront from a couple other places just blatantly offering low balls.

I just want to get the renting from them, their pricing isn't all that important, it just would have been a nice 200 dollars saver.

It is funny, I'm great at negotiating car pricing... Fell face first for headphones haha. Live and learn.

Edit: I also rushed because they were five minutes from closing lol, but I can't call them during their hours since they're also... My hours...

 

IIRC the deposits for the loaners from them can apply to any product they offer. So if they're inflexible on price, there are some cables or even just DIY cable supplies that could use up those $200. Who knows, they may also be more flexible on the pricing for something like the Auralic Aries or something like that.

 

Just keep an eye out on Hifishark. Every week one or two Utopias get listed under 3k by people claiming to be dealers and offering a 3 year warranty as well. You'd be dumb to spend 4k on these. The next big thing will inevitably come along next year and you'll lose 2k on resale because of the lack of transferable warranty.

 

I'm definitely gonna grab them for way less than 4 hopefully. A couple other places will already make a deal with me. (Like actual dealers I recognize) Thanks for the tip though hifishark is a useful site! I'm only not going to be buying from TheCableCompany in all likelihood since they probably don't wanna negotiate with me at this point, everywhere else is still on the table.

Back on topic, has anyone enjoyed the Elear pads on Utopia here? From reading the thread it seemed most people didn't like it. Which is kind of unfortunate to me, I think I'd like that sound signature and will try it out. Except a couple pages back where someone said it helped with imaging on the main Utopia thread.

 

I called again and got a different sales rep... decided not to inquire about pricing at all and it went smoothly.

So I'm excited to have them in a couple weeks.

 

not sure why you think the Utopia will be available at 2k in the near future. I doubt a new dynamic will outclass them soon

its the best dynamic headphone and it took 7 years to beat the hd800, unless sennheiser comes out soon with a affordable and better hd800, the Utopia might remain King of Dynamics for a long time.

 

If you pay 4k for a new one, and the used prices more down in the $2400, then when you sell it, with fees an shipping you will lose close to 2k

 

seriously, I feel for those who paid straight 4k usd for their new utopia. If you have a good relationship with a dealer, its easy to get them for 3.3k and even cheaper

furthermore, I was also refering to this idea that the new best thing will come and dethrone the Utopia: this is imo unlikely

 

I could see Utopias going for sub $2.5k USD within a year or so, at least in the used markets.

Their 'unofficial' dealer prices are already reaching around the 3k mark or so, and they're having difficulty beating modded HD800's. I've seen more than a couple people switch back to the HD800 family after buying Utopias. While someone might eventually figure out a way to mod Utopias, they're a hell of a lot more expensive than HD800(S) right now, which limits the number of people tinkering with them.

 

yeah, think its time trying to mod the utopia. I like as much the hd800 modified to my Utopia stock but I wouldnt want to part with any of them.
its time to build a measuring rig and mod those utopia. problem is I have no idea where to start. the utopia cup seem very well vented

 

They're pretty much there already.

The PITA that is the non-transferrable warranty, along with the possibility (apparent current policy) that Focal won't provide service at all to secondary buyers, even when you're willing to pay for it, really hammers used pricing.

As much as I enjoy my Utopia (one dealer-source, one used), there's no way in hell that, today, I'd pay more than $2,500 for a used set. New is simply not that much more, if you have a good dealer, to be worth worrying about it.

 

its really disgusting from focal to do this. I paid my Utopia used and pray their drivers are tough and can survive abuse... I think they are very sturdy. I mistakenly overdrove them and they survived very high sound output.

I think also dynamic drivers are more prown to long life and durability, but I cant imagine focal not supporting used focal utopia owners...
if so, well bye bye focal, Ill never buy anything from them ever again, speaker or headphone

 

They may make exceptions. It may be just a "published policy" that they don't actually adhere to ("scare tactics"). But until it's proven otherwise, I would not, personally, buy a used Focal product from someone that wasn't a) willing to be involved in getting a warranty/repair handled and b) was likely to be around to do so.

My used set of Utopia came from here, so I'm not really concerned about it. But I would be if I'd bought used elsewhere (e.g. random Head-Fi seller).

 

Where is this published? Jason (The Source AV) mentioned that he thought Focal would fix it for a price. Social is old school and works through a dealer network. If your dealer will not work with you get a repair, try Jason (if you are in the US).

 

I think he meant warranty repairs should be free. A driver repair on a Utopia is like a grand apparently which is free if you have a valid warranty that may not carry over to used buyers.

 

No, that's not what I'm saying.

What I've heard (from numerous sources) is that Focal won't repair product for secondary purchases/non-AD-purchases, even if the owner is willing to cover the cost.

This happens in the watch world. Companies like Breitling don't give a shit ... as long as the watch is authentic, and not reported stolen, they'll fix it. They might charge you for it, but there's no question about being able to get it serviced. Some other brands (not naming names) won't touch the thing at all if it ever passed through the hands of a non-AD.

I'm not saying it is. I was simply referring to the idea of a "published policy" and didn't mean to imply that Focal actually had one in this case. I've heard it from enough sources (owners and dealers) that it would surprise me if it wasn't the case, but the only way to know for sure is either a specific inquiry to Focal (which I don't care enough about to make), or needing to get something fixed (which I haven't).

 

can anyone confirm that focal wont cover second Utopia owners?
this would be pure madness.

I seem to recall someone having his drivers fixed even if he was second owner for freee

 

Bloody hell. The things are priced as much as some cars, I'd certainly hope to be able to at least pay for the privilege of having them fixed!