Just a experience out of this world. Like the name "state of things in which everything is perfect". Great job.

I absolutely live these things. I didn't think so much information could be presented to the listener. Sounds that were once buried in the mix are separated, dynamic and full of life. Percussion instruments come fully to life with realism I have not heard before. I upgraded from a set of Sennheiser HD800s cans. I thought they were incredible, these are a clear step up in nearly every way. The Sennheiser’s have a slightly wider staging that is it.

I am so impressed. My only wish is they came with the 4pin XLR cable and did not have LEMO connectors for ease of cord swapping.

5 stars all the way for these things. No regrets! Keep up the good work Focal!

Beautifully made and beautiful sound. Detail, dimension, depth, rounded and full sound. My upstream equipment has been elevated to a new level by these headphones. Would recommend to anyone looking for a no-fuss TOTL headphone solution.

Outstanding Headphone.
Can't put the soundquality in words...

Transparent, accurate, fast. The Focal Utopia are easily the best headphones I've ever owned.

An amazing all rounder
Transparency and speed all in one

It's a briliant headphone. Absolutely lov'in it!!!

Best ever!!!

Awesome

One of the best headphones on earth! I couldn't believe my ears when I hear this, amazing.

Buy it now, you won't regret.

Fantastic dymanics - very exciting and engaging when listening to classical orchestral music

I think this is the best headphone I have ever used before. Amazing quality of sound with all the details.

Sehr gut

I have only had my headphones a few days, I can’t stop listening to them! I am hearing deeper into the music and feeling the emotion of the music, great headphones!

Fantastic.Never been a headphone fan.Focal Utopia changed my vision.Past experiences made me think headphones were not for me .Too much discomfort, too much listen fatigue.Utopia are really great for comfort, you can listen for hours with no pain.Sound quality is top notch, you need a loudspeakers system of multi dozen thousands to compare.The only thing I have to complain is that I can't leave a review in Italian.A language not really widespread.But what about Polski then? Still Italy a big nation.

Most likely one of the most perfect headphones I have tried out so far. I was testing a view from other companies, but the combination of the Utopia with the Arche amplifier gives such an enjoyment and pure music reproduction.

The best headphone I ever tried and no regret owning a pair of these detail monster!

It will become abundantly clear I am no audiophile -- I do like music, particularly when played live and since lockdown I have been striving to improve the quality of my listening experience at home.
My pair of Focal Utopias arrived early this morning. So I have only been listening for a few 4-5 hours.
Lets start with a caveat - I am not yet driving them with an independent headphone amp or the long cables I have ordered to be able to listen in comfort. I am listening to them playing via the 1/4 headphone socket on my Auralic Altair G1 Streamer (which has 5ohm impedance on the headphone out) with the volume knob at 70-80% with no adjustment to the Gain or EQ. The DAC upsamples to 300+ kHz.
So not ideal -- but worth an initial comment -- and my initial comment is WOW !!
The packaging is special -- It was a little like when I opened my 24kt gold glasses from Bentley - the packaging is a work of art in itself - shame it will be assigned to a box room. Mine came with the carrying case as well - so that is a plus -- and 2 cables. All great quality and build -- and no creaking in the headphones either.

I have played about 40 tracks and am commenting while listening to Andreas Bocelli singing in Duomo di Milano the Music for Hope album - reproduced in 24 bit 96kHz -- where Bocelli is supported by the Organ. Even though is a recording of a live performance in a large church with powerful accompaniment, it sounds wonderful.
Then so did Diana Krall in 32bit and Boston, Sanatana, Chicago Symphony in DSD64 and a dozen or more Gilmour and Floyd tracks both studio and live recordings. (5am Live at Pompeii is particularly good, but then so is the SACD version of Dark Side).
Itzhak Perlman playing with the RPO sounded wonderful.As did John Coltrane. I also played tracks from some of the various Sampler albums I have collected over the years - Naim, B+W, Naim, Linn, McIntosh and Focal JMlab CDs1-8

In other words the reproduction is great for me - I have had only one issue with reproduction and that was Fryd by Cantus in DXD where it sounds like there was an underlying his on the recording -- possibly the digital version was made from a vinyl. I only had this "issue" on this album and could only hear it with the Utopias.

If anything the "rock" tracks were a tiny bit base heavy for my tastes, but that is probably the mix or it could be the high impedance amp I am currently using.
No issues for me with alleged overly narrow the sound stage or overly bright treble. What I hear is huge detail and prices reproduction of the data in the track.

My comparison options are limited to the Grado PS1000 I bought a long time ago and there simply is no comparison worthy of comment. The Utopias are just so much more delightful.

I await the opportunity to play these via my Pathos Aurium Tube Headphone Amp (with its

This is, hands down, the best headphone in the world. The best separation. The best detail retrieval. The most luxury build. JUST SIMPLY BEAUTIFUL

THE best headphones I've ever heard.

I have many High end Phones. With sonarworks it is the most neutral phone I have ever heared. The size of instruments and their distance is pricesley rendered. No other phone can do this.
Also each recording shows its different room size.
Many other headphones have their one footprint on all recordings.

ok

Very good headphone, I like its sound about Utopia

Great sound, looks and feel! amazing tone balance and tone

Amazing product. Simply in love with this.

This is a new replacement headphone. The first one was DOA.

EXCELLENT

Awesome headphone

Listening to classical music, I auditioned Focal Utopia and Audeze LCD-4Z. Both are excellent, but I thought Utopias sounded more like what I hear in the concerts I attend. I especially appreciated the rendering of violins in higher tonal range.

Amazing headphones. Crystal clarity, amazing depth. My best audio equipment.

The best ever! Do the research and experience Utopia!

Amazing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=76qk1rxxBgk

Focal Utopia 2020 ( Late May 2020 version ) Out of the Box Sound ( Before Burn in ) - UK
Focal Utopia 2020 ( Late May 2020 version ) Out of the Box Sound ( Before Burn in )
It is not a paid review (Focal or Distributor)
based upon my personal experience with this product

DAC :
FOCAL ARCHE & CHORD MOJO

Songs I listen with this product
https://open.qobuz.com/track/45797379
1 Witchita Lineman :Glenn Campbell
2. Michael Jackson : Thriller
3.Stevie Wonder : Pastime Paradise 1976
4. The Cheek Of Night : OST ROMEO & JULIET ( Classical) - 2013
5.Bag Lady (Cheeba Sac Radio Edit) : Erykah Badu :Mama's Gun (Reissue) [Bonus Tracks]
6.Take Me Home, Country Roads (Original Version) : John Denver

https://youtu.be/BAR1PATuP4M

Hi Focal please find my review here on this YouTube video

fantastisch reiner und voller Klang , alle Details hörbar ohne zu nerven

The only way to unwind after hard days at work ! Amazing life like sound .

The best headphones I have ever heard.

The best open back headphone produced. The sound and build quality cannot be matched.

Just amazing!

The best Headphone I've ever had. Phenomenal resolution, wonderful tonal balance and extremely fast and revealing sound. Much better than the planars that I have, Focal Utopia has dynamics and punch, it is much more exciting than all the planars that I've heard. Focal Utopia has the most revealing trebles I have ever heard, and at the same time it is delicate and musical, very different from my HD800 which is less revealing and at the same time makes the music sound boring. The bass is not loud, but it is deep and defined. The mids sounds magnificent, vocals sound sublime on this headphone. The build quality is top notch and the box that the headphone comes in is beautiful. The comfort is impressive, it is not as light as the HD800 or my Hifiman Arya, but it is extremely comfortable and is more satisfying to use than both because the weight is well distributed in the head. I listen to Focal Utopia for hours and it's a blessing to have it, Utopia makes you want to listen to music all the time, so listen to music at low volume like I do! I have the Utopia & Arche combo and I can't recommend it more. It is spectacular and without a doubt one of the best headphones in the world. Focal Utopia can be a good economic decision because it makes you want to sell all of your other headphones :).

While these have been praised in the less than uncertain terms as the "world's best headphones" by many a publication, I have not taken the pains of comparing with its closest competitors. What I can vouch for is that they sound unlike any other headphones I have ever enjoyed, and even outclass the excellent Focal Stellia which I have listened to and initially wanted to purchase. These are incredible - it is not a question of whether you might want these - you do - but merely of whether the joy of listening to records in such a way as you have never before is worth the considerable (!) investment. I am not rich in the least, but this has already been worth it two weeks in (aided by hours and hours of listening every day due to Corona isolation). Remarkable.

Heaven!!

In Portuguese (Brazil), for those interested: http://mindtheheadphone.com.br/2019/07/focal-utopia/ . Focal Utopia is a strong recommendation. Masterful!

I was fascinated by your Utopia headphone, which was posted in Youtube with special offer limited number; surveyed necessary information in the web, finally decided to purchase together with short Lemo cable. (unusual without direct checking, but your technology and exclusive material were fairly enough to decide).
I have 2 vintage audio, non of them have headphone consent, so tried my mobile (LG G5), not perfect but much better than expected!
I have two plans with Utopia headphone;
1. Mobile(Samsung Note 10+ 5G): via HUD100(tiny DAconverter with amplifier), will post later
2. fitting 6.5mm headphone socket with speaker plug(banana jack) for integrated amp and for KT88 tube amp.

I am so pleased to enjoy my favorite music via Utopia anytime from now.

It should be very helpful if you provide more product information like specifications and maintenance.

Mind-blowing headphones with amazing details and transparency to the sound. Pair it with a good OTL tube amp and on top of that you will gain quite spacious soundstage as a bonus

Just received my Focal Utopia. Only on day one, but very impressed so far. Fit and finish are fabulous and they are clearly one of the best, most revealing headphones I’ve ever listened to. Soundstage, clarity, presence and separation are all fantastic just with the stock cable. I am anxious to see what they are like when completely broken in. Obviously very happy so far.

Perfect balance of sound. As close as I’ve got to the sound from my Naim floor standers. With the option of playing at unsociable levels as night.

Would be nice the same cable connection like the Stellia is included since this is the flagship product

Uniquely revealing and balanced headphone.

I've tried many different products in all the years I've listened to high end headphones and I've never found the perfect tuning you can find on Utopia while providing an extremely confortable form factor.

This is a no-compromise top of the line product with stunning design, functionality and audio performance.

Fantastic sound quality with open-back details and sound stage!

Absolutely stunning sound right out of the box. I've never had a more engaging listening experience than with the Utopias. Bravo!

excellent build quality, still new and running the headphones in and only time will tell how good they will be, but so far so good.

Top headphone but i miss the 4m cable version!

Mind Blowing.My Tool sounds amazing specially the song Invinciible

Excellent product

These Headphones are simply superb.
They are expensive but the best I have heard.
They are light, comfortable. I could wear them and listen to music all day.

ASTONISHING

Amazing product.

Ich kann noch keine Aussage treffen, weil der Kopfhörer est noch eingespielt werden muss. Zunächst bin ich überrascht wie gut sich der Kopfhörer schon anhört wenn er noch nicht eingespielt wurde. Beim dem Clear war der Klang zu Anfang sehr schlecht.
Enttäuscht bin ich von dem Zubehör. Kein Case für den Transpot, kein symmetrisches Kabel kein 6.3 3.5 Adapter , ein Kabel, dass zu lang ist für den HighRes-Player, zu kurz für die Heimanlage, keine Wahlmöglichkeit hinsichtlich des Kabels denn das gelieferte Kabel kann nicht eingesetzt werden. Wenn Wert auf die Qualität gelegt wird, dann sollte ein symmetrisches Kabel mit XLR Stecker beiliegen.

Great sounding,but the accessories doesnt hold up qualitywise,from the headphones themselves.

i have only had it for a few days but so far this is the best headphone i have heard. I have the sennheiser hd800, audeze lcd-x ,grado rs1, koss esp950 and all have some qualities that i like. The utopia combines alot of the qualities from the other headphone into a single headphone. In my 2 channel system i value clarity, detail and punch/dynamic . This is exactly the utopia's strong points.

Amazing clarity, outstanding dynamics.

The Best Sound design and joy

fabulous

Best headphones in this world.

Love them! Amazing transparent sound; excellent materials and construction.

Top!

A truly superb headphone!

The Utopia is faster, crispier and more defined than anything I have previously owned. It's like a magnifying glass on the music. Precise as a razor blade, each note starts and ends at the exact moment it should. Its timbre correctness is unmatched in the industry.

Packaged nicely

Surprisingly good headphone; I do love it despite the outrageous price.

Thank you!

Very detail and dynamic headphone.

I upgrade my Stax SR-007MKII to Focal Utopia
thanks a lot to Ming (M&LaMusique)

Utopia sound AMAZING, just grab your set!

Klang +++++,
Tragekomfort ++++-
Ausstattung+++---
(ein symmetrisches Kabel sollte bei dem Preis mitgeliefert werden.)

top notch headphone
easy to dirve
very pleased

I have within the past year upgraded from the Elears to the Clears and very recently to the Utopias. All three headphones are great, but the Utopias are something else. I have always used Chord DACs and continue to do so, but have now acquired the Questyle QP2R DAP as well, as part of the bundle offered by Focal. This is proving to be an excellent match with the Utopias. I still have some slight reservations about the lightweight and rather short cable supplied with the bundle, but it seems to work well enough. As for the Utopias, they are quite mind blowingly good, even before they are fully burned in and I am so glad I decided to make the very substantial investment required.

Well done Focal!

The best headphone I have ever heard! Absolutely resolving and liquid from sub-bass through to the highs. Confident and competent in every way to reproduce the input signal.

Zu diesem Hörer wurde bereits alles gesagt, was zu sagen ist.

Für mich einer der Besten der Welt.

Unbedingt mit einem vernünftigen Kopfhörerverstärker betreiben, mein Tipp wäre ein Lehmann Linear.

Best set of headphones I've ever heard.

The most wonderful audio product of my life.

GREAT Sound! Even seems to improve with break-in use. Well balanced and highly detailed.

Rediscovering my music collection with these. Can't recommend anything better.

Great headphone

Outstanding performance from these fine pieces

The almost perfect Headphone. This is the absolute most resolving headphone I've ever had the privilege of owning. For my personal listening tastes it checks absolutely every box except sound stage. I'm honestly not sure there is a headphone out there I can give a 5 star review to just yet and I've tried most in existence but this comes darn close. An honest 4.75 stars out of 5.

Sub note: These cans absolute transform with your system and cables. So possibly I just haven't found the perfect combo to open up the sound stage yet. Regardless of my quest for the perfect setup still not being complete. I don't think any audiophile that can afford the utopia is going to regret adding them to there collection. Happy Listening everybody.

Overall I liked the headphones, high quality sounds. Bought the product December 2017, now (Sept 2018) left side cup is deaf.

Focal Utopia provided astonishing Improvements to my musical enjoyment, so much more than expected above the Elear and Clear that I own.

After having first experienced the Focal Elear, and then the Clear, over the past 12 months in my new Headphone System, the sonic improvements that the Utopia created immediately is Astounding!!

The Utopia Headphones the Very Best Headphones I have ever enjoyed. They created even more significant improvements in the sonic transparency of all Hi-Rez music played, particularly in the Mid and the High Ranges of every song, when compared to the Clear. The Base is very crisp, accurate and appropriate (not bloated) for the sound of each particular recording.

I can unequivocally state that there were greater, very subtle but significant sonic improvements to the soundstage, clarity, detail and musicality of each Hi-Res album played; albeit not equally for every one, which I must attribute to the initial recording parameters. And the vividness of the soundstage, coupled with added details from the recordings make this the most musically enjoyable set of headphones I have ever used.

The Focal Utopia has become indespensible for truly appreciating and enjoying the music in my Hi-Rez system; so much so that I am divesting all other headphones I own, including the Elear and Clear, and will use the Utopia exclusively for all my future listening.

Very Highly Recommended and Essential for Enjoying the Music !!

Heavenly headphones! I didn't know this was possible. Don't think about it anymore just pull the trigger and make the purchase. Your world of sound will be very different once you own these.

A magnificent headphone, providing the quality of hearing experience I always wanted. Not so good:
- Instructions of use available in French only,
- no indication where to find the serial number,
- no explanation whether there are alternative cables with other sockets might be available.

Outstanding... which would be expected from a $4000 headphone but it really is in a class above some of the $1k - $2k contenders. I would not hesitate to purchase this headphone again!

Well worth the money- mesmerizingly good!

Top of the line!

I am not a headphone geek. I was going to buy your Clear's so I could listen to music and not bother my wife. The Clears are...very very good. I made the mistake of trying on a pair of your Utopia's. I was totally "blown away" from the sound. I know there are people, looking at the forums, etc., that live and breathe headphone stuff. I did read reviews on your Utopia's and the general conclusion was that they were the best....period. I was VERY impressed on how comfortable they are. I had tried a lot of headphones on, at the Munich audio show, and found that many headphones did not feel "just right" for my long Danish skull.
So..I bought a pair. I am VERY happy. All I now need to buy is a shorter cable and maybe a headphone amp????
Anyway...they remind me of the Marker's Mark Whiskey ad......Taste expensive...and is! Not much impresses any more at 71 but the Utopia's did!
Mr. Pete-------------->
aging hippie

Very well made. Excellent sound quality. Very happy!

Fabulous.

The demo sounded great! I am still breaking mine in. :)

The Focal Utopia yields jaw-dropping sound, and I am so glad that I purchased them!

A wonderful world class set of headphones. Refined, elegant, and robust in their sound. My personal favorite.

Incredible headphone! Brings impact and detail like the best loudspeakers from Focal. Definitely recommend!

So far so good, just burning these in, love them!!

Sounds superb. Best headphone I have ever listened to.

Feels like you aren't wearing a headphone (fit & finish is excellent). Cord is a little heavy- but it's all top quality.

Best Headphones I have used

It's difficult to explain how incredible these headphones are without experiencing it firsthand. After years of suffering through lesser headphones, putting on the Focal Utopias is akin to someone seeing the world without colorblindness for the first time and now that I've been introduced to this world of music out there, I never want to go back. The build quality is exceptional and the comfort is incredible. Every music lover owes it to themselves to try the Utopia headphones once.

These are the best headphones I ever heard! Period

Incredible sounding headphones, even hearing it right away without any break-in. Pairs very well with neutral to slightly dark tube amplifiers, as you get all of the incredible resolution and bass kick.

Best Headphone I ever heard. I've listened to Sennheiser (HD800, HD800S), Beyerdynamic (T1), Ultrasone (Edition-Collection), but the Focal Utopia topps them all.

The Focal Utopia headphone is the final headphone for me.
I have tried numerous transducers over the last 10 or so years, and nothing comes close to being a master of all genres like the Utopia does.

Pricey but well worth it.

The best Headphones I have ever heard!

Overwhelming experience of reality in music listening. Since the 12th of December 2017 when my Focal Utopia were delivered a new page in my life has turned. I now enjoy recorded music on a totally different level. My old mate the Sennheiser HD800 has started its shelf life and my new life companion Utopia takes me to a paradise of listening experiences. Thankyou!

I was looking for headphones that sounds great, are well built and are comfortable to wear for long periods. These Utopias tick all the boxes for me. Especially the sound - detailed and accurate (exactly what I was looking for). Treble is crystal clear, without being too bright. Bass is controlled. If there is bass in the music, these headphones will reproduce it well. If there is none in the music, it won't add any.

Simply the best headphones I ever heard!!

After Sennheiser, AKG and Stax definitely the best headphones I ever heard!
The Highs could have been a bit more open, but details and resolution are outstanding!!!!

Superb clarity and detail. Very lifelike. The only quibble I have is that the sound seems to form almost a straight line in your head, as opposed to sounding like it's coming from all around you.

First time in a long while an audio product has lived up to it's hype; very impressive.

Outstanding sound! Crystal clear highs with extreme detail without any harshness at all. Coming from the Sennheiser HD800, the Focal Utopia is not only easier to drive, but just has a natural sound without any loss of detail.

Beautiful design, the sound out of the box is fantastic and I expect it will get better with more playing time, fit and finish par excellence.

Awesome

I have listened to the headphones, and they are truly outstanding. Thank you.

I have the Elear for about a year and I bought the Utopia a week ago. It exceeds my expectations. I frequently go to live classical and jazz events in NYC. Every other headphone I had tried except the electrostats was such a big compromise that turned me away from listening classical from headphones. I could listen jazz or other genres but not classical. Utopia is the exception. Its neutrality, transparency, speed, and precision provide an experience that is simply on a different level.

Utopia Headphone is one of the best tools for audio engineers in its category

Utopia has changed the way I listen to sounds in that with my ears I am now able to feel the upper range of high frequencies when I am mixing in my music studio.
I am also capable of tweaking frequencies in the lower range of the audio spectrum with confidence than before. Utopia headphones widely extend the frequency spectrum of any sound from the sub-bass which is below 60 Hz to the top called air around 20Khz plus.
Since my Utopia headphones arrived, my AKG K812 headphones have become a second class tool even if they are very good in capturing the lows, the mid and high frequencies with almost a flat frequency response.
However, what makes me admire more the Utopia headphones is the fact that their frequency response is so flat in a such way that I love my mixes now than before as everyone else. Whatever I add to a sound translates beautifully through the entire chain of my audio system.

Indeed, I consider the Utopia headphones as one of the best tools for audio engineers. Nothing else comes close to this magnificent piece of the technology built by Focal team.

Bravo Focal!!!

I bought these Headphones after my HifiMan HE1000. These are more engaging, more resolving and more speaker-like. Highly recommended.

Focal Utopia Headphones

Absolutely fabulous!

The Focal Utopia is well balanced and terrifically clean sounding. A headphone for people who enjoy spending as much time as they can listening to music that actually sounds musical.

Focal has captured the spirit of sound with its new flagship headphone aplty named Utopia. These headphones are the most accurate, well balanced and well made cans I have ever owned. They sound fantastic on any source, daps, amps or dacs you connect it to. The hype is real as it truly brought out the very best from my songs I play it with. The highs and mids are just phenomenal, buttery smooth and the lows extends well and are so well controlled. Compared to other high end cans, the Utopia has overtaken them by miles. My only gripe is i hope they included a 4 pin balanced xlr cable. For 4K USD, the Utopia may seem over priced, but you actually get a headphone that will stand through the test of time and will become part of headphone's history as being one of the best headpones ever made.

High build quality, great sound, punchy and extremely dynamic. Unfortunately, there are no included accessories such as adapters, balanced XLR cable and case.

The best headphone I have heard, the clairity is amazing.

The Utopia’s are a lot more comfortable on my head than I expected. I hardly notice the ear pad pressure, the headband - a little bit. I have worn them for 3 to 4 hours at a stretch listening to music or watching movies with no problem. The weight is nicely distributed by the design and was not the issue I thought it might be. I wish the ear pad opening was a smidge larger but its okay because of the softness of the foam which contours nicely around the ears and on the jaw and behind the ear. I did not find cable weight an issue either. Unfortunately the cable is too short; 3 meters forced me to move my viewing position out of the sweet spot for use with my home theater set up, now I’ll have to buy an extension cord. I suspect these pads will trap heat more readily than my HD800 during high humidity air-conditioning season, which for me is usually April thru November.

Now I can really hear where the strengths and weaknesses of my stock HD800 are versus the Utopia.

The Utopias are the least "shout-y" sounding phones of any I've heard. When late 19th and early 20th century classical scores with full sized modern orchestras call for loud crescendos the Utopia maintains composure better than anything else I've auditioned. Highs are bright and have bite but still, they never irritate like HD800 does on certain recordings. The HD800 gets frazzled (a combination of the 6Khz peak and some ear pad chamber resonance perhaps?). But then every other HP I've listened to gets frazzled as well at some point. Dynamic range seems better than anything else I’ve auditioned, the difference between the softest and loudest sounds is very wide. The Utopias seem to be coasting when some other phones are sounding stressed.

Listening to the natural brassy edge on horns and high notes from sopranos allowed me to zero in on a strength of Utopia’s. Even with complex scoring at louder levels, soprano voices in their upper registers are cleaner, sweeter sounding than with HD800. Vocal groups (say 6 to 12 singers) sound like a collection of several individuals instead of one large voice (hard to describe). Horns have a realistic sounding brassy edge on Utopia without some irritating glare-y sound I sometimes hear with HD800 at high levels.
Attacks and decays on Utopia seem a bit quicker sounding than HD800 and allow me to listen into the music better and ferret out some subtle details (on very familiar music) unheard by me until now. Or, is it the lack of spurious resonances in Utopia that provides a level of clarity over the stock HD800 and that lets me hear more of those subtler details?

I find both HP's provide an equally wide sound stage, after all the comments I read about a narrow sound stage I found them very similar? HD800, however, are much better at recreating an illusion of depth, as much as any headphone can, all headphones are poor at that as far as any I’ve auditioned over the past year are concerned. Utopia is quite up front and flat. This is Utopias biggest weakness, maybe it will improve with time and use. (I note here that after 7+ months almost daily use last year with stock HD800 the highs got smoother and the bass more full and satisfying so adequate break-in can change a lot of the sound characteristics – but, as always, the recording quality is a huge part of that equation. Complementary coloration's in the cables I’m using may also have helped the HD800).

The HD800 presents a sound that is translucent, airy. It can convey a sense of the hall and fool the ear that a sound field with real depth revealing aspects is being presented.

The Utopia is more opaque. However, the tonal characteristics of instruments are very realistic with a presence and dynamic capability at extremes of the frequency range the HD800 doesn't have.

Surprisingly, the weight and control of the bass and mid-bass (on my 7 + months broken in HD800) is more to my liking at this point and sounds more impactful and tighter. This would seem contrary to most of what I’ve read of others impressions in comparing the 2, but perhaps this will change with break-in. I’m not saying the bass is more accurate, just more to my personal liking on my HD800 at present. I’m still using the stock cables at this point with Utopia and DanaCable Lazuli with HD800. A case of complimentary equipment coloration's giving my ears the sound I’m looking for? Maybe. High frequencies with Utopia are much smoother, sweeter, and never sound strained or glare-y and that’s right out of the box with stock cables. Midrange on both, well, I like both in that range.

The other phones I own as well as those I've in home auditioned in home for at least a week over the past year include: PM-1’s, HD600, HD800S, E/A Dharma, Abyss 1266, HE1000, and several LCD models at dealers. Turns out I prefer dynamic to planar drivers in a headphone. None of the foregoing bests the Utopia overall.

So for now this is it, Utopia and HD800 are my phones of choice and I will keep both. They give me what I’m looking for sound wise but in slightly different ways and with some different strengths and weaknesses. The performance of both encourages me to want to listen to my music.

My Equipment : CD Transport AES/EBU to Schiit Yggdrasil DAC to Schiit Molnir2 or Ragnarok or Jotunheim, and Oppo HA-1 headphone amplifiers. IC’s and HP are DanaCable Sapphire Reference.

Note: the dealer gave me 10 days in-home to demo the store's Utopia unit which is only a month old and may not be fully broken in. My purchased unit is new out of the box and will require some time to break-in. With dynamic drivers in particular I think the surrounds need time to settle in.

After one month and half of use my right driver is dead. Is a pity because they are the best headphone. The sound is incredible. Awesome. BUT now they are dead.

Very good

Simply the best non-electro-static headphones on the market! Amazing clarity, tonality and detail retrieval!

Most realistic and beautiful headphone ive ever owned.

Great headphone, the best I have heard. Beautiful construction of the headphone but the cable does not come up to the same standard. It is far too heavy and feels cumbersome in use.

Amazing Phones!!!!

Fantastic Headphones. THE best dynamic headphone I have heard.

Lovely; tremendous tonal balance; comfortable to wear, although there is a definite sense of heaviness. Would love for it to match the bass of the Abyss AB-1266.

I've been looking to upgrade my 7-year-old headphones for a while. But nothing fits my small head, they're either too big, too heavy or too uncomfortable. Focal Utopia is perfect. Not to mention it sounds great!

Exquisite sound quality and a beautifully engineered product! The only improvement I can suggest would be the inclusion of a balanced cable.

Best sounding headphones I've heard so far!

wish the cable was smaller diameter.