Sounds in the Key of Focal’s Utopia Headphones

The Great

• Open back circum-aural
• Low noise with the least distortion I’ve heard
• Full range “loudspeaker-like” sound
• Easily adjustable to any head size or shape
• Balanced cable (bi-amp)

The Not

• Heavy Heavy Price tag

The Conclusion

Your friends will be giving you eye rolls and unreasonably over dramatic shocked reactions about the price. Yes, they are expensive, but then all the great audiophile gear is insanely expensive. These are exceptional headphones, take the time to listen to old Ludwig Van’s Minuet in G with these headphones from a high capacity out put. What you will be experiencing is the absolute peak of the minds comprehension of music. As far as music can be heard, that is it and there aint no more… and that is worth the price tag.

Focal’s design innovations represent a revolution in headphone design. Focal Utopia’s driver diameter closely follows their voice coil’s diameter with an open back magnet assembly thus there is no trapped air behind the dome. Think of it as a miniature, ported speaker with the most amazing sound you can put on your head. In addition, the driver uses pure Beryllium formed in the new “M” shaped dome which is extremely rigid and super light which results in incredibly low distortion and quite possibly the best in the headphone marketplace.

Now This is way more money than I thought I’d ever have to pay for any type of audio gear – let alone headphones. Once I listened to these I  was absolutely blown away. With one listen of Led Zep’s Kashmir i had essentially ruined any hope of listening to music on good even premium headphones. Goodbye Beats, goodbye Bose , all the ‘phones I had in my collection sounded dull by comparison. I immoderately went to eBay and sold them all for the trash they had become.

Focal’s Utopia headphones change key ideas about headphones and sound. Ideas such as sound-stage, clarity, and separation new standards are set. Every high-end headphones maker in the world must now rethink, redesign, and discover a new sound or risk losing share to a speaker company. Focal’s Utopia headphones change the very idea of sound. They are so clear, inclusive and their ergonomics so well crafted things once important such as “isolation” fade. Isolation isn’t the issue. Being swept away by the sound, hearing more music, and forgetting TIME is the real desire. “Isolation” is not really what is important – sound quality clarity, and warmth are the real issues. And I know that now after listening to “open back” headphones so epic what was once critical – isolation – isn’t relevant at all anymore.

The Final Thought

Never would I ever had thought to critique the sound on the Beats Solo, and never have I found a product that revolutionizes  my understanding of sound. Here we are, staring at a $4000 pair of headphones that have become an utmost priority. These not only  offer superb clarity and build quality and comfortable for long hours of sonic rapture but transform sound.  This headphone is truly deserving of the music and they are,  in the long term and grand scheme of man .  to  be considered an essential experience. What is money good for if not for a personal performance of Mozart’s greatest symphonies with sound quality Mozart couldn’t possible comprehend.