Focal utopia6/10/2023 ![]() ![]() I’ll be confirming both of these figures (or not) in the measurements section, available from the top of this page, where you’ll also be able to see how the Utopia 2022s compare with the original Utopias. The diaphragm has an “M” shape, which makes it flatter Focal claims this design is stiffer than the usual “V” shape.Īs with the original, impedance is rated at 80 ohms, which is just a little high, and sensitivity at 104dB with a 1mW signal, which is very high for high-end headphones. ![]() The core is an ultra-light, ultra-stiff, 40mm beryllium diaphragm, attached to the frame with a lightweight suspension that is somewhat like the surround on a speaker, and more compliant than the simple mylar suspension found on most dynamic headphone drivers. ![]() Otherwise, the design carries on several features of the original Utopia headphones, and of most of Focal’s higher-end models as well. The yokes that hold each earpiece are said to be stronger because they’re made from forged carbon instead of carbon fiber. The grilles in front of the drivers have been reshaped to more closely follow the shape of each driver, minimizing internal reflections and shifting them to higher, inaudible frequencies. There’s a new grille design on the outside (the Utopias are an open-back model) designed to reduce acoustical impedance and make the sound more open. They switched from an aluminum voice coil to one made from a combination of aluminum and copper to make it more reliable. The new model is still named Utopia ($4999, all prices USD), but to distinguish it from the old model (which we’ll be referring to frequently), we’re going to refer to it in this review and the measurements as Utopia 2022.Īs Focal’s Mégane Montabonel explained to me, the new Utopias are similar to the originals, but upgraded in numerous subtle ways. Focal’s original Utopia headphones, introduced in 2016, were probably as close as anyone’s come to perfection in headphones-but at the 2022 CanJam SoCal, Focal announced that it had improved on the Utopias. And one possible definition of perfection is that your work can’t be improved upon. There are plenty of component categories-amplifiers, preamps, cables, and others-in which the best from 30 years ago are 100 percent sonically competitive with anything made today. What do you do after you’ve created the perfect audio product? Most audiophiles would counter that there is no perfect audio product, but I wonder. Measurements can be found by clicking this link. ![]()
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