New Focal Utopia SKU for 2020, and why test tracks matter for evaluating headphones. 

Always a good job. Thorough, well-presented, well-considered. Agreed with test tracks for evaluation. And, the gear that's used, too. Different gear used with different headphones can make a significant difference in the way a headphone sounds. Synergy. I just watched a speaker review by a very experienced audio reviewer who specified all the gear he used with the speakers for the review, and talked about how the different gear yielded a different net sonic result. I'm working through this very kind of thing right now (as I have now for decades mucking about with this audio hobby) with a matrix of DACs, amps, sources, and headphones. They can all sound different - sometimes very different - in different combinations, and some combos I prefer more than others. I also appreciate the reviews you've done where you go beyond the bass/midrange/treble/soundstage review sequence format. The completeness and nuance of a product can be captured within this format, but more often the review ends up simpler and more formulaic.

Man, I watched your reviews from time to time but after watching this video I subscribed.......track quality and mastering...finally someone puts in the first place something that should be a basic fact with better headphones or in fact with any audio equipment.

I would love to hear your thoughts on the Topping D90 DAC!

One of my test tracks i use is Dire Straits - Private Investigations. The dynamic range on that track is insane.

Yes, recordings absolutely matter more than what people may think. I kind of found out the hard way, as I love listening to 80s pop and EDM, most of which is recorded horribly with bright treble and crunchy compression. Which is why I always used the 650 (and more recently the 58X) for that genre with it's laid back and smooth mids and treble. That stuff just sounds straight up bad on the Elex and Sundara, two relatively revealing headphones, which sound amazing on well recorded stuff of course. Also as a side note, those cables look a LOT like the Elex cables, same color and everything except for the connectors of course.

My headphones are so revealing that half my music collection now sounds rubbish

Very good review! Great job!

Got an Elegia and it puts my former Ether CX to shame. Thanks Andrew for that Elegia review!

Maybe it's better if all the reviewers came to an agreement and will choose 10 to 20 songs in every genre, to test the headphones at all reviews as a standard. I think you'll still get your viewing amounts.

Is there a list of test tracks that you use for your reviews? I’m sure a lot of people are curious

Halfway into this video and I’m still wondering is he gonna review the headphones or not?

Did you prefer the Utopia 2020 to the more recent 2022? Many seem to feel that way.

I wonder if Focal's headphones still have driver excursion issues. I owned 2 pairs of Elex a few years ago & had to return both because of it. Read stories about the Elear, Clear, as well as the Utopias having the same problem though much less prevalent the higher up the rank you go. I don't think they've ever addressed it, which is sad because their sound signature is my favorite.

What i also always see is people blaming recodings for the fault of a headphon.e For example with the DT 1990, people always say that you have to listen to well recorded music since the headphone is so "revealing" meanwhile its just the headphones and the 8.5k peak screaming at you.

Hey Andrew, great video as always. Just wondering what you thought was the best for metal music, RAD-0 or D8000 Pro?

Andrew, what would be your pick for black metal? I listen to black metal a lot and am considering going with the clear but I just wanted to hear your thoughts

one of my favourite tracks to losten to and also evaluate soundstage and imaging is the russian national orchestras performance of Tchaikovsky's slavonic march. the trumpet just seals the deal.

Hi, I really like your review. Would like to ask what is your take away between Clear Professional vs Utopia?

One of the test-tracks i use to test soundstage, "room effect" and reverb is: Andrea Bocelli, Donna è mobile from the Viagio Italiano album

I hope they also fix the QC issue on those drivers

Have you tried the HD700’s? If so, what is your opinion on them, compared to Sundara?

I think a lot of music could move to binaural recording for a more immersive/concert like experience, but without the crowd.

I wish Focal sells those accessories as standalone items. The orignal long ass cable sucks.

That's true. When I bought a dt 1990 pro and finally listened to imagine dragons. I thought I broke the headphones😂. It was so bad, never listen to imagine dragons ever again. Of course every music that I listened before was sounding stunning.

The fact that a fatiguing recording sounds fatiguing on a headphone doesn't mean that the headphone is not to blame. There are also degrees of the problem. If a recording is sibilant but listenable, and it sounds absolutely unlistenable on a headphone, then the headphone is adding to the problem. IME the Utopia is revealing, sure, but it also has its own treble peaks that make sibilance worse. However, they're not as massive as internet hysteria would have you believe and overall the Utopia is pretty well balanced. But a bit of EQ can make it better still.

Also some people just have confounded ears. Truth be told, there is no accounting for aerial variation when they are connected to the amazing brains beyond between them.

Let's strike a balance about what metal571 once said about his music library/catalog which is something along the lines of - they are awfully recorded. Like him, I like a lot of metal and many of those recordings are recorded in a garbage manner. So, if someone likes those kind of music instead of hifi Chesky Records stuff (which might be 10% of my library but for the other 90% I prefer the HD600 or LCD 2), does it really justify getting awesome revealing headphones? Just thinking out loud. .

Would you say that it makes more sense to purchase a headphone based on its technical ability rather than what it sounds like with your favorite music genres? Then, being that we're enthusiasts, use EQ to tweak the sound based on the recording/genre? Edited because the first iteration was obnoxiously long. :)

Do review the Topping A90 and D90 if you get a chance!

excellent video

Hey Andrew, another great video. Just as a note. Just like you I find that most reviews evaluate sound stage and imaging all wrong. In order to accurately evaluate sound stage and imaging in my mind you have to use a binaural recording and have a picture of both the space, and how the instruments are arranged in that space to evaluate whether or not your headphone represents all of that accurately. Here is the best way ive found to meet all those criteria. David Chesky's Joy and Sorrow. Not only is it one of the finest audiophile recordings ive ever heard, there is a youtube video on how it was made which shows the church that it was recorded in as well as the general placement of instruments in that room. So if you want to judge headphone sound stage reproduction accuracy, which I think we all do, consider using that track.

The music you choose definitely has an impact on how your headphones sound. I have the LCD-4z and some music just doesn't sound right or I'll start to pick up on issues with the recording that I wouldn't notice with other headphones. I've only recently heard Letters by Yosi Horikawa and that's a great sounding track to test headphones with.

Smart way to get people to sit through an unboxing video

i’m waiting for Grande Utopia

cool tracks sound great even in lo fi devices, sometimes audiophiles are so absurd

For home use would you recommend the Stellia or the Utopia?

What headphone stand is that?

I'm still undecided which one to purchase between Utopia, lcd4 and HE1000SE. Coming from HD800.

I wonder why more manufacturers are not using beryllium drivers. It think beryllium cost only like around 100$ per kilogram. And speed of sound in beryllium is 2.5 times that of aluminium and the diaphragm breakup occur at much higher frequency than aluminium or any other metal. The main difference between utopia and clear is the use of berrylium instead of aluminium driver. Someone could make a beryllium driver headphone at 200$ and it could sound better than some planars.

Utopias + authentic Cardas cable + Chord Hugo TT2 = Heaven ( so addictive )

Hope Focal will offer existing Utopia owners chance to acquire these accessories

You should do the AKG K712 Pro, I heard it and I think you'd like it!

Much difference between the SPL Phonitor X and Cayin IHA-6?

Looks better. Still can't afford them though :)

Bro u review Sony IER Z1R

That’s good advice for reviewers but if I am buying a headphone I want to enjoy it with my music. if most of the music I like is lofi or poorly recorded then I don’t think getting a very revealing headphone is the way to go. Like you said black metal and utopia don’t mix LOL

Those lemo connectors are fancy but dumb. 3.5mm works great and very, very easy to make custom cables.

Where did you get the headphone stand from?

Is there something specific you saw but would have preferred to not see that you're not telling us here...

You as a reviewer, how much time do you spend testing different headphones? Not many reviewers put this information out there. I believe in mental burn-in which can take up to 15 hours of listening. Certain reviewers plug the same set of headphones into 5 different amps with two different DACs chained together. You are very informative and want people to be informed as well, that sets you apart from other reviewers. I’m by no means an audiophile, I just enjoy headphones and music.

I was able to test the Utopia extensively at a dealer and I really liked the last Dimmu Borgir album with it. Okay, it's not true black metal. :)

With your connections you should be able to try to find optimum sounding cables for a revealing headphone . Weight is not so important if headphone is used stationary . If you consider recording quality you will be surprised how much a cable can change the resolution. Just a thought . I like your style athough sometimes a bit nerdy

In terms of build I feel like the large shiny plastic rings make them look like beats on the head. That taken with the cables makes 4000 kinda tough especially when the clears plastic is so much more tasteful.

What DAC and amp do you recommend for the ZMF Verité?

Glad to see their cables still suck lol

Fuck qthat little speakers,,,, club speakers . Car speakers etc......

This video is more about an education of how poor recording can sound, not a review of headphone…

early adopters of the utopia like my self, feel a little bit played by focal :(

Nice box and carry case but the headphone itself is extremely ugly.

The price in SOUTH Korea is the lowest in the world. $230!