Focal Releases New Utopia Flagship Headphones

The Focal Utopia was 1st unveiled in 2016 and joined the ranks of the world’s best headphones soon after a flurry of really constructive testimonials from the two the Head-Fi neighborhood and press. The initial time I read a Utopia was at a show in North Carolina that year pushed by a tricked out Eddie Current Zana Deux Amplifier the working experience altered my perception of just how open up and clear sounding a dynamic headphone could be. The Utopia remains the ideal sounding dynamic driver headphone that I have heard so significantly the ZMF Verite operates a really close 2nd in 2022.

Focal is a person of the top producers of higher-end drivers and tweeters in the planet and as opposed to quite a few of their scaled-down rivals within the higher-conclusion headphone classification, they have significantly additional sizeable sources as it pertains to R&D and a fairly solid partner in Naim Audio. The Focal Driven By Naim working experience has developed exponentially more than the previous 2 yrs with boutique showrooms in just about each individual corner of the globe. We visited the Houston area in 2021 and the emphasis on headphone systems manufactured it rather crystal clear that Focal and Naim were heading to be substantial players in the category.

Due to the fact 2016, Focal has ongoing to tweak the style and design and is now releasing a new era of the Utopia. Like other luxurious makes, the new variation is simply named “Utopia” significantly like the Porsche 911 or Rolex Submariner, so we’ll refer to this new model just as the Utopia (2022) to distinguish it from before revisions.

This new model shares the all round glimpse, come to feel, and audio quality of the original whilst updating equally the frame which is now made of recycled carbon fiber for a spectacular reduction in body weight, and a redesigned driver for even superior sonic qualities and reduced distortion.

The cups use a honeycomb outer grill with a diamond formed centre grill wrapped by two arms that prolong in from the sides. The honeycomb is one particular of the changes to the industrial design and the lack of an arm reaching down from the middle that homes the cable port is an additional.  

A further improve is that the initial had three tiny screws that held the nameplate in spot close to the center grill. On the new product, the ring is held in location from the inside of so there are no seen screws. Cables now connect at the base of the cup with a gentle ahead rake to the attachment for added consolation.   

As stated the gimbals (yokes) are now manufactured solely of solid recycled carbon fiber product which lowers the pounds and increases the rigidity. The headband is wrapped in quality leather-based and in between the new gimbals and the redesigned band, weight distribution is enhanced which ought to make the Focal Utopia additional cozy during lengthier listening sessions.

Internally, the driver is a new structure with a copper (30%) / Aluminum (70%) hybrid voice coil for enhanced general performance even though retaining lower excess weight. Focal engineers validate that this modify has resulted in a tonal stability that shifts somewhat closer to neutral but nonetheless maintains the solid bass general performance and airiness of the initial design. 

The driver is continue to the 40mm pure Beryllium M-shaped diaphragm of the first but the suspension has been tweaked along with the voice coil for improved general performance. The internal grills are now M-formed as effectively and comply with the curvature of the driver for improved precision and linearity.  

The final result is a headphone with a frequency array of 5Hz to 50kHz with a sensitivity measured at 104dB SPL /1mw @1kHz and a nominal impedance of 80 ohms.

The package is fitting of a headphone in this class with a presentation box, journey case, and two cables (1 3.5mm with a 6.35 adapter and the other with XLR jack).  

We will have each the Utopia (2022) and Naim Audio Uniti Atom Headphone Version in for assessment soon immediately after the Utopia’s release date so glance for a full assessment of equally items in mid-Oct.  

Utopia will be readily available starting on September 16^th 2022 for $4,999.

For extra information and facts: focal.com