French high-end speaker manufacturer Focal entered the realm of high-end headphones with the launch of the Utopia in 2016. It utilized Focal’s experience with Beryllium speaker tweeters and was a huge success: The Utopia soon was getting a reputation for being among the world’s best-sounding headphones.
Focal followed up and introduced the Elear later the same year. The original Clear came in 2017 (often referred to as the Clear OG). The Elex, a collaboration with Drop, is an Elear with different pads (probably the same as the Clear OG pads), launched in 2018. The Clear MG was introduced in 2021.
Focal launched a new version of the Utopia in 2022. The changes were minor enough for Focal to not change the name, but it’s usually known as the Focal Utopia 2022. It has a slightly redesigned housing to adjust airflow and reflections. Some minor changes were made to the material of the voice coil in the driver to increase reliability. The driver and the Beryllium diaphragm are the same, and so are the specifications.
FOCAL UTOPIA SPECIFICATIONS
- Type Circum-aural open-back headphones
- Impedance 80 Ohms
- Sensitivity: 104dB SPL / 1mW @ 1kHz
- THD: <0,2% @ 1kHz / 100dB SPL
- Frequency response: 5Hz – 50kHz
- Loudspeaker: 40mm pure Beryllium ‘M’ shape dome
- Weight: 490g
- Cable connection to headphones: 2-pin LEMO
- Cables: 1 x 4ft OFC 24 AWG cable with 1/8″ (3.5mm) TRS Jack connector, 1 x 10ft OFC 24 AWG cable with 4-pin XLR connector, 1 x Jack adapter, 1/8″ (3.5mm) female – 1/4″ (6.35mm) male
- Storage box
ABOUT PADS
All the original Focal pads have 50% fabric mesh on the inside of the pads, closest to the ear. I have not seen this on any other pad. Dekoni has it on some of their custom Focal pads.
When I tested out the Focal Stellia, I found that the pads had a very significant effect on the sound and I was not really happy with the stock pads. Swapping pads for some 3rd party full leather pads or the Dekoni fenestrated sheepskin pads made me appreciate the Stellia a lot more than with the stock pads.
The Utopia is an open headphone and thus less prone to radical changes with pad swapping. Nonetheless, I tried the Dekoni Fenestrated Sheepskin pads and I really liked what I heard. According to Dekoni’s measurements, they are bringing out a bit more bass and taking the treble slightly down.
This corresponds with what I hear when I listen to the Utopia with these pads. It is actually quite a large transformation.
Listening to Coldplay’s Don’t Panic, the bass is much stronger, the upper mids and treble are toned down. The utopia songs are quite a bit warmer and lusher with the Dekonis.
With Ministry’s Fall, the bass is much more pronounced. This track is quite bright and thin with the stock pads, but quite listenable with the Dekoni Fenestrated Sheepskin pads. The bass and piano with Todd Sickafoose’s Flush have more body, the trumpet and clarinet have a softer, less crisp tone. Also, the Bent into Shape from the same album gives similar results.
On the flip side, the soundstage is slightly narrower and more intimate sounding with the Dekoni Fenestrated Sheepskin pads. So there’s a minor trade-off. For example, with Jennifer Higdon’s Fly Forward by Hilary Hahn, there is a more airy soundstage with the stock pads. The pinpoint imaging and separation are still intact with the Fenestrated Sheepskin pads, though.
My personal preference always tends to go towards warmer sound, and I prefer the Utopia with Dekoni Fenestrated Sheepskin pads over the stock. However, it is a matter of preference, and I can also understand those who prefer the brighter leaning and airier-sounding stock pads.
It is, however, quite interesting that the Dekoni fenestrated sheepskin pads take the Utopia headphones in the same direction as the new Utopia does. The 2022 version is tuned a little warmer, with slightly less airy highs.
Since the pad swap corresponds quite well to the differences between the new and the old Utopia, for many it might be a relatively cheap upgrade.
Another thing is the quality of Focal’s pads. I noticed that the original pads got sticky on the plastic coating on the back of the attachment ring. It seemed to dissolve itself. That’s not acceptable for any headphone and especially not a headphone at this extremely high price point. The original Focal earpads are extremely expensive. They might have fixed it with later versions of pads, but there’s no way to tell without waiting a few years. I had the same issue with the Stellia pads.
On Focal’s website, it seems like the pads are the same for the two versions of the Utopia. Link
The Dekoni fenestrated sheepskin pads make Utopia so different that it’s like two different variants from the same brand of headphones. It still has the same house sound and great technical qualities, but the tuning is significantly different. I have not yet spent much time with the new Utopia 2022, and haven’t had the chance to do an a/b test. However, I don’t think the difference between the new and the old in terms of tuning is more significant than this pad swap.
TRACK BY TRACK LISTENING IMPRESSIONS
I used the Mytek Liberty THX and the RME ADI-2 DAC FS as a source for this session. I will comment first on each track on the Utopia with stock pads, then how the Dekoni fenestrated sheepskin pads compare.
Terminal 7 by Tomasz Stanko Quintet
The Utopia is very snappy and crisp. The imaging is superb, the drums hit hard at low volumes. It’s very dynamic sounding. You can hear all the tiny details in the percussion, it’s quite fabulous. The trumpet has lots of texture but isn’t as warm sounding as I am used to.
With the Dekoni fenestrated sheepskin pads on the Utopia, the trumpet sounds warmer. The Utopia generally becomes a bit fuller sounding and has a more present bass
Amsterdam Venue by Tomasz Stanko Quintet
The Utopia rendered the opening trumpet as full-bodied with lots of texture. You can hear the air vibrating in the instrument. It gets some help from the bass and piano and it’s a joy to be able to easily separate the three instruments even though they play the same notes. The Utopia is sharp cut, very crisp and clear and with tons of dynamic contrast even at low listening volume levels. This track is simply stunning with the Utopia.
With the Dekoni fenestrated sheepskin pads, the Utopia becomes less sharp. The upper regions are a bit lusher. It’s also more powerful in the bass. I like both versions of the Utopia, the Dekoni’s make it a bit more laid back, but not less detailed.
Fading Sorrow by Marcin Wasilewski Trio
Wonderful presentation from the Utopia. The piano is so playfully rendered, the precision is floating in space, no micro detail is lost. Utopia has an extremely black background and fabulous instrument separation, great macrodynamics and microdynamics.
The Dekoni pads give similar results as above.
Limit to Your Love by James Blake
The demanding bass is textured and nicely rendered. The percussion that sets in after a little while is as snappy as can be. The vocals are very clear and crisp, maybe a bit too energetic. The soundstage isn’t too wide but the imaging is very precise.
With the Dekoni fenestrated sheepskin pads, the Utopia is still clean, but the vocals are a bit lusher and more enjoyable. The bass gets fuller and more dynamic.
Fly Forward Higdon / Hahn
The Utopia is generally great with strings and orchestral music and this is no exception. The violin has body, attack, texture and bite. The brass is crisp but not harsh. Separation and layering are top-notch, the Utopia has hyper-precise imaging.
With the Dekoni fenestrated sheepskin pads, the Utopia sounds slightly warmer with a little less intense treble, albeit at the cost of some slight loss of airiness.
Present Tense by Radiohead
The drums in the intro sound great and very dynamic. The presentation is nicely balanced, the bass is not overwhelming, just right. The percussion is snappy as always. When the tracks get more complex and there are more layers the Utopia handles it with ease. The vocals are beautiful.
With the Dekoni fenestrated sheepskin pads, the Utopia is slightly warmer sounding, especially noticeable in the vocals. The bass is a bit more punchy.
Hellhound On My Trail by Cassandra Wilson
The steel guitar is very crisp and clear. Wilson’s vocals are full of nuance and texture. I find the presentation a bit bright-leaning, though. There’s an immense sense of space, especially depth. There’s so much space between the instruments. However the stage isn’t very wide, all the instruments sound like they’re coming from a relatively narrow, but very specific place in space. The Utopia is so crisp and dynamic it almost gets too much. It’s more intense.
With the Dekoni pads, you get lusher vocals and generally a warmer, less crisp sound. You still get lots of detail.
Black Crow by Cassandra Wilson
This is a fabulous track with lots of ambient sounds that make me feel the urge to twist my head – the Utopia is so lifelike in its presentation. The bass drums are warm and full-bodied yet detailed and layered. The vocals shine and are inviting and velvety. The flute in the background sounds absolutely fantastic. The Utopia is intense and hyper-dynamic. With this track, it’s really great.
Dekoni pad Utopia sounds great too, with a lusher, delicious vocals and an even more present bass drum.
The Fall by Ministry
Great track and the Utopia shows off the immense detail level, layering and imaging. It’s snappy and crisp, but quite bright sounding. It sounds thin and sizzly, something which can happen with this track on neutral-bright sounding and revealing headphones.
With the Dekoni fenestrated sheepskin pads, the Utopia is tuned more to my liking, with more powerful bass and slightly less treble brightness. This track is quite bright and thin with the stock pads, but quite listenable with the Dekoni Fenestrated Sheepskin pads.
Escape Route by Boris Blank
The Utopia shows off its great spatial qualities. It’s extremely holographic. The bass is tight, everything is snappy. The presentation is warm and enveloping.
With the Dekoni fenestrated sheepskin pads, the Utopia becomes less sharp in the treble and a bit more powerful in the bass.
The HE1000v2 is not as pinpointed with regards to the imaging but it’s not far behind. All the detail is there and the sound is very well balanced.
Comparing the two, I find the HE1000V2 has better bass, the imaging is relatively similar. The Utopia lacks a bit of warmth and body. I prefer the fuller-sounding HE1000v2.
Metamorphoses Nocturnes by Belcau Quartet
Modern classical, an interesting piece, it is mostly very quiet and tender. The superb detail retrieval and imaging of the Utopia makes this an especially fascinating listen. The strings have body and attack. There is not really a lot of a difference between the stock version and Dekoni pads here.
Mahler Symphony No.2 III by Paavo Järvi
The kettle drums in the beginning are extremely dynamic and punchy. A string sorrow as always rendered fabulously with the utopia and The separation and layering are as good as always a true joy to listen to.
With the Dekoni fenestrated sheepskin pads, the Utopia gives extra punch to those kettledrums. It sounds a bit sweeter, the stock Utopia is a bit more sharp and intense.
Don’t Panic by Coldplay
The bass is very present and gives a warmish sound to the low end. However, the vocals are a bit bright and dry sounding. The Utopia’s strength again also is its weakness: It’s quite intense.
The bass is much stronger with the Dekoni pads, the upper mids and treble are toned down, making the vocals sweeter and lusher. The Utopia generally sounds quite a bit warmer and lusher with the Dekonis.
SELECTED COMPARISONS
I have written several full-length comparison reviews about the Utopia and several headphones. Here I will shortly describe my findings in some of them.
FOCAL CLEAR MG
The Focal Utopia and Clear MG are two magnificent headphones with a lot in common. Both are very dynamic, but. especially in terms of micro dynamics, the Utopia is better. They both have a very precise sound stage. It’s not huge, but very pinpointed. The Utopia is even more precise with regard to the imaging than the Clear MG.
In terms of detailed retrieval, they are both strong but the Utopia is a step or two up when it comes to fine detail and subtle nuances.
With the stock pads on the Utopia, the most immediate difference is the tuning. It is not a night and day difference, they still share the Focal House sound, but they are definitely tuned differently. The Utopia is brighter, with more energy in the upper mids and the treble. The Clear MG has a bit stronger bass and a bit mellower mids.
Even though the Utopia is significantly technically better, it is not by such a huge margin that listeners can’t prefer the Clear MG for its tuning, sacrificing a bit of the last precision.
Equipping the Utopia with the Dekoni fenestrated sheepskin pads, the sound becomes warmer, with stronger bass and less treble energy. This makes them closer to the tuning of the Clear MG, without losing the technical superiority. With the Dekoni pads, I find the Utopia superior not only in technical performance and in tuning.
Full Comparison Review here
Buy on Amazon: Focal Clear Mg
HIFIMAN HE1000v2 VS UTOPIA
They both have great dynamics and micro detail, but the Utopia is generally even a bit more. The HE1000v2 has a wide and open soundstage, the Utopia has a smaller soundstage, but more precise imaging. Generally, the HE1000v2 is slightly more relaxed, less intense and a bit more mellow. Both need a high-quality amplifier to sound their best, however, the HE1000v2 in addition needs a lot of power to shine.
With the stock pads on the Utopia, the HE1000v2 has more bass, but with the Dekoni Fenestrated Sheepskin pads, the Utopia gets roughly an equal amount of bass. The HE1000v2 still has better bass quality though. In general, the Utopia is warmer sounding with the sheepskin pads, warmer than the HE1000v2, with the stock pads it’s the other way around. Personally, I prefer the Utopia with the sheepskin pads over the HE1000v2, with stock pads, it’s more dependent on the mood and the music.
Full Comparison Review here
Buy on Amazon; Hifiman HE1000
SENNHEISER HD800S
With the stock pads on the Utopia, these headphones have a lot in common. They are both technically stellar, with a high detail level. Both are tuned rather bright. The bass is high quality, but not exactly overwhelming, and it rolls similarly off on both. The Utopia has more bass punch, though. Also in the mid-range, they are not too differently tuned, but again, the Utopia offers some more energy and presence. The lower treble too is more energetic. The HD800S has more upper high-frequency presence which gives a sense of air, but also makes it more fatiguing for some.
In other words, the sound signature is not too far apart. Both are treble-happy and neither are bass cannons. The biggest difference is in tonal weight. In the bass, midrange and treble I find that the Focal Utopia presents the music with more energy. Each instrument and sound has more body and flesh. The HD800S presents everything with a bit more distance. That is also reflected in the HD800S’ soundstage which is noticeably larger, but more diffuse than the pinpointed but significantly smaller soundstage of the Focal Utopia.
With the Dekoni fenestrated sheepskin pads, however, they are no longer as similarly tuned. The Utopia gets warmer sounding, with more bass, lusher mids and less intense highs.
All in all, I find the Utopia the better headphones, but can easily imagine that others might prefer the HD800S. Audio preferences are subjective, and these are both true audiophile headphones. Personally, however, I find the Utopia a step up in most regards and with the Dekoni fenestrated sheepskin pads especially, I definitely prefer the tuning of the Utopia.
Full Comparison Review here
Buy on Amazon: Sennheiser HD800S
DCA VOCE vs DEKONI UTOPIA
I only used the Dekoni fenestrated sheepskin pads for the Utopia in this comparison.
The Utopia and Dan Clark Audio’s Voce are both top-of-the-line headphones that are hyper-resolving. Both have a nicely balanced frequency response with a generally natural-sounding timbre. I do, however, find the Voce with the KGSSHV Carbon generally to perform even better than the Utopia.
The bass is excellently controlled with both, but slightly more plentiful with the Voce. I find the midrange mostly similar. In the treble region, the Voce is even more resolved and effortless. The Utopia has a decently wide soundstage with supreme imaging, but the Voce has a larger soundstage with just as good imaging.
The big advantage of the Focal Utopia is of course that it can be used with normal headphone amplifiers. The Voce needs more than only a dedicated electrostat amp; it needs a really powerful one. I used the KGSSHV Carbon, which is amongst the most powerful electrostat amplifiers around. So, even if I found the Voce to perform better in this comparison, the Utopia with the Dekoni fenestrated sheepskin pads comes very close and it’s definitely more versatile.
Full Comparison Review here
MORE UTOPIA COMPARISON REVIEWS:
FOCAL ELEX with Dekonis vs Utopia
AMPLIFIER FOR UTOPIA
The Utopia is not difficult to drive. However, if you want to squeeze all the magic out of it there is no doubt that the amplifier really matters quite a lot.
The Mytek Liberty THX amp impressed me the most out of the solid-state amps with its incredible dynamics and clarity. The Ferrum Erco isn’t far behind, hence making it a great DAC/amp match. The green Rebel Amp impressed me too.
When it comes to tube amps, the Sparkos Labs Gemini hybrid does a great job and gives you some tube magic, the Woo WA22 and EAR HP4 too. My beloved Cary SLI-80 Sig. also sounds terrific.
I did a lengthy article about amplifiers for the Utopia, you can find it here.
WRAPPING IT UP
Sound Signature
The Utopia is tuned to be very neutral but leans towards bright, with much upper midrange and treble energy compared to many darker-sounding headphones, like the Clear MG, which is slightly darker, bassier and lusher.
With the Dekoni fenestrated sheepskin pads on the Utopia, the Utopia becomes a somewhat bassier, punchier and generally warmer-sounding headphone. Personally, I prefer that tuning.
Soundstage and Imaging
Compared to e.g. Sennheiser HD800S and Hifiman HE1000v2 or Edition XS, the Utopia has a smaller, narrower soundstage. However, the soundstage is very deep and the imaging is superb. There is more black space between the instruments and superb pinpoint placement of every sound.
With the Dekoni fenestrated sheepskin pads on the Utopia, the stage becomes a little smaller, though the difference is, in absolute terms, minimal.
Treble
The Utopia’s treble is extremely clean and dynamic. It’s almost supernatural. The treble is very energetic without becoming harsh, it’s got a very nice sense of airiness to it. However, it can become a bit too bright for sensitive ears.
With the Dekoni fenestrated sheepskin pads on the Utopia, the treble becomes more polite. It’s still highly detailed but loses a bit of the airiness.
Midrange
The midrange detail retrieval is excellent, with lots of textures and subtleties. It’s got a relatively high amount of upper midrange energy and it’s definitely not mellow and lush. Mostly, I find it to have a very nice timbre, although it can occasionally be a bit too energetic.
With the Dekoni fenestrated sheepskin pads on the Utopia, the mids feel a bit warmer and lusher, getting some help from reduced treble and increased bass levels.
Bass
Even though the Utopia has stellar bass performance, it cannot beat the best planar magnetics in the world. It still has a good punch and definition worthy of TOTL headphones. It does, however, roll off slightly in the lowest regions.
With the Dekoni fenestrated sheepskin pads on the Utopia, the bass generally becomes a bit fuller and there is more impact and punch.
Dynamics and Detail
The Utopia has excellent macrodynamics. The micro dynamics and detail retrieval are also top-notch.
Adding the Dekoni Fenestrated Sheepskin pads to the Utopia, the bottom end gets even a tad more dynamic and present, but the top end gets a little bit tuned down.
CONCLUSION UTOPIA
The Focal Utopia is a fabulous sound headphone. It has exceptional speed, dynamics, imaging, and detail across the frequency spectrum.
With its stock pads, the Utopia leans towards a neutral-to-bright sound signature, with good treble presence and a clear midrange. The bass is fast and impactful but not catering to bass-heads.
The Dekoni Fenestrated Sheepskin pads bring a notable change to the Utopia’s sound, enhancing bass impact, toning down the treble intensity, and adding warmth and a touch of lushness to the midrange.
Buy on Amazon: Focal Utopia
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