It has been a several years since I have participated on this thread, So I apologize if this post overlooks important information answered earlier. I hope people are continuing to enjoy their Utopias and to share their impressions and questions with respect to equipment synergy. The reason I am...

Bump

I am selling a Soekris DAC 1541, a recently discontinued classic AIO unit with which I have enjoyed music for roughly for 1.5 years, purchased second-hand from a respected longtime member in the hobby. Condition: the sonic functionality is perfect. Full stop. Nothing else needs to be said...

For sale: Wireworld Aurora 7 Power Conditioning Cord. Length is 2 meters. Condition is excellent/like new. Comes with original packaging. I purchased this power cord new from Wireworld for $200 in September of 2020, so 2 years ago, based on the positive impressions offered by a well-known...

Updated original post with photos of balanced to singled ended adapter.

I am selling my Norne Audio Draug Silver headphone cable, configured for the Focal Utopia, along with a custom XLR to 1/4 inch adapter made by Norne. This adapter, which allows you to use the balanced cable with single-ended amplifiers, uses the same wire as the cable, so the cable and adapter...

For sale are my beautiful pair of Audioquest Nighthawk headphones. These were purchased new from a respectable dealer in the United States and are in excellent condition, having hardly been used. I should note there is a nearly imperceptible scratch on the black plastic piece that is attached to...

I am not disagreeing with anyone else’s experienced perspectives: HEK, Z1R, TH900, Aeolus all strike me as very reasonable recommendations. I would just add to that list the Auteur, whose biodynamic driver may offer a compelling contrast to that of the beryllium Utopia. If you can snag a 3F...

Can someone who has tried them please compare the Grado hemp ($420) with other Grados, preferably those in a similar price bracket (RS2e if possible)?

No, it is not. Many who find the HD800 utterly intolerable are able to enjoy the HD800S, and vice versa. Just because some people do not enjoy either does not mean they should be collapsed into the same headphone. The original review quoted on IF applies to the HD800; if one were to derive from...

Since I have been in communication with roasty and have the same AC cable, I can answer: it is the Signum + (UP OCC 7N silver, 26 awg, type-6 litz).

Bifrost 2 fits your stated preferences. I would get that and skip the Gungnir Multibit. The Bifrost 2 is like an upgraded Gungnir Multibit A1, which conveyed a slightly warm--yet highly dynamic and resolving--sound signature, in comparison to the slightly brighter and more technically impressive...

Thank you. And with your music preferences, if I understand them correctly, tonal verisimilitude in the treble frequencies is particularly important. It sounds like your point here is that the rendering of treble in HiFiMAN transducers does not accord with your taste and that you perceive...

How are you enjoying the HiFiMAN's in comparison with Utopia? Do they pair well with the 3F as well?

One of my Utopia systems is fairly similar to yours. How does the Stellia pair with the 3F in comparison with the Utopia/3F? I am curious in the Stellias.

I agree with your characterization of the Lazuli Reference. Interesting you find the stock to be warmer. At some point, I will go back and do comparisons again.

Lucky you. My money is on the Stellaris; if it were me, I would buy a separate amp for the Abyss and keep the Stellaris for primarily dynamic headphones such as the aforementioned dynamics. You really cannot get better than the Stellaris for the Utopia from a tube amp, and I would choose it over...

I agree. Not a hint of fatigue accompanies its soaring technicalities and veil-lifting transparency/clarity. The words that comes to my mind is refinement and polish. Images are more focused. I also thought it added a hint of elegant richness to the presentation, but I will have to return to my...

Thanks! That makes more sense, then, why the sound might be more subtle, assuming you are comparing directly to the Auteur lambskin pads.

Are they the universe perforated suede hybrid pads, by chance? Interesting that you did not notice a change in sound.

I highly look forward to your comparison with the Arctic Cables flagship cable.

I know you asked MacedonianHero, but since I currently own the Lazuli Reference, I may be able to help fill in some details. He will be in a better position to discuss its merits/shortcomings in relation to the Heimdall 2. First, many people have posted impressions of Lazuli Reference's...

Thank you. I would imagine the pairing would be heavenly. The Utopias can use just a touch of warmth IMO. I would love to compare this with the DSHA-3F some day. Glossy Black. You can never go wrong with black. How does the balanced out compare with the single-ended?

And since you are using the slightly warmly tuned GSX-mini with the Utopia, a more neutral cable probably makes more sense at this point anyway. The Heimdall was a popular cable with the Utopia, particularly in the early days of its release, as was the Kimber Axios. I don't hear much discussion...

I have the old stock cable. I had no complaints about the sound. I find the Draug Silver sounds warmer than the stock cable. The primary problem with the stock cable was its ergonomics. But for those who liked to listen far away from their listening station, it was a blessing. It just wasn't...