I actually went Elite -> Utopia 2022. Will you be keeping both? I think they make a good pairing / counterpoint to one another.

So I received a Verite Silver cable for these and think I might prefer the 2K Copper and maybe even the OFC cable, sonically, on my set up. I perceive improved dynamics and staging however something in the tonality and/or timbre has been thrown ever so slightly off kilter. Interesting! Time to...

Yes. Mojo 2 pairs well with all Focals tbh.

Delete

Look into the ATH-AWAS?

Official replacement Radiance pads...

Yeah as fun as the Elegia is (and good value for money) it definitely has a sandpaper-y quality to its timbre

Yes sir that’s the one. It does not sound like the other focal closed backs - strongly recommended. I’m also getting the D9200 again haha

Did you ever try the Radiance?

I have only ever heard / owned Sapele and not coincidentally love the VC for heavy music. The weighty decay effect is sort of fundamental to the VC’s sound for me.

In terms of sound quality, the Bathys are not going to match what you can get from a Radiance or Celestee-level of closed back when powered from Mojo 2. Let's just say for argument's sake you get roughly 70% of the sound quality - some people are fine with that trade off given the added...

Could this be a synergy issue? I’ve seen some people say Utopia OG and Hugo 2 make a bit of a funky pairing

Highly unlikely there’s something wrong with their set - I had same issue and in my case was with various solid state amps (tried a few dacs including R2R (Metrum Onyx) which in the latter case helped but didn’t fully remove the sibilance).

The VC isn’t perfect? News to me tbh…

You’re quite right. But frankly it’s done more than resolve the issue (in terms of removing the harshness) - the overall sonic improvements make it worth the outlay for me

Just for balance - I actually had to return my Elite because I was getting sibilance/fatigue, and I tested for this on a number of set ups at mine and in store. There's a spike in the treble that caused issues for me, even though the sound is otherwise very smooth. I seem to be the only person...

By way of update...resolved this issue now. It's a topic run into the ground in here now but it turned out to be an issue with the stock power supply - think the noise was accounting for the metallic/glary sound I was hearing which was throwing the timbre off on some cans. Over the past weeks I...

Also interested to hear this. Still enjoying the P9s - some of the most flat out fun cans I've heard. Especially with rock, post-hardcore and the like... they have tonnes of rhythmic drive and "grit" to the guitars. If you need guitars to sound CHONKY, the P9s are a delight. The Radiance...

Still really keen to try these. Wonder how they stack up against similarly priced closed backs in terms of technicalities and detail retrieval ie would they still hold their own on that front. A Liric 2 comparison would be interesting…

Nice review. Although I could’ve sworn I read somewhere that the VC does use the ADS (or at least a form of it before it was formally called that)…

Yeah plus the Denon would prob have the edge on timbre and overall fun factor right? Would you say the D9200 is more resolving? Impressive if so given price difference.

I could definitely see the Liric 2s being a good counterpoint to the D9200. Nice collection you've amassed there!

I’m throwing the D9200 in there

So these are the black silk ones with the mass loaded modification, Dynamat and Blu Tack. Got them off a mate - one of the best purchases I've made in this hobby.