Well, my time with the Utopia is coming to a end
I certainly enjoyed it immensely. I was able to compare it to my PMx2, HD800 (SDR mod), T1, and Ether C, and others, although most of my comparisons are with the PMx2 and the HD800. I also had a number of friends compare, and all (including my wife) thought the Utopia was better (mostly than the PMx2).
I also didn't have the best amp to test with. I'm between amps, so I was using a Modi Multibit and a Magni. I tried with my Sony UDA-1 and the Utopia sound absolutely horrible with the UDA-1. I also tried an iCan Nano and the Crack, and the utopia sounds OK with those two. The crack is not the best mix with the Utopia as the Utopia sounded quite bloomy with the Crack. That said, that is not the amp anyone would pair with anything other than HD600-800 or beyerdynamics headphones. I also used a Jotunheim for a few days (with the Mimby), and that was a good match.
As for the build, it's rock solid.
As for the fit, it's too heavy for me. The headband puts too much pressure on the point of my head. I could move the headband around, but eventually after 10-15 minutes I felt pressure. Of course YMMV
As for the sound, damn. I mean DAMN. Everything sounded better on the Utopia.
First thing that hit me with the Utopia is the bass. It's full, tight, and beautiful. None of my other headphones could touch the bass of the Utopia. Actually, the Grado RS2e and the Sony MDR-V6 had similar signatures, but every time I went back to the Utopia, I could find nothing wrong with the bass -- or the mid, or the treble. It was just "right" throughout he frequency response.
The timbre of classical music, especially trumpets and violins, was just better on the Utopia. It sounds more like the actual instruments. It was also more enjoyable.
A few notes from some tracks I listened to:
The Planets, Op. 32: IV. Jupiter, the Bringer of Jollity
Holst: The Planets / Elgar: Pomp and Circumstance, Military March No. 1 (New York Philharmonic feat. conductor Leonard Bernstein)
DAMN! The utopia makes the HD800 sound little congested. Everything is a clearer on the Utopia
Various Cat Stevens classics
Slight sibilance from HD800
Better defined bass (more bass) on the Utopia.
Symphony No.10 In E Minor, Opus 93-Ii, Allegro
Shostakovich
McIntosh Demonstration Reference Disc
Lots of brass and kettle drums (and of course the rest of the orchestra).
Stage is much wider with the HD800
Volume matching is hard
Brass sound much more convincing with the Utopia. Drums have more impact.
This piece may really be exposing the weakness of the amp with the HD800
I just tried my T1, first gen. With a little bass boost via eq, the T1 is pretty dang good. Still, the utopia is much more dynamic. Each note just has more detail. And then, of course, there is the bass. The utopia just has gobs of it compared to the T1.
Brokedown Palace (Remastered Version)
Truckin' (Remastered Version)
Grateful Dead: American Beauty
Can barely hear the sub-bass with T1, but it’s very impactful with the Utopia. The bass line on the T1 is very easily distinguished and possibly a little clearer than the utopia, but with the utopia you can almost feel the bass line. It’s certainly more punchy (dynamic?) Now using the T1 with my Crack amp, the T1 is much better. The sub-bass comes out better and highs are smoother (as expected), but the utopia still sound cleaner.
Toccata and Fugue in A minor, after Bach BWV 565
Pavlo Beznosiuk
24-bits of Christmas 2014 (24/192)
Note: this is a violin solo
The timbre of the violin is better, fuller, on the Utopia over both the HD800 and the T1
Comfort: (HD800 = T1) > Utopia
Sound: Utopia beats them all
I had the opportunity to listen to many end end headphones and amps/DACs as the recent LA meet (sponsored by another site), but it was meet conditions. I did compare the Utopia to an Elear, and there is no comparison; the Utopia is better, unless you like really really warm cans. The utopia scales, but a $5000 rig isn't needed. The Utopia sounded very good from he Jotunheim, which I had on loan for a few days overlapping the Utopia. A Mimby, Jotunheim and Utopia would be a killer rig. Scale up on the amp and DAC later, if needed.
My bottomline is that I was sorely tempted to get it. I can afford it, but I still ask myself if the Utopia is 4 times better than the HD800, and the answer is no. It's probably twice as good, which is saying a lot! I just cannot get over the physical fit the Utopia on my head. For $4000 it has to sound incredible (it does) and it has to fit perfectly. I will soon automation the Grado GS2000e and maybe that is the right one for me.
MANY MANY thanks to Todd the Vinyl Junkie for the chance to audition this wonderful gear.
Update: I could no longer resist. I got me a pair. I'm still a little concerned about the weight for long listening sessions, and I experimenting with headband options. Overall, I love the Utopias. If you can swing them and have decent gear, get 'em.
I certainly enjoyed it immensely. I was able to compare it to my PMx2, HD800 (SDR mod), T1, and Ether C, and others, although most of my comparisons are with the PMx2 and the HD800. I also had a number of friends compare, and all (including my wife) thought the Utopia was better (mostly than the PMx2).
I also didn't have the best amp to test with. I'm between amps, so I was using a Modi Multibit and a Magni. I tried with my Sony UDA-1 and the Utopia sound absolutely horrible with the UDA-1. I also tried an iCan Nano and the Crack, and the utopia sounds OK with those two. The crack is not the best mix with the Utopia as the Utopia sounded quite bloomy with the Crack. That said, that is not the amp anyone would pair with anything other than HD600-800 or beyerdynamics headphones. I also used a Jotunheim for a few days (with the Mimby), and that was a good match.
As for the build, it's rock solid.
As for the fit, it's too heavy for me. The headband puts too much pressure on the point of my head. I could move the headband around, but eventually after 10-15 minutes I felt pressure. Of course YMMV
As for the sound, damn. I mean DAMN. Everything sounded better on the Utopia.
First thing that hit me with the Utopia is the bass. It's full, tight, and beautiful. None of my other headphones could touch the bass of the Utopia. Actually, the Grado RS2e and the Sony MDR-V6 had similar signatures, but every time I went back to the Utopia, I could find nothing wrong with the bass -- or the mid, or the treble. It was just "right" throughout he frequency response.
The timbre of classical music, especially trumpets and violins, was just better on the Utopia. It sounds more like the actual instruments. It was also more enjoyable.
A few notes from some tracks I listened to:
The Planets, Op. 32: IV. Jupiter, the Bringer of Jollity
Holst: The Planets / Elgar: Pomp and Circumstance, Military March No. 1 (New York Philharmonic feat. conductor Leonard Bernstein)
DAMN! The utopia makes the HD800 sound little congested. Everything is a clearer on the Utopia
Various Cat Stevens classics
Slight sibilance from HD800
Better defined bass (more bass) on the Utopia.
Symphony No.10 In E Minor, Opus 93-Ii, Allegro
Shostakovich
McIntosh Demonstration Reference Disc
Lots of brass and kettle drums (and of course the rest of the orchestra).
Stage is much wider with the HD800
Volume matching is hard
Brass sound much more convincing with the Utopia. Drums have more impact.
This piece may really be exposing the weakness of the amp with the HD800
I just tried my T1, first gen. With a little bass boost via eq, the T1 is pretty dang good. Still, the utopia is much more dynamic. Each note just has more detail. And then, of course, there is the bass. The utopia just has gobs of it compared to the T1.
Brokedown Palace (Remastered Version)
Truckin' (Remastered Version)
Grateful Dead: American Beauty
Can barely hear the sub-bass with T1, but it’s very impactful with the Utopia. The bass line on the T1 is very easily distinguished and possibly a little clearer than the utopia, but with the utopia you can almost feel the bass line. It’s certainly more punchy (dynamic?) Now using the T1 with my Crack amp, the T1 is much better. The sub-bass comes out better and highs are smoother (as expected), but the utopia still sound cleaner.
Toccata and Fugue in A minor, after Bach BWV 565
Pavlo Beznosiuk
24-bits of Christmas 2014 (24/192)
Note: this is a violin solo
The timbre of the violin is better, fuller, on the Utopia over both the HD800 and the T1
Comfort: (HD800 = T1) > Utopia
Sound: Utopia beats them all
I had the opportunity to listen to many end end headphones and amps/DACs as the recent LA meet (sponsored by another site), but it was meet conditions. I did compare the Utopia to an Elear, and there is no comparison; the Utopia is better, unless you like really really warm cans. The utopia scales, but a $5000 rig isn't needed. The Utopia sounded very good from he Jotunheim, which I had on loan for a few days overlapping the Utopia. A Mimby, Jotunheim and Utopia would be a killer rig. Scale up on the amp and DAC later, if needed.
My bottomline is that I was sorely tempted to get it. I can afford it, but I still ask myself if the Utopia is 4 times better than the HD800, and the answer is no. It's probably twice as good, which is saying a lot! I just cannot get over the physical fit the Utopia on my head. For $4000 it has to sound incredible (it does) and it has to fit perfectly. I will soon automation the Grado GS2000e and maybe that is the right one for me.
MANY MANY thanks to Todd the Vinyl Junkie for the chance to audition this wonderful gear.
Update: I could no longer resist. I got me a pair. I'm still a little concerned about the weight for long listening sessions, and I experimenting with headband options. Overall, I love the Utopias. If you can swing them and have decent gear, get 'em.