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Utopia

Released September 2022

The Utopia are Focal's flagship open-back headphones with pure beryllium 'M'-shaped dome drivers; this is the 2022 edition, with a new voice coil and design, suited to high-end home systems.

Type: Over-ear
Noise cancelling: No
Battery: –
With case: –
Best codec: Wired
Weight: 490 g

Over-ear

What reviewers say

Reviewers agree the 2022 Utopia ranks among the finest headphones available, with exceptional detail, dynamics and timbre, and a beautiful design. Headfonics and SoundStage! Solo found the soundstage less spacious than some rivals, SoundStage! Solo found the top end slightly soft, and What Hi-Fi? notes a steep price rise over the original.

From whathifi.com, headfonics.com and soundstagesolo.com

Specifications

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Sound

Type: Over-ear
Noise cancelling: No
Driver size: 40 mm
Back: Open
Impedance: 80 ohms
Bluetooth codecs: None (wired)
Drivers: 40 mm pure beryllium 'M'-shaped dome with a copper-aluminium voice coil (new in the 2022 edition); 5 Hz – 23 kHz (±3 dB) on focal.com, 5 Hz – 50 kHz on the product sheet; sensitivity 104 dB SPL (1 mW, 1 kHz); THD < 0.2% (1 kHz, 100 dB SPL)

Battery

Listening time (maker's claim): No battery (wired)

Design

Weight: 490 g
Headphone cable: Yes
Fit and ear tips: Circumaural, open-back; 'M'-shaped grilles inside the ear cups
Works with: 1.5 m cable with 3.5 mm jack and 3 m cable with balanced 4-pin XLR, both with Lemo connectors; 3.5 mm to 6.35 mm adapter
In the box: Headphones, 1.5 m 3.5 mm cable, 3 m 4-pin XLR cable, 3.5 mm to 6.35 mm adapter, carrying case (250 x 240 x 120 mm)

Pros and cons

Pros

40 mm pure beryllium 'M'-shaped dome drivers
80-ohm impedance and 104 dB/mW sensitivity
3.5 mm and balanced 4-pin XLR cables with Lemo connectors included

Cons

Heavy at 490 g
Open back leaks sound and lets outside noise in

Closest rivals

Model	Type	Noise cancelling	Battery	With case	Best codec	Weight	Released
AudezeMM-500	Over-ear	No	–	–	Wired	495 g	Jun 2022
Dan Clark AudioEXPANSE	Over-ear	No	–	–	Wired	418 g	Sept 2022
HIFIMANANANDA Stealth Magnet	Over-ear	No	–	–	Wired	398 g	Jun 2022

Sources

Photo: dam.focal-naim.com

Focal Utopia — Side view: dam.focal-naim.com/m/156692e302bb57d5/original/New_Utopia_Profil_G-jpg.jpg
Focal Utopia — Presentation box: dam.focal-naim.com/m/45e5e707b8f07cba/original/New_Utopia_Boite-jpg.jpg
Focal Utopia — Rear view: dam.focal-naim.com/m/9187ffd815f4b/original/New_Utopia_Dos-jpg.jpg
Focal Utopia — Headphones and cable in open carrying case: dam.focal-naim.com/m/a9b1674e8a7fde9/original/New_Utopia_Case_Ouv-jpg.jpg
Focal Utopia — Driver with ear cushion removed: media.focal-naim.com/focal/file_manager_files/home/casque/utopia/utopia-haut-pa…
Focal Utopia — Ear cup exterior close-up: media.focal-naim.com/focal/file_manager_files/home/casque/utopia/utopia-profil.…

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