Think a2a is clearing stock of focal headphones. This price is pretty much insanity compared to other countries selling usually at around $4000 USD mark.
Update: $3999 now but still good price.
Focal Utopia 2022 Open Back Headphones $3999 Delivered @ Addicted To Audio
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zjz93 on 19/08/2023 - 19:21 addictedtoaudio.com.au (3932 clicks)
Last edited 29/08/2023 - 18:47 by 1 other user
Last edited 29/08/2023 - 18:47 by 1 other user
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Lol, the good old "buy a desktop argument" that's posted on laptop deals repackaged for headphones.
You’ll never get the presentation of a speaker, true, but to get the level of detail from a speaker comparable to these you’d be paying $20k+
That detail comes mostly from the absence of room effects, long as the drivers are nice and fast (AMT, ribbon etc). With a well treated room (DIYable for around $1000) you can equal the best headphone's detail level with speakers that cost less than this headphone.
Do you have any sources for this? I have a well treated room as you describe (and cost me around the same amount) and my speakers still don’t come close to the detail of the Clears (and cost 4x as much)
@cille745: There is one other advantage headphones have that could explain that, and that's being single-driver, which preserves phase linearity across the most sensitive parts of hearing. To get that in speakers means spending a lot on exotic designs like full range AMTs. For multi-way speakers, they can never be as good but a well designed crossover can get you pretty close.
But if that $1k price is the commercial price you most likely have a few relatively thin panels at the front 1st reflection point and maybe also the sides. The kind of treatment I'm talking about means 30cm thick fiberglass batts covering the full frontal hemisphere, plus the sides and floor and ceiling reflections, and the rear reflections, and optionally clouds in the corners depending on taste. This kind of treatment is fairly cheap to DIY as you can repurpose a particular type of insulation batt but the commercial price is much higher.
"With a well treated room (DIYable for around $1000) you can equal the best headphone's detail level with speakers that cost less than this headphone."
Not everybody has the luxury of space plus the cost of high end monitors and good room treatment.
For an audio engineer on the road $3.5k AUD for top end headphones and it's the right tool is not outrageous.
I mix on closed back $600 Austrian audio cans no issues. You could even mix on the right $200 cans.Not everybody has the luxury of space plus the cost of high end monitors and good room treatment.
Those people are simply not going to get accurate audio. There's no such thing as a neutral headphone.
@umexcuseme: "Those people are simply not going to get accurate audio."
That's absolutely total nonsense, I've been making music for 20 years.
But you believe what you what and be you buddy. hahaI've been making music for 20 years.
And doing it with inaccurate audio. Keep deluding yourself though.
Sure, but would not consider firing up the 803d3's for example at 2am and disturbing the entire house - there are times for both.
And you can't walk around the house with speakers on your ears….yet
The reason is cross-feed. When you listen to speakers, each side ear listens to either the left or right channel and a combination of both channels.
There is software for that, easy fix.
Bargain! Quick everyone buy it before they run out!
Read that as Fecal Utopia …
Should have gone to spec saves ..maybe then…
Spending too much time browsing explicit content?
My parents have not advised me otherwise.
Well audiophiles are full of shit between the ears.
..I kid i kid. Proud owner of B&W Nautilus.
Holy cow. They are visually challenging speakers!
How is this compare to the Hifiman he1000 v2
Thanks for sharing the link, as I, too, am considering the HE1000 family.
Having owned the Clear and now He6se V2, personal taste leans toward planar, but the Utopia deal is mighty attractive.
After reading the thread, I might consider HE1000se instead…
Utopia:
Most things sound a lot less sharp, vocals (especially female) vocals are more full bodied and intimate compared to the almost "ethereal" vocals on the hekv2.
The bass is a lot more dynamic and able to be felt rather than just heard.Instrumental layering on busy tracks are better and there is clearly more dynamic range. In comparison the hekv2 sounds almost compressed when listening to certain genres of music such as rock or metal. In my opinion the hifiman set kills electric guitars because of this.
Better timbre when listening to piano or orechestral music.
Don't have to spend an arm and an leg on the amplification for it to sound good.
Hekv2:
Better soundstage, especially vertically. You can really pinpoint the locations of instruments on well produced tracks.
A hightened perception of detail due to more treble.
The cable is dogshit and the QC is also awful. Many sets develop issues like squeaky hinges and dead drivers often.
Ohhh very tempting. Would it be a sidegrade or an upgrade to my LCD-2
Upgrade
Are these what they use for a recording in studios?
not even close
"This price is pretty much insanity" Pretty much all you needed TBH
One for me, One for my wife, One for my girl friend in the moon, One for my girl friend in Jupiter….. how much???
If only this idiot "joke" hadn't been made several times in this thread already…
I know but this is first time for me…
A great deal for those that can afford it and have the equipment to drive it
Would these be suitable for my regular work MS Teams meetings?
Yep, open backed headphones are good for meetings in my experience. I would suggest asking your co-workers to upgrade their microphones.
As an added bonus, it's a great way to wear them around other people.
$3499? Are they gold plated or what?
It is beryllium coated! Correction, pure beryllium drivers!
Thanks, bought 3 sets as spares.
Any consideration to reading the thread and realising that you're about the sixth person to make this idiot "joke" and not do it? Nope, not here on low-IQ OzBargain, no siree.
May be time to lay off the juice Mickey, dat roid rage isn't a good look
Bit confused at how willing people are to look like this in public, TBH
Not sure what you mean, I just bought 3 sets?
At that price, I would have got 4 just to have a spare.
Looks like the Stellia is out of stock already.
Just got it today. End game headphone. Craps all over the Arya stealth in detail. The Arya does have a wider soundstage though.
The deeper into the hobby you get the less you care about soundstage in headphones. The answer to that is speakers.
Can't, I can hide a black headphone in the study and change to a new one without the wife noticing if they look the same. Can't do that with speakers.
How does it compare with Arya Stealth in the bass response department? Does it sound lean or anaemic?
Stealth bass is better, much more impact. But the "tightness" and detail of the bass is better in the Utopia
I hope no one bought the Focal Grande Utopia Floor Speaker at full price because they were $450k now only $270k thats $180000 off right now…
This or 20 years of the mortage?
https://addictedtoaudio.com.au/collections/sale/products/foc…genelec 8351b is better
Sorry but studio monitors aren't going to cut i need my speakers 2 meters high to feel the Bass… ;)
Price has gone up to $3999
Looks like they're selling fast A2A trying to squeeze out what they can :(
I 'was' trying to convince my wife they're great value at 3499 and how they're an investment and end game n all… then they go up by $500. I think I'll stick to my Clears.
Yeah I was about to pick these up tomorrow, chaning my mind now.
Yeah same was tempted but sticking to Clears OG. Maybe if they reduce to 2999…
I was also waiting for them to goto $2999, that's the price I have in my mind with 12 months warranty to make it worth purchasing.
The price increased to $4288!
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And they're a different use case, so who cares?