Utopia (2022): Focal’s expensive headphones get a makeover

New look for a new life ? This is the philosophy that Focal seems to adopt with its new Utopia, which drastically changes its appearance. If the shape remains faithful to the old model, the Utopia 2022 adopts a look closer to the other helmets designed by the French brand such as the Clear MG, the Stellia or the Celestee. The old metal grille therefore gives way to a new honeycomb grille surmounted by a chromed metal ring. This ring encloses another grille flanked by the brand logo, which reveals the rear of the speakers and the red highlights of the engine.

Still in circumaural and open format, the Utopia 2022 has a structure made of aluminum and carbon fiber. The headband and memory foam pads are covered in genuine leather. The connection remains unchanged: a Lemo mono connector is thus present under each headset. On the supplied accessories side, there is a leatherette box, a thermoformed carrying case and two cables: one 3 m with balanced four-point XLR connector and one 1.5 m with unbalanced 3.5 mm stereo jack connector. A 3.5 mm female to 6.35 mm male jack adapter is also included.

If the aesthetic changes are undeniable, the evolutions of the acoustic architecture are much more subtle. Like the old version, the headset features 40mm M-dome speakers made of pure beryllium and completely open at the back. Only the motor coil seems to have been overhauled. Made of copper and aluminum alloy, it alone would be able to improve the already fantastic sound performance of the old version of the Utopia. Focal thus promises us a “transcription of the audio signal of unparalleled purity”. Here are some additional features regarding the new headset:

• Impedance: 80 ohms
• Sensitivity: 104 dB SPL / 1 mW at 1 kHz
• Harmonic distortion rate:
• Frequency response: 5Hz – 50kHz
• Weight: 490g

Inflation will however have got the better of this Utopia 2022 since it will be sold for €5,000, i.e. €1,000 more than its predecessor. This new model should hit all the good creameries by the end of the month.