Focal has given its Utopia headphones an overhaul with a new design and acoustic enhancements. Available this month for $4,999, the Hi-Fi-grade cans have a new voice coil and ‘M’-shaped grilles inside the earcups. Focal says its headphones are “among the best in the world.”
The Utopia headphones were first introduced in 2016, followed by a 2020 release where new packaging and accessories were added. The 2022 edition includes a voice coil composed of aluminum and copper, providing reliability and lightweight strength. The new ‘M’ shape grille of pure beryllium follows the shape of the dome and driver inside, we are told, so it should reduce the gap between the driver and the grille. This contributes to linearity of the frequency response and clearer music reproduction. The honeycomb styling is not just an aesthetic choice; it should also contribute to a more “open sound.” Focal says the headphones “seem to totally disappear, leaving audio signal...
