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Post by timjthomas on Dec 30, 2016 20:52:05 GMT
Anyone heard it?
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oldson
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Post by oldson on Dec 30, 2016 21:06:07 GMT
mt mrs would not allow it!
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solderdude
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Post by solderdude on Dec 30, 2016 22:16:20 GMT
Yep, heard it and directly compared it to Elear and a few other expensive ones as well as my own HD800 on Kameleon.
When looking for a headphone that does a LOT right then this very expensive headphone does a lot right. It also has a small quible. Treble has a small edge to it. The Elear has it as well but 10x worse. I am sorry for the many Elear fanboys but I didn't like the Elear at all. The Utopia is not just a little bit better but easily 4x better than the Elear.
I liked the ETHER for its mids and treble but not for the bass. The Utopia is better at the bass, mids are excellent as well as the treble which, just like the Ether had a small 'edge' to it. NOT an annoying 'edge' for sure. could easily live with it (but EQ it out anyway). I think it is better than the Ether although I liked the comfort, weight and fit better of the Ether. The Utopia is HEAVY (think LCD2) and the thick long cable is well... thick and long.
That said, the Elear is worth about E 500.- max to me ... the Utopia about 2000.-
The Utopia is very dynamic sounding and has a good tonal balance. It lacked just slightly from the HD800 on Kameleon. HD800 is much lighter on the head though. Also the HD800 is simply more refined and 'classy' sounding and had better imaging/separation where the Utopia was a bit more dynamic and 'fuller' sounding with slightly elevated treble with a small hint of sibilance in some music.
I certainly won't be trading in my HD800 for sure as it didn't strike me as a worthwhile improvement over the HD800 (Kameleon).
Bass was good but lacked the subbass/bass clean-ness of the HD800 on Kameleon.
Stock HD800(s) vs Utopia is a no brainer ... Utopia wins !
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Post by timjthomas on Dec 30, 2016 22:35:04 GMT
Thanks Frans. I am amazed at how the skyrocketing prices of headphones!! I am sure they sound somewhat better, but I suspect not enough to justify the price increase. How much better are they really than my $150 HD 580, modified T50rp, or the amazingly affordable HD662 EVO? Similarly, I just don't see the purpose of spending $5k+ for a headphone amp.
Just scratching my head I guess.
I'd rather take the money and buy more music, or see a symphony.
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solderdude
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Post by solderdude on Dec 30, 2016 22:59:14 GMT
As long as there are takers for these expensive headphones there will always be manufacturers willing to make them.
Those that wanted a top of the line headphone in the 'good ol' HD650/K701/DT880 days' where E 300.- was considered a high price already, there were already Stax headphones/earspeakers with dedicated amps that were also running in the thousands. Nowadays more headphones are available in that higher price class, usually new brands. Lets not forget the Sennheiser stat flagships and special edition Utopia of merely $ 110,000 (not a typo)
Youth is willing to fork out 400 Euros to be seen with 'real' beats complementing their 600-1000 Euro mobile phones. These are the real market leaders even though they aren't the best sounding ones.
Talking about dynamics .. to me the dynamics of the Utopia and HD662-EVO aren't a factor 100 apart (their price is) They are quite close in THAT particular aspect. Of course, the Utopia is MUCH better sounding than the EVO ... but 100x better ? Not so sure about that.
I do think that in order to get some improvement we have to spend a lot more in general. A bit log type of thing.
Just like to go twice as loud we need 10x more power. To go 4x as loud you need 100x more power. By that analogy the Utopia may well be 4x better than the HD662-EVO.
I wouldn't buy a Utopia for 4k... though. Would be scared to damage it or it being stolen etc. But can understand that rich people that do like to hunt for a better sound and appreciate the difference that 4k means little to them to get that improvement in SQ. They wouldn't care less that a 1.5k HD800 + Kameleon amp may even sound slightly better at all.
A (cheapish) second hand HD800 with a DIY Kameleon did sound better to me. Not saying it because I don't WANT or CAN not afford the Utopia but it didn't do things better than the HD800 (on Kameleon), in fact I felt the HD800 was the better one. Maybe because I am more used to its sound ? Maybe because it just did things better which I put more value on.
In any case... the Elear is NOT a poor(er) mans Utopia by a long shot. Can't understand the hype about Elears.
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solderdude
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Post by solderdude on Jul 15, 2017 8:41:35 GMT
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