Focal Utopia
Open-back circumaural headphones from Focal with a pure beryllium dome, made in France, designed for critical high-fidelity listening.
Comparison with the observed price of the same product new; this is not a reduction on a previous price.
Description
The Utopia is the open-back circumaural headphones designed by Focal, with no passive or active signal correction. It is built around a 40 mm full-range driver with a pure beryllium dome shaped like an "M", fully open at the rear, an architecture that allows the transducer to work without any acoustic obstruction behind it.
The 80 Ω impedance and 104 dB SPL/1 mW sensitivity indicate headphones that can be driven by a wide range of sources, without settling for a low-quality headphone output: the open design and the finesse of the beryllium dome demand electronics up to the task in order to reveal all the available information. The 0.2% harmonic distortion measured at 1 kHz and 100 dB SPL reflects clean reproduction even at sustained levels, and the 5 Hz to over 50 kHz frequency response goes well beyond the audible spectrum, which mainly translates into extension in the bass and stable behaviour at the top of the spectrum.
The chassis combines recycled forged carbon, leather and perforated memory foam, for a weight of 450 g. The whole is handmade in France.
These headphones are intended for critical listening in a quiet, controlled environment, typically in a studio or a listening room dedicated to audiophile use, rather than for portable use: their open design lets ambient sound through, and the sound being played can be heard from outside.
Technical specifications
| Type | Open-back circumaural headphones |
| Driver | 40 mm, pure beryllium dome shaped like an "M", fully open |
| Impedance | 80 Ω |
| Sensitivity | 104 dB SPL / 1 mW |
| Distortion (THD) | 0.2% (1 kHz / 100 dB SPL) |
| Frequency response | 5 Hz – > 50 kHz |
| Weight | 450 g |
| Manufacturing | France |
What to check before buying used
On the "M"-shaped beryllium dome, check for any finger marks, deformation or cracks at the apex, a particularly fragile area that is costly to repair if damaged. Inspect the leather on the earpads and headband, which is prone to cracking over time, as well as the memory foam, which can compress or split. Test each earcup separately at moderate volume to rule out any crackling related to the internal wiring, which is sensitive due to the fully open design.
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