Наушники — Focal Utopia Headphones

The Utopia Headphones is an open-backed over-ear reference headphone from Focal, built at the top of the brand's headphone range with an unusually high 50 kHz rated bandwidth. Focal has built a serious headphone catalogue alongside its loudspeaker business, and the Utopia represents the brand's flagship, no-compromise statement within that category.

Position in line

It sits above the Focal Clear MG and Stellia in Focal's headphone hierarchy, as the brand's flagship open-backed design. This top-tier positioning places the Utopia as Focal's most ambitious headphone engineering effort, distinct from the closed-back Stellia and the more accessible Clear MG beneath it.

Key specs that matter

Rated response is 5 Hz to 50 kHz, an exceptionally wide window for a headphone, extending far beyond what any listener could consciously perceive at either extreme. Sensitivity is 104 dB per milliwatt into 80 ohms. The cable system includes both a 3.5mm asymmetric jack and a 4-point XLR balanced connection with Lemo connectors at the earcup end, an unusually comprehensive and flexible cabling arrangement for a flagship headphone.

Sound and use context

Expect an open, extremely wide-bandwidth presentation, with the open-backed design contributing a spacious, unconstrained soundstage rather than isolation from outside sound - Focal's flagship engineering here should deliver reference-level detail and dynamics for a critical listener in a quiet environment.

Pairing

The 80 ohm impedance and 104 dB sensitivity work from a capable headphone amplifier; the included balanced XLR cable option suits amplifiers with a balanced headphone output, worth using specifically if the source amplifier supports it for potentially improved noise performance.

Alternatives

The Stellia is Focal's closed-back alternative for a listener who wants isolation rather than the Utopia's fully open design, worth considering instead for shared living spaces or noisy environments where the Utopia's open construction would prove impractical. Given the considerable price and ambition this flagship headphone represents, a dealer demonstration with the specific amplifier intended for use is strongly recommended before committing to a purchase, since a headphone of this resolving capability will clearly reveal any weaknesses further up the signal chain. Focal own dedicated headphone amplifiers make a natural partner for extracting the full potential this open-backed design is capable of delivering.