BIG Shootout: Audeze LCD-4 vs Focal Utopia !

[Rick721]

Audeze LCD-4 wins this shootout and gets very close to $60K Reference Speakers!!

https://www.innerfidelity.com/conten...s-focal-utopia

[PHC1]

I've spent 2 hours listening carefully back and forth on the SAME amp and walked away with the conclusion either of them is reference grade and choosing one over the other is more of a personal preference than any shortcomings from either. LCD-4 or Utopia, it's good company to be in for sure.

[Formerly YB-2]

Before you declare the LCD-4 the winner, best to read this update from InnerFidelity:
https://www.innerfidelity.com/conten...d-audeze-lcd-4

[PHC1]

I can certainly understand that reputations and profits are at stake when it comes to flagship products in a tiny niche market for such luxury items. Of course the international presence and demand can certainly make a huge difference to the bottom line of a specialized and narrow product range company like Audeze, perhaps much less to a broader, multi product company like Focal.

The reviews certainly help stir up buzz, interest and debates as well as sales but it is also important to remember that given what's at stake, these are all too often not unbiased reviews by any means. Personal relationships between the reviewers and the company CEOs and staff that go years back from rubbing elbows at various shows and of course the continuation of advertising dollars and further product reviews are at stake, not to mention professional courtesy discounts or "gifts" to reviewers go a long way to sway the what is supposed to be the "unbiased opinion".

The reviewers with a huge following really should take their responsibility of a fair and unbiased review seriously to give the audiophile/fan a clear window of understanding what the product may be like and pros and cons but at the end of the day, always, always, let your ears decide.

One thing I want to say is that given the extraordinary resolutions and capability to convey the tiniest of details on both of these headphones, listening to them on anything other than the exact same gear/cabling is doing the public reading such reviews a disservice. I can clearly hear tonal shifts and various differences in drive, PRAT, musical flow or lack of it just by switching a power cord or an interconnect with such a profound impact on the overall presentation that I would never take it upon myself to declare one a winner over the other unless there were glaring faults and even then I'd still want to triple check. Good thing I don't do reviews for a living.

[bart]

At this level it probably comes down to personal preference, not one being the absolute best.
But be sure you have the candidate of choice on your head for a couple of hours, before making the final decision.
The Audeze for me is simply too heavy...

[John49]

Originally Posted by bart

At this level it probably comes down to personal preference, not one being the absolute best.

But be sure you have the candidate of choice on your head for a couple of hours, before making the final decision.

The Audeze for me is simply too heavy...

+1

[djwhog]

Originally Posted by John49

+1

I think I would attend to agree with all you guys, it most likely comes down to the signature sound of each can at this level.

I would be fine with owning both. Amazing listening for sure!

[PHC1]

Originally Posted by bart

The Audeze for me is simply too heavy...

Bart, this carbon fiber headband from Audeze solves most discomfort issues if you find Audeze heavy. It spreads the weight of the headphones more evenly with less pressure points on top of the head. The neck muscles, well, they just have to get used to the weight. My LCD2Classics have a similar headband but not carbon fiber. They are the same weight as LCD3 more or less but feel much lighter on my head.

[bart]

Originally Posted by PHC1

Bart, this carbon fiber headband from Audeze solves most discomfort issues if you find Audeze heavy. It spreads the weight of the headphones more evenly with less pressure points on top of the head. The neck muscles, well, they just have to get used to the weight. My LCD2Classics have a similar headband but not carbon fiber. They are the same weight as LCD3 more or less but feel much lighter on my head.

Serge, thank you for this information!

[smatsui324]

Originally Posted by PHC1

Bart, this carbon fiber headband from Audeze solves most discomfort issues if you find Audeze heavy. It spreads the weight of the headphones more evenly with less pressure points on top of the head. The neck muscles, well, they just have to get used to the weight. My LCD2Classics have a similar headband but not carbon fiber. They are the same weight as LCD3 more or less but feel much lighter on my head.

I have the carbon fiber headband on my LCD X (2014 edition) that made a night vs day difference for overall comfort. I was about to sell my LCD X because I couldn't wear them more than 30 minutes without discomfort. With the carbon fiber headband, I can wear them for hours without any issues.

Last week I sold my Stax SR-009 headphones and my Ray Samuels electrostatic headphone amp because my Focal Utopias with a Wywires Platinum balanced cable gets most of headphone listening time. My other headphones are the LCD X, HD800 with SDR mod and 19ga OCC Cu cable hardwired to the drivers and painted matte black by Colorware (they look exactly like the 800s), AQ Nighthawks, and vintage modified AKG K340. I've been into high end headphones for over 25 years. That said, I still prefer to listen to either of my 2 speaker based stereo systems. Headphones and speaker systems each have their place in my household. I like listening to headphones late at night before I go to bed.