I wouldn’t want to compare the iBasso SR3 with a Focal Utopia 2022.
Since the Focal is superior in all technical properties, but I would still prefer the SR3 because, like the SR2, it has a far more natural timbre and is much more comfortable to wear, has excellent imaging and is incredibly relaxed in its tonality, while the Utopia can become exhausting in the long run due to its, at least for my ears, “unnatural” timbre.
When I listen to Focal headphones, my head always feels like I’m in a sound space that’s lit up with neon lights, everything is bright and easy to see, but over time my eyes just get tired.
The SR3 conveys the feeling of warm, well-dosed illumination, in which a more comfortable, calming feeling arises and I simply feel good.
@voja@hit_the_right_note this is a perfect example that everyone’s ear is different and what some think of as an amazing headphone, others will not.
htrn, do you find yourself often having like / dislike opinions that stand out as different than the mainstream views? I have a theory that there is a balance point where something will satisfy the majority but there will be outliers that defy this finding. it’s not a bad thing, far from it…but a proof of this is how most find the Harmon curve pleasant. I think the downside to that is if everyone tries to make a Harmon curve headphone, we’re gonna lose out on the awesome variety we have and odd-balls like w-shaped cans will become even rarer than they are now.
I know. On the surface the idea of it sounds absurd. A $600 headphone being compared to a $5,000 headphone. To me that sounds like more of an indictment of the Utopia rather than praise for the SR2. But that is the knee-jerk reaction of someone who is on the outside looking in and has not heard either headphone. Makes me wish I had access to both so I could check it out myself!
I think I quite often fall into this category. Harman-inspired sets, done right, can sound very good. But I’m definitely burned out on every hyped set following some iteration of it.
I’m definitely in a phase right now of actively hunting NOT-Harman tunings. Even if others think “that can’t be good”. I’m totally willing to go out on a limb.
I really enjoy my Grado RS-2X’s. Definitely has less bass but typical safely tuned headphones but it has nice bass quality and some pad swapping helps. I’m a bit of an outlier but I like them with the G-Cushions but most seem like to it on flats.
Why it’s a great idea having dedicated drivers and properly done xovers is the special magic in the very best home and professional transducer set ups.
Just like my car 10" subs 95hz 24db Xover , dual 5.25" mids 100hz and up and tweets 3.5k and up. Magic.
One driver is great for coherence but struggles to do it all perfectly so why not let different drivers do what they do best and not exceed thier limits.
I for one am excited to see theese kinds of set ups inovation like learning is always a good thing.
The innovation and idea is good. When we’re on the 8th set that is a SLIGHT deviation on the first 7, because everyone wants a piece of this pie, and we’re right back to where we are now with the Zero/Wan’er/Cadenza etc, it will be way less fun.
I hope some companies will implement their subwoofer in a way that we don’t have as many “variations”-clones on the market and that someone tries a different type of tuning with the subwoofer to actually try to innovate
