Comparing high-end headphones like the Focal Utopia 2022 and Susvara Unveiled is always an exciting endeavor for an audiophile like myself. Both of these headphones represent the pinnacle of audio engineering, but they cater to slightly different preferences and listening experiences. In this article, I'll break down their design, soundstage, bass, mids, and highs to help you decide which pair might be the best fit for your auditory needs.

What's In The Box

Design and Comfort

The Focal Utopia 2022 stands out with its 40mm pure beryllium driver and “M-shaped” dome rated for 5Hz-50kHz. This design choice, coupled with an 80-ohm impedance and a 104dB sensitivity, makes the Utopia easy to drive, offering a compelling balance between power requirements and performance. The honeycomb grill is a thoughtful addition, providing openness and reducing compression, contributing to a more natural sound.

Lambskin earpads enhance comfort and ensure a degree of bass extension, while the leather headband feels both comfortable and premium. The wide headband design is ideal for audiophiles with larger head shapes, though those with smaller heads or larger ears might prefer the thin planar design of the Susvara Unveiled. The inclusion of Lemo connectors and multiple cables speaks to the durability and versatility that I appreciate in Focal’s design choices.

The Susvara Unveiled, on the other hand, boasts a 6Hz to 75kHz frequency response, 45-ohm impedance, and 86dB sensitivity. This makes it easier to drive than its predecessor but still requires a powerful amplifier to reach its full potential. This is also a perfect example of how low resistance doesn’t always mean high sensitivity. Weighing in at 430 grams, the Susvara’s headband design ensures even weight distribution, making it comfortable for long listening sessions despite its heft. It's also 60 grams lighter than the Utopia, making it impressively comfortable.

One of the most striking features of the Susvara is its completely open design, leaving the drivers exposed. This design, complemented by the magnetic veil for storage, maximizes the natural soundstage but comes at the cost of durability. The Susvara is not built for on-the-go listening but instead is a meticulously crafted piece for home use.

Soundstage

When it comes to soundstage, the Utopia 2022 offers a wide and analytical experience, though it is somewhat shallower compared to the Susvara. The sharp highs allow for pinpoint accuracy, making every detail in your music discernible. While the Utopia delivers a premium in-your-head sound, it doesn't quite mimic the expansive, room-like soundstage of the Susvara.

Listening to "Red Clay" by Freddie Hubbard, the Utopia manages to capture the nuances and details, but it lacks the discerning feeling of distance that the Susvara provides. The Utopia’s soundstage is excellent but more intimate and less expansive.

The Susvara Unveiled excels in providing a wide, expansive soundstage with a palpable sense of distance. This headphone offers a speaker-like quality that genuinely mimics a studio setting. The soundstage is not only expansive but also manages to remain intimate depending on the recording.

With "Red Clay," the Susvara captures the movement of Freddie Hubbard’s trumpet bell in a way that feels incredibly natural and lifelike. The trailing reverb seems to have no limit, offering a very natural and immersive listening experience.

Listening Impressions - Utopia vs. Susvara Unveiled

Bass

Both headphones feature a flat and revealing bass response, but the Utopia 2022 offers a slightly punchier yet less warm sound. The bass isn’t the focus of either of these headphones, but the Utopia extends its bass less than the Susvara. Tracks like "I Feel Nothing When You Cry" by Thou highlight the Utopia’s ability to respond well to EQ and bassier amps, delivering a punchier bass without any muddiness. At times, the sub-bass drop can sound a little unnatural, and remind you that you’re still wearing headphones

Using the FiiO K19, I took full advantage of the amp’s excellent EQ. I often found myself on the ‘Hip-Hop’ setting in order to supplement the bass on the Utopia. When listening on the Susvara Unveiled, the balanced bass worked very well with a flat EQ. Depending on your sonic preferences and current set-up, each headphone has its advantages according to what you may be looking for.

The Susvara’s bass is deep and warm, offering a dynamic and glued-together feel. Using the Enleum HPA-23RM amp, the Susvara’s mid-bass and high bass are more present than the original model. Both models respond exceptionally well to EQ and different amps, providing a flat yet natural bass sound that is slightly warmer than both the Utopia and original Susvara.

Listening to the same Thou track, the Susvara’s bass feels more resounding and dynamic, adhering closely to the recording without adding unnecessary mudiness.

Mids

The mids on the Utopia 2022 are well-rounded with a nice timbre. There is a noticeable low-mid push, giving a growlier texture to bass sounds and fullness to higher-pitched mid sounds. However, the mids aren’t as balanced as those on the Susvara. The Utopia offers a sharp, textured mid sound with less resounding transients, which can be appealing for certain genres but might lack the natural balance that the Susvara offers.

The Susvara’s mids are a standout feature, relieved of low mids, and finely tuned to balance guitars, voices, snares/toms, synths, and horns. The timbre is exceptional, providing a harmonic quality where mid-range textures are clear and balanced without being fatiguing. Tracks like "Cause of Death" by Obituary reveal the Susvara's ability to reproduce crunchier guitar sounds with a decisive fullness and excellent dynamics.

Listening to "There Will Never Be Another You" by Joe Pass, Andre Previn, and Ray Brown, the Susvara’s mids deliver the full detail of Pass’ playing, capturing every nuance with remarkable clarity.

Although the timbre of the Utopia brings out great dynamics in most music, its lack of presence compared to the Unveiled makes it difficult to compete with in this realm. The Susvara’s mid voices are full, clear, and dynamic. There’s nothing wrong with the Utopia mid-response, it’s just not as exciting to me as the character of the unique Susvara mid-focus.

Highs

In the highs, the Utopia 2022 offers clarity and sharpness with less balance but more airiness compared to the Susvara. The overall flat tuning helps bring out more sharpness in the sound signature. Cymbal sounds, for instance, come out with more clarity and sharpness, making tracks like "Naima" by Jon McLaughlin, Elvin Jones, and Joey DeFrancesco feel palpable and detailed. However, the Utopia can sometimes have too much cymbal volume, leading to a bright and airy sound that might not be as balanced as some listeners prefer.

The Susvara’s highs are fully extended yet neutral, offering fantastic detail with a more analytical quality than the Utopia. The electrostatic-like treble extends up to 75kHz, bringing out a clear and detailed high-end without becoming fatiguing. The Susvara’s highs stay relatively flat, with both headphones' flat bass bringing out more highs.

Listening to "Naima," the Susvara’s highs provide a detailed yet full experience, maintaining a balance that feels natural and unobtrusive.

Conclusion

Choosing between the Focal Utopia 2022 and the Susvara Unveiled comes down to personal preference and specific listening needs. The Utopia 2022 excels in delivering a punchier bass and a more intimate soundstage with sharp, clear highs. It is also more durable and easier to drive, making it a versatile option for different listening environments.

The Susvara Unveiled, however, offers a more expansive and natural soundstage, with exceptional midrange timbre and a warmer bass sound. It requires a powerful amplifier and is best suited for home listening, where its delicate design can be properly appreciated.

In summary, if you prioritize a balanced and expansive soundstage with natural mids and deep bass, the Susvara Unveiled is the way to go. If you prefer a more intimate soundstage with punchier bass and sharper highs, and need a headphone that is durable and easier to drive, the Focal Utopia 2022 would be an excellent choice. If I was choosing between the two, I would still pick the Susvara due to its versatility and impressive sound signature.