utopia

the utopia has more resolution and extension than the abyss a little bit of grain in the mids  and harshness abyss you don't want to sleep, you don't want to take them off, no matter how heavy your cables are. Abyss has a slightly better tone the bass and sub-bass is unmatched. that thumb is very convincing. The utopia has more dimension and texture, which makes it fun. Utopia is never harsh with these cables. Throwing a w4s recovery into the chain does add a bit more warmth as the cost of some energy, resolution, and nuances. vs Abyss

• Effortless headphone. such a physical headphone. That bass is pretty addictive.
• dana + utopia is not as urgent, just a beautiful, euphoric sound. It doesn't shine liek the Abyss.
• Utopia is just musical and lush
• Utopia has no where close to the skull rattling bass the Abyss has. Makes me yearn for a bit more weight. The sub-bass weight is almost completely absent on the Utopia.
• Utopia does sound more natural and balanced in presentation.
• Something just sounds right about the Utopia. Rhythm and speed is smooth.
• Utopia isn't perfect and I like aspects of both headphones but in the end the naturalness of the Utopia won me over.
• Utopia is definitely not as spacious.
• Abyss seems to have better grip when the music gets busy.
• The Utopia with the Danacable is more engaging and fun. The Abyss with Prion4 resolves overlaps of vocals and instruments better.
• Abyss has its merits but Utopia is just an addictive headphone
• The Abyss is much more insightful, you hear lifelike reproduction of the recording. Imaging is amazing, realism. Atmosphere, balanced, etc.
• Abyss's low-end rumble is too nice. So much texture.
• Abyss has this tactile tickle factor.
• Abyss has more textures and extension than the Utopia. Definitely more forward than the Abyss.
• Abyss is more true to the recording in the sense that the music is represented accurately with all spatial cues. Utopia spatial cues aren't as great but more musical. The Abyss just has this impressive insightful sound that's still unmatched. It's just not as engaing and euphonic as the Utopia. I think it strikes the right balance. Utopia you're sitting closer while the Utopia you're sitting a little bit past the box seats.
• Abyss is more dynamic. Especially on the low-end. Unmatched. Abyss is the better headphone but the Utopia is the more enjoyable headphone. I'll trade a little bit of those spatial cues and extension for a more euphonic sound. Abyss with a warm cable and tubes will smoke the Utopia IMO.
• Abyss is a much wider soundstage, much more precise imaging. Instruments are much better delineated than on the Utopia. Abyss is clearly the more audiophile headphone. Instruments sound very realstic on the Abyss whereas on Utopia might be a tiny bit colored. Abyss more balanced tonality.

vs HEK

• HEK is really cozy fuzzy warm musical forward
• Utopia has more of that high-end sound, more depth
• HEK might actually extend further than the Utopia.
• HEK has much better bass presence and weight.
• Utopia isn't as thick sounding and strikes a great middleground with the Abyss

hollow sounding

vs. Utopia

• Jesse Cook - Baghdad (Live)
• More realistic imaging on the Utopia.
• The Abyss has this clarity and atmospheric sound that is unmatched.
• In a way the Utopia is a cross between a Abyss and HEK.
• The Abyss wows you but lacks a bit of warmth.
• Imaging on the Utopia seems dead-on in comparison to the HEK, where the HEK is very forward in general.
• Imaging on the Abyss is better than Utopia. Abyss has amazing control and grip when things get busy.
• Abyss is more refined, pinpoint accurate imaging, more depth, definitely more spacious but Utopia is more natural sounding.
• Abyss has more dimension...like speaker sounding dimension.
• Abyss is definitely more insightful and lifelike. Utopia isn't too far off but it's noticeable.
• HEK bigger image but difficult to tell apart all the moving parts in the song. All the characters seem bigger and more forward. Like you're closer to the stage whereas with the Utopia and Abyss, you're sitting further away.
• Tears in Heaven - Eric Clapton
• Great textures and body on the HEK. Natural tonality.
• Abyss is super clean, textures, shine, much blacker background, beautiful sound. Amazing clarity. The reverbs could be felt, what an incredible headphone.
• HEK is once again more forward, has more presence, but overall also a beautiful sound. It's not as clean but it's cozy and lush. I think most would actually prefer the HEK but admire the technicalities of the Abyss. The HEK is definitely more musical.
• Utopia doesn't have the tactility of the Abyss or the body of the HEK but I think it has just the right amount of both.

Dave Brubeck - Take Five (96/24)

• The HEK reproduces this track beautifully, even more so than the Utopia.
• Better sub-bass response than Utopia.
• Definitely not as atmospheric or refined as the Utopia. Clarity isn't quite up to par with Utopia either.