Packaging and Accessories

2019 saw the Focal Utopia get a makeover in packaging and accessories, along with a bump up in pricing. The new Utopia (2022) goes further down this road to where everything, down to the shipping box with the branded logo and the heft + size of it confirms there is something big inside. Indeed, this is the largest product box for a set of headphones I've seen to date! The entire box comes wrapped in faux leather that is extremely convincing and simultaneously quite hard to photograph against a white backdrop. The words "Focal" on the back and "Utopia" on the front are embossed, with a red arc being the only splash of color on this black behemoth, aside from the Made in France sticker anyway. The lid is easily lifted via the finger hooks at the bottom to provide a closer look at the contents inside that have thick, shaped foam pieces on the top and bottom for further protection. Here too the two primary pieces are easily removable to where I am happy that the unboxing experience remains practical, on top of the grandeur oozing throughout. The accessory kit is similarly wrapped in the same faux leather and ends up reminding me more of a luxurious gift set with branding on the sides in the form of the Focal flame logo.


The accessory box opens in the middle to reveal soft felt lining that prevents any scratches to the contents inside, that include one of the two cables which come with the Utopia (2022). The cable is placed snugly inside thick foam again with machined cutouts as seen above. On the side in a separate compartment in another faux-leather, Focal-branded booklet contains, in addition to marketing materials and a Focal product guide, a multi-language user manual (online copy here) that goes over the product specifications, use, suggested operation and maintenance tips, and a reminder to register the product to validate the lengthy, user-friendly transferable warranty of five years for the drivers and two years for the rest of the headphones.


Now we get to the carry/storage case for the headphones themselves, which is shaped similarly to the one we saw on the Focal Bathys before. The Utopia is a larger set that also does not fold flat, so this particular semi-rigid case is larger at 25x24x12 cm. The thermoformed fabric case also gets a black finish as opposed to the dark gray on the original Utopia making it a stealthier bag to take around. On the front is the Focal Flame logo applique without the wording, and the integrated carry handle is chic, given the angled installation that also sits on two metal plugs securing the faux leather strap in place. You'd not look out of place carrying this in your hands in Beverly Hills, shall we say. More branding comes courtesy the Focal print on the zipper tags that also get a plastic cover to not get scratched up over time, although a self-sealing zipper would have been nice for some dust and spill resistance. The case can easily lie flat owing to its form factor, and opens up to reveal the headphones themselves packed in their own padded compartment. There are more compartments to neatly store the accessories, including the second cable and accompanying adapter we see now. Enterprising users might well find enough additional room for a portable DAC/amp or even a small DAP here.