Meet the World’s Most Expensive Headphones: Focal Utopia by Tournaire

Meet the World’s Most Expensive Headphones: Focal Utopia by Tournaire

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(July 19, 2017) Aside from the TV Shootout, CE Week 2017(NY) was rather lite on audio and video enthusiast grade gear. There was one shining star, however, in the form of the world’s most expensive headphones. Focal’s 2016 Utopia model is exorbitantly expensive at $4,000. But that number begins to look amusingly small once a French jeweler is brought into the mix.

Yes folks, earlier this year Focal joined forces with one of France’s elite jewelry names to create cans that will set you back a hefty $120,000.

Before you raise a hammer to release your piggy bank’s rainy-day funds, let’s review what this souped-up audio dynamo has to offer. From a sound perspective, it’s functionally the same as Focal’s standard Utopia model. That means an open-back over-ear design housing 40mm drivers made from exotic materials such as lightweight beryllium, thick memory foam earcups lined with pitted leather, a carbon fiber yoke, and 13-foot oxygen-free cables. So, you can save roughly $116,000 by forgoing the glitz and buying Focal’s less expensive model.

If you’re looking to make a statement, however, Utopia by Tournaire is your ticket to happiness. To start, your hard earned cash will jettison you into rarified air, as only eight exist in the world. The headphone’s exterior is covered in 18-carat gold and loaded with a whopping 6.5-carats of diamonds. The diamonds are arranged in a symbolic “Trilogy” pattern that represents the past (a square), the present (a triangle), and the future (a circle).

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I had a chance to handle the Utopia by Tournaire, and they feel rather impressive in the hands. Visually speaking, they only look the price once you’ve been told how much they cost. That’s actually a redeeming factor, improving your chances of rocking these headphones on a city subway without incident.

Focal has created a rather unique accessory (visible in the above photo) to match their jewelry-grade creation. It’s an artsy gold color head-shaped stand that will set you back another $12,000. Of course, if you’re dropping $120K on headphones, it’s a no-brainer buy!
 

Todd Anderson

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tripplej

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Wow. I am speechless. Must be nice to have this much disposable income to spend on headsets? lol. :)
 

Todd Anderson

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You should have seen the look on the face of the Focal rep when I picked them up without asking... I had no idea. :gulp:
 
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tripplej

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lol. Besides the price, to me, they look terrible. Way to much bling.. Maybe if I were a huge celebrity, who wants to show off the wealth, it is acceptable but otherwise, no.

Obviously, not for the common man.
 

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I agree... no way you'd catch me with them on my head.

Even at $4K... without all the bling, they better be throwing a sound stage way out in front of me and put me in total Nirvana!
 

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Knowing my luck, I get home to find my dog, Moose, running around the house with them.
 

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I'll pass. Rather stick with my $100 Sony.
 

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Wonder what songs would sound good on these?

Shirley Bassey signing "Goldfinger"
Marilyn Monroe "Diamonds are a girls Best Friend"

:tongue:
 

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Do you have to wear the face mask for optimum performance? Or is that an additional $4K option?

Yikes - reading to the bottom the added performance mask is $12K!!
 

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Beats fashion accessories, step aside!
 

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Good point, Dennis. This is the real version of what pseudo-fashion headphones portray!
 
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