Over-Ear
Abyss AB1266 TC
66Good
$6,000
Full review dataAbyss AB1266 TC vs Focal Utopia 2022: which should you buy?
On aggregated review scores the Focal Utopia 2022 comes out ahead with a HearWiki score of 81. The full breakdown - sub-scores, specs and what reviewers actually said - is below.
Our pick: Focal Utopia 2022 - Outstanding overall at around $4999.
Over-Ear
Focal Utopia 2022
81Outstanding
$5,000
Full review dataScore breakdown
Each axis is a 0–10 blend of what reviewers scored, not a lab measurement.
Focal Utopia 2022 leads on 4 of 4 measures.
- Abyss AB1266 TC
- Focal Utopia 2022
HearWiki score
66
81
Sound
9.0
9.7
Value
3.5
5.8
Price (USD)
$6,000
$5,000
Generation & platform
The scores rank quality. This is the other question: is the newer one actually newer technology, or the same platform in a new shell?
Same generation
The Focal Utopia 2022 is 5 years newer, but it is the same generation of hardware: nothing in the radio, the codecs or the noise cancelling separates them. Nothing separates them on convenience features either, so the choice comes down to tuning and price. For 5 years between them, that is a thin return - treat this as a restyle rather than a new platform.
- AB1266 TC2017
- Utopia 202220225 yr newer
Specifications
AB1266 TCUtopia 2022
- Type
- Over-Ear
- Over-Ear
- Price (USD)
- $6,000
- $5,000
- HearWiki score
- 66
- 81
- Released
- 2017
- 2022
- Availability
- Discontinued
- Still sold new
- Driver
- 2× 66 mm planar magnetic
- 40 mm dynamic
- Driver type
- planar
- dynamic
- Driver size
- 66 mm
- 40 mm
- Drivers per side
- 2
- 1
- Frequency response
- 5 Hz - 45 kHz
- 5 Hz - 23 kHz
- Impedance
- 50 Ω
- 80 Ω
- Sensitivity
- 88 dB/mW
- 104 dB/mW
- Active noise cancelling
- No
- No
- ANC type
- none
- -
- Transparency mode
- No
- -
- Companion app
- No
- -
- Custom EQ
- No
- -
- Controls
- buttons
- -
- Weight
- 640 g
- 490 g
- Water resistance
- none
- -
- Foldable
- No
- -
- Detachable cable
- Yes
- Yes
- USB-C
- No
- -
- Connector
- XLR
- -
- Balanced connection
- -
- Yes
What reviewers said
Abyss AB1266 TC
The Abyss AB-1266 TC is a premium open-back planar magnetic headphone that delivers exceptional sound quality, but it requires a powerful amplifier to perform at its best. As a significant redesign of the AB-1266 line with a new driver, it represents the pinnacle of the series with a reference-level audio experience. Its moderate impedance makes it more accommodating to a wider range of high-end amps, though its price and power needs firmly target audiophile enthusiasts.
- Pro:Exceptional, reference-grade sound quality
- Pro:Newly redesigned driver for improved performance
- Pro:Moderate impedance pairs well with quality amps
- Con:Very expensive at around $5995
- Con:Requires substantial amplifier power
- Con:Heavy at 640 grams and not foldable
Focal Utopia 2022
The Focal Utopia (2022) is a premium open-back flagship headphone that refines the original's celebrated sound with enhanced clarity, tonal realism, and a luxurious build. It delivers exceptional detail and articulate bass through its 40mm dynamic drivers, making it a top-tier choice for audiophiles despite its high price and open-back nature. The design is an evolutionary upgrade rather than a radical departure, retaining the core 80-ohm impedance and 104dB sensitivity.
- Pro:Exceptional detail and transparency
- Pro:Articulate, well-defined bass
- Pro:Premium, luxurious build quality
- Con:Very expensive at roughly $5,000
- Con:Open-back design leaks sound and offers no isolation
- Con:Included unbalanced cable is relatively short
Summaries are AI-condensed and paraphrased from published reviews and specs - not original hands-on testing. More on our method.
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