Erzetich Charybdis vs Focal Utopia: which should you buy?

On aggregated review scores the Focal Utopia 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 - Outstanding overall at around $4999.

Over-Ear

Score breakdown

Each axis is a 0–10 blend of what reviewers scored, not a lab measurement.

Neither pulls ahead overall - they trade wins across the measures.

Erzetich Charybdis
Focal Utopia

HearWiki score

Sound

9.4

9.7

Value

6.5

5.8

Price (USD)

$3,000

$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

Focal Utopia (2022) against Erzetich Charybdis (2021). These are 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.

Charybdis2021
Utopia20221 yr newer

Specifications

CharybdisUtopia

Type: Over-Ear; Over-Ear
Price (USD): $3,000; $5,000
HearWiki score: 73; 81
Released: 2021; 2022
Availability: Discontinued; Still sold new
Driver: 115 mm planar magnetic; 40 mm dynamic
Driver type: planar; dynamic
Driver size: 115 mm; 40 mm
Drivers per side: 1; 1
Frequency response: 20 Hz - 20 kHz; 5 Hz - 23 kHz
Sound signature: -; neutral
Impedance: 43 Ω; 80 Ω
Sensitivity: 105 dB/mW; 104 dB/mW
Active noise cancelling: -; No
Controls: none; -
Weight: 740 g; 490 g
Water resistance: -; none
Detachable cable: Yes; Yes
USB-C: No; No
Pad material: leatherette; -
Connector: XLR; -
Balanced connection: Yes; -

Specification comparison of Erzetich Charybdis vs Focal Utopia
Spec	Erzetich Charybdis	Focal Utopia
Type	Over-Ear	Over-Ear
Price (USD)	$3,000	$5,000
HearWiki score	73 / 100 Great	81 / 100 Outstanding
Released	2021	2022
Audio
Driver	115 mm planar magnetic	40 mm dynamic
Driver type	planar	dynamic
Driver size	115 mm	40 mm
Drivers per side	1	1
Frequency response	20 Hz - 20 kHz	5 Hz - 23 kHz
Sound signature	-	neutral
Impedance	43 Ω	80 Ω
Sensitivity	105 dB/mW	104 dB/mW
Features
Active noise cancelling	-	No
Controls	none	-
Design
Weight	740 g	490 g
Water resistance	-	none
Detachable cable	Yes	Yes
USB-C	No	No
Pad material	leatherette	-
Connector	XLR	-
Balanced connection	Yes	-

What reviewers said

Erzetich Charybdis

No summary yet - we haven't aggregated enough reviews.

Focal Utopia

The Focal Utopia is a premium open-back wired headphone engineered for audiophiles seeking reference-grade neutrality. Its 40mm beryllium driver delivers exceptional detail, low distortion, and a finely tuned high-frequency response, making it a top-tier choice for critical listening. While its performance is class-leading, the steep price positions it as a luxury investment rather than a practical everyday option.

Pro:Outstanding resolution and micro-detail retrieval
Pro:Very low distortion with a neutral, accurate sound signature
Pro:Premium build quality and detachable cable design

Con:Extremely high price point
Con:No active noise cancellation or wireless connectivity
Con:Heavy weight (490g) may be tiring during long sessions

Summaries are AI-condensed and paraphrased from published reviews and specs - not original hands-on testing. More on our method.

Compare something else

Swap either side out, or start again from the picker.

New comparison Erzetich Charybdis Focal Utopia