Short answer: the Stax SR-009S. It ranks #204 of 481 over-ear headphones by sound quality, rated 3.7/5, at $4,545; the Focal Utopia 2022 ranks #239, rated 3.5/5, and costs $4,999, which makes this an easy call rather than a real tradeoff.
What the Stax SR-009S does well: The open electrostatic design keeps the midrange close to neutral, with the low mids and upper mids each within about 1.4 dB of target in oratory1990’s measurement. The catch: It needs a dedicated electrostatic energizer and cannot be plugged into a normal headphone amp, phone or DAC, which adds substantial cost and limits where it can be used.
The case for the Focal Utopia 2022: The midrange is very close to target, within about 0.7 dB from 60 Hz through 3 kHz, so vocals and instruments sit naturally. The catch: Sub-bass is about 5.5 dB under target and treble is about 5.4 dB low from 6 to 10 kHz, with a 12.6 dB dip near 10 kHz, so cymbals and air sound muted and deep bass lacks rumble.
Buy the Stax SR-009S. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Focal Utopia 2022 and costs less, which makes it the one to get unless you need something the other one does better.
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The open electrostatic design keeps the midrange close to neutral, with the low mids and upper mids each within about 1.4 dB of target in oratory1990’s measurement.
Audio46 $4,545.00 eBay
The midrange is very close to target, within about 0.7 dB from 60 Hz through 3 kHz, so vocals and instruments sit naturally.
Amazon $4,999.00 eBayPrices on this page were last checked October 16, 2026 at 5:46 PM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Stax SR-009S | Focal Utopia 2022 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $4,545.00 | $4,999.00 |
| Ranked | #204 of 481 in Over-Ear Headphones | #239 of 481 in Over-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | Over-ear | Over-ear |
| Harman Preference Score | 74 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) | 71 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 2.93 dB standard deviation | 2.62 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | +0.22 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | -0.70 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Falls 6 dB below target at 60 Hz (-9.3 dB at 30 Hz) | Falls 6 dB below target at 30 Hz (-6.0 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Connection | Wired | Wired |
| Back | Open | Open |
| Driver Type | Electrostatic | Dynamic |
| Sensitivity | 101 dB/100V rms | 104 dB SPL/mW |
| Frequency Response | 5Hz - 42kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 5Hz - 50kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built-in Microphone | No | No |
| Drivers | - | 1 x 40mm dynamic |
| Impedance | - | 80 ohms |
| Weight | - | 1.1 lbs (490 g) |
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