Short answer: the ZMF Caldera Closed. It ranks #117 of 216 over-ear headphones by sound quality, rated 3.6/5, at $3,499.99; the Focal Utopia 2022 ranks #125, rated 3.5/5, and costs $4,089, so there is little reason to consider the other one.
What the Focal Utopia 2022 does well: The midrange is very close to target, within about 0.7 dB from 60 Hz through 3 kHz, so vocals and instruments sit naturally. Watch for: 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 ZMF Caldera Closed. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Focal Utopia 2022 and costs less, so only choose the other one for a particular feature it does better.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Headphones rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| ZMF Caldera Closed | Focal Utopia 2022 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $3,499.99 | $4,089.00 |
| Ranked | #117 of 216 in Over-Ear Headphones | #125 of 216 in Over-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | Over-ear | Over-ear |
| Harman Preference Score | 73 (median of 3 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) | 71 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 2.58 dB standard deviation | 2.62 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.53 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | -0.70 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-2.0 dB at 30 Hz) | Falls 6 dB below target at 30 Hz (-6.0 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Back | Closed | Open |
| Connection | Wired | Wired |
| Driver Type | Planar magnetic | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x 80mm planar magnetic | 1 x 40mm dynamic |
| Impedance | 60 ohms | 80 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 94 dB/mW | 104 dB SPL/mW |
| Weight | - | 1.1 lbs (490 g) |
| Frequency Response | - | 5Hz - 50kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built-in Microphone | - | No |
Related Headphone Comparisons
More top alternatives to ZMF Caldera Closed:
- Meze Empyrean II vs ZMF Caldera Closed
- Audeze LCD-5 vs ZMF Caldera Closed
- Focal Utopia 2022 vs Audeze LCD-4z
- Audeze LCD-5 vs Focal Utopia 2022
- Focal Utopia 2022 vs T+A Solitaire PSE
Prices on this page were last checked October 11, 2026 at 4:59 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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The Two Headphones In Full
ZMF Caldera Closed: $3,499.99 ZMF eBay
Full ZMF Caldera Closed review and specifications →
| Released | 2023 (3 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Back | Closed |
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 2.58 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Planar magnetic |
| Drivers | 1 x 80mm planar magnetic |
| Form Factor | Over-ear |
| Harman Preference Score | 73 (median of 3 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 60 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 94 dB/mW |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-2.0 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.53 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Focal Utopia 2022: $4,089.00 Amazon eBay
Pros: The midrange is very close to target, within about 0.7 dB from 60 Hz through 3 kHz, so vocals and instruments sit naturally. A 2.62 dB deviation and a preference score of 71 show a smooth profile with no large peaks, the biggest being only 0.3 dB near 1.5 kHz. An 80 ohm, 104 dB/mW design is manageable from a decent amplifier, and the open back gives a spacious presentation.
Cons: 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. Presence is also about 3 dB low, which makes the sound dark and veiled. It weighs 490 g, the open back leaks sound, and it sits well below higher rated rivals like the HIFIMAN Susvara.
Full Focal Utopia 2022 review and specifications →
| Released | Sep 2022 (4 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Back | Open |
| Built-in Microphone | No |
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 2.62 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x 40mm dynamic |
| Form Factor | Over-ear |
| Frequency Response | 5Hz - 50kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 71 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 80 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 104 dB SPL/mW |
| Sub-bass Extension | Falls 6 dB below target at 30 Hz (-6.0 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.70 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Weight | 1.1 lbs (490 g) |
EQ preset to match the Harman target
Set a preamp of -6.3 dB, then add these filters in any parametric equalizer (Wavelet, Equalizer APO, Peace, or a player with parametric EQ). Calculated by AutoEQ from its measured frequency response.
| Filter | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low shelf | 105 Hz | +9.1 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 65 Hz | -5.4 dB | 0.33 |
| Peak | 1,227 Hz | -3.1 dB | 1.92 |
| Peak | 10,000 Hz | +6.3 dB | 0.87 |
| Peak | 1,980 Hz | +2.9 dB | 3.30 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | -3.1 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 5,018 Hz | +2.9 dB | 4.42 |
| Peak | 5,972 Hz | -3.2 dB | 6.00 |
| Peak | 3,000 Hz | -1.7 dB | 4.41 |
| Peak | 3,578 Hz | +1.5 dB | 6.00 |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons