High End Headphones And HP Amp.

For the life of me I can NOT understand WTH listeners are hearing with Focal.I demo’d Clear & Utopia,like sticking my head in an aluminum can & listening.
ABSOLUTELY no natural,organic warmth,NO SOUL!NOTHING but a cold,lifeless,mechanical presentation & that was off a HIGHLY regarded tube amp..
As for the Naim,never heard one but VERY pricey considering a few hundred $ more gets you a complete integrated solution that also drives speakers like the Pathos "Classic Remix"or a gently used McIntosh MHA-100/150..

Focal dealer told me to stay away from the Focal brand as he is sick and tired of handling all the warranty work on them. He told me to get the cheaper  Meze Empy instead. I was very happy with them. A warm, comfortable, non-fatiguing headphone. I paired it with the very neutral Benchmark HPA4. However, I sold both of those when I got the RAAL SR1a. Hard to compete with the RAAL.

Most people ask first, then purchase. Interesting approach.

Ha!!!

I tried a lot of headphones and the best for me up to now are the ZMF verite closed. I just ordered an Allnic HPA 5000 xl to upgrade my amp.
Unfortunately for me open headphones are nor an option for me but if it was I would recommend either the Final D8000pro or the Kamerton. For electrostatics Soltanus system.

Cheers

I have Focal Utopia and ZMF VO's, along with Hifiman Susvara. I love the Utopia and ZMF (I use tube headphone amps - I don't care as much for SS headphone amps), but Susvara is almost in another league altogether.