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Sennheiser HD 800S · Midnight Black — Over-ear · 2016
Sennheiser

Sennheiser HD 800S · Midnight Black

Over-ear · 2016

95
/ 100
From $1,699
VS
Focal Utopia 2022 wins by 1
Focal Utopia 2022 — Open-back
Focal

Focal Utopia 2022

Open-back

96
/ 100
From $4,999
Specdex verdict

Focal Utopia 2022 takes it — here’s why.

In our weighted Specdex score, Sennheiser HD 800S · Midnight Black lands at 95 and Focal Utopia 2022 at 96. That puts Focal Utopia 2022 ahead by 1 points — a narrow margin driven mostly by its strengths in the categories below.

Pick Sennheiser HD 800S · Midnight Black if…

  • Flagship comfort + ANC on modern models
  • Premium build
  • Active noise cancellation (most models)

Pick Focal Utopia 2022 if…

  • Reference-level detail
  • Well-regarded in audiophile community
  • Long-term ownership appeal
Sennheiser HD 800S · Midnight Black 95
vs
96 Focal Utopia 2022

Score breakdown

Sennheiser HD 800S · Midnight Black
95
anc 93
sound 95
comfort 94
battery 82
features 91
Focal Utopia 2022
96
anc 0
sound 96
comfort 88
battery 100
features 50

Specs side-by-side

Sennheiser HD 800S · Midnight Black versus Focal Utopia 2022 — full spec comparison
Spec Sennheiser HD 800S · Midnight Black Focal Utopia 2022
Type
Over-ear
Open-back
Release year
2016

Sennheiser HD 800S · Midnight Black

Pros
  • +Flagship comfort + ANC on modern models
  • +Premium build
  • +Active noise cancellation (most models)
Cons
  • Battery varies by codec
  • Some are Bluetooth-only
  • Price creep vs previous gen

Focal Utopia 2022

Pros
  • +Reference-level detail
  • +Well-regarded in audiophile community
  • +Long-term ownership appeal
Cons
  • Requires amplifier (most)
  • No active noise cancellation
  • Impractical for commuting

FAQ: Sennheiser HD 800S · Midnight Black vs Focal Utopia 2022

Which is better, Sennheiser HD 800S · Midnight Black or Focal Utopia 2022? +

Focal Utopia 2022 scores 96 on our weighted rubric — ahead by 1. Your best pick depends on the sub-scores above.

Is Sennheiser HD 800S · Midnight Black worth the price? +

At $1,699, Sennheiser HD 800S · Midnight Black delivers a Specdex score of 95 — strongest in sound.

Is Focal Utopia 2022 worth the price? +

At $4,999, Focal Utopia 2022 delivers a Specdex score of 96 — strongest in battery.

Does Sennheiser HD 800S · Midnight Black or Focal Utopia 2022 last longer? +

Based on our long-term update and support ratings, both ship with multi-year support. Battery and reliability scores are visible in the breakdown above.