I tested these $4,000 headphones and they sound as good as that crazy price suggests

I don’t want to give the Focal Utopia back.

I don’t get this romantic very often. But the Utopia — a new pair of ultra high-end headphones from French manufacturer Focal — isn't a good gadget so much as it's luxury.

It’s made from rare materials, crafted with obvious care, and, put simply, better sounding than any headphone I’ve ever tested. If any device deserves to have the word “premium” attached to it, the Utopia is it.

It’s also $4,000. That’s a lot! (It also explains my lede.) Yet, after testing the Utopia for the past couple of weeks, that price doesn’t feel completely absurd. Here’s what I mean.

The Utopia looks good. It has a lot going on, what with its dimpled leather earpads, aluminum grills, and carbon fiber yoke, but it doesn’t come off as showy. The jet-black style helps it find a balance between “thing that costs $4,000” and “thing I’m not embarrassed to wear around people.”

It’s also comfortable. You can’t expect anything less for the money, but the Utopia’s headband and earpads are supremely soft and cushioned. Your ears get plenty of breathing room, too. While the whole thing is fairly heavy (490 grams), that weight is well-balanced once it’s on your head.

Focal reps told me the company spent four years developing the Utopia, and it shows. It feels like a headphone that was pored over before it was sold.