I have heard several different models of Focals, all $30K and up, in different setups, and they all sound very strange to me. They can sound good, but just not real to me. Is it just me, or do they sound very hi-fi to others as well?
At the recent Newport show, the big EM's were, IMO terrible... However, I believe all blame there could be laid to an amateurish set-up and abysmal room.
Wasn't the speakers/room set up by Bob Hodas?
Myles,Caeser:
Here's the problem. Are you hearing the speaker or the ancillary components? That's esp. true if listening under unfamiliar circumstances! For me, it's hard to judge with digital sources. I wasn't a big fan of the older models but the newer "big" speakers with the Soulution electronics and Transrotor/Graham Supreme/Air Tight Supreme sounded pretty good to me.
Wasn't the speakers/room set up by Bob Hodas?
I don't think so - it was a dealer room with Burmester electronics, and I agree that it was one of the worst sounding rooms I went into at Newport. I thought that the set up was just plain wrong, but then again, there wasn't the space to set them up right.
At 15k it's great stand mount speaker but, IMO, not quite at the level of the sonus Faber guarneri or the magico mini 2. Focal has made great strides in blending the output of their cutting edge beryllium tweeter for it to better integrate rather than stand out as it did in the first models that used this tweeter. That being said, I still feel that it falls short in the mid range compared to the two aforementioned rivals. On the other hand, the diablo is probably the most detailed of the 3. Anyone willing to drop 13k on a mini monitor ought to carefully audition it not only against it's more expensive competition but against cheaper contenders as well such as the dynaudio confidence c1. While many may question the value that such high priced mini monitors bring to the table, it's truly amazing how these diminutive beauties perform not only in small rooms but in larger settings as well.
Hi...i have never had the chance to hear any Focals...can you describe this aberration? or compare it to: Wilsons, SF, Martin Logan, Thiel, YG...these i have heard and listen to critically. thanks...always been curious about the big Focals.
I heard the grande Utopias twice, once with constellation, once with ARC. Both with Metronome Kalista and TA ref cables. Tremendous scale and bass power...not a must-upgrade reaction but certainly can see this speaker being an integral part of a phenomenal system.
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