Why no love for Focal?

[AudioGod]

Focal speakers are some of the best I've heard
Their beryllium tweeter is probably the best I've heard.
And there's seem to be little talk about them around here .
Why is that ?
Are they not "hi end " enough ?

 

[BruceD]

Well they maybe aren't the Speaker to die for --rather to die with!

Saw this on another site this week--haven't witnessed "depreciation" like this since early YG days.

BruceD

 

[AudioGod]

Well they maybe aren't the Speaker to die for --rather to die with!

Saw this on another site this week--haven't witnessed "depreciation" like this since early YG days.

BruceD
View attachment 120502

What is The link to that site ?

 

[JackD201]

Focal is a huge company, bigger than most if not all considered part of the "Hi-End". They do have a distinct house sound from pro to car audio to affordable to flagship. Seeing as how big they are they must cater to a lot of people's aesthetic senses maybe just not in this particular forum. My non-audiophile brother has a Focal HT set and he's happy with them. Chorales If I'm not mistaken. He's not crazy like Jimmy and myself LOL

Personally I find them on the light and sparkly side with lots of speed when paired with the usual electronics. Champagne would be my analogy. The only other French speaker company that I have heard at length is Triangle which shares that sparkliness. Curiously enough French electronics I am familiar with like YBA or EERA are full bodied and less sparkly so maybe going all French, these balance out? I really don't know.

 

[AudioGod]

Focal is a huge company, bigger than most if not all considered part of the "Hi-End". They do have a distinct house sound from pro to car audio to affordable to flagship. Seeing as how big they are they must cater to a lot of people's aesthetic senses maybe just not in this particular forum. My non-audiophile brother has a Focal HT set and he's happy with them. Chorales If I'm not mistaken. He's not crazy like Jimmy and myself LOL

Personally I find them on the light and sparkly side with lots of speed when paired with the usual electronics. Champagne would be my analogy. The only other French speaker company that I have heard at length is Triangle which shares that sparkliness. Curiously enough French electronics I am familiar with like YBA or EERA are full bodied and less sparkly so maybe going all French, these balance out? I really don't know.

Hi end Focals(Utopia )are on a different level

 

[JackD201]

I've heard 3 generations of Grands. They are what they are just like any speaker. If you like them don't let anybody tell you otherwise.

 

[JackD201]

Bruce, all flagship speakers drop off more than the mid-line models especially when they are superceded. It is a question of demand not quality. The size being the single biggest market shrinker.

 

[KPC]

+1 @JackD201 - simply a preference or lack thereof

Personally, just like Wilsons, top end Focal speakers never resinated with me sonically or visually. I like Magico and YG. Ended up with a Vimberg

 

[divertiti]

Focal speakers are some of the best I've heard
Their beryllium tweeter is probably the best I've heard.
And there's seem to be little talk about them around here .
Why is that ?
Are they not "hi end " enough ?

What have you heard in comparison?

 

[Mike Lavigne]

big Focal Utopia's from various years mostly sound good at shows depending on amplification. formidable in many ways. but to my ears the broad front face design approach seems to cause diminished precision and clarity for their price. they don't ever grab me.

i guess i'm watching them as much as hearing them and trying to understand what is holding them back. connecting dots. my SWAG about the face plate could be way off base. might be something else.

i want to like them, but are always shades of 'meh'. especially considering the price/value. this is over 20+ years of hearing them at shows. never heard the big one's in a mature system.

but i certainly view Focal as a quality 'High End' speaker brand and can be a centerpiece of a great system. just not mine.

 

[AudioGod]

What have you heard in comparison?

Mainly professional stuff
But Focal also has studio monitors so I'm familiar with their sound
I like the beryllium tweeter
It's a hate it or love kind of sound

 

[joey_v]

I dislike the house sound. And that baffle and use of mdf is no longer remotely sota imo.

 

[andromedaaudio]

I dislike the house sound. And that baffle and use of mdf is no longer remotely sota imo.

Its the same for avalon afaic regarding MDF use
If you re used to phenolics or aluminium the smearing is immediately obvious.
" Outdated housing material"

 

[Porsche]

never been a fan, ive heard several of there grande utopias/utopias and I would never have them in one of my systems but to each there own

 

[BruceD]

What is The link to that site ?

The Website had no link but found it Googling ! --looks downunder--bit far away for you sorry about that-Good Luck
BruceD

Addicted To Audio - Home Audio Electronics & Accessories

Australia's leader in headphones, portable audio, headphone amplifiers, DAC's, Hi-Fi, speakers, turntables, Bluetooth speakers, wireless speakers

addictedtoaudio.com.au

 

[caesar]

Focal speakers are some of the best I've heard
Their beryllium tweeter is probably the best I've heard.
And there's seem to be little talk about them around here .
Why is that ?
Are they not "hi end " enough ?

Focal is a large, successful hi fi company, in a very small industry. They have sold a good number of their flagship speakers through the years.

As with any luxury hi fi brand, some owners are "clueless rich guys" and some are very knowledgeable audiophiles. The owners just don't happen to hang out on forums. The people who hang out and post on this forum are not necessarily the representative sample of what's out there in the overall industry.

If you were to hang out with the Focal fan social network, Focal is generally marketed as a "non-aggressive Wilson".

Furthermore, their styling is more WAF friendly for the more contemporary home, versus say wilson or magico.

 

[KPC]

….i want to like them, but….

Ha! I was the same for Wilsons. With all the positive reviews and the cutting edge tech, seems I “should” like it. I tried hard to like them at several dealers and audio shows but it just never resonated with me.

 

[Porsche]

Ha! I was the same for Wilsons. With all the positive reviews and the cutting edge tech, seems I “should” like it. I tried hard to like them at several dealers and audio shows but it just never resonated with me.

same hear, everyone raves about focal and Wilsons, not my cup of tea at all

 

[XV-1]

Well they maybe aren't the Speaker to die for --rather to die with!

Saw this on another site this week--haven't witnessed "depreciation" like this since early YG days.

BruceD
View attachment 120502

They are cheap for a specific financial reason.

A2A had a falling out with Focal/Naim and were dumped as the AU distributor. But they made them keep all their inventory.

Hence, atm Focal and Naim, especially the high end are for sale at worlds best prices, as the old distributor needs to get rid of his inventory.

 

[AudioGod]

They are cheap for a specific financial reason.

A2A had a falling out with Focal/Naim and were dumped as the AU distributor. But they made them keep all their inventory.

Hence, atm Focal and Naim, especially the high end are for sale at worlds best prices, as the old distributor needs to get rid of his inventory.

The prices are amazing