When it comes to hi-fi speakers, there’s no shortage of brands and designs to choose from. However, few companies go the extra mile quite like the French Focal. Operating since 1979, it became a leader in hi-fi audio products thanks to innovative technologies invested in each of the designs.
Despite the success, this company stays true to its origins – including keeping production in the country, which is another aspect that sets it apart from the competition and that is staying based in Saint Etienne, the same as when founder Jacques Mahul started out. Keeping pace with advancements in technology, staying dedicated to uncompromising audio quality, and merging with Naim in 2011, this company remains among the most respected in the world of audio.
Focal’s impressive range of premium products spans from studio monitors and headphones to high-performance car speakers and hi-fi home audio systems. Investing their legacy and craftsmanship into all of their top-notch Focal speakers, you’re in for a treat no matter which product you end up choosing. And that’s because they’re created differently to ensure you get an incredible listening experience. How so?
Focal Is Still Local
This company is all about consistency – especially when it comes to quality. So much so, that they keep designing and manufacturing within the country, in their own facilities. This is unlike most competitors that choose to go overseas for production. Besides being very thorough with the testing, they also do most of the work they can in the traditional sense which is hand-building; such is the case with the driver cones that are 80% hand-built. And, they go to great lengths production-wise also thanks to their use of specific machines that are custom-made.
Focal Goes All In On Research
Still largely driven by doing their own research, the people behind the company keep up with innovations spending a great deal of their time in each new design, testing high-quality materials (e.g. their extensive research and use of rigid beryllium and flax fibres) to provide Focal loudspeakers that impress with the performance.
Focal Creates Design That Shines
Not just in the sense of technology and what the sound can provide you in terms of audio experience but also in the speaker casing. The Focal speakers are a work of art, impressive with their stylishness and elegance in every detail. With the cabinet-making facility, this company has, each of their products is expertly crafted in their Bourbon-Lancy workshops from the finest woods.
So, there’s more to incorporating this audio equipment than the acoustic performance you expect to get – these are speakers that can easily make their impact on the décor and serve as focal points in your home. Their varying colours, textures and finish are nothing short of impressive too, adding further to the sleek aesthetic.
What Are Focal Speakers Known For?
As their flagship products, it’s understandable audiophiles and quality audio enthusiasts swear by them time and time again. In general, these are speakers known for their detailed sound reproduction, created to provide you with the most faithful audio to the original.
Clarity, detail and dynamic range are their strengths. And, there’s something for everyone among the Focal sound system product assortment, from the more affordable options for casual music lovers to the more high-end designs for serious audiophiles, hi-fi enthusiasts, home theatre users and professionals.
Focal Utopia
Looking for a line of speakers that delivers incredible realism? The Focal Utopia is the ultimate line when it comes to performance thanks to the series of innovations incorporated plus the finest of components on the market. Some notable examples include the Grande Utopia, considered one of the best hi-fi loudspeakers and a global reference, as are the Utopia EM Evo and Utopia III Evo.
Focal Sopra
As the somewhat more compact and lower-priced version of the Utopia, this option is perfect for audiophiles looking for an immersive experience whether for stereo setup or home theatre without breaking the bank. With notable examples like the Sopra N°1, N°2, and N°3, these speakers offer great value for your money as they deliver richness in terms of harmony, including bass, providing you with optimal performance. This is due to the Neutral Inductance Circuit (NIC) and Tuned Mass Damper (TMD) technologies.
Focal Kanta
Yet another line that promises greatly on the immersive experience – and delivers. It’s known for its warmth and detail as much as musicality thanks to incredible sound reproduction, especially the impressive midrange. This can be said about the Kanta N°1 and N°2 as much as N°3. Same as the other lines, the Kanta includes floor-standing models, bookshelf models, subwoofers, and central channel speakers.
Focal Aria Evo X
The greater definition of the sound of this line comes from the addition of the innovative TAM tweeter that comes as M-shaped inverted dome. Although originally designed for the company’s car audio collection, it made its way into the speakers thanks to the way it affects the tonality providing a warm and harmonious sound result, perfect for stereo as much as theatre setups.
Focal Vestia
For high-impact hi-fi audio, consider the Vestia range which features an all-encompassing bass-reflex profile. Each of the models in the line is designed to complement the other, giving you the chance to create a multi-channel system for more sound immersion.
Focal Theva
The speakers of Focal have maintained their price over the years, but only because of the exceptional quality invested down to the smallest of details. Still, the company can surprise with an even lower price tag without affecting the sound reproduction and performance as can be seen in the entry-level Theva N°1 bookshelf speaker. The appearance may seem somewhat more minimalist, but that’s in no way at the expense of stylishness. The curvature may not be as fancy as that of previous models, yet it still has plenty to offer in terms of aesthetics.
