AudioAficionado.org  

Go Back   AudioAficionado.org > Manufacturers Forums > Focal Speakers

Focal Speakers The Spirit of Sound

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #21  
Old 08-12-2017, 05:04 AM
imprezap2's Avatar
imprezap2 imprezap2 is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: europe
Posts: 1,122
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Bar81 View Post
I agree with the above in that you need to always match the speakers to the room.

However, in my system and in my smallish room the difference between the Scala and the Maestro wasn't subtle - treble is much smoother, midrange is significantly clearer and bass is more controlled and less chubby (I had the V1 so may be less of an issue on V2) while also being subterranean on the right recordings (you feel like it's coming from below the floor as opposed to the speakers). However, the thing that I really wasn't ready for and one of the biggest selling points to me of the Maestros is that they are a single point source in terms of their sound - it's satisfyingly cohesive. I never felt that about the Scala.

Out of the entire Utopia floorstanding lineup, the Scala, while a fantastic speaker, is the one that has obvious areas for improvement in all facets. I expect that the EVO will be a marked improvement in all areas given what looks like a smoothed out treble, clearer midrange and tighter bass.

On the other hand, I'm not interested in (although I understand why Focal made the change and from a sales point of view it is absolutely the right decision) a downgraded 3 way Maestro EVO simply to make it easier to drive and compatible with a much wider range of partnering amplifiers (the Maestros currently need ridiculous amounts of power to open up).
great speakers, do you have a picture of how the speakers are set up in the room ?
__________________
Moon 700i V2, dCS Rossini, YG Acoustics Hailey, Aurender N10, Ansuz Mainz D2
Reply With Quote
  #22  
Old 08-12-2017, 02:37 PM
Bar81 Bar81 is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 248
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by justubes View Post
Bar,

Exactly the characteristics i found between of the scala and maestro.

How do you rate the general sonics characteristic of your room, was it the direction of neutral bright opposed to neutral warm?
Do you mean is my room underdamped or overdamped?

Last edited by Bar81; 08-12-2017 at 10:56 PM.
Reply With Quote
  #23  
Old 08-13-2017, 10:20 AM
justubes justubes is offline
Guest
 
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 163
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Bar81 View Post

Do you mean is my room underdamped or overdamped?
Yes , underdamped in the sense of brightness or duller if overdamped.

I felt the maestros were more neutral but retaining that midrange smoothness at the dealers.

I would still love a pair as it has been some time ago and i made improve my room acoustics since.

Mine was on the warmer side, though the Maestros were superior, in some areas, the Scalas seemed to suit better.

I used to have a warmer sounding room.

The Maestros were like a big cc long distance cruiser and the scalas more a little town racer.

It was amazing the Maestro allowed a close field monitor like listening position @ 2 m.

Last edited by justubes; 08-13-2017 at 10:25 AM.
Reply With Quote
  #24  
Old 08-14-2017, 07:01 PM
Bar81 Bar81 is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 248
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by justubes View Post
Yes , underdamped in the sense of brightness or duller if overdamped.

I felt the maestros were more neutral but retaining that midrange smoothness at the dealers.

I would still love a pair as it has been some time ago and i made improve my room acoustics since.

Mine was on the warmer side, though the Maestros were superior, in some areas, the Scalas seemed to suit better.

I used to have a warmer sounding room.

The Maestros were like a big cc long distance cruiser and the scalas more a little town racer.

It was amazing the Maestro allowed a close field monitor like listening position @ 2 m.
My room is definitely not overdamped, it's a living room all concrete with tile floor. I've treated it as much as I can - large rug, acoustic panels and bass traps along with furniture and shelving.
Reply With Quote
  #25  
Old 08-14-2017, 07:11 PM
Bar81 Bar81 is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 248
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by justubes View Post
Yes , underdamped in the sense of brightness or duller if overdamped.

I felt the maestros were more neutral but retaining that midrange smoothness at the dealers.

I would still love a pair as it has been some time ago and i made improve my room acoustics since.

Mine was on the warmer side, though the Maestros were superior, in some areas, the Scalas seemed to suit better.

I used to have a warmer sounding room.

The Maestros were like a big cc long distance cruiser and the scalas more a little town racer.

It was amazing the Maestro allowed a close field monitor like listening position @ 2 m.
My room is definitely not overdamped, it's a living room all concrete with tile floor. I've treated it as much as I can - large rug, acoustic panels and bass traps along with furniture and shelving.


Quote:
Originally Posted by imprezap2 View Post
great speakers, do you have a picture of how the speakers are set up in the room ?
I haven't done any tweaking. It's still in the same position with just a little bit of adjustment to original toe in. I should get my new audio points in the next couple of weeks and then will see. Unfortunately this site has a weird policy on pics so nothing I can post here. You can see general location in my system on audiogon (which shows my earlier Scalas).
Reply With Quote
  #26  
Old 10-01-2017, 03:25 PM
inga inga is offline
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 17
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Bar81 View Post
I have been really enjoying the system with the Maestros
Same here. I have tried mine is three diferent rooms, and my findings is
1) they work best in untreated room, basicaly the less sound absorbtion the better and more open midrange( going with better absorbtion midrange becomes closed in as bass upper bas overhelm everything)

2) it can be listened in midfield.

3) this is the only speakers which drawns me in to the music, without distracting. the only distracting may be bass power, but once speaker position proprely its just seamles. it have some politeness in mids comparing to wilson audio sasha, but it project enormuos life like image , and most speaker after it sounds like tiny monitors.
Reply With Quote
  #27  
Old 10-13-2017, 03:24 PM
Bar81 Bar81 is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 248
Default

So one of the things that I didn't realize about my MX-R Twenties is that they go 300W/8ohms 600W/4ohms but then fizzle out at 720W/2ohms. Not a problem for most speakers (for example, my earlier Scalas were fine) but I think that explains why the Maestros don't feel like they've opened up and completely let loose - they need current into 2ohms. I'll see what more watts down low does in a couple of months when my new amps come in.

Btw, I've been playing around with the tweeter jumper. Putting the tweeter jumper into the high position changes the character of the treble - more open and energetic. More "exciting" but still smooth.
Reply With Quote
  #28  
Old 10-26-2017, 10:20 AM
BillK BillK is offline
Guest
 
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Colorado
Posts: 961
Default

Before you are too hard on the MX-R Twenty, do you know what the behavior of Pass amps into two ohm loads is?

For example, when Stereophile tested the INT-150 integrated, they found at clipping it delivered 198w into 8 ohms, 284w into 4, but just 225w into 2.
Reply With Quote
  #29  
Old 10-26-2017, 01:55 PM
inga inga is offline
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 17
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by BillK View Post
Before you are too hard on the MX-R Twenty, do you know what the behavior of Pass amps into two ohm loads is?

For example, when Stereophile tested the INT-150 integrated, they found at clipping it delivered 198w into 8 ohms, 284w into 4, but just 225w into 2.
i think its exception, some time ago I have read that xa30.5 rated as 30W amps actualy had 332wats(!) at 2ohms. Most pass labs amps have overbuilt powersuplies and doubling power to 2 ohms.
__________________
Home- Focal GU EM,Bedroom- SF GM Memento,Studio- Focal MU,Car- Bower & Wilkins
Reply With Quote
  #30  
Old 12-15-2017, 11:33 AM
Bar81 Bar81 is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 248
Default

Huge difference between the M400 and the MX-R Twenty. I've only been listening for a few hours but the magnitude and nature of the upgrade reminds me of my KX-R Twenty upgrade which I consider transcendent.
Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Audioaficionado.org tested by Norton Internet Security

All times are GMT -4. The time now is 11:05 AM.



Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.10
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
©Copyright 2009-2023 AudioAficionado.org.Privately owned, All Rights Reserved.
Audio Aficionado Sponsors
AudioAficionado Subscriber
AudioAficionado Subscriber
Inspire By Dennis Had
Inspire By Dennis Had
Harmonic Resolution Systems
Harmonic Resolution Systems
Wyred4Sound
Wyred4Sound
Dragonfire Acoustics
Dragonfire Acoustics
GIK Acoustics
GIK Acoustics
Esoteric
Esoteric
AC Infinity
AC Infinity
JL Audio
JL Audio
Add Powr
Add Powr
Accuphase - Soulution
Accuphase - Soulution
Audio by E
Audio by E
Canton
Canton
Bryston
Bryston
WireWorld Cables
WireWorld Cables
Stillpoints
Stillpoints
Bricasti Design
Bricasti Design
Furutech
Furutech
Shunyata Research
Shunyata Research
Legend Audio & Video
Legend Audio & Video