AudioAficionado.org  

Go Back   AudioAficionado.org > Manufacturers Forums > Focal Speakers

Focal Speakers The Spirit of Sound

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 09-08-2012, 02:52 PM
Haurock Haurock is offline
Guest
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Kinston, Ontario
Posts: 2,808
Default Spending a little time with Focal Lab Speakers

Several months ago I was able to spend an afternoon at a friends listening to his Scala Utopia speakers with Hovland electronics and I rather enjoyed what I was hearing.

Earlier this morning I had the opportunity to go and listen to the Electra 1038 Be from Focal paired with a Moon 700i integrated amp and a 650D DAC Cd transport. I was rather quite impressed with the laid back presentation of this combination and the amound of bottom end was rather quite surprising. Of course compared to my ProAcs this should come as no surprise, but I found the sound quite engaging a somewhat more robust to what I normaly listen to.

Since this was a spontaneous visit to a dealer in Quebec City (I`m visiting my in-laws), I did not have the usual set of CD`s I bring with me when I auditioned. After listening to several jazz pieces, I asked the salesman for some blues, guitar music. Rather then bring me a handfull of CDs he connected the Linn Akurate Music server to the amp and then let me browse through their full CD collection. I was able to immediately pick out music I was more familiar with and created a queue and hit play...... .... the sound was suddenly bright and forward and way too intense and I immediately lowered the sound volume.. Thinking it was just that CD, I hit the next song in my selection and again, I was struck by how bright the music was. After a few more selections, the salesman popped back into the room and I described what I was hearing and that I thought it was a rather substantial difference in the Linn Akurate. He immediately agree with my assessment and then offered me the option of listening to the Akurate but hooked up throught the Moon 650 DAC/CD unit. Resuming my audition, I found that the music had once more toned down and I cranked the volume up and listened to music for well over an hour.

What I found interesting is that I had thought I would be more impressed with the Linn compared to the Moon, however, the opposite is what occured and not by a little bit. Had I just listened to the speakers throught the Linn, I would have been disappointed with the Electras. I now know three things: a) Linn is off my list (yes, I am surprised too), b) Focal Lab IS on my list, and c) I am very impressed with SimAudio and it is definitely a system I would spend more time researching.
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 09-08-2012, 03:04 PM
jdandy's Avatar
jdandy jdandy is offline
Merry Christmas to all



 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: North Central Florida
Posts: 53,224
Default

Rock.......Very interesting. Had you not had the opportunity to audition the system prior to the Linn Akurate server, your initial impression of the Focal 1038 Be's would have been negatively influenced. It is good the sales guy worked with you, offering additional options that presented the opportunity to discover where the culprit existed.
__________________
Dan



STUDIO - McIntosh C1000C/P, MC2301 (2), MR88, Aurender N10, Esoteric K-01X, Shunyata Sigma spdif digital cable, Sonos Connect, PurePower 2000, Stillpoints, Furutech Flux 50, Michell Gyro SE, Michell HR Power Supply, SME 309, Ortofon Cadenza Black, Wireworld, Sonus faber Amati Anniversario
LIVING ROOM - McIntosh C2300, MC75 (2), MR85, Magnum Dynalab 205, Simaudio MOON Neo 260D-T, Schiit Audio Yggdrasil, Aurender N100H, Shunyata Sigma USB cable, Micro Seiki DD40, Ortofon Cadenza Blue, Nakamichi BX-300, Sony 60ES DAT, PS Audio P10, Furutech Flux 50, Sonos Connect, Stillpoints, Wireworld, Kimber, PMC EB1i, JL Audio f113
VINTAGE - McIntosh MA230, Tandberg 3011A tuner, Olive 04HD, Sony DTC-59ES DAT, McIntosh 4300V, JBL 4312A
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 10:22 PM.



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