Focal Goes Active with $40k DIVA UTOPIA Wireless Speakers!

[lovinthehd]

The aesthetic escapes me (but most audio gear does anyways). Do they use special audiophile Naim amps in them?

 

[Bobby Bass]

Just listened to a demo of these on YouTube, they sounded exactly like my iPhone

Lol you must have the new $40K iPhone.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Just listened to a demo of these on YouTube, they sounded exactly like my iPhone

Laugh my a$$ off.

But seriously, is the point being that “serious audio enthusiasts don’t stream MP3 from their iPhones” ?

 

[jinjuku]

Something the pro-audio space has been doing for a long time.

I would love to compare to some Genelec 8351's with the matched subs and their GLM module. That would put you at about $30,000.

 

[Trell]

Something the pro-audio space has been doing for a long time.

I would love to compare to some Genelec 8351's with the matched subs and their GLM module. That would put you at about $30,000.

Instead of Genelec subwoofers there’s the “woofer” W371A each around $9000. That should make it more comparable to the Focals.

W371A SAM™ Woofer System - Genelec.com

An absolute revelation in low frequency performance. With the W371A, you can finally wave goodbye to the detrimental influences of your room on LF reproduction.

www.genelec.com

 

[jinjuku]

Instead of Genelec subwoofers there’s the “woofer” W371A each around $9000. That should make it more comparable to the Focals.

W371A SAM™ Woofer System - Genelec.com

An absolute revelation in low frequency performance. With the W371A, you can finally wave goodbye to the detrimental influences of your room on LF reproduction.

www.genelec.com

$18000 in subs (W371A)
$10K in Genelec 8361

Plus the GLM module and tax put you at around the $30K.

 

[Trell]

$18000 in subs (W371A)
$10K in Genelec 8361

Plus the GLM module and tax put you at around the $30K.

I was unclear: What I meant "with more comparable to the Focals" is that the W371A+8351 combo is a full range speaker when configured/calibrated with GLM, and not just price as such.

 

[gene]

 

[haraldo]

Designing a speaker like this is a step in the right direction.

The specs are somewhat sparse, as the crossover frequencies are not stated.

However, clearly the bass drivers must operate below the transition frequency, or the deign could not work. The dimensions are not in the spec. but you can take a good guess that the width is around 10" which gives a transition frequency a little above 400 Hz most likely.

This is where are part company with so many speaker designs. The power requirements for the bass are grossly over estimated and the power required for the mid range grossly under estimated. So we have 250 watts to the bass section and only 75 watts to one single mid driver.

Now I am sure you can get superlative standard measurements from these speakers. However when you listen to a full orchestra and now throw in a large chorus, the mid range is going to be grossly underpowered.

I know because when working with files of all kinds of music most of the power is is between 250 Hz and 2.5 KHz. That is where the power continuously peak and by a a huge margin.

That is why I make very different choices in my designs, and that means my speakers can really reproduce the major large forces works a concert volume without distress and realistically.

If the bass of the speakers need 250 watts, then the mid range needs at least as much and that likely requires more than one midrange driver.

Yeah ... these speakers looks as cool as cool can get
but I seriously wonder about that possibly underpowered amp sections....

I am using 2 x 600 watts toward s small set of Dunlavy designed standmount speakers (and I have other speakers too) and find that to be exactly what I need. that big amp really makes those small speakers sing way more
So why is Focal not providing insane excess power to a $40.000 speaker.

I love the design of those speakers, what I heard from Focal is great, the beryllium tweeters are also something else, but having possibly not enough power?

 

[everettT]

Yeah ... these speakers looks as cool as cool can get
but I seriously wonder about that possibly underpowered amp sections....

I am using 2 x 600 watts toward s small set of Dunlavy designed standmount speakers (and I have other speakers too) and find that to be exactly what I need. that big amp really makes those small speakers sing way more
So why is Focal not providing insane excess power to a $40.000 speaker.

I love the design of those speakers, what I heard from Focal is great, the beryllium tweeters are also something else, but having possibly not enough power?

Reduction of heat vs necessity to drive to a specific SPL would be my guess? The tweeter won't require anything from an amp relative to the rest of the drivers, and even then their draw could be small. With DSP crossovers it's easy to maximize power.

 

[haraldo]

Reduction of heat vs necessity to drive to a specific SPL would be my guess? The tweeter won't require anything from an amp relative to the rest of the drivers, and even then their draw could be small. With DSP crossovers it's easy to maximize power.

You may be very correct!

I didn´t audition them yet .... so I may be completely wrong!
guess, Focal knows really well what they´re doing!

 

[everettT]

You may be very correct!

I didn´t audition them yet .... so I may be completely wrong!
guess, Focal knows really well what they´re doing!

I haven't auditioned the.either, I'm just speculating based on many other active designs not having "excessive" power on demand for all the drivers.

I hope to see more active designs appear for the residential market but this hobby is teetering unfortunately.

 

[haraldo]

I haven't auditioned the.either, I'm just speculating based on many other active designs not having "excessive" power on demand for all the drivers.

I hope to see more active designs appear for the residential market but this hobby is teetering unfortunately.

I am gonna try to see if it is possible to audition ... and report what I think, in here

I agree, and active designs also very interesting for DIYers .... I see tons of active DIY designs around here now, which is cool