Focal Chorus 814v, yes or no?

J

Jonny Rotten

Junior Audioholic
Ive looking for speakers for weeks.Its mind boggling. Any imput on these for all around listing,mostly rock,and for movies.(50/50 split)On sale now for $750 pair.20x20 room.Powered buy Yamaha rx v673.Its in my price range.Any other options before I pull the trigger.They seem to get high reviews.Ill slowly be building a 5.1 system
 
ousooner2

ousooner2

Full Audioholic
Emp e55ti - $477/pr

Many love these and they've received great reviews from Audioholics. This sale is quite a bit off. They look MUCH higher end then the price says.

KEF IQ70
Focal 814v

Or you could have more choices if you want bookshelves
 
zieglj01

zieglj01

Audioholic Spartan
Ive looking for speakers for weeks.Its mind boggling. Any imput on these for all around listing,mostly rock,and for movies.(50/50 split)On sale now for $750 pair.20x20 room.Powered buy Yamaha rx v673.
Yes they are a good deal, and can play loud. they are more refined
compared to the Klipsch KLF-10 speakers. However, other than the
loudness level and some bass punch >> the Focal will have better
detail and definition.
 
J

Jonny Rotten

Junior Audioholic
Yes they are a good deal, and can play loud. they are more refined
compared to the Klipsch KLF-10 speakers. However, other than the
loudness level and some bass punch >> the Focal will have better
detail and definition.
Thanks for looking into my posts.I guess I should ask,I know Klipsch sound different than other speakers.But will I really notice a major difference in sound quality in a new set of speakers in the $800 a set price range. $800 being 1/2 off,so really $1600 price range
 
zieglj01

zieglj01

Audioholic Spartan
Thanks for looking into my posts.I guess I should ask,I know Klipsch sound different than other speakers.But will I really notice a major difference in sound quality in a new set of speakers in the $800 a set price range. $800 being 1/2 off,so really $1600 price range
The one who has an ear to hear, will notice.:) As long as
you do not judge by overall loudness, or bass punch.

Also, for one who is use to a certain sound signature, it can
take time to adjust to a different sonic signature. >> It all
depends on taste/personality, preference and choice.

For me, it is pretty much a no-brainer. > All in all, the Focal
sound is good and they are not a wimp.
 
J

Jonny Rotten

Junior Audioholic
Thanks for looking into my posts.I guess I should ask,I know Klipsch sound different than other speakers.But will I really notice a major difference in sound quality in a new set of speakers in the $800 a set price range. $800 being 1/2 off,so really $1600 price range
Theres a local Focal dealer near me,There closed today,but I caught the owner in.He tryed looking up the price but the computers were down.I told him I could get them for $750.He said he should be able to beat that price by $200.$550 for the set! Is that even possible? Ill find out on Monday. For $550 should I just stop looking at different brands and get them?
 
J

Jonny Rotten

Junior Audioholic
The second time today someone mentioned the EMP e55ti's.Of the 2 what would you recommend?
 
zieglj01

zieglj01

Audioholic Spartan
Theres a local Focal dealer near me,There closed today,but I caught the owner in.He tryed looking up the price but the computers were down.I told him I could get them for $750.He said he should be able to beat that price by $200.$550 for the set! Is that even possible? Ill find out on Monday. For $550 should I just stop looking at different brands and get them?
I think he may be confused about the series model numbers. Make
sure he understands the model number. Find out what models that
he is talking about. >> Maybe there is a good deal for you on some
speakers. >> However I think AC4L, are the only ones who have the
Focal 814 special models.
 
Lulimet

Lulimet

Full Audioholic
Those Focals at $800 are a crazy good deal. They would definitely be on top of my list if I were in the market for new speakers.
 
AcuDefTechGuy

AcuDefTechGuy

Audioholic Jedi
Theres a local Focal dealer near me,There closed today,but I caught the owner in.He tryed looking up the price but the computers were down.I told him I could get them for $750.He said he should be able to beat that price by $200.$550 for the set! Is that even possible? Ill find out on Monday. For $550 should I just stop looking at different brands and get them?
That is a great price. I would get them.
 
Lulimet

Lulimet

Full Audioholic
Damn, I just realized they are at $730 shipped now. Insane deal.
I must resist!
 
ousooner2

ousooner2

Full Audioholic
I just picked up the EMP 5.0 for $850 or whatever it was. Too cheap not to at least try. I've heard quite a few speakers (mostly car setups) so I think I've got a good ear and can discern if these are good (to me at least) or not. With the 30 day trail and they pay return shipping if you don't like them...why not try em out! :D

Here's a poster on another forums that said he has both the EMP e55ti and the Focal 814v and says the e55ti sounds just as good



Well, I've spent about a week with my towers and center and I must say, I'm pretty impressed. For the price on a pair of these towers, I don't think you can come anywhere close to the sound quality and build quality. I've had Polk, Klipsch, EPO, Definitive and currently running Focal and these speakers easily hang with all of them. Obviously, the likes of all those brands has much higher and more pricey models available which will best the EMP. But, for this price point and even above this price point, in some cases, these EMP can't be beat! I currently have a pair of Focal Chorus 814V towers and the matching center channel. These towers were $999 each, and the center was $599-$699 depending on where you bought at the time. These EMP sound just as good as my three Focal. Like I said, Focal obviously has some very high-end models which would kill the EMP, but it's pretty amazing that I'd rate these things right on par with my three Focal that retailed for $2,600 just a year or two ago. For the price, simply an outstanding job by EMP. For the record, I'm not a super-audophile or anything. But, I've had these Focal for over a year and have listened to them extensively and I love them. But, I can't find anything that the EMP's don't do just as well for one third of the price of the Focal. Great speakers! I can't wait until they introduce some new models down the road and see what they do with the brand.
Focal are in the top pic, EMP on the bottom. Bravo, to EMP. These are great mid-range speakers. They're easily mid-range if they can sound as good as my Focal. And I've heard lots of entry level speakers that sound like crap, these are not, by any means, entry level, other than in price.



[/quote]
 
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J

jcl

Senior Audioholic
I'd take that comparison between the Focal and EMP with a grain of salt, just judging by the pictures. I thought those speakers look too close to the walls. I checked the manuals for both and they suggest placing them away from the walls. 15" for EMP and for Focal 800 series 20" from the back and 28" from the side walls. It's quite possible that user hasn't heard either speaker optimally due to placement restrictions.


I haven't heard either model so i can't comment from personal experience. There have been positive opinions and reviews of both and I think either are a great value at the current sales prices.
 
zieglj01

zieglj01

Audioholic Spartan
I'd take that comparison between the Focal and EMP with a grain of salt, just judging by the pictures. I thought those speakers look too close to the walls. I checked the manuals for both and they suggest placing them away from the walls. 15" for EMP and for Focal 800 series 20" from the back and 28" from the side walls. It's quite possible that user hasn't heard either speaker optimally due to placement restrictions.
I agree with you.

However, both are good deals.
 
ousooner2

ousooner2

Full Audioholic
I'd take that comparison between the Focal and EMP with a grain of salt, just judging by the pictures. I thought those speakers look too close to the walls. I checked the manuals for both and they suggest placing them away from the walls. 15" for EMP and for Focal 800 series 20" from the back and 28" from the side walls. It's quite possible that user hasn't heard either speaker optimally due to placement restrictions.


I haven't heard either model so i can't comment from personal experience. There have been positive opinions and reviews of both and I think either are a great value at the current sales prices.
I definitely agree there. Both are poor placements so I figured his judgement wouldn't be hindered by great placement for EMP and poor for Focal or vise versa. Just figured a comparison would be good to throw in here.

I'm surprised the Focal say they need 20" behind seeing as how they're front ported. Obviously the walls on either side are killing the image, but I would think the Focal room looks better than EMP room

--------

Looking at the 814v vs. 826v...it looks like the only difference is the extra woofer, but yet it says the 814 is a 2.5-way and the 826v is a 3-way. Same x-over points and everything. I wonder how much the sound differs from each. Can't wait to get my EMP's in and have a listen. If I don't like, I might have to give these 814v's a try
 
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AcuDefTechGuy

AcuDefTechGuy

Audioholic Jedi
Damn, I just realized they are at $730 shipped now. Insane deal.
I must resist!
That is a crazy price. Almost 60% off on brand new Focal 814V made-in-France speakers is just insane.

Too bad they did not have the 826V at 60% off.
 
N

nogaro

Full Audioholic
I just picked up the EMP 5.0 for $850 or whatever it was. Too cheap not to at least try. I've heard quite a few speakers (mostly car setups) so I think I've got a good ear and can discern if these are good (to me at least) or not. With the 30 day trail and they pay return shipping if you don't like them...why not try em out! :D
I'll be looking forward to your impression of the EMP Impressions. Which ones did you get for the surrounds? I just got the front 3 for now but won't be able to hear them until sometime in Jan due to an upcoming move.
 
B

Beatmatcher247

Full Audioholic
Are you absolutely set on floorstanders?

Maybe I'm weird but I thought their bookshelves featuring the 7" woofers, the Chorus 807Vs (I have not heard the "Special W edition!", lol), sounded better than their floorstanders. I wish they made a floorstander with the 7" drivers. I would not sell their bookshelves short, give them a listen if you are considering their floorstanders.
 
ousooner2

ousooner2

Full Audioholic
I'll be looking forward to your impression of the EMP Impressions. Which ones did you get for the surrounds? I just got the front 3 for now but won't be able to hear them until sometime in Jan due to an upcoming move.
Right now I went with the E5bi due to it being the same tweeter and mid. The 4" bookshelf looked very tempting as it's gotten plenty of praise, but I didn't want to much a different sound.

I think the EMP's should be very solid for the price. They're +/- 2db for all the measurement whores, beautiful looking for all the aesthetic people, great price for the budget minded, etc etc. Every reviewer THAT HAS ACTUALLY HEARD THEM has liked them. The only reviewer I could find that has heard both the 814v and e55ti is the one I posted above. Your perception will likely be different than his as will mine, but still...with a 30-day trial period with nothing to lose..why not!

The RBH Signature SX 6300's are like $3,300+/pr and these look to share the same cabinet. Drivers are obviously different, but isn't there a decent amount of difference every time someone compares based on MSRP between 2 lines? EMP has stated there is definitely trickle down tech from RBH in the e55ti's. Same x-over pts for a start so maybe they're shooting for the same reproduction with different drivers. Who knows. Again, only the users ears will know which is better and then it's based on cost.
 

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