Focal 1000 Utopia Series Loudspeaker Review with DIRAC ART Sneak Peak!

[TheoN]

This is a review years in the making! Focal's flagship 1000 series promises audiophile-grade sound and reference theater performance from an in-wall speaker. We do a deep dive into an all-Focal 1000 series installation with a special focus on the IWLCR Utopia and IWSUB models and a special surprise with Dirac ART! Surprises, pitfalls, and sonic bliss abound. Do you think architectural speakers have matured into serious contenders for audiophiles and home theater enthusiasts? What advantages does a high end processor bring to an architectural installation? Are you excited about the possibilities with Dirac ART? What do you think about the measured performance of Stewart Filmscreen's StudioTek 130 G4 new Ultraperf?

READ: Focal 1000 Utopia Series Loudspeaker Review (with Dirac ART sneak Peak!)

 

[Movie2099]

Cool setup!

 

[cardsdoc]

Amazing setup. I was pleasantly surprised at the minimal acoustic impact of the ST 130 G4 ultraperf screen. Do you think this was due to the screen alone or these particular speakers matched with this screen? I'm looking for a higher gain AT screen than what I have now (0.8). The issue with perf screens for me has been I sit 8.5ft but a a little further back when reclined. I have 3 Revel F36 behind screen for LCR. Any sense in your viewing about seeing perfs at my distance? I have a sample but it's small and hard to know what a full screen would be like. EQ would be handled by Dirac with DLBC on a Denon A10H. Thanks.

 

[TheoN]

Thanks. I’m exceedingly pleased with the setup. I spoke with Don Stewart to do a deeper dive on the screen and Ultraperf this past summer. He touted the features of the screen—both visual and acoustic performance. He was spot on. The recommended distance from the wall for any AT screen is 6-12 inches. Performance should increase the further you are from the wall. Mine is just shy of 7 inches. So the numbers you see are for that distance and should improve if you move it further out. 8.5 feet you’re on the border of just being able to see them. You will be good at 9 feet or more. Remember one thing about Stewart. They have done military and movie applications. They make their name on accurate specs. If they say 9 feet then believe it.

 

[Bobby Bass]

Thanks for the in-depth review. Beautiful setup and I’m sure sound. I Don’t have experience with Focal outside of dealer listening rooms but I’ve had a great experience with beryllium tweeters. Great top end without sibilance in my experience.

 

[TheoN]

Thanks for the in-depth review. Beautiful setup and I’m sure sound. I Don’t have experience with Focal outside of dealer listening rooms but I’ve had a great experience with beryllium tweeters. Great top end without sibilance in my experience.

My experience is the same with Beryllium tweeters. I’m exceedingly pleased with the setup and glad I chose to go the Focal route with the Astral 16. In fact the Astral 16 was something I wrestled with; and in hindsight was one of the best decisions with its power and nearly infinite flexibility to fine tune the setup.

 

[TLS Guy]

My experience is the same with Beryllium tweeters. I’m exceedingly pleased with the setup and glad I chose to go the Focal route with the Astral 16. In fact the Astral 16 was something I wrestled with; and in hindsight was one of the best decisions with its power and nearly infinite flexibility to fine tune the setup.

Interesting set up. It is the common modern brute force approach pushed to the max. I tend to using the laws of physics that would have been familiar to instrument makers and especially organ builders for hundreds of years. I go out of my way not to fight the laws of the universe and it has served me very well.

 

[Brian Smith]

Great article. I simply can't deal with the Focal inverted dome tweeters, however. They are the furthest thing from natural sounding in my book. Wilson used the same/similar tweeter for years and I just never was a fan.

 

[TheoN]

Great article. I simply can't deal with the Focal inverted dome tweeters, however. They are the furthest thing from natural sounding in my book. Wilson used the same/similar tweeter for years and I just never was a fan.

Thanks. This has been a fun project and I’m happy with the results. Focal reserves the beryllium inverted dome for their flagship lines. They use other materials for the tweeters in other lines. The tweeters in the Utopia line of speakers have further optimizations to the motor structure.
My point being that you may like the tweeter in the flagship models if you haven’t auditioned them.

 

[Brian Smith]

Good point. I will admit to hearing the non beryllium versions. I just find as I get older I gravitate more and more towards natural sounding speakers. Just a personal preference thing. You seem to have a lot of experience with ART. Do you think we will see ART on any device this year besides Storm audio devices?

 

[TheoN]

Good point. I will admit to hearing the non beryllium versions. I just find as I get older I gravitate more and more towards natural sounding speakers. Just a personal preference thing. You seem to have a lot of experience with ART. Do you think we will see ART on any device this year besides Storm audio devices?

Focal’s beryllium tweeters are a next level experience for sure. Their newer products are featuring a newer iteration still with an M-shaped inverted dome tweeter. They are worth a listen in my experience and may change your mind. The beryllium tweeters are special.

I haven’t asked about ART schedule. Next time I talk to the Dirac folks I can inquire about any public info.

 

[cardsdoc]

Hi Theo. Did you ever wind up doing a separate review of the Studiotek 130 G4 ultraperf?

 

[TankTop5]

I had older Focal Chorus bookshelf speakers that imaged better than anything else I’ve ever owned. Obviously the room played a large factor as the side walls were 8 feet away and the speakers were placed 12 feet apart with about 10 feet of open space behind the listening position.