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

[gene]

Focal has introduced its first active streaming wireless speaker, and it’s a doozy. While there are plenty of affordable and mid-priced options in this increasingly popular category, the new DIVA UTOPIA ($39,999/pair) is aimed squarely at the well-heeled audiophile who values simplicity and design, but who still demands the extreme levels of performance offered by the best component-based systems.

The DIVA UTOPIA employs a 6.5-inch midrange driver mounted beneath the tweeter, and four 6.5-inch woofers positioned on the sides of the cabinet. The midrange driver delivers an “ultra detailed, natural midrange with no distortion and front impact in the bass,” according to Focal. The woofers, which are arranged in a push-push configuration, are reportedly capable of high power handling and “stunning bass presence.” Focal’s rated bandwidth for the DIVA UTOPIA is 27Hz-40kHz (+/-3dB), with a -6dB point at 24Hz. The midrange driver and woofers all feature Focal’s unique "W" sandwich cone technology, a design that has been used in the brand’s top speakers since 1995. The bass section receives 250 watts, while the mid and tweeter receive 75 watts/ea for a total of 400 watts of Class AB Naim amplification.

We will be getting a demo of these speakers next week at a press event in NYC and will report back on our subjective listening impressions.

Read: Focal $40K DIVA UTOPIA Active Wireless Streaming Speakers Overview

 

[TankTop5]

Focal finally embracing DSP and if you look closely a bit of a waveguide on the tweeter. Focals drivers have always been pretty efficient with the crossover, impedance and negative phase curve being their main issue. With a digital crossover I think the amplification will be plenty although the lack of a subwoofer output in my opinion is a negative. That said I think this is just a product to get Focal attention but hopefully we see some of these technologies trickle down and new products launched in the next few years

 

[Trebdp83]

That looks like something the Jawas tried to pawn off on Uncle Owen and Luke. 40k?

 

[Trell]

Focal finally embracing DSP and if you look closely a bit of a waveguide on the tweeter. Focals drivers have always been pretty efficient with the crossover, impedance and negative phase curve being their main issue. With a digital crossover I think the amplification will be plenty although the lack of a subwoofer output in my opinion is a negative. That said I think this is just a product to get Focal attention but hopefully we see some of these technologies trickle down and new products launched in the next few years

In this case there is good reasons to believe that the Focals are actually active (amps after crossovers) as opposed to powered (amps before crossovers). If what I believe is correct I think that is great, otherwise its real sad.

One bad decision is to use inefficient heat generating AB amps when there are excellent class D amps available.

Perhaps @gene or @shadyJ can comment upon whether the Focal speakers are active or powered?

 

[shadyJ]

In this case there is good reasons to believe that the Focals are actually active (amps after crossovers) as opposed to powered (amps before crossovers). If what I believe is correct I think that is great, otherwise its real sad.

One bad decision is to use inefficient heat generating AB amps when there are excellent class D amps available.

Perhaps @gene or @shadyJ can comment upon whether the Focal speakers are active or powered?

Has to be an active crossover seeing as how each driver gets its own amp.

Class AB can be very good. I am sure there is a reason why Focal/Naim went with class AB over class D in a no-expenses-spared loudspeaker.

 

[Trell]

Class AB can be very good. I am sure there is a reason why Focal/Naim went with class AB over class D in a no-expenses-spared loudspeaker.

I don't dispute that the AB amps are most likely excellent, but they are still inefficient and heat generating amps with the best class D amps performing better (not audibly, likely).

 

[Trell]

That looks like something the Jawas tried to pawn off on Uncle Owen and Luke. 40k?

Careful now, or we'll get an entire new Star Wars series around this subject!

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Makes sense for billionaires who cares more about convenience, but also want bragging rights.

Billionaire#1: My speakers are $250K

Billionaire#2: Yeah, well my speakers are $1 million. Take that.

Billionaire#3: Oh Yeah, but are your speakers Wireless and Active so that you can simply stream from your iPhone to your $1 million speakers? Didn't think so!

 

[Hobbit]

Focal has introduced its first active streaming wireless speaker, and it’s a doozy. While there are plenty of affordable and mid-priced options in this increasingly popular category, the new DIVA UTOPIA ($39,999/pair) is aimed squarely at the well-heeled audiophile who values simplicity and design, but who still demands the extreme levels of performance offered by the best component-based systems.

View attachment 69794

The DIVA UTOPIA employs a 6.5-inch midrange driver mounted beneath the tweeter, and four 6.5-inch woofers positioned on the sides of the cabinet. The midrange driver delivers an “ultra detailed, natural midrange with no distortion and front impact in the bass,” according to Focal. The woofers, which are arranged in a push-push configuration, are reportedly capable of high power handling and “stunning bass presence.” Focal’s rated bandwidth for the DIVA UTOPIA is 27Hz-40kHz (+/-3dB), with a -6dB point at 24Hz. The midrange driver and woofers all feature Focal’s unique "W" sandwich cone technology, a design that has been used in the brand’s top speakers since 1995. The bass section receives 250 watts, while the mid and tweeter receive 75 watts/ea for a total of 400 watts of Class AB Naim amplification.

We will be getting a demo of these speakers next week at a press event in NYC and will report back on our subjective listening impressions.

Read: Focal $40K DIVA UTOPIA Active Wireless Streaming Speakers Overview

Well, 40k is out of my range.

I like the direction they're going. At least for being able to setup music in other rooms besides where my HT is. With all their capability it really simplifies a setup.

I'm also not convinced it wouldn't be a better idea to have one power source for both speakers and have the speakers tethered together. For 40k you would think you'd get an option to do either! You'd be lucky to have multiple outlets spaced where you need across the room. I also seem to always be outlet constrained.

 

[mtrycrafts]

... a no-expenses-spared loudspeaker.

But it is only $40k.

 

[gene]

I don't dispute that the AB amps are most likely excellent, but they are still inefficient and heat generating amps with the best class D amps performing better (not audibly, likely).

Heat likely won't be much issue depending on the biasing scheme of the amps and how much heatsink area they have.

 

[gene]

Has to be an active crossover seeing as how each driver gets its own amp.

Class AB can be very good. I am sure there is a reason why Focal/Naim went with class AB over class D in a no-expenses-spared loudspeaker.

Definitely fully active crossovers with BW limiting for each driver which is directly coupled to its respective amplifier.

 

[Bobby Bass]

Very cool looking and I‘m sure they sound amazing. To answer your question, if I had $40K to spend on a system it would be passive speakers with separate components and I would tweak until the money was gone. Then I’d spend some more.

 

[TankTop5]

Very cool looking and I‘m sure they sound amazing. To answer your question, if I had $40K to spend on a system it would be passive speakers with separate components and I would tweak until the money was gone. Then I’d spend some more.

Let me stop you right there while I go pay homage to the porcelain god.

Cover off

 

[TLS Guy]

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.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

KEF has the $5K LS60 active wireless WiFi/Bluetooth/AirPlay streaming tower w/ a 31Hz F3 (26Hz at `-6dB).

LS60 Wireless

It will feel like you’re inside the game, the film, the music. Refining what immersive experience really means, the LS60 Wireless delivers truly realistic, high-fidelity sound for home entertainment. Its slim, plug and play design, packed with KEF’s key technology, offers the whole package: not...

us.kef.com

There are a lot of wireless active speakers available.

 

[TLS Guy]

KEF has the $5K LS60 active wireless WiFi/Bluetooth/AirPlay streaming tower w/ a 31Hz F3 (26Hz at `-6dB).

LS60 Wireless

It will feel like you’re inside the game, the film, the music. Refining what immersive experience really means, the LS60 Wireless delivers truly realistic, high-fidelity sound for home entertainment. Its slim, plug and play design, packed with KEF’s key technology, offers the whole package: not...

us.kef.com

There are a lot of wireless active speakers available.

Yes, this is all moving in the direction that I expected. Those speakers are actually very good value.

Active speakers with DSP Eq. and time alignment will bring a level of performance far greater than what is currently available. Just requiring an AC source is coming about faster than I thought.

This will bring an end to the AV receiver and that can't come to soon.

This technology will make it only a small step to not require an AVP or AVR. Controlling a system like this should be possible form a phone or tablet. Disc players and even turntables could plug into radio or ethernet adaptors.

This new environment should be able to provide vastly improved performance at less cost.

This all makes sense as phones and tablets have seriously eroded the audio and AV budgets of the buying public. So now their phone and or tablet budget can be part of their audio and AV budgets.

I think this will become a tidal wave and open up the AV experience to many who now never consider it beyond a sound bar.

The possibilities opened up by this technology a really exciting and will become a watershed moment.

 

[Bobby Bass]

Let me stop you right there while I go pay homage to the porcelain god.

Cover offView attachment 69817

They do not look good naked. Only the Talking Heads can get away with it.

 

[hurrahdaloch]

Yes, this is all moving in the direction that I expected. Those speakers are actually very good value.

Active speakers with DSP Eq. and time alignment will bring a level of performance far greater than what is currently available. Just requiring an AC source is coming about faster than I thought.

This will bring an end to the AV receiver and that can't come to soon.

This technology will make it only a small step to not require an AVP or AVR. Controlling a system like this should be possible form a phone or tablet. Disc players and even turntables could plug into radio or ethernet adaptors.

This new environment should be able to provide vastly improved performance at less cost.

This all makes sense as phones and tablets have seriously eroded the audio and AV budgets of the buying public. So now their phone and or tablet budget can be part of their audio and AV budgets.

I think this will become a tidal wave and open up the AV experience to many who now never consider it beyond a sound bar.

The possibilities opened up by this technology a really exciting and will become a watershed moment.

Its an amazing speakers by focal. Its shape and design are good. But $40K is very expensive. It is out of the range. ehall

 

[TankTop5]

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