Focal Speakers Owners & Discussion Thread

[betty boop]

1 minute ago, TDX said:

I was told A2A is now the distributor?

got a feeling they sell as well. but who else ? I can remember a lot of focal retailers over years in melbourne .... likes of frankston hifi, tivoli and others... not sure who sells now...

[TDX]

2 minutes ago, betty boop said:

got a feeling they sell as well. but who else ? I can remember a lot of focal retailers over years in melbourne .... likes of frankston hifi, tivoli and others... not sure who sells now...

Maybe only A2A now? West coast hifi here only has some demo units for sale.  

[betty boop]

16 minutes ago, TDX said:

Maybe only A2A now? West coast hifi here only has some demo units for sale.  

that would be a tragedy ! if only them selling. surely some others ? 

[spottie]

how reliable the following information is - I do not know, but it looks like some retailers are still selling Focals

 

https://www.stereophonic.com.au/brands/Focal-Speakers.html?sort=pricedesc

 

https://www.sightandsoundgalleria.com.au/product-category/hi-fi-speakers/?orderby=price-desc

 

https://www.vinylrevival.com.au/search?type=product&q=Focal*+speakers*

[blybo]

49 minutes ago, betty boop said:

got a feeling they sell as well. but who else ? I can remember a lot of focal retailers over years in melbourne .... likes of frankston hifi, tivoli and others... not sure who sells now...

Busisoft/A2A are the distributor now. Can you imagine trying to run an independent retail store when your supplier is competing directly with you?

 

Same reason you don't see Moon gear widely available anymore, or many other brands they distribute.

 

Reading between the lines I suspect the pricing structures differ as to how many of Busisofts brands you carry or what your annual spend with them is. Sterophonic carries a lot of Busisoft gear so probably still makes a decent margin from them. Customers from the inner north are also probably less likely to travel over to East Kew as they'd need to get a tram into the city first. I used to live within 3km of Stereophonic (before he opened), and most of my friends there didn't even have a car or a licence! Captive market.

[Boratri]

Edited June 17, 2020 by Boratri

[TravellingTT]

Going through some old photos as one does with all of this unexpected time on the hands......

These Pics from 10 years ago...I had the Scala Utopias' (V1) at home for audition......had them for 3 months, the dealer was convincing me to buy....but in the end I backed out as I was moving to a house with a smaller listening room and was worried about the size and room positioning.

Check out their size compared to my 1027Be's (which I still have and 906's in second system).

Talk about regret......the one that got away......they sounded so darn good, huge and effortless scale and very easy to drive. Price for me in 2010 was $14k. If only.......

[betty boop]

dont see too many focal reviews...

 

good to see a review on audioholics on the Sopra No 1 bookshelf speaker and matching Sopra centre

https://www.audioholics.com/bookshelf-speaker-reviews/focal-sopra-nb01

 

Sopra seems popular and taking over from the Electra line which i can see some shared DNA with  good even handed conclusion wiht both plusses and minuses and good to see focal continuing their excellent work as they did with the electra line before...

 

[Sigma6]

Does anybody have speaker stand recommendations for the Focal Aria 906 bookshelf speakers?

 

Looking for an alternative to the Focal Aria S 900 stands (for aesthetic reasons).

[lufc001]

I’ve got Focal Aria 926’s what is a good crossover typically?

 

I’m running them at 80hz currently but they can go as low as 60hz I think.

 

Paired with an SVS PB-1000 pro as a subwoofer.

 

I’m also running a 5.1 setup with SR900’s as surrounds. Given these are bipole would it be better to have the Aria 906’s as surrounds or even 300 in walls?

 

Will soon be adding 4 x height speakers of 300IC6’s for Atmos.

[betty boop]

not sure why have not seen any mention on this website , if there was i missed it  

 

https://www.focal.com/en/focal-powered-by-naim-melbourne?

 

but apparently there is now a "Focal powered by Naim"  store now in richmond melbourne... ! 

 

 

THE LISTENING EXPERIENCE TAKES ON A WHOLE NEW DIMENSION

 

 

 

anyone checked this out ?  definitely seems worth a visit... given pics on that focal global site  

[Bush thug]

I am considering go standmounts over my hard to drive focal 826w 30th anniversary addition. I have a room that is 6x5m. 

can somebody help me with pros and cons of standmounts.

I also have 2 rythmik f12se subs and running it off a electrocompaniet eci4.

thought I would upgrade to maybe the electra or anything else that comes up. budget is around 5000 for speakers.

 

[AussieMick]

Hi All

  joining this discussion after recently acquiring a pair of Kanta 2 in black (the hood lady thinks they’re good looking and cute, like Minions dressed as Batman). They’ve been in my room for six weeks now, run in and positioned using Paul McGowan’s method and refined using Focal’s own formula. Loving them. 
I’m off to read from page 1…

Mick

[betty boop]

has focal sacked its local importer / distributor or have they shed the brand...

 

good riddance either way... we have seen the brand pricing going to such a ridiculous level... when consider my focal utopia diva which were B&W 802D equivalent back in day used to retail same as 802D around $20k mark... now days the 802D sell for ~ $40k and what does the equivalent focal cheapest base model scala utopia floor floorstander start at here  ? $80k ? how did that happen ? 

 

 

[AussieMick]

4 minutes ago, betty boop said:

has focal sacked its local importer / distributor or have they shed the brand...

 

good riddance either way... we have seen the brand pricing going to such a ridiculous level... when consider my focal utopia diva which were B&W 802D equivalent back in day used to retail same as 802D around $20k mark... now days the 802D sell for ~ $40k and what does the equivalent focal cheapest base model scala utopia floor floorstander start at here  ? $80k ? how did that happen ? 

 

 

Where did you hear this news? 

[betty boop]

1 minute ago, AussieMick said:

Where did you hear this news? 

 

 

https://www.stereonet.com/au/news/busisoft-av-ceases-focal-naim-distribution-in-australia-new-zealand

[betty boop]

i wonder if the brand will go back to Audio Marketing who were importer and distributor back in 2015... they supported the brand very well !  i remember the Nigel Macara days...

 

or will len wallis (their import side of the business) pick it up ? they were wonderfull for the brand as well. 

 

there are so many hifi stores that have dropped focal over the years ... hopefully focal falls in a kind importers hands that wins them back. the brand is huge overseas and deserves greater support locally ...

[Antipodean Brad]

Does Busisoft own Addicted to Audio?  I was reading between the lines of the announcement.

[betty boop]

10 minutes ago, Antipodean Brad said:

Does Busisoft own Addicted to Audio?  I was reading between the lines of the announcement.

one and same...

[paulie83]

On 13/07/2023 at 8:13 PM, betty boop said:

good riddance either way... we have seen the brand pricing going to such a ridiculous level..

 

When you look at the Australian prices compared to elsewhere, I don't think it's the Australian distributor putting up the prices in isolation, but rather a push from Focal themselves. Several of the Focal ranges are actually cheaper in Australia than elsewhere. I did read some rumours that the distribution changes will be felt over several countries and were as a result of of changes within Vervent Group. Time will tell and meanwhile, I will keep my eye open for any hi-fi stores dumping stock at a discount.

[warek]

Hi

 

I am interested in buying a later model 5-8 years old, used pair of Focal floor standing speakers in excellent condition.  Currently interested in later models such as Aria 936, Aria 948 or Kanta version 2.  If you  have another Focal floor standing model such as Electra or similar that you are selling then feel free to send me a message

 

Cheers

 

Kevin

 

 

[Tom71]

My beautiful floor standing Focals don’t fit into new apartment (after 2 years in storage).

 

as new, pic file too large for this site, happy to email

 

$15,000 

[warek]

I am now the owner of a used pair of Kanta 2. 
Thanks for the people that responded to my message

 

cheers

 

kevin

[paulie83]

2 minutes ago, warek said:

I am now the owner of a used pair of Kanta 2. 

What colour did you end up getting? 

[AussieMick]

5 minutes ago, warek said:

I am now the owner of a used pair of Kanta 2. 
Thanks for the people that responded to my message

 

cheers

 

kevin

Congratulations!