Need Advice on Focal Speakers

[BACsader]

Hey there,

I am looking to upgrade from my Klipsch RB-51 and RC-52 speakers to these. Let me know what you think and if this is a good deal.

http://cgi.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cl.p...oni&1245299226

[JJ]

Oooo...Focals!

Except, for, the fact that - they have a big "SOLD" sign next to them on Audiogon.

[BACsader]

Originally Posted by JJxiv1215

Oooo...Focals!

Except, for, the fact that - they have a big "SOLD" sign next to them on Audiogon.

Who do you think they are sold to?

[Johnny Vinyl]

Focals are great speakers and I personally prefer them over Klipsch, although it's been a while since I last auditioned them (about 2 years ago).

I wouldn't sell your Klipsch's just yet though. You may or may not like the Focals, despite it's excellent reputation. How you even heard them yet, like anywhere?

John

[crazyBLUE]

Originally Posted by BACsader

Who do you think they are sold to?

Thats A good one BACsader !!

[Slec]

Focal makes some great speakers. I had a chance to buy some 826's and 836's at deeply discounted prices and passed I'm an idiot.

The 706's will have a very different sound from the Klipsch's. I don't want to color what your going to hear, but set them up next to each other and do an A/B comparison with a CD you know well.

[BACsader]

Good Advice. I definitely will do A/B comparisons. I want a smoother and more open sounding speaker. I love my dad's B&Ws and I want something that is similar to that and more natural sounding, which I know the Focals are.

[rded]

Originally Posted by BACsader

Hey there,

I am looking to upgrade from my Klipsch RB-51 and RC-52 speakers to these. Let me know what you think and if this is a good deal.

http://cgi.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cl.p...oni&1245299226

Focals are French manufactured speakers. Like B$W and Dynaudio, they build the whole thing from the ground up(from the glue to the drivers and cabinets) with no outsourcing. I depends on which series you are going with but most likely they'll out perform Klipsch musically. I have heard their top of the line speakers with the beryllium tweeter and it was fantastic.

www.musicdirect.com has plenty of Focals with mucho discounts.

[rded]

Originally Posted by BACsader

Good Advice. I definitely will do A/B comparisons. I want a smoother and more open sounding speaker. I love my dad's B&Ws and I want something that is similar to that and more natural sounding, which I know the Focals are.

While you're in the market for natural/smooth sounding speakers, Try Dynaudio, Sonus Faber, Revels.

[JJ]

Ah, well done, BAC! Focals I would definitely view as an improvement, I did mess with them a bit back when Sound Advice was going on - but the ones they carried were a bit out of my price range. You will love them!

[BACsader]

I have Focals in my car and I am really happy with them. I know they make an excellent speaker. As far as the price, all three speakers with stands for $535 with shipping. Good Deal?

[jomari]

Dynaudios will hopefully someday, come full circle in the near future.

Focals are European speakers, and exceptional build quality.

As mentioned, id suggest to take a listen to em firsthand, and then compare to your liking.

[musicman1999]

hi

i have been a very happy focal-jm labs owner for several years and strongly recommend them. i currently run a 5.1 set up of cobalt signature series, 816s in front and 806s in the rear with matching center and sub. before i bought i spent about a year listening to every speaker i could find within 50 miles and they were the clear winner. they are highly detailed and if you have a weakness in your system they will show it and they also need break in time from new. i have only heard a couple of Klipsch speakers but they will not be close to the focals.
enjoy
bill

[BACsader]

Okay. So these speakers are Bi-wire capable. Should I spend the money and get Bi-wire cables or just use standard speaker cable?

[musicman1999]

bi-amping might be worth a try but i would not bother bi-wiring.
use good quality single wire and replace the jumper plates with short lengths of speaker wire.

bill

[Big Daddy]

Originally Posted by BACsader

Okay. So these speakers are Bi-wire capable. Should I spend the money and get Bi-wire cables or just use standard speaker cable?

Bi-wiring does not really give you any improvement in sound. Bi-amping is a much better alternative. Bi-wiring is in direct contradiction to the superposition theorem in electronics which states that any number of voltages applied simultaneously to a linear network (the crossover) will result in a current which is the exact sum of the currents that would result if the voltages were applied individually. Some people refer to bi-wiring as BUY-Wiring.

[crazyBLUE]

Originally Posted by Big Daddy

Bi-wiring does not really give you any improvement in sound. Bi-amping is a much better alternative. Bi-wiring is in direct contradiction to the superposition theorem in electronics which states that any number of voltages applied simultaneously to a linear network (the crossover) will result in a current which is the exact sum of the currents that would result if the voltages were applied individually. Some people refer to bi-wiring as BUY-Wiring.

Buy -wiring !!!!

[naturephoto1]

Originally Posted by Big Daddy

Bi-wiring does not really give you any improvement in sound. Bi-amping is a much better alternative. Bi-wiring is in direct contradiction to the superposition theorem in electronics which states that any number of voltages applied simultaneously to a linear network (the crossover) will result in a current which is the exact sum of the currents that would result if the voltages were applied individually. Some people refer to bi-wiring as BUY-Wiring.

I think that it depends on the speakers for Bi-wiring. My rebuilt Dahlquist DQ-10 speakers are set up and Bi-wired with separate speaker cables feeding the upper 3 drivers and a cable feeding the woofer. I believe that there was an improvement in performance though Bi-amping may have a greater affect. Many high end speaker makers including Nola make their speakers to be Bi-wired or Tri-wired and they sell their own wires and use Nordost Valhalla wiring as their wiring for external and possibly some of their internal crossover wiring. Carl Marchisotto was the designer for many of the Dahlquist speakers after the DQ-10s including the DQ-20, DQ20i, DQ-30, etc. before setting up his own speaker company with the brand name of Alon and now ultimately as Nola (Alon backwards).

Rich

[BACsader]

So, if I want to bi-amp would I drive the highs with the receiver and the lows with my amplifier? I was thinking of this but not 100% on it.

[Big Daddy]

Originally Posted by BACsader

So, if I want to bi-amp would I drive the highs with the receiver and the lows with my amplifier? I was thinking of this but not 100% on it.

Yes, you can.