✅ *🛒 Focal 826-D: **bit.ly/3110yMa**, **amzn.to/3s7ReC6**, **bit.ly/3yJfM8R* *QOTD: What is YOUR favorite speaker for BOTH home theater and music?* *Love our conversation/outtakes? Be sure to watch to the end* *COMMENT RULES: Please be respectful. No outside links, URLs, email addresses, etc. Violations are automatically deleted.*
Love your channel. I would love to hear your review of the Paradigm SE 8000F monitor speakers and does it couple well with the Yamaha as1200 integrated amp?
love the channel great content and very helpful. I would like to see a review of the Power Sound Audio MTM210T. Not sure if they would win any beauty contests, but they look good on paper.
So far B&W is my favorite out of what I've heard, though at times I have to turn the treble down with the brighter recordings. Btw I agree with ur wife's commentary - dare I suggest u include her in more of ur reviews moving fwd??🤔
It’s a big deal for I cannot tell you how difficult it is to pack some of this stuff back up in boxes that have the rigidity of cottage cheese after opening. A lot of stuff arrives f**ked up and when it does it screws with our schedule for we have to send for replacements. It’s not hard to pop for better boxes.
@@BraisSeoane While I understand your commendable stance on single use plastics, truly we should not encourage assertions that haven't been made. Nobody in this video or my comment thread has specifically mentioned plastic packaging: you've made that leap on your own. And any assumption that we'll designed packaging is inherently high in plastic content is exactly that: an assumption. One of the three staples in sustainable design (besides reduction and recycling) is reuse. And as stated in the video, considered packaging design actually encourages this. And that's not to mention that intelligent packaging design facilitates reduced material use as well as recyclables (which typically excludes generic polystyrene packaging). And as an example of how considered package design can absolutely be pro-sustainability in the world of Hi-Fi, I'd like to offer the example of a recent turntable release by Tone Factory (an offshoot of ProJect) who's packaging design largely consisted of recycled paper, was plastic-free, and explicitly requested not to be thrown away. Nice packagiing design can absolutely change the world. First step is ending lazy package design though.
@@BraisSeoane Respectfully, I agree with essentially nothing from your reply... Firstly, you've gone from falsely asserting that Andrew is encouraging increased single use plastics to falsely asserting that I claimed he was talking about paper. I get that you're recycling my comment format (which recycled yours) but you're just saying nonsense now. Also, dude, why is everything you say packed with false assumptions? It might sound mind-blowing but what you're saying with incredulity is essentially exactly what I do (and also appears to be the case for Andrew). It's not even difficult, it's just mindful and responsible consumerism: when you buy something simply take a minute to decide what it's planned lifespan will be. If you want to keep it until it's destruction and it won't go into storage/ transport regularly, recycle the packaging. If you plan on selling it or gifting it (and the packaging aids it's transport), keep the packaging in a cupboard, flattened where possible. Not being able to do that is an indicator of over-consuming. It's really not that wild. Seriously, revise your thinking about consumerism. We ABSOLUTELY ARE buying packaging when we buy products. The majority of sustainability is the responsibility of the consumer (reuse and recycling but also minimising consumption of new products). While I do agree that reduced packaging is a positive step, it isn't even half as important as *thoughtful* packaging and encouraging its responsible use and disposal. Calling out lazy, thoughtless, and dysfunctional packaging simply ISN'T encouraging increased single use plastics. Please don't act like that is what happened here. Thanks (no need to reply)
I own Focal 726 Chorus. I couldn’t be happier with these beauties. I haven’t even heard them at their best because I’ve only had a 40 watt amp used on them. I’m a Focal Fan for life. I have the Clear headphones and they are simply perfect.
I just listened to these speakers at a hi-fi shop. There were lined up 7 or 8 floorspeakers and I could swap between them with a remote. That was one hour of FUN! Anyway. The Focal 826 was among them, and the one could follow - the twice as expensive Aria 926. But the were very close and definitely not worth the price difference. When I changed from all of the others speakers I was thinking "that one is good!". Sometime tonight I have to tell my wife I bought a new set of speakers. They will come the day after tomorrow.
A great thing about Focal is they make pretty much everything in-house. They made components for other high-end manufacturers before they decided to design & market their own speakers. They still do actually. They're also part of a French company that owns Naim Audio, which is why you see Focal speakers on the Uniti all-in-one boxes.
Yep. For years the best speakers in the business relied on Focal drivers. Both NAIM and Focal are great companies and we love their products together and separately. Really cannot go wrong with either brand honestly.
Large soundstage, very good speakers Chora 816 and 826 that is more than worth the price. Bass as Bas intended is nothing exaggerated, just perfect. Andrew my compliments, it is exactly as you described. Don't think twice, just buy it, it performs super well for a budget speaker. no silly money
Some of the Focal speakers that I've listened to before have been, at least to my ears, somewhat sharp sounding in the upper registers. Now, this could have been because of the amplifiers that were paired with them. Thanks, as always, Andrew! Your reviews are always a pleasure to watch!
Focal is definitely detailed in the upper registers, which if you're not used to it or have it paired with the wrong electronics it can be a bit much. But if you dial it in, it's kind of awesome.
Have to echo the comments on Focal’s packaging. I bought a pair of Focal Chorus 726 about 2 1/2 years ago and did, in fact, keep all the packaging - it was great. I have no idea why I kept it - it was just too good to throw away! Contrary to your observations on these speakers, I have to say the fit and finish on mine is top notch and looks waaaaay more expensive than what I actually paid. They sound terrific as well. I honestly don’t know how they can be built entirely in France in terms of value for money. Kudos to Focal!
I've these speaker 826s for two days, from the very first second, i'm blown away with clarity & sound stage & space it creates, how every instruments play right in the middle of the room rather than at R-L locations. Amazing mids, highs...Never hears such treble with that brightness , clarity, detail but at the same time never ear fatigue - silky at higher tones like SSS-SHH....however i can not get decent bass with my marant pm7000N amplifier...either my amp doesn't have the guts for the bass or my room acoustics is just bad..Luckily i've my sub Dali K-14F for that bass and overall sound i'm getting is jaw dropping. I just listened to Hans Zimmer - Seville from Mi-2 soundtracks, I just smiled meaninglessly during the track...you couldn't be more accurate.
@@tomwebb7091 whoah... the 826 drops to 2.9 ohms in the lower frequencies? At what particular frequency does it drop that low? This could be the reason why im hearing a lot if people complaining about the lack of bass from the chora and aria
Great review. When I listened to these and a paradigm premiere 800f - I found the focal to be sharp yet “lifeless” and much preferred the paradigm. But landed on a martin Logan 40i/50xti/fx/4i/800x
As always, love the review. You and Kristi just explain things in a way I get. Also, based on the reviews I’ve seen and read so far, seems we have similar tastes in what gear we enjoy (your La Scala review echoed what I felt first time I heard them). Anyway, trying to solve for “x” for two separate rooms with two different goals. Doesn’t sound like Focal=“x” in either, so will keep working on it. As for your question...I don’t have one yet. Current setup is Def Tech BP30’s, C/L/R2000 center and Def Tech surrounds. Room is 25’x45’ with 22’ vaulted ceiling. No major issues for music (in pure direct mode), but dialog from movies and television frequently tends to sound like Charlie Brown’s teacher. Will keep watching your channel...bet something clicks soon.
I’ve had Focals for years and they are great speakers. They proved to me break I is real and it took forever. In a nearfield setup they are insane. Now I’m into my Heresy IVs but will never sell my focal floorstanders.
I just got the 826 at the end of 2020 and a Marantz SR 5015 and it performs beautiful, for music and movies, as you said, a lot of detail, very neat, clean, great spacing... Just love it... Your review made me feel even better with what I bought...
Great review! Andrew I loved the review of the Decware amp, I could feel how much you loved it by the smile on your face :o) looking forward to the review of the Technics
It's very refreshing to see & hear speakers (or any hi'fi equipment) being reviewed via speakers placed in a 'normal' living room, i.e. 'normal' as like 99.99% (or more?) of us use as our only available & large enough room to socialise in, relax in, listen to music in & watch TV & films in, possibly with a surround sound set-up.... (e.g. we often enjoy a 15'yr old Arcam AVR via 4 top-corner mounted 2-way bookshelf sized speakers tilted down towards our sofa, with a corner sat now-old Rel Q400 & the Arcam's phantom pseudo 'centre channel' which all combined effectively takes up zero space & sounds gr8 to us when used for films & some better tv progs, & it's 100% independent to my stereo rig) ....but crucially, a 'normal' room in that it hasn't had one, two, a few or even many thousand spent on it for accoustic treatment alone, as if we all can afford or even want our only primary living area to function exactly like a very high-end hi'fi shop's demonstration listening room. I'm not adverse to hanging something no bigger than average sized framed paintings or pictures on an otherwise bare side wall to quieten first reflections but our walls, like most folk's living rooms, are not stark & bare & as for having a 3 dimensional spasmodically extending protruding squares like a surrealistic cubist's artform plastered over my rear walls cieling & side walls ...nah, the cost &/or effort of doing that cheaply is a no-no to me & purely because i have never ever once thought "My new purchased speakers are very good sounding but the cielling, side wall & rear walled delayed sound reflections are totally ruining all my musical enjoyment so i may as well throw it all away & buy a £49-99 CD boombox instead, ive lived in various places before this & our last ever house & i've never ever even got close to those thoughts in 4 decades of owning stereo & speakers since a mid teenager (in my bedroom) If i didnt have a carpet & floor reflections did trouble me (that i've only heard folk talk about) ...i would cure that as far as putting a rug or 2 down.
Hi Andrew. The LS-50 Meta does a fantastic job with both music and home theatre. The secret is to have more sound deadening material around the room with some reflective surfaces. Also the distance of both speakers should be exactly the same to your listening position. Also, I don't use a centre dialogue speaker, because voices can be anywhere on the screen, from extreme left and right.
Its funny but whenever im stressed or feeling down i come to your channel to re watch vids, always cheers me up! Kudos for your work guys ❤️ Keep it up.
Great review I recently bought the 826s and the matching chora center. Your review is spot on, the lower end short comings was NOT a problem for me since I have 2 HSU ULS-15 MK2s. These speakers amaze me everyday, funny side note as good as these are at imagining my pioneer AJs are little bit better at that.
With respect to imaging, play with placement a bit. In my travels there are few speakers that do imaging better than a Focal once properly setup. So glad to hear you're loving. your Focals!
@@andrewrobinsonreviews yeah I played around a bit it seems to be they need a little more toe in than the Pioneer Andrew Jones speakers I had before. Also needed to move my love seat back a little more, they do image very well though like you said. The AJs were like magic with imaging though, overall the focals are much better speakers but the AJs still impress me with how good they are for being a very budget speaker.
I have a pair of Quadral taurin mkIII speakers for over 20 years by now, and stil love them. Love both listen to music and movies with them. They go very low. My A/V is an Onkyo tx-nr 626. As a center speaker I use a Magnat...
well, bought Klipsch rp 8000f and they were DOA... returned. Did a more in depth review(now I know better and thank god) with Paradigm 800F, Revel F36, revisit of the rp 8000f and the HECO Aurora 1000. It took a while but the Focal 826 was(in my ears) a bit better at how wide / open when it came alive. The Revel and the Klipsch(after extensive listening) may have brought on more wear and tear on the ears but were very good. The Heco was outstanding but just did not have the umph that the Focal had and they are freaking HUGE. The coin flip(almost) was with the Paradigm. I would have been quite happy with them(great low end), but the way the Focal opened up across the room was the game winner. Now I finalize this with an amp testing.. I watched all of the info you provided and went from there. I did not do the -D ones.... budget but oh boy, they sound oh so good.
Loved your review today of the focal 826D. Really help ease my mind on the choice I’m going to be making in the near future to upgrade. And I also quite like the mention of the Klipsch Atmos speakers like I had asked as well. Hopefully you can review them as well in the future. The sub is quite the disappointing point but I was thinking of some JL subs for my system when I upgrade. Hope you have a wonderful Sunday to you both!
I recently purchased the Chora center channel speaker to complete my 3.1 setup, which consists of a NAD T778, Infinity IL 10’s, a PSB 125 SW & a Sony 65 A8F. The Chora center channel is now the show stopper. I mean to my surprise, it does music just as well as it does movies 😲. It doesn’t hurt at all to leave it on when listening to music. It’s that good (to my ears).
Oh its great. Use ProLogic II Music or a DTS Music mode and you'll have some of the finest "stereo" imaging anywhere and at any price. A good friend of mine once said, "why do I care about center imaging, I have a center speaker for that!" He wasn't wrong. Enjoy!
Ok Robinson....as a fellow Austinite, I have been following your content for some time now. It drove me to invest in a Technics SU-G700 and then moving it on for a MF M8Xi to better match my 804d3’s. Both fantastic products. Now here I sit waiting, somewhat patiently, for you to unveil the review of the Technics SU-R1000.....so let’s get on with it!!!!
A real Eames chair is VERY comfy but can be a mixed bag for listening. If you get the small (original) model, it's better for listening for seated upright in it the head/neck pad doesn't rest behind your ears. But if you get the new, larger model the headrest is closer to your ears which can collapse your soundstage a bit. I would still get one over most listening/theater chairs as its WAY more comfortable (for me) and beyond stylish.
Thank you. That would make for a great video in itself = listening chairs/sofas. The Eames is such an icon. Never sat in one but would love to try. Beautiful stuff.
@@andrewrobinsonreviews seating episode? Yes, please. Screen distances and off-axis limitations. All that good stuff I have to explain every time it comes up.
@@SeanVedell Great point Sean, it can be tiresome explaining that to your family and or house mates every time they want to rearrange the living room (and it's the listening room as well).
The B&W I would compare with these are the 702 S2, given the $2500 price point. For me, these are the speakers to beat. In reference to powering them, they have a 90 db sensitivity, so I can't imagine that they would need that much power to drive them. So I'm a little confused on your stance on driving them. And at $2500, they're less than these Focals, and I would bet sound better. Just a reminder to review the JBL Studio 590. At $1000 a pair (when on sale), they are SUPER competitive. Can't wait for that review!
This was one of the three choices I had for tower speakers for my two channel system, and I decided on the Bowers&Wilkins 603 S2 Anniversary. Love all of them about equally, but for my room and the sound I’m looking for, the B&Ws were just better.
It is important to call out that the focal is made in France with largely in house components. This alone means they have little true comparisons for cost. Dali, Paradigm Premiere, sonus faber new line. It may not matter to some but it fits affect cost.
Thanks for giving us an idea of the Focal sound. There's hardly any reviews of Focal speakers and I for one would love to better understand the Focal house sound. You mentioned that these tend to sound lean in the bass department which sounds like the only real disappointment given it seems to be very articulate bass. If you ever get the opportunity, it would be great to see how the Focal Aria 948 performs with it's 8 inch drivers which supposedly reach 31Hz and seem to come really close to rivaling the Kanta 2s. BTW, 948s vs Forte IVs would be an awesome comparison.
For a (relatively) cheap speaker, these are very very good. Could go a bit deeper in the bass, but at least the bass has some decent texture and tone, which, for me, is more important. Personally I was impressed with the 826 (not the "D" model), especially for the money. Now, if you want a speaker that is not cheap, but not ridiculously expensive either, then the Q Acoustics Concept 500 are impossible to ignore. They are my current favourites and coupled with my favourite tube amplifier, the sound is just sublime. Still, if your budget won't extend beyond the 826's, most will not be disappointed in their sound signature - unless you are a bass-head. But then, get a subwoofer when your budget allows.
@@el34glo59 - oh yes, you really really should want them. If you partner them with the right electronics; tubes in my case, the sound is next level good. Easily as good as speakers costing much more. But, you're quite correct. They are certainly not cheap, but then they easily compete with speakers costing much much more, so in reality, it works out that they are somewhat of a bargain.
I've just had dillema yesterday between Chora 826 and MA Silver 300 on a demo session at shop and I went with Monitor Audio Silver 300. They are just one magnificent speakers and finishing is top notch, I've paired them with Roksan K3 Integrated. Pure love ❤️
Focal in general is light on bass compared. I like that about it. Personally I own the 906 and the cc900, that's the aria line with the flax seed material. It's a big step up and sounds amazing and you might like the finishes better because it's less outspoken. Btw, Focal in Europe is of course cheaper, especially in/near France.
Ditto. In Europe, Focal is almost half the price as in the USA. I’m also holding out for Focal to release an Atmos version in the Aria line, as I am also using 906 and cc900 with a 1000 F for added lows in my home theatre system. I figure the 906 can migrate to a side channel if this becomes available as an option.
Mine is a full Klipsch system with an Onkyo TX-NR737, a Klipsch K-100SW sub and a pair of RP-8000F front channels. Believe me they really walk the dog on music and movies. It does help that the Onkyo is known to be musical for a surround sound processor. To sum it up I have almost abandoned my $12k Sony ES based stereo in favor of the Klipsck/Onkyo system.
Bonjour! If you add the Gaia III devices from Isoaccoustics to the Chora 826 or 826D you will be able to improve the overall performance of these speakers. I did it for my 826 and it made a huge difference!
I have these speakers as well as the Chora center. I've paired them with a Rel HT1205 sub driven by a Denon AX2400 and that combination sounds great for me. I agree with you guys about the finish but I'll forgive them for that.
Good intro! It's not as if they only know how to do one or the other. I'd say excellent speakers are excellent speakers, regardless of genre or cinematic vs musical content.
Holy Jeez. I thought I was the only one who had the MI:2 music score. LOL Nicely played. :) I have two home theater set-ups. First set is Polk Audio LSi15 for front left and right, the LSiC for the Center, and a PSW404 sub - I have a pair of inexpensive in-wall Polks for surround. The LSi15 are big towers. I never had a complaint or desire to upgrade over the past 16 years. But... When we finished out basement this past winter, and added a new home theater, I wanted something different. After months of research including speaker auditioning, online reviews, customer reviews, and online demo's (don't scoff at this at all - it's how I ended up where I did), I went with the Revel M16 as my front left and right speakers, paired with a REL HT1003 Sub. When I got them in home, set up with my modest Denon x2600H for the HT, they blew me away. I'm so used to the Polks I wasn't ready for their level of clarity and detail. I wasn't ready for the mid tones and mid-bass texture. And I certainly wasn't ready for the astronomically wide soundstage. These tiny speakers just dwarfed my LSi15 in terms of scale of sound. We don't use a center channel in our new home theater paired with a 77" Master Series A9G OLED, and the M16 give us everything I want, and so much more, from the front L/R channels for movies. ...and musically? When you get them set up in your room the right way, which doesn't take much effort because they're fussy for placement, especially when paired with a good sub (we use the REL HT1003) in a 2.1 configuration, they're entirely holographic. ...And that makes them so good for front left and right speakers with no center channel. If you give these speakers a little juice, they really open up, and sound and music scales way beyond the size of our TV - or even our front wall. ...I hope you get a chance to check these little buggers out.
A/V crazies like myself go for imaging and I lean to my 2-RP-280FA Front& 2-RP-280F Rear for the sensitivity with 2-RP-15 subs so I am able to use my house power without rewiring. Mounting the RP-600's for the rear height, RP-525 sides the imaging is spectacular. The music is to dream for bringing my chorals that sound like a Gothic Cathedral.
Lyngdorf TDAI 1120, direct competitor with Naim Atom and NAD M10, made by very high end company as there entry level unit. $2200. No one reviews Lyngdorf, please review this
@@andrewrobinsonreviews it's a lovely speaker. The build quality looks very impressive. Think they're about 92dB sensitivity and relatively easy to drive. A friend of mine has Aria 948s and I'm wowed by a the imaging, the vibrancy and the finishing. Glass top and real leather around those lovely cones. He uses a Rega Elicit R stereo amp which is very articulate, maybe a bit exciting for some but worked well with the Arias.
Upgraded my front speakers just recently and I was choosing between the Focal Chora 826 vs the Dali Oberon 7 ( The older brother of the Oberon 1's that you had reviewed ). I decided to get the Dali's and really glad I did.
Love that you do so many speaker reviews. I think I remember that you said you liked Paradigm back in your past. Wondered if you’ve thought of reviewing the newest Founders series that got released last month. Would love to hear your thoughts.
Oooh, Paradigm! I had an audition of their newest line in the early 90's. My first taste of higher end speakers, coming from the run of the mill Sony, Technics and Kenwood. The attendant asked me my musical preference, I said rock. She put on Stevie Ray Vaughn, and just wow. In a room with 8 to 10 brands available, I could've sworn it was a tower playing. I bought those bookshelves that day. A fan ever since. 👍🏼
For the money, I think the Klipsch look like a better option, even if just on looks alone. The gloss grey bezels just look Dollar General cheap. More Atmos enabled speaker reviews, please. Didn’t know this was an option until today. Thanks for educating me.
Yeah, this was our first all-in-one Atmos speaker too. I much prefer this style to the add-on speaker like what we have for our Monitor and Jamo setups. You can bet we'll have more speakers like the 826-D on the channel soon enough!
@@andrewrobinsonreviews It certainly shows that there has to be easier ways to deliver an Atmos experience without drilling holes in your ceiling. Certainly a more spouse friendly solution too.
Another great review!!! You've talked me into getting the Forte IVs in one of your previous videos. What I really want to know is where you got your media cabinet. I love your taste in design and i want a similar cabinet for my living room.
I recommend Hans Zimmer: Live in Prague Blu-Ray it is very good especially Pirates of the Caribbean soundtrack,just listen to some parts maybe even test some spekaers.
Hans' music is always a great test. I use "Seville" and "Roll Tide" a lot and have for years. I'll check out the Live album though. Thanks for the tip!
In have focal speaker in my car and they are amazing. Anyone ever had the chance to listen to the kanta no. 2. For me the focal sound in mid to high Range more cohesive than my klipsch 280f (similar to 8000f)
Andrew your reviews are good balanced honest. Which speakers (non fatiguing) would you suggest for both HT and Music for not too loud volume around the price 1k? It should give good clarity in low to medium volume. These Choras are higher priced in our country. Others can also chime in. Livingroom is 19x9x9 feet.
Great review, really comprehensive and useful. Giving your impressions on other speakers and their requirements in comparison to the Focal is brilliant.
I always click on the price the speakers reviewed first, figured out how much more a pair costs than my Klipsch loudspeakers (7x more here) and then I enjoy the review knowing how much money I saved. It makes every review so much more satisfying. How is a speaker that only gets down to 48 KHz “almost full range”? Mine go to 38 KHz. 🤔
Can you review the Polk audio T-series home theatre package with the PSW10 subwoofer. There’s a sale on the package for $685, well for my country that is. I’m really interested on the package, but a review could be great to know if it’s worth it!
Would have to imagine that the Chora 826 with separate height channels would outperform these? Also, how do you think the Chora center channel would work as a LCR? I have come to prefer identical speakers across the front channels for frequent "panning" back and forth in movies.
Andrew, I know how you and Kristi seem to like large center channel speakers. Just remember: they can cost more than the just speaker itself if you are not using a wall-mounted TV setup like the one you have. I invested in the Jamo s 83 CEN because you suggested that the s 81 CEN was on the small side. The sound of the s 83 CEN is good for the money, but most budget-to-mid priced TV stands come with shelf spacing under 8.5" in height. The s 83 CEN is over 8.6" in height. I see that the Focal Chora Centre thankfully comes in at 8.25", which probably can fit. If you want adjustable shelf height, that's an option that requires an investment in real furniture like the BDi that you have, based on what I've been looking at online. If you get good equipment, you should get something good to house it -- but it's an additional expense.
Hear me out here. Put a pikachu suit on a chair next to you, and when you have conversations with wifey, zoom the camera out and talk to the pikachu suit as though she were in the suit. This is totally absurd i know, but it would be insanely funny and cool. If wifey were game to wear the pikachu suit, i'd probably lose my mind. As always, I love your content and its presentation. Please keep up the excellent work, both of you. Also, sidenote, would you be willing to do a round up of sub 500 usd 2.1 amps for desk/listening room use. Currently I have a Yamaha WXA-50 and a SMSL SA300. Both are great, but both are compromised solutions.
They do kind of blend in with your space... I am using Klipsch the Sixes for movies and music in my living room... They have a 6" long throw mid/bass unit and I don't miss a sub with them...
I demoed the 826 on an Anthem MRX1140 and ended buying a pair of Arendal 1961 towers to pair with my MTX740, I think the Rendals sound better, even before break in.
I think you may also consider comparing them with Definitive Technology's BP 9080X with Atmos speakers + Subwoofers built in... Frequency goes enough low to be full range for everything. I use them both for movies and music with center Def Tech CS 9080 (again with built in sub) and they are beyond my expectations... Before buying them, I did not expect BP 9080X's to be that good at music. By the way I use Focal's monitor speakers Shape Twins attached to PC through Audient iD44 and they are very good :) Thank you for the review...
Thank you for watching! I was a DefTech SuperTower owner years ago and LOVED them for music and movies. May have to go back and give them a look in the future!
Can you do an review on the yamaha hs series 5 or 8 as an home theater/audiophile speakers ? There are reviews of those speakers as monitors but I want to know what is it like for day-to-day tasks !
Great review. Am I right to think that the 8000F is better dynamically? And how do they compare in imaging? These two are my two options for a tower system.
The 8000F is weightier dynamically but about equal in speed to the Chora. The Chora is a touch better in terms of imaging and has a little better detail within the soundstage but its not night and day different. If you already own 8000Fs, I'd keep 'em. But if you haven't bought a speaker yet, give them both a listen.
@@andrewrobinsonreviews Thanks Andrew, very helpful. What about depth of sound stage? Are they similar? I have a feeling that due the focal tweeter Focal with be better at depth? I have developed recently an affinity to soundstage depth, in my ears it really makes a difference in perceived realistic presentation. Indeed need to listen to both...
Great review, these speakers look great! It would be interesting to see some pictures/mini-videos of that great packaging you mentioned. You keep mentioning Emotiva, when are you going to review something from them?
@@andrewrobinsonreviews BTW if you like Seville, listen to "Tres notas para decir te quiero" by Vicente Amigo. I have him and similar Spanish music on a Spotify playlist of you're interested.
Hello Andrew, first off your content is exceptional and I'm a new subscriber, so thank you! I'm considering the Chora 816 for LR, Chora center, two Chora 806 surrounds with 2 SVS PB-1000s. In this case should the 816s suffice or is it worth getting 826Ds?
I was looking at LS50 Meta with a sub for awhile but these things are catching my eye. I don't need the "D" version as I am strictly using it for a 2 channel. It seems from a reviews that a sub would help these out a bit with base, but I like what I"m hearing about how detailed they are. Now I just need to find a way to actually demo these things.
1st thank You for review. This is only strengthen my feelings about my purchase. I have a pair of Focal 826 with Marantz NR1200 and it sounds great for me. I never thought to build a home theater, I love more pure stereo. But adding of center (and Focal as you explained is a super option) maybe worse of adding. Once again thank You for review.
@@andrewrobinsonreviews Right!?? I honestly wasnt very enthusiastic for Focal until I saw the factory tour video. Theyre a great example of how it should be done, period!
Klipsch horn lacks instrument separation and midrange of Focal. Bass in Focal is lacking for sure. Buy an SVS sub to enhance base if needed. Agree with comments on packaging. Also not being made in China impacts costs.
Andrew - as my favorite sage could you at a convenient time comment on having stereo with 4 bookshelf speakers? I could not find one video on the subject. I have a moderate 40 w/ch integrated and acquired the B1+ but couldn't part with my old Klipsch KG 2.5s. So I added them to channel B, mixing old and new speakers. Sounds fine but there isn't much out there about placement, etc. Small room, apartment volume levels. Thanks.
I'd love to see a review of the Emotiva H2+ (or some variant) I have them and love them, so as you say the only person that matters is me! I'd still love to hear you opinion on how they compare to the Klipsch (non-heritage)/Elac/Focal. One thing I've noticed is their sensitivity seems to be higher then most of these, though not enough to be driven with the awesome Zen Tube amps you were reviewing earlier! Also the center channel that goes with is HUGE! :)
Hy, please try a pair of Aria 948, with a center one, it will blow your mind, even without a subwoofer, it will work excellent with a good amp , try with the M8ix you have, and let me know your opinion.
✅ *🛒 Focal 826-D: **bit.ly/3110yMa**, **amzn.to/3s7ReC6**, **bit.ly/3yJfM8R*
*QOTD: What is YOUR favorite speaker for BOTH home theater and music?*
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Love your channel. I would love to hear your review of the Paradigm SE 8000F monitor speakers and does it couple well with the Yamaha as1200 integrated amp?
The Q acoustics 3050i
love the channel great content and very helpful. I would like to see a review of the Power Sound Audio MTM210T. Not sure if they would win any beauty contests, but they look good on paper.
So far B&W is my favorite out of what I've heard, though at times I have to turn the treble down with the brighter recordings. Btw I agree with ur wife's commentary - dare I suggest u include her in more of ur reviews moving fwd??🤔
Would be interesting to hear what you think about the brand new psb t600. Really enjoy your channel.
I love that you guys are slamming the industry's packaging standards! This matters, and I'm here for it.
It’s a big deal for I cannot tell you how difficult it is to pack some of this stuff back up in boxes that have the rigidity of cottage cheese after opening. A lot of stuff arrives f**ked up and when it does it screws with our schedule for we have to send for replacements. It’s not hard to pop for better boxes.
@@BraisSeoane While I understand your commendable stance on single use plastics, truly we should not encourage assertions that haven't been made. Nobody in this video or my comment thread has specifically mentioned plastic packaging: you've made that leap on your own. And any assumption that we'll designed packaging is inherently high in plastic content is exactly that: an assumption.
One of the three staples in sustainable design (besides reduction and recycling) is reuse. And as stated in the video, considered packaging design actually encourages this. And that's not to mention that intelligent packaging design facilitates reduced material use as well as recyclables (which typically excludes generic polystyrene packaging).
And as an example of how considered package design can absolutely be pro-sustainability in the world of Hi-Fi, I'd like to offer the example of a recent turntable release by Tone Factory (an offshoot of ProJect) who's packaging design largely consisted of recycled paper, was plastic-free, and explicitly requested not to be thrown away.
Nice packagiing design can absolutely change the world. First step is ending lazy package design though.
@@BraisSeoane Respectfully, I agree with essentially nothing from your reply...
Firstly, you've gone from falsely asserting that Andrew is encouraging increased single use plastics to falsely asserting that I claimed he was talking about paper. I get that you're recycling my comment format (which recycled yours) but you're just saying nonsense now.
Also, dude, why is everything you say packed with false assumptions? It might sound mind-blowing but what you're saying with incredulity is essentially exactly what I do (and also appears to be the case for Andrew). It's not even difficult, it's just mindful and responsible consumerism: when you buy something simply take a minute to decide what it's planned lifespan will be. If you want to keep it until it's destruction and it won't go into storage/ transport regularly, recycle the packaging. If you plan on selling it or gifting it (and the packaging aids it's transport), keep the packaging in a cupboard, flattened where possible. Not being able to do that is an indicator of over-consuming. It's really not that wild.
Seriously, revise your thinking about consumerism. We ABSOLUTELY ARE buying packaging when we buy products. The majority of sustainability is the responsibility of the consumer (reuse and recycling but also minimising consumption of new products).
While I do agree that reduced packaging is a positive step, it isn't even half as important as *thoughtful* packaging and encouraging its responsible use and disposal.
Calling out lazy, thoughtless, and dysfunctional packaging simply ISN'T encouraging increased single use plastics. Please don't act like that is what happened here.
Thanks (no need to reply)
I own Focal 726 Chorus. I couldn’t be happier with these beauties. I haven’t even heard them at their best because I’ve only had a 40 watt amp used on them. I’m a Focal Fan for life. I have the Clear headphones and they are simply perfect.
I just listened to these speakers at a hi-fi shop. There were lined up 7 or 8 floorspeakers and I could swap between them with a remote. That was one hour of FUN!
Anyway. The Focal 826 was among them, and the one could follow - the twice as expensive Aria 926. But the were very close and definitely not worth the price difference.
When I changed from all of the others speakers I was thinking "that one is good!".
Sometime tonight I have to tell my wife I bought a new set of speakers. They will come the day after tomorrow.
It is practically the best educational channel for beginners like me, I learned more from Andrew than from all other sources, combined.
Agreed! And the shownotes under each video also has very helpful info. Really well produced videos with so much relevant info!
A great thing about Focal is they make pretty much everything in-house. They made components for other high-end manufacturers before they decided to design & market their own speakers. They still do actually. They're also part of a French company that owns Naim Audio, which is why you see Focal speakers on the Uniti all-in-one boxes.
Yep. For years the best speakers in the business relied on Focal drivers. Both NAIM and Focal are great companies and we love their products together and separately. Really cannot go wrong with either brand honestly.
Made in house in Europa in France not in China 👍
Large soundstage, very good speakers Chora 816 and 826 that is more than worth the price. Bass as Bas intended is nothing exaggerated, just perfect. Andrew my compliments, it is exactly as you described. Don't think twice, just buy it, it performs super well for a budget speaker. no silly money
Some of the Focal speakers that I've listened to before have been, at least to my ears, somewhat sharp sounding in the upper registers. Now, this could have been because of the amplifiers that were paired with them. Thanks, as always, Andrew! Your reviews are always a pleasure to watch!
Focal is definitely detailed in the upper registers, which if you're not used to it or have it paired with the wrong electronics it can be a bit much. But if you dial it in, it's kind of awesome.
Have to echo the comments on Focal’s packaging. I bought a pair of Focal Chorus 726 about 2 1/2 years ago and did, in fact, keep all the packaging - it was great. I have no idea why I kept it - it was just too good to throw away! Contrary to your observations on these speakers, I have to say the fit and finish on mine is top notch and looks waaaaay more expensive than what I actually paid. They sound terrific as well. I honestly don’t know how they can be built entirely in France in terms of value for money. Kudos to Focal!
I've these speaker 826s for two days, from the very first second, i'm blown away with clarity & sound stage & space it creates, how every instruments play right in the middle of the room rather than at R-L locations. Amazing mids, highs...Never hears such treble with that brightness , clarity, detail but at the same time never ear fatigue - silky at higher tones like SSS-SHH....however i can not get decent bass with my marant pm7000N amplifier...either my amp doesn't have the guts for the bass or my room acoustics is just bad..Luckily i've my sub Dali K-14F for that bass and overall sound i'm getting is jaw dropping.
I just listened to Hans Zimmer - Seville from Mi-2 soundtracks, I just smiled meaninglessly during the track...you couldn't be more accurate.
@@tomwebb7091 yeah you're right..marantz is weak.now i have Denon PMA 2000, sound quality including bass is much better than Marantzi pm7000n.
@@tomwebb7091 whoah... the 826 drops to 2.9 ohms in the lower frequencies? At what particular frequency does it drop that low? This could be the reason why im hearing a lot if people complaining about the lack of bass from the chora and aria
@@tomwebb7091 true, sensitivity dont tell squat about how demanding a speaker is to perform optimally.
Great review. When I listened to these and a paradigm premiere 800f - I found the focal to be sharp yet “lifeless” and much preferred the paradigm. But landed on a martin Logan 40i/50xti/fx/4i/800x
As always, love the review. You and Kristi just explain things in a way I get. Also, based on the reviews I’ve seen and read so far, seems we have similar tastes in what gear we enjoy (your La Scala review echoed what I felt first time I heard them).
Anyway, trying to solve for “x” for two separate rooms with two different goals. Doesn’t sound like Focal=“x” in either, so will keep working on it.
As for your question...I don’t have one yet. Current setup is Def Tech BP30’s, C/L/R2000 center and Def Tech surrounds. Room is 25’x45’ with 22’ vaulted ceiling. No major issues for music (in pure direct mode), but dialog from movies and television frequently tends to sound like Charlie Brown’s teacher. Will keep watching your channel...bet something clicks soon.
Hang in there, but thanks for continuing to tune in!
I’ve had Focals for years and they are great speakers. They proved to me break I is real and it took forever. In a nearfield setup they are insane. Now I’m into my Heresy IVs but will never sell my focal floorstanders.
I just got the 826 at the end of 2020 and a Marantz SR 5015 and it performs beautiful, for music and movies, as you said, a lot of detail, very neat, clean, great spacing... Just love it... Your review made me feel even better with what I bought...
Glad you liked it!
I feel the same way about how Emotiva packages their speakers, I was impressed.
Emotiva has ALWAYS taken packaging seriously and it really helps if service is needed or when customers go to resell them in order to upgrade.
Great review! Andrew I loved the review of the Decware amp, I could feel how much you loved it by the smile on your face :o) looking forward to the review of the Technics
OMG, we've been waiting for the go ahead on the Technics video for months. Cannot wait to bring you that review...finally!
It's very refreshing to see & hear speakers (or any hi'fi equipment) being reviewed via speakers placed in a 'normal' living room, i.e. 'normal' as like 99.99% (or more?) of us use as our only available & large enough room to socialise in, relax in, listen to music in & watch TV & films in, possibly with a surround sound set-up.... (e.g. we often enjoy a 15'yr old Arcam AVR via 4 top-corner mounted 2-way bookshelf sized speakers tilted down towards our sofa, with a corner sat now-old Rel Q400 & the Arcam's phantom pseudo 'centre channel' which all combined effectively takes up zero space & sounds gr8 to us when used for films & some better tv progs, & it's 100% independent to my stereo rig) ....but crucially, a 'normal' room in that it hasn't had one, two, a few or even many thousand spent on it for accoustic treatment alone, as if we all can afford or even want our only primary living area to function exactly like a very high-end hi'fi shop's demonstration listening room. I'm not adverse to hanging something no bigger than average sized framed paintings or pictures on an otherwise bare side wall to quieten first reflections but our walls, like most folk's living rooms, are not stark & bare & as for having a 3 dimensional spasmodically extending protruding squares like a surrealistic cubist's artform plastered over my rear walls cieling & side walls ...nah, the cost &/or effort of doing that cheaply is a no-no to me & purely because i have never ever once thought "My new purchased speakers are very good sounding but the cielling, side wall & rear walled delayed sound reflections are totally ruining all my musical enjoyment so i may as well throw it all away & buy a £49-99 CD boombox instead, ive lived in various places before this & our last ever house & i've never ever even got close to those thoughts in 4 decades of owning stereo & speakers since a mid teenager (in my bedroom)
If i didnt have a carpet & floor reflections did trouble me (that i've only heard folk talk about) ...i would cure that as far as putting a rug or 2 down.
Hi Andrew. The LS-50 Meta does a fantastic job with both music and home theatre. The secret is to have more sound deadening material around the room with some reflective surfaces. Also the distance of both speakers should be exactly the same to your listening position. Also, I don't use a centre dialogue speaker, because voices can be anywhere on the screen, from extreme left and right.
Its funny but whenever im stressed or feeling down i come to your channel to re watch vids, always cheers me up! Kudos for your work guys ❤️ Keep it up.
What a great compliment. Glad to be of some good!
You’d love the packaging the Arendal 1961 series speakers come in, best I’ve ever come across, Kristy would also like the matt finish.
Great review I recently bought the 826s and the matching chora center. Your review is spot on, the lower end short comings was NOT a problem for me since I have 2 HSU ULS-15 MK2s. These speakers amaze me everyday, funny side note as good as these are at imagining my pioneer AJs are little bit better at that.
With respect to imaging, play with placement a bit. In my travels there are few speakers that do imaging better than a Focal once properly setup. So glad to hear you're loving. your Focals!
@@andrewrobinsonreviews yeah I played around a bit it seems to be they need a little more toe in than the Pioneer Andrew Jones speakers I had before. Also needed to move my love seat back a little more, they do image very well though like you said. The AJs were like magic with imaging though, overall the focals are much better speakers but the AJs still impress me with how good they are for being a very budget speaker.
One thing I like about Focal is that they are not made in China.
I have a pair of Quadral taurin mkIII speakers for over 20 years by now, and stil love them. Love both listen to music and movies with them. They go very low. My A/V is an Onkyo tx-nr 626. As a center speaker I use a Magnat...
I love the combination of the two of you going back and forth here.
well, bought Klipsch rp 8000f and they were DOA... returned. Did a more in depth review(now I know better and thank god) with Paradigm 800F, Revel F36, revisit of the rp 8000f and the HECO Aurora 1000. It took a while but the Focal 826 was(in my ears) a bit better at how wide / open when it came alive. The Revel and the Klipsch(after extensive listening) may have brought on more wear and tear on the ears but were very good. The Heco was outstanding but just did not have the umph that the Focal had and they are freaking HUGE. The coin flip(almost) was with the Paradigm. I would have been quite happy with them(great low end), but the way the Focal opened up across the room was the game winner. Now I finalize this with an amp testing.. I watched all of the info you provided and went from there. I did not do the -D ones.... budget but oh boy, they sound oh so good.
Loved your review today of the focal 826D. Really help ease my mind on the choice I’m going to be making in the near future to upgrade. And I also quite like the mention of the Klipsch Atmos speakers like I had asked as well. Hopefully you can review them as well in the future.
The sub is quite the disappointing point but I was thinking of some JL subs for my system when I upgrade.
Hope you have a wonderful Sunday to you both!
If you can afford JL Audio subwoofers, do it! They're great and among my favorite. Thanks for tuning in!
Your channel is just digital gold. Thank you so much for your thought out and comprehensive reviews. Well done!
I recently purchased the Chora center channel speaker to complete my 3.1 setup, which consists of a NAD T778, Infinity IL 10’s, a PSB 125 SW & a Sony 65 A8F. The Chora center channel is now the show stopper. I mean to my surprise, it does music just as well as it does movies 😲. It doesn’t hurt at all to leave it on when listening to music. It’s that good (to my ears).
Oh its great. Use ProLogic II Music or a DTS Music mode and you'll have some of the finest "stereo" imaging anywhere and at any price. A good friend of mine once said, "why do I care about center imaging, I have a center speaker for that!" He wasn't wrong. Enjoy!
Ok Robinson....as a fellow Austinite, I have been following your content for some time now. It drove me to invest in a Technics SU-G700 and then moving it on for a MF M8Xi to better match my 804d3’s. Both fantastic products. Now here I sit waiting, somewhat patiently, for you to unveil the review of the Technics SU-R1000.....so let’s get on with it!!!!
When is someone going to talk about the Eames chair? Comfy? Good for listening?
A real Eames chair is VERY comfy but can be a mixed bag for listening. If you get the small (original) model, it's better for listening for seated upright in it the head/neck pad doesn't rest behind your ears. But if you get the new, larger model the headrest is closer to your ears which can collapse your soundstage a bit. I would still get one over most listening/theater chairs as its WAY more comfortable (for me) and beyond stylish.
Thank you. That would make for a great video in itself = listening chairs/sofas. The Eames is such an icon. Never sat in one but would love to try. Beautiful stuff.
@@thomass.9167 We were going to do a seating episode before the health crisis. We may revisit it in the future.
@@andrewrobinsonreviews seating episode? Yes, please. Screen distances and off-axis limitations. All that good stuff I have to explain every time it comes up.
@@SeanVedell Great point Sean, it can be tiresome explaining that to your family and or house mates every time they want to rearrange the living room (and it's the listening room as well).
The B&W I would compare with these are the 702 S2, given the $2500 price point. For me, these are the speakers to beat. In reference to powering them, they have a 90 db sensitivity, so I can't imagine that they would need that much power to drive them. So I'm a little confused on your stance on driving them. And at $2500, they're less than these Focals, and I would bet sound better.
Just a reminder to review the JBL Studio 590. At $1000 a pair (when on sale), they are SUPER competitive. Can't wait for that review!
This was one of the three choices I had for tower speakers for my two channel system, and I decided on the Bowers&Wilkins 603 S2 Anniversary. Love all of them about equally, but for my room and the sound I’m looking for, the B&Ws were just better.
Totally understand. You made a good choice! Thanks for joining us this morning.
It is important to call out that the focal is made in France with largely in house components. This alone means they have little true comparisons for cost. Dali, Paradigm Premiere, sonus faber new line. It may not matter to some but it fits affect cost.
Thanks for giving us an idea of the Focal sound. There's hardly any reviews of Focal speakers and I for one would love to better understand the Focal house sound. You mentioned that these tend to sound lean in the bass department which sounds like the only real disappointment given it seems to be very articulate bass. If you ever get the opportunity, it would be great to see how the Focal Aria 948 performs with it's 8 inch drivers which supposedly reach 31Hz and seem to come really close to rivaling the Kanta 2s. BTW, 948s vs Forte IVs would be an awesome comparison.
I agree !
Oh god please!
You should do a video of Kristi's favorite speakers and electronics!
Spending my Monday binging your videos, thanks for all the work you both put into them, happy 4th!
Same to you!
For a (relatively) cheap speaker, these are very very good. Could go a bit deeper in the bass, but at least the bass has some decent texture and tone, which, for me, is more important. Personally I was impressed with the 826 (not the "D" model), especially for the money. Now, if you want a speaker that is not cheap, but not ridiculously expensive either, then the Q Acoustics Concept 500 are impossible to ignore. They are my current favourites and coupled with my favourite tube amplifier, the sound is just sublime. Still, if your budget won't extend beyond the 826's, most will not be disappointed in their sound signature - unless you are a bass-head. But then, get a subwoofer when your budget allows.
They're expensive af. The acoustics that is. Which is unfortunate because i want them
@@el34glo59 - oh yes, you really really should want them. If you partner them with the right electronics; tubes in my case, the sound is next level good. Easily as good as speakers costing much more. But, you're quite correct. They are certainly not cheap, but then they easily compete with speakers costing much much more, so in reality, it works out that they are somewhat of a bargain.
I've just had dillema yesterday between Chora 826 and MA Silver 300 on a demo session at shop and I went with Monitor Audio Silver 300. They are just one magnificent speakers and finishing is top notch, I've paired them with Roksan K3 Integrated. Pure love ❤️
The Silvers are FANTASTIC speakers! Huge value too. I love Monitor Audio's products.
I own a pair of Chorus726 with an Atoll 50watts and a small 10watts tube amp (for my phono) ...an I'm in paradis :)
These Focal speakers are great, I love your channel, reviews.👊🏻
thanks for hanging out with us this morning!
Thanks so much Ricardo!
Focal in general is light on bass compared. I like that about it.
Personally I own the 906 and the cc900, that's the aria line with the flax seed material. It's a big step up and sounds amazing and you might like the finishes better because it's less outspoken.
Btw, Focal in Europe is of course cheaper, especially in/near France.
Ditto. In Europe, Focal is almost half the price as in the USA. I’m also holding out for Focal to release an Atmos version in the Aria line, as I am also using 906 and cc900 with a 1000 F for added lows in my home theatre system. I figure the 906 can migrate to a side channel if this becomes available as an option.
Great review from both of you as usual! Would love to see Canton vento or reference reviewed by you for music and movies
Good suggestion. I'll look into it and see if its a good fit for the channel. Thanks for watching!
Mine is a full Klipsch system with an Onkyo TX-NR737, a Klipsch K-100SW sub and a pair of RP-8000F front channels. Believe me they really walk the dog on music and movies. It does help that the Onkyo is known to be musical for a surround sound processor. To sum it up I have almost abandoned my $12k Sony ES based stereo in favor of the Klipsck/Onkyo system.
I'm not surprised you've found a happy place with the 8000F/Onkyo combo. Thanks for tuning in this morning!
Bonjour! If you add the Gaia III devices from Isoaccoustics to the Chora 826 or 826D you will be able to improve the overall performance of these speakers. I did it for my 826 and it made a huge difference!
Thanks for the tip!
I have these speakers as well as the Chora center. I've paired them with a Rel HT1205 sub driven by a Denon AX2400 and that combination sounds great for me. I agree with you guys about the finish but I'll forgive them for that.
Also I have been thinking of upgrading the amp to the NAD T778. What do you think?
Good intro! It's not as if they only know how to do one or the other. I'd say excellent speakers are excellent speakers, regardless of genre or cinematic vs musical content.
100% agree!
Holy Jeez. I thought I was the only one who had the MI:2 music score. LOL Nicely played. :)
I have two home theater set-ups. First set is Polk Audio LSi15 for front left and right, the LSiC for the Center, and a PSW404 sub - I have a pair of inexpensive in-wall Polks for surround. The LSi15 are big towers. I never had a complaint or desire to upgrade over the past 16 years. But...
When we finished out basement this past winter, and added a new home theater, I wanted something different. After months of research including speaker auditioning, online reviews, customer reviews, and online demo's (don't scoff at this at all - it's how I ended up where I did), I went with the Revel M16 as my front left and right speakers, paired with a REL HT1003 Sub. When I got them in home, set up with my modest Denon x2600H for the HT, they blew me away. I'm so used to the Polks I wasn't ready for their level of clarity and detail. I wasn't ready for the mid tones and mid-bass texture. And I certainly wasn't ready for the astronomically wide soundstage. These tiny speakers just dwarfed my LSi15 in terms of scale of sound. We don't use a center channel in our new home theater paired with a 77" Master Series A9G OLED, and the M16 give us everything I want, and so much more, from the front L/R channels for movies. ...and musically? When you get them set up in your room the right way, which doesn't take much effort because they're fussy for placement, especially when paired with a good sub (we use the REL HT1003) in a 2.1 configuration, they're entirely holographic. ...And that makes them so good for front left and right speakers with no center channel. If you give these speakers a little juice, they really open up, and sound and music scales way beyond the size of our TV - or even our front wall. ...I hope you get a chance to check these little buggers out.
A/V crazies like myself go for imaging and I lean to my 2-RP-280FA Front& 2-RP-280F Rear for the sensitivity with 2-RP-15 subs so I am able to use my house power without rewiring. Mounting the RP-600's for the rear height, RP-525 sides the imaging is spectacular. The music is to dream for bringing my chorals that sound like a Gothic Cathedral.
Lyngdorf TDAI 1120, direct competitor with Naim Atom and NAD M10, made by very high end company as there entry level unit. $2200. No one reviews Lyngdorf, please review this
I have Aria 926s and they are like grown-up Choras with much nicer style. Agree totally about the Focal imaging - they just disappear.
I've heard good things about the Aria Series. Maybe we'll need to get some on the channel!
@@andrewrobinsonreviews it's a lovely speaker. The build quality looks very impressive. Think they're about 92dB sensitivity and relatively easy to drive. A friend of mine has Aria 948s and I'm wowed by a the imaging, the vibrancy and the finishing. Glass top and real leather around those lovely cones. He uses a Rega Elicit R stereo amp which is very articulate, maybe a bit exciting for some but worked well with the Arias.
Would love to see a $1K-$2K comparison, Klipsch 8000Fii, Monitor Audio Silver 500 7G, Kef R5, Polk L600, Martin Logan 60XTi and Revel Performa3 F206
Really beautiful speaker, especially the light wood.
I agree!
Upgraded my front speakers just recently and I was choosing between the Focal Chora 826 vs the Dali Oberon 7 ( The older brother of the Oberon 1's that you had reviewed ). I decided to get the Dali's and really glad I did.
That's GREAT!
Loved the review as always, and great chat at the end, particularly about boxes. I always thought REL did lovely boxes! 👍🏻
Love that you do so many speaker reviews. I think I remember that you said you liked Paradigm back in your past. Wondered if you’ve thought of reviewing the newest Founders series that got released last month. Would love to hear your thoughts.
Oooh, Paradigm! I had an audition of their newest line in the early 90's. My first taste of higher end speakers, coming from the run of the mill Sony, Technics and Kenwood. The attendant asked me my musical preference, I said rock. She put on Stevie Ray Vaughn, and just wow. In a room with 8 to 10 brands available, I could've sworn it was a tower playing. I bought those bookshelves that day. A fan ever since. 👍🏼
I love them so much that i have a hard time enjoying listening to music on anything else. Spoiled!
For the money, I think the Klipsch look like a better option, even if just on looks alone. The gloss grey bezels just look Dollar General cheap.
More Atmos enabled speaker reviews, please. Didn’t know this was an option until today. Thanks for educating me.
Yeah, this was our first all-in-one Atmos speaker too. I much prefer this style to the add-on speaker like what we have for our Monitor and Jamo setups. You can bet we'll have more speakers like the 826-D on the channel soon enough!
@@andrewrobinsonreviews It certainly shows that there has to be easier ways to deliver an Atmos experience without drilling holes in your ceiling. Certainly a more spouse friendly solution too.
Another great review!!! You've talked me into getting the Forte IVs in one of your previous videos. What I really want to know is where you got your media cabinet. I love your taste in design and i want a similar cabinet for my living room.
Hi John Wood, Thanks for tuning in! You'll find that information in the description box just below the video's title.
I recommend Hans Zimmer: Live in Prague Blu-Ray it is very good especially Pirates of the Caribbean soundtrack,just listen to some parts maybe even test some spekaers.
Hans' music is always a great test. I use "Seville" and "Roll Tide" a lot and have for years. I'll check out the Live album though. Thanks for the tip!
Please do the Focal Aria’s ❤️
In have focal speaker in my car and they are amazing. Anyone ever had the chance to listen to the kanta no. 2.
For me the focal sound in mid to high Range more cohesive than my klipsch 280f (similar to 8000f)
love the channel you guys rock.
Thanks so much! Enjoy the review!
Thanks for tuning in this morning!
B&W 603 S2! I think they are different from their 700 series siblings in terms of the desire for power. Hope you can review them!
We were looking at which models to buy in order to review them soon.
Sounds amazing. Looking forward to it! Great stuff on the videos btw. Have been watching religiously :))
I've also ordered the B&W 603 S2 and I'm excited to finally hear them in my place! Sorry, @Andrew couldn't wait for your Review to come 😉
For me the KEF Q-Series works well. The Q50a atmos speaker fits perfectly on the Q550.
Andrew your reviews are good balanced honest. Which speakers (non fatiguing) would you suggest for both HT and Music for not too loud volume around the price 1k? It should give good clarity in low to medium volume. These Choras are higher priced in our country. Others can also chime in. Livingroom is 19x9x9 feet.
Klipsch- Keepers of the sound. Never has a brand moto so perfectly fit a brand.
My current favourite for everything imho is the Elac 407 + a good sub.Amazingly good tone,and imaging.
I bet that sounds amazing!
Great review, really comprehensive and useful. Giving your impressions on other speakers and their requirements in comparison to the Focal is brilliant.
Thanks!
I always click on the price the speakers reviewed first, figured out how much more a pair costs than my Klipsch loudspeakers (7x more here) and then I enjoy the review knowing how much money I saved. It makes every review so much more satisfying.
How is a speaker that only gets down to 48 KHz “almost full range”? Mine go to 38 KHz. 🤔
Can you review the Polk audio T-series home theatre package with the PSW10 subwoofer. There’s a sale on the package for $685, well for my country that is. I’m really interested on the package, but a review could be great to know if it’s worth it!
Love my 826s. Fed by Node2i into Rega Brio-R. Epic, honest and just amazing.
I’m worried these wouldn’t be a favorable choice for lower quality recordings or sources. I listen to a lot of weird metal and industrial bands
what subwoofer do you have paired with them?
@@allenwilliams8962 none.
No pictures of this amazing packaging? Would love to see it. I keep the boxes for almost everything I buy because we move so often.
Would have to imagine that the Chora 826 with separate height channels would outperform these? Also, how do you think the Chora center channel would work as a LCR? I have come to prefer identical speakers across the front channels for frequent "panning" back and forth in movies.
I really like my Monitor Audio Bronze 6 floorstander’s for double duty. Might eventually replace them with with forte IV’s though!
Andrew, I know how you and Kristi seem to like large center channel speakers. Just remember: they can cost more than the just speaker itself if you are not using a wall-mounted TV setup like the one you have. I invested in the Jamo s 83 CEN because you suggested that the s 81 CEN was on the small side. The sound of the s 83 CEN is good for the money, but most budget-to-mid priced TV stands come with shelf spacing under 8.5" in height. The s 83 CEN is over 8.6" in height. I see that the Focal Chora Centre thankfully comes in at 8.25", which probably can fit. If you want adjustable shelf height, that's an option that requires an investment in real furniture like the BDi that you have, based on what I've been looking at online. If you get good equipment, you should get something good to house it -- but it's an additional expense.
VERY GOOD POINT Ted. Very good! Thanks for sharing!
I will never, never never never not want a subwoofer to pair with my stereo gear so clarity and separation im going with focal in that regard
A question for a home theater which of these 2 would choose the focal chora 826 or the bowers and wilkins 603
Do you think, that Yamaha rx-a4a will have enough power to drive those speakers for both cinema and stereo music experience?
great review ,check out the jbl 590s they go on sale for a 1000 a pair all the time,2 8inch woofers and a giant horn i bet they'd compete
Agreed, not many reviews on any of the Studio 5xx series.
Hear me out here. Put a pikachu suit on a chair next to you, and when you have conversations with wifey, zoom the camera out and talk to the pikachu suit as though she were in the suit. This is totally absurd i know, but it would be insanely funny and cool.
If wifey were game to wear the pikachu suit, i'd probably lose my mind.
As always, I love your content and its presentation. Please keep up the excellent work, both of you.
Also, sidenote, would you be willing to do a round up of sub 500 usd 2.1 amps for desk/listening room use.
Currently I have a Yamaha WXA-50 and a SMSL SA300. Both are great, but both are compromised solutions.
They do kind of blend in with your space... I am using Klipsch the Sixes for movies and music in my living room... They have a 6" long throw mid/bass unit and I don't miss a sub with them...
That's great! You ultimately have to go with and use what works for you. Thanks for watching!
I demoed the 826 on an Anthem MRX1140 and ended buying a pair of Arendal 1961 towers to pair with my MTX740, I think the Rendals sound better, even before break in.
Being of the mindset to enjoy living amongst speakers as one would live amongst redwoods, I'll vote for the JBL Vertec or VLA series.
I think you may also consider comparing them with Definitive Technology's BP 9080X with Atmos speakers + Subwoofers built in... Frequency goes enough low to be full range for everything. I use them both for movies and music with center Def Tech CS 9080 (again with built in sub) and they are beyond my expectations... Before buying them, I did not expect BP 9080X's to be that good at music. By the way I use Focal's monitor speakers Shape Twins attached to PC through Audient iD44 and they are very good :) Thank you for the review...
Thank you for watching! I was a DefTech SuperTower owner years ago and LOVED them for music and movies. May have to go back and give them a look in the future!
Can you do an review on the yamaha hs series 5 or 8 as an home theater/audiophile speakers ? There are reviews of those speakers as monitors but I want to know what is it like for day-to-day tasks !
Perfect timing! Cheers 🍻
Glad you could join us this morning! Hope you enjoy the review!
Great review. Am I right to think that the 8000F is better dynamically? And how do they compare in imaging? These two are my two options for a tower system.
The 8000F is weightier dynamically but about equal in speed to the Chora. The Chora is a touch better in terms of imaging and has a little better detail within the soundstage but its not night and day different. If you already own 8000Fs, I'd keep 'em. But if you haven't bought a speaker yet, give them both a listen.
@@andrewrobinsonreviews Thanks Andrew, very helpful. What about depth of sound stage? Are they similar? I have a feeling that due the focal tweeter Focal with be better at depth? I have developed recently an affinity to soundstage depth, in my ears it really makes a difference in perceived realistic presentation. Indeed need to listen to both...
Great review, these speakers look great! It would be interesting to see some pictures/mini-videos of that great packaging you mentioned.
You keep mentioning Emotiva, when are you going to review something from them?
Stay tuned. Lots in house now.
@@andrewrobinsonreviews BTW if you like Seville, listen to "Tres notas para decir te quiero" by Vicente Amigo. I have him and similar Spanish music on a Spotify playlist of you're interested.
Hello Andrew, first off your content is exceptional and I'm a new subscriber, so thank you! I'm considering the Chora 816 for LR, Chora center, two Chora 806 surrounds with 2 SVS PB-1000s. In this case should the 816s suffice or is it worth getting 826Ds?
I was looking at LS50 Meta with a sub for awhile but these things are catching my eye. I don't need the "D" version as I am strictly using it for a 2 channel. It seems from a reviews that a sub would help these out a bit with base, but I like what I"m hearing about how detailed they are. Now I just need to find a way to actually demo these things.
1st thank You for review. This is only strengthen my feelings about my purchase. I have a pair of Focal 826 with Marantz NR1200 and it sounds great for me. I never thought to build a home theater, I love more pure stereo. But adding of center (and Focal as you explained is a super option) maybe worse of adding. Once again thank You for review.
I bet your setup sounds great! The 826/826-D speakers are something special for sure!
Theres a music production YT channel/personality who did a "full monty" factory tour of Focal not too too long ago. Its really a must see!
Oh it's an amazing factory!
@@andrewrobinsonreviews Right!?? I honestly wasnt very enthusiastic for Focal until I saw the factory tour video. Theyre a great example of how it should be done, period!
Klipsch horn lacks instrument separation and midrange of Focal. Bass in Focal is lacking for sure. Buy an SVS sub to enhance base if needed.
Agree with comments on packaging. Also not being made in China impacts costs.
Fantastic & informative review.
Thanks
Andrew - as my favorite sage could you at a convenient time comment on having stereo with 4 bookshelf speakers? I could not find one video on the subject. I have a moderate 40 w/ch integrated and acquired the B1+ but couldn't part with my old Klipsch KG 2.5s. So I added them to channel B, mixing old and new speakers. Sounds fine but there isn't much out there about placement, etc. Small room, apartment volume levels. Thanks.
I'd love to see a review of the Emotiva H2+ (or some variant) I have them and love them, so as you say the only person that matters is me! I'd still love to hear you opinion on how they compare to the Klipsch (non-heritage)/Elac/Focal. One thing I've noticed is their sensitivity seems to be higher then most of these, though not enough to be driven with the awesome Zen Tube amps you were reviewing earlier! Also the center channel that goes with is HUGE! :)
Appreciate the review! Fair critique on the sub I felt also. Keep up the great work.
Using the KEF R11 pair to Luxman and also Denon for our movies and music. Interesting to hear your review if you get them there.
How do you like the Kef R11?
After listening to all speakers in the high end area and having no budget to worry about my choice is Martin Logan. There is no substitute. Period.
Yes, if estats, an open, boxless sounding music from 380Hz. and upward (O: Andrew knows. Mark, which ML's do you have ?
Hy, please try a pair of Aria 948, with a center one, it will blow your mind, even without a subwoofer, it will work excellent with a good amp , try with the M8ix you have, and let me know your opinion.