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This is a beautiful speaker! Glad to see Focal make a distinguished piece of art that any owner (and designer) should be proud of in their home. In a Hifi world where so much looks exactly the same, this is a welcome addition.
I work in IT, and just can't get behind making devices smart if they are something you're supposed to use for potentially decades to come. It only will cause problems down the line. In my mind, smart devices are cheap and disposable
Great review Andrew! Excited to see where this segment goes. The simplicity and greater ease to work these into a shared space by reducing connections and equipment is amazing. Especially since dedicated listening rooms are for the few.
Big Kudos to Focal for sending them to you for review. Sounds like the few minor bugs can be put down to the speakers being a bit of a "Diva". I love the looks of the entire Focal Utopia range but sadly they are a fair bit out of my budget. Doesn't stop you dreaming though.
Have you ever concidered reviewing some of Lyngdorf's gear? Speakers, amplifiers, and other gear? For example the $1500 Lyngdorf CS-1 bookshelf speakers. Or the TDAI-1150 amplifier with RoomPerfect? Or maybe go all out and get your hands in a pair of Steinway-Lyngdorf $150.000 speakers? Lyngdorf is one of the few, who makes it all. CD players, speakers, amplifiers, surround systems and the like. Many Hollywood home cinemas and also a few Hollywood studios uses their gear. Even high end cinemas use their gear. Peter Lyngdorf has both owned Snell, NAD, and started HIFI-Klubben (European HIFI retailer), as well as Dali and Argon (low priced HIFI). He also owns Lyngdorf and Steinway-Lyngdorf. High end Macintosh uses Lyngdorf's RoomPerfect in some of their gear.
Damn these speakers look amazing, but after watching the full review I'm even happier and more proud of my LS60's. Truly one of the best purchases Ive made thanks to you guys.
the omission of a sub out or preout on so many products truly breaks my heart :( still a cool product, I could see myself going full powered one day, great vid!
Good Sunday morning A&K. Another excellent review as always. The lack of a subwoofer output and the not quite fully fleshed out room correction seem to me major misses for a product at this price point. The fact that the KEF's can come that close except in the extremes is a real testament to the outstanding value and engineering they offer. It's clear that as more and more speaker manufacturers offer powered versions of their speakers, things can only continue to improve in terms of performance and choice. Relax and enjoy the end of the weekend.
Definitely a niche product. Gramophone did a extensive review on the development, design and build on them. Very impressive. Great review Mr. Robinson for giving us an unbiased review of the most most important aspect which is how they sound and their nuances.
Why should active smart speakers be the future of HiFi? If the amp inside fails or their software becomes obsolete/unsupported the speakers are done. While passive speakers may last you a lifetime. Of course there’s always a market for easy aio solutions but most people still opt for separates for their main system. Those actives are often just an afterthought for a secondary system/desktop.
@@CommanderGinyu Most people buy AIO solutions. Now, does the target demographic of THIS model prefer active? Hard to tell. Backes & Müller has had no problems selling an entirely active lineup for decades, at prices of up to half a million or so. Yes, the smarts may become outdated, but as long as the right connectivity is there you could always connect a streamer digitally and be well on your way. Defective amps can be repaired too, usually. I doubt Focal would turn away customers after a couple of years when the amp fails. But this, too, would be my one worry. If I spent this amount, I'd want to use it until the day I die.
Great review. As a person new to the hobby, if I upgrade from my current Sonos System it would be with a powered option like this for two reasons. My wife would not like the complexity of an all separate component system nor how much space it would take up. As for me if a powered system like this can get me to 80-90% of what a system with passive speaker and sperate components sounds like and get the all important wifes' stamp of approval, that's good enough for me (to be fair to her, she is supportive of my new Hifi hobby but hates clutter and likes simplicity). I cant be the only what feels this way.
I've been waiting for a Focal Diva Utopia review, and you got here first! Yes, big monoblock amps, preamps, DACs and separate source components look impressive but active DSP controlled speakers are the future. I already have one pair of DSP controlled speakers, and the performance and convenience advantages are real.
Andrew, would you consider a different approach to your frequency response graphs? The resolution makes it very hard to interpret changes in frequency response. Especially, since much of the scale you are depicting goes unused in the measurements you post. If you instead show plus or minus 10dB within the graph, I believe you get a much more realistic picture of what the speakers sound like on paper. This is akin to overly smoothing the frequency response graphs and might not tell the most accurate story. Also, it just makes it easier to compare speaker to speaker as you’re looking at a tighter scale. Thank you!
It sounds like most of your criticisms would be remedied by pulling the speakers further away from the front wall. That 40hz bass bump will obscure bass definition and kill a 3D soundstage. For reference I have Sopra 2’s and they are a good 5’ in front of the front wall for linear bass response and best imaging. Leaving the wheels on is going to hurt bass definition as well.
I had a Focal Dimension soundbar that had the same HDMI issues that Andrew experienced. It was only usable when i used optical connection. I will never purchase another Focal product.
UPDATE 02/06/2025: I just received word from a representative of Focal/NAIM that an update has been released (7.3.0) to the Focal/NAIM App, specifically for use with the Diva Utopia we reviewed last week. This update addresses the software bugs and crashes I pointed out in our review, which, according to Focal/NAIM, have now been fixed. I no longer have the Diva Utopias in my possession, so I cannot test this update further to confirm these claims. Nevertheless, Focal/NAIM were able to recreate my findings and have addressed and fixed them as of today. I sincerely appreciate the team at Focal/NAIM taking my notes and concerns seriously and working diligently to provide their customers with a fix. This is the type of customer experience and commitment to excellence I would expect if I were a Diva Utopia customer, and it would appear the brand has responded and delivered in kind.
I was excited for this one. Cool product and awesome video. I’m interested how the 50s will stack up. Since those are true full range maybe they’re the better deal
Don't forget, when comparing Naim/Focal separates with the Divas, the Naim Classic Series electronics lack HDMI. A big omission in my option, particularly given the Uniti line has HDMI already.
Good afternoon from Toronto ❄️ I had the pleasure of listening to this system …it’s was good..not great ..and as usual at the Audiofests ..the venue sucked . Would I purchase it …at $60k cdn as my main system ……nope . As a supplemental system ..with a tv and streaming /BT ….they are a great secondary system tho….but I’m sure as you said at your opening …I also believe that powered speakers are indeed the future..as long as the control app is first rate. A great video as usual ,I hope that you and Christy have a great 2025 🎉
Would love to see a review of the Meridian dsp7200SE 600watt each, active speakers, or their new dsp9 1200watt each active speakers. Or further more their flagship dsp8000XE active speakers as a comparison to the Divas. I think you would be surprised!
HI, I'm a fan of ur work and have gone through all ur videos and love the detail in them.I myself am going with Martin Logan XT F100, XT C100 center, SVS 3000 MICRO and onkyo rz70 setup.ALL THANKS TO YOU. ANY suggestions from you on this setup will be greatly helpful❤
I think you guys need to test the Sopra 2 or 3. With 40k USD somebody can build an exceptional system with the Sopras and nothing to worry about. Anything integrated is temporary, every 10 years maybe less will be ancient. Thanks for your content 🎉❤
I've been waiting for this to drop and maybe in the market for this. But at $40k without subwoofer out, im a cold turkey. Anyone spending this kind of $$ must be a big hifi enthusiast and subwoofers are most likely a necessity I guess the hdmi issue can be fixed with an update
Wow!!! That's a very linear speaker!!! Im getting too old to move away from my amps, but the active speaker is the big thing, especially with class D amps on par or exceeding class A/B (i know the Focals have A/B). Great review!!!!! If you get a chance to get the Dutch&Dutch 8c with uBacch ...I'd love to hear you and Kristi review those!
Hello A & K! Could you possibly tell me what product you have covering the cables? It looks very clean and polished. I would love to recreate this look if possible, diy or otherwise. Thanks in advance!
I don’t know a single person with Focal speakers. Headphones yes but no speakers. I’m guessing they sound great but for the price I’d personally pick a better looking box.
Love your reviews I have a question do you think you will ever do one on the new Audio-Technica AT-LP8X Semi-Automatic Direct-Drive turntable I'd really appreciate it if you did all the best Chris 👍🏻
I love wheels. Still have the set from my 801s that I bought in the 90s and use them when I can during set up. Currently have them on my Leak 250 speaker stands.
@@billythestalker I asked Focal directly about different finishes. While they said the panels are removable and that other options were possible, there was no commitment to what finishes may be offered nor a timeline as to when they may come to market.
The dual 6.5” drivers seems like a small choice for such a premium, standalone speaker. Hard to believe it could energize a room like dual 10’s (801d4’s) or monitors + subs?
I *finally* thought of a related question regarding smart speakers at the budget level! I remember you said that one of the cooler things you've done with the Apple TV is AirPlaying the sound through AirPlay-capable speakers. Have you tried this with AirPods? (arguably the most entry-level of smart speakers). I have heard that, if you have your Apple TV hooked up through the HDMI eARC port, you can also send your TV's audio to the paired AirPods. I have heard that the result is decent and probably better with the bigger AirPods than the smaller spherical ones.
Great review as always. Perhaps you can cover in the unplug the fact that somehow $40000 price tag and having to deal with bugs doesn't feel like a luxury experience to me. Also, on the future of hi-fi I agree that powered speakers seem to be the way of the future, but I think their weakness is future proofing them. It seems that speakers and amplification can have a better long term viability, but he same cannot be said for connectivity and support for apps/protocols. Perhaps leaving the speakers with just speaker, amplification and wireless connection to a separate main box handling connectivity and support for newer apps/connection protocols might allow for better future proofing, i.e. just replacing the main box instead of the whole speaker system.
@@andrewrobinsonreviews I agree with Alfred regarding some of my concerns. Example would be speakers with powered subs included that fail way before they should. I wonder if the issue is proper ventilation to disperse heat that contributes to this. For now regarding cost, it is much easier and cheaper to replace a component that fails than a powered speaker setup. That is one advantage of passive speakers that will never go away. Longevity is a concern for this reason and a few others that Alfred noted.
The only brand I know that is working on this problem is b&o but I am concerned that their solutions are likely to be so expensive that replacement will be cheaper when the time comes based on their refurbished turntable and cd player pricing in recent years.
@@warrenfourie511 I own the formation soundbar, sub and a couple of flex. Love the sound, hate connectivity bugs and no proper 5.1 set up. I've been thinking about the duo speakers, the sub and the formation audio, but it doesn't look like they are putting any effort in developing the audio to be able to use it as a home theater
I really enjoyed this review. It got me thinking. I would be inclined to get powered speakers if I replace my Cornwall IVs at some point. It would reduce clutter and presumably the amps would be of high quality from a good brand. My one hesitation would be to risk an amp/electronic failure in something on the high end. Sure, you can get it fixed but what a pain. These speakers are 140 pounds each. If my integrated amp died today I could swap that out easily. For something more modest like Klipsch Sevens then this would be less of an issue. Interested in your thoughts on this issue for more expensive/heavy speakers.
There are some other great active speakers as well. I think the Dynaudio Focus 30 and 50 should be mentioned. Especially the bigger one is a good upgrade compared to the Kef and still way below the price of a new car. ;)
Honestly….this is what I was half expecting. A maiden voyage like this could be a bit buggy or lacking. Part of me would almost rather seen Focal go more “active speaker” than “smart speaker”. I think that will play more in line with its audience/customers and would give us the broader appeal of options to conform this into. My 2 cents. Great review Andrew
Actives are certainly the current trend, what would your thoughts be about using something like a NAD M66 as the modern integrated brains (streaming, room correction, bass management, plentiful connection options etc) directly into active speakers? Potentially the best of both worlds? Have an M66 now into a power amp and passives (plus subs), but with that ever curious eye on the future the idea of actives in to this setup is looking alluring (Kii Sevens!)!
Hi Andrew. Fellow subscriber from the UK here. I'm still happy with my B&W Formation Duo which i picked up for less than half price, although in a typical uk small bedroom house, they sound good. But i am on a journey to try out other active speakers eventually. So i would love to know if you will be reviewing the Dali active floorstander models or even better the Focus 30 or Focus 50 from Dynaudio ?
I primarily use powered speakers (just the amplifier with XLR & RCA inputs along with tone controls) and just recently had a pair fail on me in a way where both the repair shop and manufacturer couldn't repair them. It was an issue with the electronics. The monitors were ONLY $2K. I don't think I'd be able to stomach that for $40K speakers. I'd prefer if the connectivity was on an outboard device as well.
So what does this say for all the exotic and esoteric cables that sell for thousands of dollars. Just like my pricey component cables that I’m afraid to throw out, people will be filling up their closets again.
Isn't there a "negative aspect" having the amplification built into the speaker..... I'm sure I read this years ago but mentioned it on a forum, maybe a year ago, and nobody seemed to know what I was talking about!!?
Also and this is very strange because normally you guys get stuff a lot cheaper than we do , the Utopia sell for £30,000 in the UK a couple of grand cheaper than what you guys in the US are paying!
You should try some of the classic pro-oriented cardioid speakers like the Dutch & Dutch 8C or Kii Three/Seven to see how they compare. (The 8C in particular is interesting.) My guess: Since they’re cardioid, they’ll have many of the advantages of the Beolabs, such as playing nice with your room, but fall somewhere between the 28 and the 90 in performance while being a fraction of the price of either.
Oh, quick note. Why do manufacturers of these wireless options not make accommodations for surround sound set ups? Even the kef LS60s are doomed to forever be locked to stereo. That's weird, right?
@@andrewrobinsonreviews ah, but then I'm back to using external components again. If I'm going this route, it's because I've said no to the processors and/or extremal amplifiers. Thanks for offering a viable route, but I definitely think this should be built in to work wirelessly and preferably without any other box but the speakers themselves.
At first I thought they looked by a scratching post for cats 😁 But then I saw them for what they are, an industrial form follows function design that doesn't visually scream at you. And you know everyone will want to touch them first time they see them. For as much as these cost we really don't need wood and paint jobs. I can't afford these but I'd love to hear them.
I bought Polk R700 after ur recommendation. Sounds good as expected. Now I am using Emotiva base X3 three channel amplifier. Can i go for Hegel H20 dual mono amplifier with R700. Or Emotiva XPA HC mono block.
The irony with the wireless trend is that Sony tried it in the early 2000's and I think it was just to early on to get traction. Some friends of mine bought them. The were wireless towers from Sony and for the life of my I can't remember the name of the product line except it began with a "V". But i do remember them getting mad at me because i kept turning them up to see the bass levels when ever they would step away. Remember watching the Matrix with them.
I gotta say that somehow setting these types of speakers sounds more complicated and less flexible than setting a tradicional AV receiver with 2 passive speakers...
Thank you - I was really looking forward to your thoughts on these when I saw them introduced ... especially given the recent B&O 90 review. I continue, though, to be frustrated by the lack of Apple Music integration into the platforms (Airplay works fine, but would be nice to work all within 1 app). That said - Question - have you connected any of your streamers with these, LS 60s or the 90s. I realize a lot of the features (of streamers on powered speakers with comprehensive apps) are redundant, but a product like Eversolo A8 can act as a pretty nice preamp too (for some older powered speakers with limited connections like old B&O beolab, for example). And the A8 can install Apple Music natively on the actual unit - think you covered this in your review of the A8. With the Eversolo app and the screen sharing feature, it's kind of like having Apple Music native support on your handheld device. I recently got a pair of B&O Beolab 5s. Using the Beoconnect Core, AirPlay and Apple TV ... as well as Apple TV and using the HDMI eArc connection on the Core, I experienced a lot of the CEC issues and app crashes you mentioned here (TV is the Sony X95L). When dialed in, though, these (Beolab 5s) are amazing sounding speakers - as good or better than the Beolab 28s - for a little more than the LS 60s and less that a 1/3 of the Divas ... not to mention the "bargain" compared to B&O 50s and 90s ... which just increased in price again - 90s are $172,500, 50s are $65,000 now. So maybe a different perspective on the price v performance comparisons with Divas.
I think one of the topics we need to address next Friday is how many audiophiles seem to own cats. I'm getting Bond villain vibes like Ernst Blofeld and Austin Powers' Dr. Evil.
But how's it sound at 38.4KHz? The voices want to know. 🤣 J.K. I get harmonics and materials. Amazing devices for enjoying life. Thanks for reporting on this tech and living with it . KUDOS!
Great review. New to your channel, which is why this (almost) un-related question is really some three months late. I am planning to upgrade my Emotiva XMC-1 processor to access the latest version of Dirac. The firm plan WAS to pick up their new XMC-2+ when it releases. Then I saw the price was $3999. Ouch. This has me considering the Onkyo RZ30 instead. Given what you know of the RZ30 and Emotiva products, do you believe the Emotiva will yield noticeably better sound than the RZ30? I learned a while ago that there is much more to the best sound than features. For context, my system is 5.1, driven by an Emotiva UPA7 amp (135 wpc all channels driven, 185 wpc into 4 ohms). The LCR’s are Thiel SCS-4’s, surrounds DefTech BP2X bipolar 2 way’s, sub is SVS PB12-NSD (~400 watts to 20 hz). All but the sub are wall mounted. I know this is a little off topic, but can’t see any other way to ask.
I have only heard the Divas for a short while at a show, but I liked what I heard. Would I pick them over my Diablos? If I didn't have a sub, yeah (not that I could afford them). I think you can't go wrong with either.
I personally would not get this even if it is more affordable is the support for security patches etc. Will the software be useless in 5 years? It would be an absolute waste for the amp and speaker to be bricked just because it lost software support!
Thanks! Having tuned my piano I can get tones VERY close. lol I enjoy Focal but have found the mid bass to be a fault I can hear. I am dying to hear how your better half liked the audibility for movies!
@@KristiWright Get a good digital piano, they have come a VERY long way and I bet you would now not notice the difference. Just my 2 cents from my own experience with both.
I remember the first plazma TV's how much did they cost ! Honestly no wire systems will take over more traditional systems, love it or hate it that's the direction . I'm old and will always want the traditional separates, however with the introduction of 7g many down sides to Bluetooth will be overcome . To keep this industry on the front foot, many more no wire systems will be created . Vinyl or Cd ? The same arguments will arise for sure . At least it's fun .
![Felix "Unfair" | [Stray Kids : SKZ-PLAYER]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/Oswujxm2Ag0/mqdefault.jpg)
![BLACK BAG - Official Trailer [HD] - Only in Theaters March 14](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/Du0Xp8WX_7I/mqdefault.jpg)
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Another exceptional review Andre 👐🏻. Please review Martin Logan electrostatic speakers
Make sure you don’t own a cat if you want to purchase these.
Woa, yea. Like a really high end, audiophile scratching post.
If you can spend $40k on a set of speakers, I'd imagine you have a dedicated listening room to keep animals out.
Haha wonderful comment 😅
Lol
@@theyreMineralsMarie I know guys with turntables and amps that cost more than these speakers.They have their systems in the living room😉😀
This is a beautiful speaker! Glad to see Focal make a distinguished piece of art that any owner (and designer) should be proud of in their home.
In a Hifi world where so much looks exactly the same, this is a welcome addition.
I work in IT, and just can't get behind making devices smart if they are something you're supposed to use for potentially decades to come. It only will cause problems down the line. In my mind, smart devices are cheap and disposable
Focal looked at Hermes and Gucci’s back rooms and decided those Indoor Outdoor Carpets would look fantastic on our speakers 0:29
But hey, those cat post do have HDMI so it’s at least a 7
Great review Andrew! Excited to see where this segment goes. The simplicity and greater ease to work these into a shared space by reducing connections and equipment is amazing. Especially since dedicated listening rooms are for the few.
Big Kudos to Focal for sending them to you for review. Sounds like the few minor bugs can be put down to the speakers being a bit of a "Diva". I love the looks of the entire Focal Utopia range but sadly they are a fair bit out of my budget. Doesn't stop you dreaming though.
Have you ever concidered reviewing some of Lyngdorf's gear? Speakers, amplifiers, and other gear?
For example the $1500 Lyngdorf CS-1 bookshelf speakers. Or the TDAI-1150 amplifier with RoomPerfect?
Or maybe go all out and get your hands in a pair of Steinway-Lyngdorf $150.000 speakers?
Lyngdorf is one of the few, who makes it all. CD players, speakers, amplifiers, surround systems and the like. Many Hollywood home cinemas and also a few Hollywood studios uses their gear. Even high end cinemas use their gear.
Peter Lyngdorf has both owned Snell, NAD, and started HIFI-Klubben (European HIFI retailer), as well as Dali and Argon (low priced HIFI). He also owns Lyngdorf and Steinway-Lyngdorf. High end Macintosh uses Lyngdorf's RoomPerfect in some of their gear.
Damn these speakers look amazing, but after watching the full review I'm even happier and more proud of my LS60's. Truly one of the best purchases Ive made thanks to you guys.
the omission of a sub out or preout on so many products truly breaks my heart :( still a cool product, I could see myself going full powered one day, great vid!
Right? Its absurd.
This would have been a perfect product. The lack of a sub out is baffling.
that or enough grunt at the bottom
Good Sunday morning A&K. Another excellent review as always. The lack of a subwoofer output and the not quite fully fleshed out room correction seem to me major misses for a product at this price point. The fact that the KEF's can come that close except in the extremes is a real testament to the outstanding value and engineering they offer. It's clear that as more and more speaker manufacturers offer powered versions of their speakers, things can only continue to improve in terms of performance and choice. Relax and enjoy the end of the weekend.
The KEF LS60s are undoubtedly value kings of all-in-one hifi-oriented smart speakers. They are incredible.
Definitely a niche product. Gramophone did a extensive review on the development, design and build on them. Very impressive. Great review Mr. Robinson for giving us an unbiased review of the most most important aspect which is how they sound and their nuances.
Gramophone is a retailer/dealer not a review source.
@@KristiWright Yeah, I think the right word would have been report or perhaps ad. Interesting nevertheless.
Why should active smart speakers be the future of HiFi? If the amp inside fails or their software becomes obsolete/unsupported the speakers are done. While passive speakers may last you a lifetime. Of course there’s always a market for easy aio solutions but most people still opt for separates for their main system. Those actives are often just an afterthought for a secondary system/desktop.
Most people? Lol.
@@CommanderGinyu Most people buy AIO solutions. Now, does the target demographic of THIS model prefer active? Hard to tell. Backes & Müller has had no problems selling an entirely active lineup for decades, at prices of up to half a million or so. Yes, the smarts may become outdated, but as long as the right connectivity is there you could always connect a streamer digitally and be well on your way. Defective amps can be repaired too, usually. I doubt Focal would turn away customers after a couple of years when the amp fails. But this, too, would be my one worry. If I spent this amount, I'd want to use it until the day I die.
Oh great, just got my Kef LS60 complete with two matching subs all wired upi and you show us this - thanks
Maybe watch the video first...
@@andrewrobinsonreviews I can't for fear it may cost a marriage.....
Follow up. Whew - marriage saved - thanks!!!!
I don't want to come across as a jerk here, but $40,000 speakers with broken software seems like a pretty big miss to me
The longer hair, especially on the sides, is looking so much better. Keep it up Andrew LOL.
Great review. As a person new to the hobby, if I upgrade from my current Sonos System it would be with a powered option like this for two reasons. My wife would not like the complexity of an all separate component system nor how much space it would take up. As for me if a powered system like this can get me to 80-90% of what a system with passive speaker and sperate components sounds like and get the all important wifes' stamp of approval, that's good enough for me (to be fair to her, she is supportive of my new Hifi hobby but hates clutter and likes simplicity). I cant be the only what feels this way.
No sub out is a bummer but audible background noise is inexcusable for a $40k system. I'll be avoiding Naim. Thanks for informing us.
Using my Nova without any background noise. It’s not a Naim issue.
@Mistio. You can't say that with confidence. Maybe you got lucky with your perfectly working unit.
I've been waiting for a Focal Diva Utopia review, and you got here first! Yes, big monoblock amps, preamps, DACs and separate source components look impressive but active DSP controlled speakers are the future. I already have one pair of DSP controlled speakers, and the performance and convenience advantages are real.
Andrew, would you consider a different approach to your frequency response graphs? The resolution makes it very hard to interpret changes in frequency response. Especially, since much of the scale you are depicting goes unused in the measurements you post. If you instead show plus or minus 10dB within the graph, I believe you get a much more realistic picture of what the speakers sound like on paper. This is akin to overly smoothing the frequency response graphs and might not tell the most accurate story. Also, it just makes it easier to compare speaker to speaker as you’re looking at a tighter scale. Thank you!
It sounds like most of your criticisms would be remedied by pulling the speakers further away from the front wall. That 40hz bass bump will obscure bass definition and kill a 3D soundstage. For reference I have Sopra 2’s and they are a good 5’ in front of the front wall for linear bass response and best imaging.
Leaving the wheels on is going to hurt bass definition as well.
Great Sunday Everyone!
Good morning!
Your vocals sound great 🎙
I had a Focal Dimension soundbar that had the same HDMI issues that Andrew experienced. It was only usable when i used optical connection. I will never purchase another Focal product.
Wish it had dirac room correction.... no Amazon music is a bummer 😢
Good morning everyone, been looking forward to this one
Hope it was worth the wait. Enjoy!
UPDATE 02/06/2025: I just received word from a representative of Focal/NAIM that an update has been released (7.3.0) to the Focal/NAIM App, specifically for use with the Diva Utopia we reviewed last week. This update addresses the software bugs and crashes I pointed out in our review, which, according to Focal/NAIM, have now been fixed. I no longer have the Diva Utopias in my possession, so I cannot test this update further to confirm these claims. Nevertheless, Focal/NAIM were able to recreate my findings and have addressed and fixed them as of today. I sincerely appreciate the team at Focal/NAIM taking my notes and concerns seriously and working diligently to provide their customers with a fix. This is the type of customer experience and commitment to excellence I would expect if I were a Diva Utopia customer, and it would appear the brand has responded and delivered in kind.
Did Focal not do any real world testing on these things? $40k and doesn’t work well with HDMI and may need reboots? Arrogant on their part.
I was excited for this one. Cool product and awesome video. I’m interested how the 50s will stack up. Since those are true full range maybe they’re the better deal
Thats upper class type of speakers the rich can enjoy. Happy Sunday.
I think some folks here need to suck back a Happy Meal and smile. 😂
More companies should do castors with brakes for their speakers and stands ! It’s just practical! Then have a spike option .
Agreed Castors are a brilliant move.
Casters! I’m still rocking a 35yr old pair of B&W 801’s and the casters have been a back-saver. I can’t believe they all still roll smoothly.
Don't forget, when comparing Naim/Focal separates with the Divas, the Naim Classic Series electronics lack HDMI. A big omission in my option, particularly given the Uniti line has HDMI already.
Good afternoon from Toronto ❄️
I had the pleasure of listening to this system …it’s was good..not great ..and as usual at the Audiofests ..the venue sucked .
Would I purchase it …at $60k cdn as my main system ……nope .
As a supplemental system ..with a tv and streaming /BT ….they are a great secondary system tho….but I’m sure as you said at your opening …I also believe that powered speakers are indeed the future..as long as the control app is first rate.
A great video as usual ,I hope that you and Christy have a great 2025 🎉
Would love to see a review of the Meridian dsp7200SE 600watt each, active speakers, or their new dsp9 1200watt each active speakers.
Or further more their flagship dsp8000XE active speakers as a comparison to the Divas. I think you would be surprised!
How about a comparison to the Beolab 28’s?
Noting this question for Friday.
Imagine your cat using it as a scratching post,a $40,000 scratching post. 😮
They would have to be wrapped.
HI, I'm a fan of ur work and have gone through all ur videos and love the detail in them.I myself am going with Martin Logan XT F100, XT C100 center, SVS 3000 MICRO and onkyo rz70 setup.ALL THANKS TO YOU. ANY suggestions from you on this setup will be greatly helpful❤
I think you guys need to test the Sopra 2 or 3. With 40k USD somebody can build an exceptional system with the Sopras and nothing to worry about.
Anything integrated is temporary, every 10 years maybe less will be ancient.
Thanks for your content 🎉❤
KiiThree is a must in this sector.
Extrodinary quality down to 20hz with excellent connectivity
This is a wonderful speaker! Had to pleasure to listen a few times. Amazing
I've been waiting for this to drop and maybe in the market for this. But at $40k without subwoofer out, im a cold turkey. Anyone spending this kind of $$ must be a big hifi enthusiast and subwoofers are most likely a necessity
I guess the hdmi issue can be fixed with an update
Great review on these Focal. Keep them coming!
Thanks for watching!
Honestly, the Dynaudio focus 50 powered speakers are just a way better deal IMO
Wow!!! That's a very linear speaker!!! Im getting too old to move away from my amps, but the active speaker is the big thing, especially with class D amps on par or exceeding class A/B (i know the Focals have A/B). Great review!!!!! If you get a chance to get the Dutch&Dutch 8c with uBacch ...I'd love to hear you and Kristi review those!
Great review as always thanks!
Appreciate you tuning in!
Hello A & K! Could you possibly tell me what product you have covering the cables? It looks very clean and polished. I would love to recreate this look if possible, diy or otherwise. Thanks in advance!
This is what I use amzn.to/4aMDqUM
Thank you sir! Much appreciated
I don’t know a single person with Focal speakers. Headphones yes but no speakers. I’m guessing they sound great but for the price I’d personally pick a better looking box.
Love your reviews I have a question do you think you will ever do one on the new Audio-Technica AT-LP8X Semi-Automatic Direct-Drive turntable I'd really appreciate it if you did all the best Chris 👍🏻
I love wheels. Still have the set from my 801s that I bought in the 90s and use them when I can during set up. Currently have them on my Leak 250 speaker stands.
Holy smokes those look good in your space
They have a look that grows on you.
Excuse me if you mentioned this but when I saw these in store the rep told me they are developing various interchangeable panels. Should be neat!
@@billythestalker I asked Focal directly about different finishes. While they said the panels are removable and that other options were possible, there was no commitment to what finishes may be offered nor a timeline as to when they may come to market.
For £30k id want the tweeter to be pure Unobtanium
audible noise floor in this price range means high rise apt bldgs in cities where the ambient noise is higher.
The dual 6.5” drivers seems like a small choice for such a premium, standalone speaker. Hard to believe it could energize a room like dual 10’s (801d4’s) or monitors + subs?
They have 4 per speaker, 2 on each side which may explain the reason.
I *finally* thought of a related question regarding smart speakers at the budget level! I remember you said that one of the cooler things you've done with the Apple TV is AirPlaying the sound through AirPlay-capable speakers. Have you tried this with AirPods? (arguably the most entry-level of smart speakers). I have heard that, if you have your Apple TV hooked up through the HDMI eARC port, you can also send your TV's audio to the paired AirPods. I have heard that the result is decent and probably better with the bigger AirPods than the smaller spherical ones.
I love your channel. Not everyone can afford and review these high end systems🖤🥰
Thanks for watching, even if the product isn't always specifically "for you." Have a great rest of your day!
Great review as always. Perhaps you can cover in the unplug the fact that somehow $40000 price tag and having to deal with bugs doesn't feel like a luxury experience to me. Also, on the future of hi-fi I agree that powered speakers seem to be the way of the future, but I think their weakness is future proofing them. It seems that speakers and amplification can have a better long term viability, but he same cannot be said for connectivity and support for apps/protocols. Perhaps leaving the speakers with just speaker, amplification and wireless connection to a separate main box handling connectivity and support for newer apps/connection protocols might allow for better future proofing, i.e. just replacing the main box instead of the whole speaker system.
Great question for Friday!
@@andrewrobinsonreviews I agree with Alfred regarding some of my concerns. Example would be speakers with powered subs included that fail way before they should. I wonder if the issue is proper ventilation to disperse heat that contributes to this. For now regarding cost, it is much easier and cheaper to replace a component that fails than a powered speaker setup. That is one advantage of passive speakers that will never go away. Longevity is a concern for this reason and a few others that Alfred noted.
The only brand I know that is working on this problem is b&o but I am concerned that their solutions are likely to be so expensive that replacement will be cheaper when the time comes based on their refurbished turntable and cd player pricing in recent years.
@@warrenfourie511 I own the formation soundbar, sub and a couple of flex. Love the sound, hate connectivity bugs and no proper 5.1 set up. I've been thinking about the duo speakers, the sub and the formation audio, but it doesn't look like they are putting any effort in developing the audio to be able to use it as a home theater
I am hoping one day we can see a co-branded Bower & Wilkins / Marntz wireless speaker range to replace the old Formation set.
Me too!
What about Paradigm Persona 9H, hybrid for powered bass, and passive for midrange and highs.
I really enjoyed this review. It got me thinking. I would be inclined to get powered speakers if I replace my Cornwall IVs at some point. It would reduce clutter and presumably the amps would be of high quality from a good brand. My one hesitation would be to risk an amp/electronic failure in something on the high end. Sure, you can get it fixed but what a pain. These speakers are 140 pounds each. If my integrated amp died today I could swap that out easily. For something more modest like Klipsch Sevens then this would be less of an issue. Interested in your thoughts on this issue for more expensive/heavy speakers.
There are some other great active speakers as well.
I think the Dynaudio Focus 30 and 50 should be mentioned. Especially the bigger one is a good upgrade compared to the Kef and still way below the price of a new car. ;)
True!
Honestly….this is what I was half expecting. A maiden voyage like this could be a bit buggy or lacking. Part of me would almost rather seen Focal go more “active speaker” than “smart speaker”. I think that will play more in line with its audience/customers and would give us the broader appeal of options to conform this into. My 2 cents. Great review Andrew
I second the “whoa” factor
Actives are certainly the current trend, what would your thoughts be about using something like a NAD M66 as the modern integrated brains (streaming, room correction, bass management, plentiful connection options etc) directly into active speakers? Potentially the best of both worlds? Have an M66 now into a power amp and passives (plus subs), but with that ever curious eye on the future the idea of actives in to this setup is looking alluring (Kii Sevens!)!
Hello from Hong Kong～～
KEF LS 60 & a pair of KC62 subs = pure joy and happiness 🛋 ...
Good Sunday to you Andrew Kristi and Kadie 😊
Morning Dan! Thanks for watching!
I like your story telling ❤
Hi Andrew. Fellow subscriber from the UK here. I'm still happy with my B&W Formation Duo which i picked up for less than half price, although in a typical uk small bedroom house, they sound good. But i am on a journey to try out other active speakers eventually. So i would love to know if you will be reviewing the Dali active floorstander models or even better the Focus 30 or Focus 50 from Dynaudio ?
I primarily use powered speakers (just the amplifier with XLR & RCA inputs along with tone controls) and just recently had a pair fail on me in a way where both the repair shop and manufacturer couldn't repair them. It was an issue with the electronics.
The monitors were ONLY $2K. I don't think I'd be able to stomach that for $40K speakers.
I'd prefer if the connectivity was on an outboard device as well.
So what does this say for all the exotic and esoteric cables that sell for thousands of dollars. Just like my pricey component cables that I’m afraid to throw out, people will be filling up their closets again.
Isn't there a "negative aspect" having the amplification built into the speaker..... I'm sure I read this years ago but mentioned it on a forum, maybe a year ago, and nobody seemed to know what I was talking about!!?
Also and this is very strange because normally you guys get stuff a lot cheaper than we do , the Utopia sell for £30,000 in the UK a couple of grand cheaper than what you guys in the US are paying!
You should try some of the classic pro-oriented cardioid speakers like the Dutch & Dutch 8C or Kii Three/Seven to see how they compare. (The 8C in particular is interesting.) My guess: Since they’re cardioid, they’ll have many of the advantages of the Beolabs, such as playing nice with your room, but fall somewhere between the 28 and the 90 in performance while being a fraction of the price of either.
Another great review. Out of my budget for these active speakers 😂
How about the beolab 28, since you had them before?
Noted for Friday's conversation.
Oh, quick note. Why do manufacturers of these wireless options not make accommodations for surround sound set ups? Even the kef LS60s are doomed to forever be locked to stereo. That's weird, right?
B&O does.. you can add subs and surrounds with no issues!
There are analog audio inputs that would allow you to use multiple Divas and the preamp outs of your HT processor.
@@andrewrobinsonreviews ah, but then I'm back to using external components again. If I'm going this route, it's because I've said no to the processors and/or extremal amplifiers.
Thanks for offering a viable route, but I definitely think this should be built in to work wirelessly and preferably without any other box but the speakers themselves.
At first I thought they looked by a scratching post for cats 😁 But then I saw them for what they are, an industrial form follows function design that doesn't visually scream at you. And you know everyone will want to touch them first time they see them. For as much as these cost we really don't need wood and paint jobs. I can't afford these but I'd love to hear them.
I bought Polk R700 after ur recommendation. Sounds good as expected. Now I am using Emotiva base X3 three channel amplifier. Can i go for Hegel H20 dual mono amplifier with R700. Or Emotiva XPA HC mono block.
The irony with the wireless trend is that Sony tried it in the early 2000's and I think it was just to early on to get traction. Some friends of mine bought them. The were wireless towers from Sony and for the life of my I can't remember the name of the product line except it began with a "V". But i do remember them getting mad at me because i kept turning them up to see the bass levels when ever they would step away. Remember watching the Matrix with them.
I gotta say that somehow setting these types of speakers sounds more complicated and less flexible than setting a tradicional AV receiver with 2 passive speakers...
That's an interesting point of view. Noting it for Friday's Unplugged!
@@KristiWright Thank you! 🙏
Very attractive loudspeakers. Kind of question the finish. I'm sure that finish will look quite nasty in no time at all.
Thank you - I was really looking forward to your thoughts on these when I saw them introduced ... especially given the recent B&O 90 review. I continue, though, to be frustrated by the lack of Apple Music integration into the platforms (Airplay works fine, but would be nice to work all within 1 app). That said - Question - have you connected any of your streamers with these, LS 60s or the 90s. I realize a lot of the features (of streamers on powered speakers with comprehensive apps) are redundant, but a product like Eversolo A8 can act as a pretty nice preamp too (for some older powered speakers with limited connections like old B&O beolab, for example). And the A8 can install Apple Music natively on the actual unit - think you covered this in your review of the A8. With the Eversolo app and the screen sharing feature, it's kind of like having Apple Music native support on your handheld device. I recently got a pair of B&O Beolab 5s. Using the Beoconnect Core, AirPlay and Apple TV ... as well as Apple TV and using the HDMI eArc connection on the Core, I experienced a lot of the CEC issues and app crashes you mentioned here (TV is the Sony X95L). When dialed in, though, these (Beolab 5s) are amazing sounding speakers - as good or better than the Beolab 28s - for a little more than the LS 60s and less that a 1/3 of the Divas ... not to mention the "bargain" compared to B&O 50s and 90s ... which just increased in price again - 90s are $172,500, 50s are $65,000 now. So maybe a different perspective on the price v performance comparisons with Divas.
I think one of the topics we need to address next Friday is how many audiophiles seem to own cats. I'm getting Bond villain vibes like Ernst Blofeld and Austin Powers' Dr. Evil.
But how's it sound at 38.4KHz?
The voices want to know.
🤣
J.K. I get harmonics and materials.
Amazing devices for enjoying life. Thanks for reporting on this tech and living with it .
KUDOS!
Great review. New to your channel, which is why this (almost) un-related question is really some three months late. I am planning to upgrade my Emotiva XMC-1 processor to access the latest version of Dirac. The firm plan WAS to pick up their new XMC-2+ when it releases. Then I saw the price was $3999. Ouch. This has me considering the Onkyo RZ30 instead. Given what you know of the RZ30 and Emotiva products, do you believe the Emotiva will yield noticeably better sound than the RZ30? I learned a while ago that there is much more to the best sound than features. For context, my system is 5.1, driven by an Emotiva UPA7 amp (135 wpc all channels driven, 185 wpc into 4 ohms). The LCR’s are Thiel SCS-4’s, surrounds DefTech BP2X bipolar 2 way’s, sub is SVS PB12-NSD (~400 watts to 20 hz). All but the sub are wall mounted. I know this is a little off topic, but can’t see any other way to ask.
Oh my..... that felt doesn't stand a chance against my cat.
Cats are undefeated when it comes to audio.
@@KristiWright I've got them trained to stay away from my Polk bookshelves, but any larger.....
I have only heard the Divas for a short while at a show, but I liked what I heard. Would I pick them over my Diablos? If I didn't have a sub, yeah (not that I could afford them). I think you can't go wrong with either.
they look nice in your space.
What kind of streamer/dac do speakers like that have? You can pay thousands for separate dac/streamer, but how good are they in 40k active speakers?
It appears to be the same streaming hardware/platform you get in the NAIM 200/300 Classic series of Uniti lineup of products.
@@andrewrobinsonreviewsthanks
Afternoon Andrew, Kristi & Kadie 👍👍🦴
Good morning, KJ. Hope your Sunday is off to a good start.
@ all good👍👍
Andrew Robinson, why do you think companies opt for usb-a rather than usb-c?
Not Andrew here, but I suspect it's because the European Union and much of the world has standardized on USB-C for most mobile devices.
@ that’s exactly my point, so why is there a usb-A port on so many audiophile gear?
Another fine review Sir! However I'll be avoiding these speakers as.......I can't afford them 😁!
I personally would not get this even if it is more affordable is the support for security patches etc. Will the software be useless in 5 years?
It would be an absolute waste for the amp and speaker to be bricked just because it lost software support!
I know that long-term support is always a concern. If Focal wasn't an established brand, I think you'd have reason to worry.
How do they compare to the beolab 28’s?
What would you recommend for a room that is circa 800sqft with 25’ ceiling?
ATC near-field self powered monitors. handmade everything in UK. it's what Pink Floyd used and what Gilmour and Rogers still use
Thanks! Having tuned my piano I can get tones VERY close. lol I enjoy Focal but have found the mid bass to be a fault I can hear. I am dying to hear how your better half liked the audibility for movies!
We need to get our piano tuned. The move definitely made ours sound like a cat.
@@KristiWright Get a good digital piano, they have come a VERY long way and I bet you would now not notice the difference. Just my 2 cents from my own experience with both.
Good grief, doesn't anyone at Focal have a cat? Those things will look like giant fuzzy cactus when someone's cat has their way with that felt.
It would appear that no audio brand today has ever owned a cat.
Great review 👌👌👌👌👌
I remember the first plazma TV's how much did they cost ! Honestly no wire systems will take over more traditional systems, love it or hate it that's the direction .
I'm old and will always want the traditional separates, however with the introduction of 7g many down sides to Bluetooth will be overcome . To keep this industry on the front foot, many more no wire systems will be created .
Vinyl or Cd ? The same arguments will arise for sure . At least it's fun .
fan-FRICKING-tastic video. wow!
Miss Kristi's last thoughts , and her honest opinions. Added another dimension to the channel
Are you not tuning into our Friday show?
You have a lot of catching up to do: bit.ly/43NnDkT