{"id":6703,"date":"2016-08-21T11:07:20","date_gmt":"2016-08-20T23:07:20","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/abtec.co.nz\/blog\/?p=6703"},"modified":"2016-08-21T11:07:20","modified_gmt":"2016-08-20T23:07:20","slug":"focal-diablo-utopia-review","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/abtec.co.nz\/blog\/focal-diablo-utopia-review\/","title":{"rendered":"Focal Diablo Utopia Review"},"content":{"rendered":"

Amazing design puts these stereo speakers at the top of the pile<\/em><\/p>\n

\"Diablo1\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Our Verdict – 5 Star Rating<\/strong><\/p>\n

When it comes to levels of insight, little at this price even comes close<\/p>\n

For:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Exceptional detail and dynamics<\/p>\n

Agile and articulate bass<\/p>\n

Seamless integration<\/p>\n

Against:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Similar money buys bigger speakers that will go deeper and louder<\/p>\n

Pricey stands<\/p>\n

Spending almost eight thousand pounds on a pair of speakers, let alone standmounters, takes some justification. There\u2019s only so much a wooden box \u2013 no matter how nicely made \u2013 and a set of drive units can cost\u2026<\/p>\n

Yet, as we sit in our listening room, finishing yet another long session with Focal\u2019s Diablo Utopias<\/strong>, we\u2019re convinced. Nobody has to spend this kind of money, but, if they can, we haven\u2019t heard a more capable alternative.<\/p>\n

Of course, there are some things a 43cm tall speaker sporting a 16.5cm driver can\u2019t do. We have no doubt there are similarly priced speakers, invariably floorstanding designs, that can dig deeper in the bass and deliver a more authoritative sound. They\u2019ll probably go louder too.<\/p>\n

Yet, if you want a great sound in a small to medium space (say below 4.5m x 4.5m), this standmounter is mighty hard to beat if transparency and articulation are paramount.<\/p>\n

Focal Diablo Utopia: Sound quality<\/strong><\/p>\n

These Focals deliver a spellbinding performance packed with detail, dynamic nuance and agility. Feed them the likes of Johnny Cash\u2019s version of I See a Darkness and the speaker end of our listening room disappears, leaving just Cash\u2019s rich, time-worn vocals to take centre stage accompanied by one of the most realistic renditions of an acoustic guitar we\u2019ve heard.<\/p>\n

Such harmonically rich instruments are massively difficult to get right, but these standmounters manage that trick with everything from trumpets to pianos.<\/p>\n

These speakers are also spot-on when it comes to nailing the tone of instruments and voices. There\u2019s no undue emphases to make things sound more exciting, and certainly none of the overt richness in the bass that many standmounters use to sound bigger than they actually are.<\/p>\n

\"Diablo2\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Focal Diablo Utopia<\/em><\/p>\n

Focal Diablo Utopia: Running in<\/strong><\/p>\n

The result of this balanced approach is that these Focals take a little time to gain your affection. Make no mistake, they sound good straight out of the box and get better as they warm up. But, they don\u2019t grab attention in the way, say, Neat\u2019s terrific Ultimatum XLSs might.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s only when you start comparing the Focals with other high-end designs \u2013 we used a variety, from ATC\u2019s SCM 50s, Monitor Audio Platinum PL300s to Tannoy\u2019s Definition DC8s \u2013 that it becomes apparent just how good they are.<\/p>\n

\"Diablo3\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Focal Diablo Utopia<\/em><\/p>\n

In terms of clarity and resolution they trump anything we\u2019ve heard at this price, and it\u2019s all rendered in a natural, unexaggerated manner.<\/p>\n

Unlike those Neats, the Diablo Utopias don\u2019t emphasise the rhythmical aspects of music. However, listen closely and you\u2019ll find the information is there, though a little underplayed.<\/p>\n

Stereo imaging \u2013 once these monitors are bolted to their dedicated stands and positioned away from walls \u2013 is terrifically stable and precise.<\/p>\n

Focal Diablo Utopia: Positioning<\/p>\n

By high-end standards these speakers aren\u2019t massively fussy about positioning or partnering equipment, but you will only get out what you put in. Put some effort into optimising both and you\u2019ll be rewarded with a notably better sound.<\/p>\n

Despite the innate limitations of their size, these speakers will happily deliver the dynamic shifts of The Dark Knight Rises OST with confidence, keeping everything under control even when the music becomes demanding. They\u2019ll even output high volume levels with a rarely found sense of composure too.<\/p>\n

The story is equally positive whether you listen to Drake\u2019s Under Ground Kings or Debussy\u2019s Clair de Lune. Essentially, if you want to know exactly what\u2019s in a recording the Diablo Utopias will reveal it all, warts and all.<\/p>\n

Focal Diablo Utopia: Engineering<\/p>\n

This performance isn\u2019t accidental: there\u2019s serious engineering in these speakers. The technical highlight is undoubtedly Focal\u2019s Beryllium inverted dome tweeter (below). Beryllium is two and a half times lighter than titanium and seven times more rigid with the same mass, making it a fine tweeter material.<\/p>\n

Beryllium is rarely used in hi-fi because of difficulty in manufacturing caused by its toxic nature. But Focal has put a great deal of effort into overcoming these issues, and ended up with a wonderfully clean and detailed performer.<\/p>\n

Unlike many rivals \u2013 who buy in drive units from OEM suppliers \u2013 Focal designs and makes all its drivers in-house. This allows the company to optimise each unti for the speaker it goes into. This is one of the very best tweeters that money can buy.<\/p>\n

\"Diablo4\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Focal Diablo Utopia<\/em><\/p>\n

The tweeter is housed in a separate cabinet which sits, angled, on the mid\/bass enclosure. Separating the drive unit enclosures this way has benefits in reducing unwanted mechanical interaction, and angling focuses the sound, helping with integration \u2013 an area in which these speakers excel.<\/p>\n

That high-tech tweeter is matched to an equally impressive mid\/bass unit. The 16.5cm mid\/bass features Focal\u2019s trademark \u2018W\u2019 cone \u2013 a composite construction of glass fibre and foam that is specially configured for light weight, rigidity and good damping qualities.<\/p>\n

The mid\/bass\u2019s motor system is special too, having a clever magnet arrangement that\u2019s claimed to optimise magnetic power and minimise any losses.<\/p>\n

The solid cabinet is finished to a high level, too \u2013 and Focal is happy to paint it pretty much any colour you want, which should keep the house-proud happy.<\/p>\n

Focal Diablo Utopia: Verdict<\/strong><\/p>\n

Put it altogether and you have some exceptional speakers. Yes, the Diablo Utopias cost a lot, but when it comes to performance you get what you pay for.<\/p>\n

Read more at:<\/strong> http:\/\/www.whathifi.com\/focal\/diablo-utopia\/review#srOkHMFYBzUejUJ2.99<\/a><\/p>\n

Where to buy Focal:\u00a0<\/strong>http:\/\/abtec.co.nz\/product-search.php?keyword=Focal+Diablo+Utopia&category=&brand=&search=<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Amazing design puts these stereo speakers at the top of the pile Our Verdict – 5 Star Rating When it comes to levels of insight, little at this price even comes close For: Exceptional detail and dynamics Agile and articulate bass Seamless integration Against: Similar money buys bigger speakers that will go deeper and louder […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/abtec.co.nz\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6703"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/abtec.co.nz\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/abtec.co.nz\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/abtec.co.nz\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/abtec.co.nz\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6703"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/abtec.co.nz\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6703\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6720,"href":"https:\/\/abtec.co.nz\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6703\/revisions\/6720"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/abtec.co.nz\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6703"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/abtec.co.nz\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6703"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/abtec.co.nz\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6703"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}