Installing Your Expensive Focal Speakers? Read On

[Sarong1]

Folks, this is what I gathered and wanna share with you folks especially on Focal, I understand from respectable forums that all Focal dealers had to go on special training courses so that they can understand the correct way of installing the speakers in different configurations. I also understand that Focal will not allow dealers whom haven't been on their course to buy and install especially the Be (Beryllium) range. The authorised dealers are also given a tour of the factory so that they can see exactly how the Be domes are formed. Have your installer gone for the course?

[Sarong1]

Just want to add on, these are the price cited which I got to find out too for your comparison in case you are interested in getting for yourself

 

The official RRP prices for Utopia BE are as follows. Currency converted for your convenience.

 

No5 Kit

[Bloggs]

Hi, i'm considering Focal Be... Anyway, you mentioned that only authorised dealers go thru a course, do you know what kind of course would that be? Would it help in improving the sound? Would you know any dealers that have gone thru the course? Any help will be good...thanks!

[Sarong1]

I haven't heard of one in S'pore that has gone for that course...the last time I read off a magazine that the M'sian Focal distributor and perhaps some of the dealers have gone for the course with pictures shown.

 

I am not the dealer or distributor boy... so I am also clueless as to what the course provides.

 

I think the safest manner to get the real Focal Be is to get in touch with the regional distributor...for S'pore there is none...the distributor is based in Malaysia...you may want to visit the Focal France website for more info...send them a mail...ask them who is the authorised dealers in or for S'pore...I dun think there is any parellel import since Focal, i heard is pretty strict....

 

Disclaimer, I am just a car audiophile...

[Sarong1]

See following website on Focal for more, thanks.

 

http://www.mormarks.com/index.htm

[Club_be]

Not so sure about the requirement for installer/agent to be "trained" at Focal Factory. But heard before that Focal invite agents/distributor alike to tour their factory. This practices is common practised by many reputable brands like Audison, Luxman, etc. Been told that the requirement that you need to have such training before retailing or installing BE is not strictly compulsory.

 

The price quoted by sarong1 should be in euros instead on "pounds". The price as listed in Focal Brochure is shown in RED.

 

No5 Kit

Edited November 2, 2005 by Club_be

[Sarong1]

Hi Club_BE,

 

Thanks for the follow-up on this topic, that is very informative for the general public. As to the price list, the currency was what was obtained vide UK dealer's forum msg and the currency was indicated in Pounds and therefore the conversion from Pounds. Following is an article on Focal's drivers and the technology revolving behind their reputable speakers for your reference when you are investing in the Focal's speakers. The article is abstracted from http://ldsg.snippets.org/vendors/focal.php3 which features some of the older series of Focal. The newer Be series is not featured here.

 

 

The Audiom series is Focal's top of the line, derived from their JMlab Utopia series loudspeakers. Most Audiom cone drivers feature Focal's "W" sandwich cone material.

 

The W series is Focal's second tier drivers. Generally excellent, this series features Focal's "W" cones, a proprietary sandwich material. Since this is the same material used in most of the Audiom cone drivers, performance potential is also quite high. Note, however, that the "W" cone material is a modern high-stiffness composite and like other such materials, it can present challenges to the crossover designer.

 

The V series is an older line of drivers using Focal's proprietary Polyglass material. This is an excellent material for the casual builder, offering excellent performance with few unpleasant surprises when doing the crossover design.

 

The K series features Focal's proprietary Polykevlar cone material. This is an especially difficult material to work with which offers no sonic improvements over the somewhat tamer W series cones.

 

The Tweeter series includes Focal's line of non-Audiom tweeters, all of which use their proprietary Tioxid inverted domes.

 

Focal also makes a well-respected line of Autosound drivers, some of which are suitable for home hi-fi use.

 

The cone technolgies (also discussed in Section 1) are: [ol] [*]The W (sandwich) series cones are Focal's top of the line sandwich technology, originally only available on high end Utopia loudspeakers. Consisting of layers of fiberglass over a foam polymer core, this is one of the best materials to date from any manufacturer to provide optimum qualities of rigidity, light weight, and high internal damping.

[*]The Polykevlar (K) series cones are Focal's proprietary KevlarTM technolgy, consisting of a sandwich of Kevlar fabric and glass beads. The usual Kevlar vises are somewhat better tamed than in some other vendors' Kevlar implementations, but these are still generally not recommended.

[*]The Neoglass (NV) cones were one of Focal's best, but have now been discontinued. Consisting of a PP cone with a surface treatment of glass microspheres, they offered excellent performance at a reasonable price. Almost any of these you find are good buys.

[*]The Polyglass (V) series cones are currently Focal's entry level cone technology. Similar to the NV series, the V series uses a glass microsphere surface treatment on a paper cone.

[/ol]

[ol] [*]The Audiom TD5 is only one of two tweeters in Focal's premium Audiom line. Like Focal's other current tweeters, it features a 20 mm (3/4") VC and 1" inverted titanium dome, coated foam surround, ferrofluid, and a 5 mm thick machined oval aluminum face plate. Like other Focal inverted dome tweeters, it uses a phase plug. data sheet

[*]The Audiom TLR is Focal's other premium Audiom tweeter. Sold as an autosound unit, the TLR is similar to the TD5, but also features small winglike "wave guides" mounted above and below the diaphragm. These give it 2 dB higher sensitivity than the TD5. Like Focal's other current tweeters, it features a 20 mm (3/4") VC and 1" inverted titanium dome, coated foam surround, ferrofluid, and a 5 mm thick machined oval aluminum face plate. Most other TD5 comments apply, except it also includes the unique aluminum wave guide structure on the face plate to further control directivity and raise sensitivity. view

[*]The Audiom 6WM is the best midrange in Focal's premier Audiom line. It features a "W" cone and fairly high sensitivity and with breakup and resonances occurring at around 20 kHz. Response is very smooth between 150 Hz and 3 kHz, with a very low mass resulting in excellent detail. data sheet

[*]The Audiom 6W4311 and Audiom 6W4311B midrange drivers use Focal's advanced W-series diaphragms. It features useful sensitivity (exceptional when used in pairs) and excellent linearity and sonic characteristics. It offers an attractive, lower cost alternative to the Audiom 6WM midrange. The 6W4311B is shielded. data sheet

[*]TC90TD5 and TC90TD5B titanium/oxide inverted dome tweeters. This is a real workhorse 1" (25 mm.) metal dome tweeter, used in many of Focal's kit speakers. Affordable with exceptionally flat response, it features a distinctive phase plug mounted on a small bar across the face of the unit. Both units feature a polymer chassis and the TC90TdxB is shielded. data sheet

[*]TC120TD5 and TC120TD5B titanium/oxide inverted dome tweeters. Essentially identical to the TC90TD5 and TC90TD5B, but larger in diameter, sporting a larger magnet, greater power handling, and a lower Fs. Both units feature cast metal chassis and the TC120TD5B is shielded. data sheet

[*]The 5W4211 mid/bass and 5W3211B mid/bass are both 5" drivers with "W" cones. Both units feature ruler-flat passband response well past 4 kHz and decent numbers. The 5W3211B is shielded. 5W4211 data sheet 5W3211B data sheet

[*]The 7W4411 mid/bass is the premier 7" driver in Focal's Audiophile series. Using their proprietary "W" cone material, this unit features extremely clean response past 2 kHz, along with decent Xmax and sensitivity - especially when used in pairs. data sheet

[*]The 7K4412 mid/bass is the latest incarnation in the 7K011DBL/7K4411DB line of drivers. Like its prececessors, it's a 7" Polykevlar unit. Unlike them, it is a single VC design. As with its predecessors, this is regarded by many as the best Polykevlar driver in the Focal catalog. data sheet

[*]The 8V5411 woofer is an 8" unit using a Polyglass cone. This driver has an exceptional frequency range extending up past 2 kHz - although you really shouldn't us an 8" driver much over 1 kHz. Also, with oan Xmax of only 3.5 mm, this driver really needs a subwoofer for deep bass. data sheet

[*]The 11K7512 woofer is an 11" unit using a Polykevlar cone. It offers notably flat response for such a large unit, avoiding the HF resonances associated with Kevlar. data sheet

[*]The 13W8711 subwoofer is a 13" unit using a "W" cone. This unit features generally excellent data, although Xmax is not up to the better purpose-built subs, e.g. Stryke, Adire, Blueprint, at al. data sheet [/ol]

[Bosebani]

  Quote

Folks, this is what I gathered and wanna share with you folks especially on Focal, I understand from respectable forums that all Focal dealers had to go on special training courses so that they can understand the correct way of installing the speakers in different configurations. I also understand that Focal will not allow dealers whom haven't been on their course to buy and install especially the Be (Beryllium) range. The authorised dealers are also given a tour of the factory so that they can see exactly how the Be domes are formed. Have your installer gone for the course?

 

 

 

If you mean those really pro installer, than maybe malaysia's Soundquest has gone through the training course . Understand in Malaysia, they hold Focal Be and they are the one that install the few rare Rav 4 tat won first n best SQ in latest ISACA .

 

In singapore here, Hong Guan is a authorised Focal dealer, he offer one of the best price around. Eg, Full N7 active at $5k

[Slonez]

Sarong,

 

You are now professor Focal?

 

Edited November 5, 2005 by Slonez

[Sarong1]

Brudder, not professor lah....I am just a scientist...

[Sarong1]

The art of turning something that is really nothing into something ...is the master chief of all...

[Bosebani]

>>The art of turning something that is really nothing into something ...is the master chief of all... >>

 

 

I agreed wif you, but a good tuner also needs good sources of resources to work with

[Autwin]

Bosebani,

 

Agreed - good installer need good resources to improve his skill. Cos no point attend any course but no hand ons...

Happen to know a friend of mine (working as installer), ... under his records he had or inprocess of completing 4 x Focal BE setup (one passive and three active) and has another min 3 more BE scheduled... This is what i term as "experience" installer with real experience and not jus theory...

[Bosebani]

I m one of them on the queue......................

[Bosebani]

  Quote

Folks, this is what I gathered and wanna share with you folks especially on Focal, I understand from respectable forums that all Focal dealers had to go on special training courses so that they can understand the correct way of installing the speakers in different configurations. I also understand that Focal will not allow dealers whom haven't been on their course to buy and install especially the Be (Beryllium) range. The authorised dealers are also given a tour of the factory so that they can see exactly how the Be domes are formed. Have your installer gone for the course?

 

 

 

Forget to check with you, where is your this source of info from? Please share from which forums?

[Sarong1]

Experience is no doubt important, but theoretical knowledge is equally important as well.

 

Having the "experience" of installing is through mistakes that they have made in the past, and from which, learn and do it better or avoid it. We can't quantify they don't make mistakes since this is how experience is built on and how do they build on their experience? Through many years of installing on customers' cars and that is where they learn their mistakes. To err is human.

 

To cite an analogy, I have 10 years of driving experience, does it make me a good driver? Likewise, installing a few numbers of very high-end products does not necessary mean that the installer is "experience". He can only be known as an installer.

 

What I see in an installer is one that is creative, thinking and is patient. He studies the products well and KNOWS what is the best combination of other components within a system to best produce and deliver the maximum potential, to make all your money worth-while. This is the minimum expectation of an installer. Today, installer doesn't merely mean "install" alone. His knowledge and application of his experience is equally or if not, important.

 

There is no point in paying for a very expensive set of equipment when the installer does not know his products, what are the weaknesses and strength.

 

The learning process of relying merely on experience is one painful way of learning. If the installer is satisfied with his installation skills and does not seek to enrich himself, I think the installer is plainly complacent.

 

Attending courses should be accompanied by practical hands-on, but its a pity installers generally picked up their skills and experience through inheritance, for which, the masters that they have learnt from could have just been another installer.

[Sarong1]

Talk Audio Forum, much more meaty content and discussion.

[Autwin]

 

 

Edited November 6, 2005 by Autwin