Focal Utopia Diablo - Exceptional Standmount Performance

Focal Diablo Utopia: Sound quality,... how good are they? Interesting question but our verdict here at HHA is, they are astounding!

These Focals deliver a spellbinding performance packed with detail, dynamic nuance and agility. Feed them the likes of Johnny Cash’s version of I See a Darkness and the speaker end of our listening room disappears, leaving just Cash’s rich, time-worn vocals to take centre stage accompanied by one of the most realistic renditions of an acoustic guitar we’ve heard. Such harmonically rich instruments are massively difficult to get right, but these standmounters manage that trick with everything from trumpets to pianos.

These speakers are also spot-on when it comes to nailing the tone of instruments and voices. There’s 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. 

By high-end standards these speakers aren’t 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’ll be rewarded with a notably better sound.

Focal Diablo Utopia: Engineering

This performance isn’t accidental: there’s serious engineering in these speakers. The technical highlight is undoubtedly Focal’s 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.

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.

Unlike many rivals – who buy in drive units from OEM suppliers – 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. 

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 – an area in which these speakers excel.

That high-tech tweeter is matched to an equally impressive mid/bass unit. The 16.5cm mid/bass features Focal’s trademark ‘W’ cone – a composite construction of glass fibre and foam that is specially configured for light weight, rigidity and good damping qualities.

The mid/bass’s motor system is special too, having a clever magnet arrangement that’s claimed to optimise magnetic power and minimise any losses. The solid cabinet is finished to a high level, too and is among the highest fit & finish we've encountered and it should be for a $10K + Standmount system. 

The Utopia line from Focal is like a breath of fresh air. High design, high performance and incredibly sexy, oh and ultra-French. We've had the opportunity to hear a lot of monitor speakers that leave us flat and cold. Lifeless boxed that spit sounds but don't touch your soul; 100% NOT like these. 

Fully tested and run through by our in-house speaker techs and playing spot on. A few boo-boos on th stands but zero deal breakers. Speakers themselves are in excellent condition and play to spec.

Come have a listen to this fine monitors here in Andover.

Focal Diablo Utopia Exceptiona monitor speaker system: $6,999.00 plus tax and shipping when applicable.

* These need to go by freight or personalized delivery service. Call us to chat about options