Focal monitors - reports ?

i57dwun4yb1pt8

I know some of you lads bought them ?
im thinking of getting the solos ( twins to big for my room )

they have great reviews , but anyone have any comment on them

I use mackie 624 mark 1's at the moment and i find im still getting cloudy veiled ness in my recordings - its subtle but there.

teamdresch

They're awesome.
I've said it about a million times on this and other forums.
You won't be disappointed.

seannash

i read a review about them alright,theremeant to be fantastic.
but again i guess its all about how well you get to know them

trackmixstudio

I recently got the twins and they are unbelievable.
You can hear even tiny eq changes and it it easy to find the right spot in the stereo image when panning. The low mids are exceptionally clear and easy to get right in the mix. I can't comment on the solos though.
You are welcome to call out to the studio and audition them if you want.
Even bring over a session in logic or pt format and do a mix on them and see how well it translates.

They take a while to break in and have just started to really open up this week.

Michael

DamagedTrax

heard them out in trackmix and i have to say i was more than impressed :cool:

dav nagle

DamagedTrax wrote: »

heard them out in trackmix and i have to say i was more than impressed :cool:

I want a pair of these so bad, defo gonna buy them at some stage

i57dwun4yb1pt8

thanks !

ive heard the twins in AP studios many times and thought they were great

now that iv gone with pro gear I just find the mackies arent cutting it anymore ,

damn this constant upgrading !

DamagedTrax

DaDumTish wrote: »

thanks !

ive heard the twins in AP studios many times and thought they were great

now that iv gone with pro gear I just find the mackies arent cutting it anymore ,

damn this constant upgrading !

what mackies you got? im using 824 in a treated room and ive always found just a touch of broad mid boost on the master gets them into the zone for me.

i57dwun4yb1pt8

624 mark 1 in a treated room - they are good , but I reckon the focals will be more accurate .

DamagedTrax

DaDumTish wrote: »

624 mark 1 in a treated room - they are good , but I reckon the focals will be more accurate .

definitly will be. the focal twins threw up a couple of surprises to me when i checked them out with a mix i'd done on the 824's

i57dwun4yb1pt8

I also feel i will be able to mix at lower vol with a more detialed speaker
my hearing is pretty bad , so i need to be wary of volume .

that and the new converters I have in the TC konnekt demand better monitoring details

trackmixstudio

If you get the focals it is worth getting a high quality dedicated DA for them.
I am using an Apogee mini DAC. The DA in your average interface just won't be good enough to get the full effect of top quality monitors like the focals.
Although I have not heard the TC you have.

i57dwun4yb1pt8

the TC has the same converter chips as the RME fireface ranges if that means much ?


but i will bang one on some day - I guess on the adat ?

i57dwun4yb1pt8

holy crap these babys are good !

teamdresch

I take it you bought them?

i57dwun4yb1pt8

bought , set up , burnt in , and now starting to track with them.

and I now have to re record alot of sh1t !

impressions are

1/ sounds like the speaker is actually not there - just the music - very smooth and easy on the ear - low volume is just as detialed as high volume
2/ great detail and imaging - very fast transient response.
3/ midrange is very easy to work with and hear.
4/ low end is very deep even without a sub , in a well treated room .

I think these should be mandatory in all studios .

trackmixstudio

"bought , set up , burnt in , and now starting to track with them"

There is no way they are burnt in yet. Mine still keep getting better every day and have not settled fully yet. The woofers sound far better as they loosen up a bit after 3-4 weeks. The singles you got have the same cones as the twins I have I think.

i57dwun4yb1pt8

oh, i know they will burn in alot more ,

but they had a thin low end when i first tried em , then i put em through 6 hours of non stop low end wav files , and the bass improved a huge amount -

but its enough to start using them for tracking at least.

yeah same cones as the twin , but the twin has a mid switch for one cone.

remearkable monitors though - but you get what you pay for i guess.

jimmychin

glad i found this thread...

i'm looking to get a pair of quality monitors and was wondering what would be the most recommended ?

i'm running a pretty basic home studio and want to upgrade to be able to produce better quality music.

i'm planning on getting a Mbox 2 Mini as i will be producing mainly electronic based music (i dont need more than 2 inputs)

would the focal's suit a home setup like this? or are they 'too professional'

i want the best sound, any others monitors recommended?

DamagedTrax

the twins would be way too big a sound for a small studio.. try the smaller focals, adam or mackie.

PaulBrewer

jimmychin wrote: »

'too professional'

:eek: That's like saying too good looking or too rich ....

DamagedTrax

PaulBrewer wrote: »

:eek: That's like saying too good looking or too rich ....

oi, leave me outta this :pac:

PaulBrewer

DamagedTrax wrote: »

oi, leave me outta this :pac:

or too predictable ...

DamagedTrax

PaulBrewer wrote: »

or too predictable ...

you're just jealous of my striking good lucks and large wads of cash.

PaulBrewer

DamagedTrax wrote: »

you're just jealous of my striking good lucks and large wads of cash.

Head, you were saying yer bird has the dosh!

DamagedTrax

PaulBrewer wrote: »

Head, you were saying yer bird has the dosh!

:pac::pac:

i shudder to think if its still there after the supposed spree yesterday!


although i did spend a few hundred myself in x-music yesterday.. payed for the mini squier and a marshell mg-10. the little lad will be rockin his brains out this christmas

i57dwun4yb1pt8

jimmy, I upgraded my mid level studio setup to a high endish pro setup - the focals solos cost me 1400 euro for the pair ,. the twins are about 2100 a pair .

JJV

DaDumTish wrote: »

jimmy, I upgraded my mid level studio setup to a high endish pro setup - the focals solos cost me 1400 euro for the pair ,. the twins are about 2100 a pair .

i had to get them as all my new audio chain needs high end monitors.

i am selling a set of mackie 624 mark ones which are not quite in the focal league , but are very good home studio monitors ( around 850 new or 500 2nd hand ) - so if you wish PM me and I can fill you in more .

I'd be interested in hearing a pair of the Focal solos myself. Who is selling them in Dublin & is it possible to borrow a pair from the dealer to have a listen in situ? The €1400 you quote is that ex vat?

At the mo I have a pair of the KRK V4 Mk 1s, & have tried out a pair of Genelec 8030s, a pair of Adam A7s & a pair of PMC DB1SAs. I have to say the PMCs were superior in every department & to my ears made the Genelecs sound very coloured. Did you A/B the Focals against anything else?

Sorry for all the questions!

Cheers

JJ

teamdresch

1400 is indeed a crazysteal if it's ex-vat.

i57dwun4yb1pt8

sorry - i actually paid 1476 euro including vat at KMR audio UK
( where i get all my gear lately )


basically thommann had two b stock solo focals for sale at 1400 euro , so i bargained kmr down, and with the uk vat down yo 15% and the exchange rate - i got a good deal i reckons


I dont have a pro studio per se , but if you want to hear them , PM me and we can org something.


I didnt compare them , ive heard the twin version , and did aload of recearch online and they came out tops in nearly all reviews i read.

JJV

DaDumTish wrote: »

a

I dont have a pro studio per se , but if you want to hear them , PM me and we can org something.

Thanks for the kind offer. Unfortunately the computer that controls the air bags on my car has gone kaput. Its going to be over €1000 to replace it. Bet it's a PC Anyway there goes the budget for new monitors! I may PM you in the New year to have a listen.