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Published on 03/08/11 at 16:15I wanted small speakers for my new mixes, a lot of TV content / movies and some music (folk, orchestral, industrial). I first was attracted by the prestige of the brand, Focal has always been a solid player and the innovative acoustic world. Moreover, they are solid (lourdes!), well designed in terms of connectivity, easily transportable, very little prone to problems of room acoustics, and there are even accessories like adjustable pads, a carry bag (that the seller can offer you hehe), a rubber for solid insulation, brush guards and the opportunity to screw them on microphone stands. At the outset, this imposes serious. And when you look on paper, all commands respect: THD, frequency filtering, etc. ... nothing unusual to report.
I use it mainly com / mix at home on a ProTools config / Motu accompanied by a central station, a pair of Fostex PM1 and a peak-meter RTW. But now I lug around everywhere! Pros studios, auditoriums, filming, editing sound, etc ...
SOUNDS
The frequency curve! The is the key to success! FINALLY an enclosure which does not lie, that does not hide its flaws as vile tricks maze acoustic bass reflex inflated or any kind of flattery. They are perfectly straight, it jumps to the ears, and it is confirmed with a microphone / measurement software.
-Up to 300Hz, there is no magic, the size of the woofer does not eccentricities, it has a very low cut sloping from 65 to 60Hz. But the low-medium remains of an exemplary, if not the impact and definition that are reserved for lines 50 and 65, at the frequency, it does not move and that's good. Everything is solidly defined, even though I will not have been against a broader HP 1 or 2cm.
The beach-300Hz/3kHz refers competition light years is simply amazing precision and fidelity. Bring a large pair of guitars and you'll see ... micro-details shovel ... A truth completely intolerant of his compared to mixes, and even CDs, although trade between aggressive music in there, it will sound REALLY aggressive. Anyway, it's just perfect.
-From 3kHz, there is also the premium. Where other builders are shelving the uninhibited, the Focals are not moving, it stays straight and it is packed with details. No fatigue to listen, no deceit, the treble you hear it, if you measure out keeping in mind that neutrality, it will do wonders on any other listens.
In terms of dynamics and stereo imaging, there is also the top level, a reference work like Mahler's 5th Symphony is freely expressed, ranging from a whisper to be braked without excess. Pinch ropes, hammers, flutes, squeaky chairs ... Nothing wrong, you listen to what was actually recorded, including defects. J'vous not tell the number of CDs that I rediscovered!!
OVERALL OPINION
I use them for 3 months now, they have replaced my ancient pair of Genelec 1029A, which if they will always occupy a place in my cab (I know them by heart), are relegated to junk ...
For comparative So! (And I will not be tender) I made these comparisons in an acoustically treated room, gathering all these models.
Adam A5/A3: speakers quite coherent and well designed, but they are not straight, the ribbon tweeter is effective yes, but too stressed. Between 1 and 3k, the Focal outweigh their spectrum more loyal.
Genelec-8020: a horror of BOOM BOOM and ksss ksss of anything great ...
Dynaudio-BM5A: then it's interesting! These speakers have a low-medium very weird, a little "fuzzy" and catch up later with an acute very well balanced. One has the impression of hearing something irregular between the two lines, as if blocking the manhandling required frequency. Moreover, not even the budget, not the same size, scat out! Comparative curious anyway.
Focal CMS-50: The border is frankly tenuous, these speakers bigger share exactly the same qualities as their little sister from 300Hz, I also applied a filter on my stereo master, the sound was absolutely identical to one speaker to another!! Still, for 300 euros more, you have a woofer that goes down below, and a gain of definition in the lower medium. That's fair! Note that if you want to add a Sub, CMS50 prefer much more homogeneous than the bottom 40 when coupled with the large box (rather nice way!)
The KRK-I can not remember the reference, I think Rokit-foo ... In the same furnace as Genelec is completely unhinged the medium, in any case reliable mixing.
-The Yamaha also ... Rather surprising, but very aggressive (as some Fostex) j'vous challenge to spend eight hours a day on it ... Again, the medium does not compare with the CMS. The power is good, but well-balanced is better.
In short, whatever the model, CMS prevail handily, following my course selection criteria, namely a frequency tolerance and impeccable set a good bass-reflex. The comparison is very harsh indeed, go on the CMS is to forget years of plays on the speakers meant to be "monitoring" but often merely an ersatz loudness filter to make full eye and eardrums. At first, it inevitably hurts, especially on sources aggressive metal / electro, sometimes you jump to saturation mouth, beatings snare peatedly harmonics are unpleasant ... But it does not lie, at any time.
In short, these speakers made me take a leap forward in the treatment of voice is awesome, the refined EQs, compressors are less coarse. For the sound to the image, it's just deadly, my new personal reference, if it sounds on it, no surprise elsewhere, it's as simple as that. For music, all depend on who is in front, many people like to work on modern music with the speakers more flattering, more "musical" in fact, maybe for them range from ADAM would be advisable. .. although CMS40 resolved with the high-shelving to +2 dB are downright nice, very natural, very small internal EQs tear their mom!
For my part, I had a bunch of speakers (Dynaudio, Genelec, Fostex, Yamaha ...) and these new small (less chèresdu lot!) Are the first to give me a satisfaction index of 100 % of pregnant women who are advancing the work, because it is good that finally a real working tool. Coupled with my Fostex (more like "fi"), I stand there a config that gives me the slightest surprise.
10/10, value for money on top. Listen, and you'll see!
I use it mainly com / mix at home on a ProTools config / Motu accompanied by a central station, a pair of Fostex PM1 and a peak-meter RTW. But now I lug around everywhere! Pros studios, auditoriums, filming, editing sound, etc ...
SOUNDS
The frequency curve! The is the key to success! FINALLY an enclosure which does not lie, that does not hide its flaws as vile tricks maze acoustic bass reflex inflated or any kind of flattery. They are perfectly straight, it jumps to the ears, and it is confirmed with a microphone / measurement software.
-Up to 300Hz, there is no magic, the size of the woofer does not eccentricities, it has a very low cut sloping from 65 to 60Hz. But the low-medium remains of an exemplary, if not the impact and definition that are reserved for lines 50 and 65, at the frequency, it does not move and that's good. Everything is solidly defined, even though I will not have been against a broader HP 1 or 2cm.
The beach-300Hz/3kHz refers competition light years is simply amazing precision and fidelity. Bring a large pair of guitars and you'll see ... micro-details shovel ... A truth completely intolerant of his compared to mixes, and even CDs, although trade between aggressive music in there, it will sound REALLY aggressive. Anyway, it's just perfect.
-From 3kHz, there is also the premium. Where other builders are shelving the uninhibited, the Focals are not moving, it stays straight and it is packed with details. No fatigue to listen, no deceit, the treble you hear it, if you measure out keeping in mind that neutrality, it will do wonders on any other listens.
In terms of dynamics and stereo imaging, there is also the top level, a reference work like Mahler's 5th Symphony is freely expressed, ranging from a whisper to be braked without excess. Pinch ropes, hammers, flutes, squeaky chairs ... Nothing wrong, you listen to what was actually recorded, including defects. J'vous not tell the number of CDs that I rediscovered!!
OVERALL OPINION
I use them for 3 months now, they have replaced my ancient pair of Genelec 1029A, which if they will always occupy a place in my cab (I know them by heart), are relegated to junk ...
For comparative So! (And I will not be tender) I made these comparisons in an acoustically treated room, gathering all these models.
Adam A5/A3: speakers quite coherent and well designed, but they are not straight, the ribbon tweeter is effective yes, but too stressed. Between 1 and 3k, the Focal outweigh their spectrum more loyal.
Genelec-8020: a horror of BOOM BOOM and ksss ksss of anything great ...
Dynaudio-BM5A: then it's interesting! These speakers have a low-medium very weird, a little "fuzzy" and catch up later with an acute very well balanced. One has the impression of hearing something irregular between the two lines, as if blocking the manhandling required frequency. Moreover, not even the budget, not the same size, scat out! Comparative curious anyway.
Focal CMS-50: The border is frankly tenuous, these speakers bigger share exactly the same qualities as their little sister from 300Hz, I also applied a filter on my stereo master, the sound was absolutely identical to one speaker to another!! Still, for 300 euros more, you have a woofer that goes down below, and a gain of definition in the lower medium. That's fair! Note that if you want to add a Sub, CMS50 prefer much more homogeneous than the bottom 40 when coupled with the large box (rather nice way!)
The KRK-I can not remember the reference, I think Rokit-foo ... In the same furnace as Genelec is completely unhinged the medium, in any case reliable mixing.
-The Yamaha also ... Rather surprising, but very aggressive (as some Fostex) j'vous challenge to spend eight hours a day on it ... Again, the medium does not compare with the CMS. The power is good, but well-balanced is better.
In short, whatever the model, CMS prevail handily, following my course selection criteria, namely a frequency tolerance and impeccable set a good bass-reflex. The comparison is very harsh indeed, go on the CMS is to forget years of plays on the speakers meant to be "monitoring" but often merely an ersatz loudness filter to make full eye and eardrums. At first, it inevitably hurts, especially on sources aggressive metal / electro, sometimes you jump to saturation mouth, beatings snare peatedly harmonics are unpleasant ... But it does not lie, at any time.
In short, these speakers made me take a leap forward in the treatment of voice is awesome, the refined EQs, compressors are less coarse. For the sound to the image, it's just deadly, my new personal reference, if it sounds on it, no surprise elsewhere, it's as simple as that. For music, all depend on who is in front, many people like to work on modern music with the speakers more flattering, more "musical" in fact, maybe for them range from ADAM would be advisable. .. although CMS40 resolved with the high-shelving to +2 dB are downright nice, very natural, very small internal EQs tear their mom!
For my part, I had a bunch of speakers (Dynaudio, Genelec, Fostex, Yamaha ...) and these new small (less chèresdu lot!) Are the first to give me a satisfaction index of 100 % of pregnant women who are advancing the work, because it is good that finally a real working tool. Coupled with my Fostex (more like "fi"), I stand there a config that gives me the slightest surprise.
10/10, value for money on top. Listen, and you'll see!