A 5.1 system is most common and comprises five speakers (two pairs of either floorstanding or standmount speakers and one centre speaker) and one subwoofer. You can build a great stereo system around the Chora 826s or pursue a killer home theater based on all Focal Chora speakers. All Used Kits. JT has a great voice that is both mellow and expressive. Unique as well are the included plinths that attach to the cabinets. Showing 1-25 of 60 ... 0 review. The fact that they look gorgeous too, is but the icing on the proverbial cake. The Focal Sopra #2 Speaker Review. 300ICW4 and 300 ICW6. Bookshelf speakers are generally around one-foot tall and are a great choice if you’re setting up a home theater in a living room or master bedroom. Focal is a French company that has been in the audio business for over 40 years. As I sit here in my sweet spot listening to yet another new pair of speakers, I am floored at what I am hearing from them. During his leisure time, he enjoys listening to his music collection and an occasional movie with his wife of 30+ years. They have a nice open and organic sound that is quite pleasing to the ear. Focal describes the ideal loudspeaker cone as being: 1) light, to allow rapid acceleration; 2) rigid, for pistonlike movement; and 3) well damped, for … Each speaker has a 160W (watt) amplifier that powers its woofer, a 100W amplifier that powers its midrange driver, and a 40W amplifier that powers its tweeter. In fairness, the Revels have more cabinet volume. The front baffle is made from a polycarbonate material that was mildly shiny and clean looking. This was true for the Focal Chorus 826W 30th Anniversary Edition loudspeaker (I reviewed it in the November 2010 issue), which used the proprietary W-sandwich–cone midrange and woofer technology found in Focal's more expensive speakers. My overall impression was that the speakers looked handsome and, well, European. Free shipping for many products! Highly versatile. If you don’t have enough room for floor standing speakers, but want a bookshelf pair that can still fill a big room, Bowers & Wilkins’ 606s are an excellent choice. As I mentioned earlier, I picked the dark wood finish to compliment my room décor, and it did. We’ve made sure to select speakers that span the full spectrum of prices. The decoupled tweeter was redesigned to handle frequencies from 37kHz (kilohertz) for better low, mid, and high frequency separation. Second, they must have unique attributes that help them stand out among other speakers in their class. The Chora 826 is the flagship speaker of the line and it has some nice trickle-down technology that makes it perform as good as it looks. The use of proprietary custom technology also ensures you won’t find another pair of speakers quite like the selections below. Bach’s music is so transcendental, that it can be played on literally any instrument and still sound good. These speakers are detailed enough for the audiophile and dynamic enough for the cinephile. Loreena McKennitt “The Visit” All of the amps have been specifically tuned to power the drivers and eliminate clipping and distortion while greatly reducing unwanted noise. Some may see France's Focal as a maker of $100,000-plus speakers and $4,000 headphones. When the Chora models first arrived, the series consisted of a pair of bookshelf speakers and two tower speakers.Obviously this shows their dedication to great sounding speakers for music but left some big holes if you wanted a home theater system. Flax is twice as light as fiberglass, because the fiber is hollow. How Much Amplifier Power Does your Home Theater Need? Focal 300 IW6 LCR in wall speaker, new, unopened box, $1190 retail. I also guessed that the design of the tweeter was playing a role, as well. Treble was crisp and detailed, but never fatiguing. By breaking up the spectrum of audio frequencies into smaller chunks, the XR100 can accurately recreate each element of the song you’re listening to so you can pick it apart. The Chora 826 is a three-way, bass-reflex design. Nobody Wanted to Pay for Quibi When It Launched — Now Its Shows Are Streaming for Free on Roku, From Sleeping Hacks to Basketball, 10 Things You Can Learn Online Right Now, Bowers & Wilkins 606 (Pair), $898.98, available at Audio Advice, Focal Chora 826 Three-Way Floorstanding Loudspeaker (Single), $1,095, available at Audio Advice, ELAC Navis Powered Bookshelf Speakers (Pair), $2,299.98, available at Audio Advice, McIntosh XR100 Floorstanding Speakers (Single), $5,000, available at Audio Advice. Yes, the drivers are smaller, but they’re being powered by, quite literally, the perfect amplification system. The first thing to consider is the number of channels. by Crutchfield's Steve K. Home speakers 101. If you’re chasing the illusive “perfect sound,” McIntosh’s XR Floorstanding Speaker has the hardware to get you there, or at the very least, a lot closer. Is the ‘QAnon Shaman’ From the MAGA Capitol Riot Covered in Neo-Nazi Imagery? Focal’s attention to details that actually make a material difference when listening to your music is why the Chora 826 made our list. This assortment of drivers has earned the McIntosh XR100 the distinction of being a four-way speaker. Sign up for our newsletter. 5 … I toed them in, so the tweeters were aimed to cross about a foot behind my head. Floor standing speakers … Speakers are one of the bedrocks of any audio or home theater system, but that’s especially true if you’re building one that’ll last you years (or even forever). All of it is captured in a natural acoustic space with an intimate feel. There is a 2.5″ mounting depth, but most reviews say it doesn’t even look that deep. On the back, the binding posts had nice finger grips to assist in getting a good tight fit on the speaker wire. All the expected details were there. The Focal Chora 826s are where style and performance meet. McIntosh equipment is known for its sonic excellence, and if you want a speaker with no compromises, consider the XR100. William Steinberg and the Boston Symphony Orchestra “Gustav Holst: The Planets” The fibers all point in the same direction, giving the cones rigidity and strength. You can set them on any surface, or place them on Bowers & Wilkins’ speaker stands (sold separately), which have metal feet that reduce distortion caused by vibrations. By Steve Huff. But that element is … Included is Strauss’s Also Sprach Zarathustra with a gorgeous Einleitung for brass, tympani, and organ. Living on the longest stretch of sandy beach north of Boston offers him plenty of opportunities to take a relaxing stroll or soak up some sun. Instead of mixing and matching comparable stereo components, you can plug them into an outlet and hit play. Most pairs of active speakers have one amplifier; the Navis have six. Hear Morgan Wallen, Chris Stapleton's Country-Soul Collab 'Only Thing That's Gone', Duran Duran Deliver Blazing Cover of David Bowie’s ‘Five Years’. Focal ICW 100/300 ICW Series In-Ceiling Speakers YouTube Unboxing Overview. It’s tall, wide, and effortlessly encompassing. I kept the grilles off for most of my listening, but this choice was based on aesthetics, not sound quality. Each speaker has a 5.25-inch woofer, four-inch midrange driver, and a one-inch soft-dome tweeter, which is in the middle of the midrange driver. Focal was in search of a new material to use in their cones, one that would be cheaper than some of the more exotic materials used in HiFi speakers, be in abundance in France and have specific properties. That said, I never felt that the tweeters lost focus, likely due to their wide dispersion and lack of beaming. Originally a quadraphonic recording, it sounds stupendous in stereo as well. Ratings Distribution. I might add, it also gives the cones a unique look that I found visually appealing. "Remember, acquiring good A/V gear takes lots of time...but doesn't necessarily take lots of money.". Featuring a distinguished design that is both stylish and contemporary, the Chora 826 is a three-way loudspeaker that includes the French manufacturer’s exclusive Slatefiber cones to deliver detailed midrange and solid bass performance. The only thing that I could put my finger on that made these a bit different from my Revels was the bass extension. The midrange was smooth and displayed JT’s voice in between the speakers. Size: Audiophile speakers come in various shapes and sizes, but generally fit into two categories: bookshelf or floor standing. This made pulling them out of the packaging so much easier than trying to slide them out of the top or bottom of the cardboard box. The Chora 826s made this recording more enjoyable with its neutral sound and excellent imaging qualities. The PerformaBe F226Be is a three-way floor-standing speaker, and the C426Be, a monsterous three-way center speaker uses four 6.5" bass drivers and the same mid/tweet array. The company used a memory foam called Poron around the tweeter to reduce distortion at frequencies in the human ear’s high sensitivity range. Focal’s Chora line delivers accessible high-fidelity sound at a very competitive price point. Focal Home Theater Speakers View additional: Used Focal Home Theater Speakers (12) Didn't find what you're looking for? One minor quibble, if you want to use banana connectors, the plugs in the posts are difficult to remove so in the end, I used spade lugs. Focal Aria 926. The key performance elements of any good speaker usually break down into tonality (or naturalness), soundstage (imaging), and dynamics (do they stay composed when pushed hard?). You’ll recall this theme made more famous by Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey when the black obelisk is revealed. Focal’s use of materials is what makes the 826 an easy audiophile speaker to recommend. The 606s are outfitted with one 6.5-inch Woofer that handles low and midrange frequencies, plus a one-inch tweeter that handles the high frequencies. He enjoys an occasional night at Boston Symphony Hall or attending an organ concert at Merrill Auditorium in Portland, ME. Above the inputs you’ll find a series of switches that allow you to adjust the EQ (equalization) of low, midrange, and high frequencies a little more finely. The Focal Chora 826 speakers have a natural, open sound that presents the music with a wide dynamic range with an impressive soundstage. Treble, midrange, and bass melded without any emphasis on some frequencies over others. It has a front-firing port, so placement close to a front wall will not be a problem. Speaker reviews, ratings, and prices at CNET. All of the woofers on the Chora 826 are made out of Slatefiber, a non-woven carbon fiber compacted between two layers of thermoplastic polymer. Featuring a distinguished design that is both stylish and high tech, the Chora 826 is a three-way floor-standing loudspeaker that includes the French manufacturer’s exclusive Slatefiber cones to deliver detailed midrange and solid bass performance. Equipped with the exclusive Slatefiber cone developed and manufactured at the Focal site in France, the speaker drivers deliver balanced and precise midranges and perfectly articulated bass; leaving you to enjoy a big, full and generous sound. With dual drivers, the 826s can fill in the bottom octave of the music just fine. Our magazine, which began with the publication of the SECRETS Primer, is available exclusively on-line and offers to our readers an extensive information resource about home theater and high-end audio. Drivers: Drivers are the part of the speaker that produce sound; generally, larger drivers are better, but their material and location on the speaker matters, too. Want more Rolling Stone? With the voice of a Celtic angel and backed by some exotic acoustic instruments, this recording sports some impressive dynamic range. https://www.upscaleaudio.com/products/focal-sopra-no2-loudspeakers-pair This is flat-out one of the hottest speakers we sell. This guide features a mix of passive and active speakers to accommodate different space constraints. And if you want more bass, they integrate well with a sub. I really liked their looks sans grilles. It’s a big sound for starters. An Allen wrench is included and attaching them only took a few minutes. What you need to know before you start shopping for home speakers. 826choraFeaturedFocalloudspeakerSpeakerspeaker reviewSpeaker Review 2020Tower Speaker, Jim Milton has been interested in high fidelity since his college years in the late 70's. I placed the Focal Chora 826s in the same location I had my Revel F36 towers, which is to say about 2.5 feet out from my front wall and 8 feet apart in my 14’x17’ listening room. The Choras reproduced the sense of space and dynamics with startling realism, and even when played loudly, and never sounded compressed or strained. Active speakers are a more all-in-one solution; they have a preamp, volume controls, and inputs (ports that let you plug devices into them) on the speakers themselves. These retail, new, for around $13,999 USA which is a ton of cash, but not up there with previous speakers I have reviewed. The inverted tweeter reduces beaming resulting in a wider sweet spot for the listener. The Focal Chora 826 speakers have a natural, open sound that presents the music with a wide dynamic range with an impressive soundstage. There’s a balanced line input used to connect the speakers together, a standard 3.5mm line input if you’d like to connect your computer, TV, phone, or other device, and a wireless setting that enables Bluetooth and AirPlay (an Apple designed format). RS Recommends, speakers. Dali Opticon 6 Floor-Standing Loudspeakers, Astell & Kern A&norma SR25 Digital Audio Player Preview, DALI Rubicon 6C Smart Active Loudspeaker System Review, NHT C-4 Loudspeaker and CS-12 Subwoofer Review, Xavian Quarta Stand-Mounted Speakers Review, Black Ice Fusion F11 Vacuum Tube Integrated Amplifier PREVIEW, JBL Launches Time Machine at HARMAN ExPLORE: Introduces 75th Anniversary JBL SA750 Integrated Amplifier, The MediaLight Flex Mk2 6500K LED Bias Lighting System, G.E.M. 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