There is no doubt that the Focal HiFi brand is considered one of the highest quality speaker manufacturers and it is well-regarded by audiophiles all over the world. It is no wonder there are many of us who are eager to own a pair of loudspeakers made by Focal, especially their coveted high-end models, but not many of us have such deep pockets.
The Focal Grande Utopia EM Evo has an eye-watering price tag of more than $200,000. Not to mention, you will need high-end amplifiers to drive these majestic beasts. Moving away from their high-end speaker models, the Focal entry-level series is not quite budget-friendly for listeners who just started out their HiFi journey. Why are Focal speakers so expensive you might ask and we are about to find out.
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The Reputation of Focal Speakers
The reputation of the Focal brand itself already commands such pricing level and the French HiFi company knows it. This is why you don’t see much difference in price points in various regions of the world. The decades of experience and care in making their high-quality speakers also justify these price tags.
The Accolades of Focal Speakers
How the Focal reputation skyrockets are partly due to the number of accolades that its speakers have garnered. Furthermore, they are also highly praised by their customers and fans. These achievements greatly cement Focal speakers as one of the best in the world and thus the expensive price points.
Good Building Materials
The materials used to make some of the Focal speakers are of premium quality such as leather, beryllium drivers, and others. These building materials already cost quite a lot to purchase and will add up to the overall pricing of the Focal loudspeaker. Now with the shipping and logistics costs getting more expensive, all these also affect the total cost of bringing in these materials which unfortunately also leads to the increase in the speakers’ pricing.
Focal Expertise
Of course, using most of these building materials is not just for show or to simply push up the price. With years of research and development, the engineers and experts have decided that these building blocks are needed to make a high-quality Focal speaker within a given budget. The expertise and technologies they used will nonetheless indirectly influence the expensive price tag of the Focal speakers. Based on the successes they have achieved, it is no doubt their team is on the right track.
Focal Sound Quality
Focal speakers are designed and made for audiophiles, so we can expect a certain level of quality that is sought after by their targeted audience. The Focal speakers are mainly made for stereo setups and are meant for music playbacks. This simple aspect is also what makes the Focal speakers so attractive to audiophiles. Not to mention, they are really good at it and since there is a demand, this helps to increase the Focal speakers’ price points.
The Durability of Focal Speakers
Focal speakers are durable as long they are not misused and could last for years. Since the Focal loudspeakers have high durability, this does justify their high price points as well. They also provide warranties to their customers.
Are Focal Speakers Worth It?
In order to really enjoy and hear the full potential of Focal speakers, especially the higher-end models, you will need matching audio components which will add to the overall cost. The listening room itself plays a major role as well, if it is not acoustically treated, you might not be able to get the best sound quality from your Focal speakers. If all these are not an issue, then it would be worth it to get a pair of Focal speakers.
Of course, you will need to audition them first before making the final decision. Your ears will be the best judge to see if a particular Focal speaker model will suit your taste or provide you with an amazing music listening experience.
Focal Speakers to Start With
There’s no need to always go for the high-end speaker models, you can start by checking out lower-end models such as Focal Chora 806. They are a pair of bookshelf speakers with a modest price tag and an all-rounder, making them an ideal entry-level choice for listeners who are interested in getting Focal speakers.
More Details of Focal Chora 806 at Amazon
If you have a higher budget and prefer to go for floor-standing speakers, the Focal Chora 826 is an excellent choice for you to start with. They may be a lot more affordable than the Focal Grande Utopia EM Evo but that doesn’t mean the Chora 826 can’t bring joy to your music listening sessions. Focal Chora 826 floor-standers are well-regarded by both critics and audiophiles, they are capable of providing you with really good sound quality.
More Details of Focal Chora 826 at Amazon
Focal designs and makes a wide variety of loudspeakers including professional speakers such as the Focal Alpha 80 Evo. The price tag on the Alpha 80 Evo is considered modest for a Focal brand studio monitor. The Focal Alpha 65 Evo is the more popular choice out of this series and is certainly worth your time to check out if you are a professional looking for a good pair of powered studio monitors.
There are plenty more Focal speaker models such as Focal Aria 906, Focal Aria 948, etc., that are worthy of your attention, and do take your time to find the one which you really like to hear. Your other audio components like the stereo amplifiers may affect the Focal speakers’ sound signatures so do match them with care.
