Just wanted to get your opinions on Focal/JM Labs products. I recently heard this brand for the first time (Focal 836v) and was very impressed. Yes, the bass response was lacking but the clarity was great. I rarely see this brand come up on the threads and was curious as to why.
Focal makes some very good stuff. Great sounding, very well made, and most stuff is priced very competitively. I've often contemplated the 706v. Very cool looking and sounding speaker for not a ton of cash. Then I come back to the realization that my Yaras are a far better speaker, as they should be for 3 times the price.
There's a lot of great stuff we rarely discuss. I don't think very many, if any of us own or talk about Aerial, ProAc, McCormack and Audio Research. Great companies that a lot of us could probably afford their bottom end stuff new and/or their middle of the pack stuff used.
Some stuff just kind of doesn't get discussed. No idea why.
You're the only one here I know of who's owned ProAcs. I'm pretty sure you had them connected to your Primaluna integrated. I remember you couldn't get it to sound right. Was it the speakers, integrated, or both?
Interesting point about Primaluna. I was in at a local dealer awhile back and the manager was telling me that they were auditioning some tube amp lines to start carrying, and Primaluna was one of them. He was not impressed with them - described them as harsh and abrasive. I've never heard them, so I can't comment.
I have the matching subwoofer, to the system(SW-800v)Compliments my P.A main speakers very well. Only 11" driver I have ever seen before, but good idea, the speed of a ten, thump of a 12.
Used mostly for bass heavy music, works very well. no muddy or boomyness whatsoever, even at 120hz, but I have it set at 70hz. Very deep and clean bass.
I have the Focal set in the left rear corner of the room with my Mission positioned up at the right front, in between my mains.
I think it was more the amp than speakers, Stu. However as you probably know over at Pink Fish ProAcs are often described as being bright. I've listened to ProAc's on many occasions and would say that careful system matching very critical, and not just for good sound but to make them listenable. I have enjoyed them a couple of times. I think it was a combo of that poor sounding Prima Luna Prologue 2 and ProAc's bottom of the line speaker that just didn't work.