Focus Audio Classic

Thanks Phil. If you get it translated would love to get a copy.

Maxx

Thats way cool. Do you have your 'replacement' 688s yet?

Hi Nick, I responded to your post over at AA. I guess very few have heard any FA speakers since, only Phil and me responded.

Go back to AA and do a word search for the Focus Audio FC-70. There was a poster at AA who no longer posts since he has finished his system.

But you can look up his posts and get some insight. You might also still be able to email him. If I remember right he listened to over 50 speakers before deciding on the 70's

Good luck!

Nick one more thing. Although Focus Audio dosen't have these listed at their website there are 3 professional reviews of the classic series.

Go to eCoustics.com and type in focus audio and you will find 2 reviews of the 70's and 1 review of the 10's.

Phil, if your still around :) I saw over at AA where you posted the list of the "top 10 bookshelves" from the Yk Audio magazine original article. I've never been able to find the article on line. looks like a interesting read.

Do you have the web address?

Thanks

Thanks Phil, So no actual discussion of why they were picked? That was actually what I was interested in: the why?

Best Wishes Maxx

Sorry to hear that Jason. I had to sell my Jolida tube amp to buy the FS688's. So I hear what you are saying with money problems and having to sell beloved equipment.

Best Wishes Maxx

Jungson JA-88D. Pure class A 80wpc integrated that sells for $1500. I got mine last May. Bound For Sound Magazine just released their review of the amp in the last few weeks.

The verdict from Bound for sound was that it is the best audio electronic value since the early 1980 when NAD introduced the 3020 integrated.

Based on Sound, quality and construction they felt its peers would be the Jeff Rowland Concerto integrated ($5800) or the Gryphon Callisto integrated ($7000).

Andy from Sekei.com can send you a link to the review if your interested.

It really does deliver a very, very good mix of tube and SS sound in one package. Mates very well with the FS688's.

Nick is asking about the new "Classic Series". A less expensive current offering from FA. The 68 you mentioned was the forerunner to 688 and was from the original Signature series.

The Dealer is correct. The 9900 revelator (currently used in the 688) was only used in the $8800 flagship 88 speaker.

The dealer is also correct about the tolerances. Wilson matches its drivers to within 0.5db. Focus Audio matches their drivers within 0.25db.

Doug from Soundstage magazine on one of his posts at AA said in measurements at the NRC, the drivers in the FA688 were the closest matched of any drivers that Soundstage had ever tested. The 788's werent reviewed at the time and I'm sure they would test similar.

From what I have been told FA buys their drivers in batches of 200 then matches them and keeps a record of their results of file. Should a driver ever blow the measurements are on file so the replacement driver would be almost identical.

Phil what is it you don't like about the VR's? Especially in comparison to Focus Audio?

One more question. My room is 12x13 and the bass is quite acceptable. Wondering though if I am missing out on much by not having a subwoofer? I listen primarily to Rock and Jazz. Also wondering if this might help liberate the little midbass drivers and open up the soundstage even more.

Any feedback from customers who have or have tried using a sub with the 688's?

Thanks

Thats what I kind of figured but wasn't sure. Yes I have heard the 688's at Tonys. Very large room 26 feet long almost as wide and with vaulted ceilings and opening up into other rooms. In otherwords a Supersize great room.

Bass was real good but no where near as deep sounding as in my room.

Your right about the amp too. The Jungson has just a touch of bloom in the bass region and digs considerably deeper then the Jolida and Cambridge Audio I previously used.

I guess when I get my Eastsound CD5 CDP from Andy at Sekei in a few weeks I'm done. Should be a real nice step up from the $350 Cambridge 300 player I'm using now.

Thanks again Phil

BW Maxx

Great stuff! The I5 is suppose to be exceptional. Did you see the Review of the I5 limited edition in UHF magazine?

I think they are only making 250 units. I know UHF was absolutely in love with this amp. They are going to be using it to replace one of the amps in one of their reference systems.

I've noticed alot of FA owners and even FA themselves when doing shows, tend to opt for quality SS rather then tubes. Real compliment to Focus Audio IMO. Unlike many highly resolving speakers you don't need to tame them, just pick an amp and CDP to allow them to live up to their potential.

Right SS amp with tube pre. I noticed looking at the FS website they seem to have used SS amps at shows. The Ayre and PS Audio being the most common.

I never seen any pictures from shows where they were driver by tubes.

However Tony does use the Hurricanes in his setup along with Audio Aero CDP. Another owner of the 688s used both a Audiomatt tube and Gaincard SS and felt the Audiomat sounded considerably better. However I'm not so sure that 22 solid state watts was enough in his 18x22 room.

Phil, Do you know how much of FA's business in the Far East? Tony, a year ago August when I visited him indicated FA had sold over 1000 pairs of the 688. Amazing for a speaker less then a year old. I know they are the darlings of the orient and if one looks at audioreview of the previous signature series. Almost every owner/reviewer is from Hong Kong, Singapore or Maylasia.

I apprecitate your help. Had the speakers for just over 12 months now and want to do a formal review over at AA in a few months when my system is complete. Amazing IMO no OWNER has written a formal review that I can find, anyway.

Don't think it would hurt to have 1 review to balance those reviews of the Merlins, which seem almost daily, over at AA. Hoping to write something a little more insightfull and helpfull then: "The Merlins are perfect and Bobby is the Man" :) Amazing something so "perfect" turns up in droves used at here A'gon.

Thanks again

Check out OhioValleyAudio.com. Check out the Meibao stands. I'm using the taller 4FX stands with my 688's. The shorter ones (23.5") would probably be a better match for your Trentes.

Very well built. 37lbs each. Real cool looking. Dirt cheap $229 with free shipping.