I’ll add my $.02 worth of opinion/bias here. Speaker preferences are just that - bias and opinion resulting in preference.
Both are very well respected lines. Toward that end, regarding Focal: Are they detailed? Check. Transparent? Check. Dynamic? Check. Accurate? Check. Build quality? Check. Any other boxes I may have missed? Check.
KEF Ref 3 checks all the same boxes by the way. I would add imaging is superior to the Focal (and probably everything else in this price range).
Plenty of listeners will disagree with me - and perhaps even the majority - but I’ve yet to hear any Focal (from $ to $$$$) that I’d consider buying. No matter the source or electronics, when I’ve heard them, I didn’t listen long. They were initially exciting and fun, but ended up being fatiguing with time.
For me, given my biases and my ears, the KEF would get my cash. And, I particularly think they are the better match with your current NAD M series electronics which are quite good.
Again, only my $.02.
Both are very well respected lines. Toward that end, regarding Focal: Are they detailed? Check. Transparent? Check. Dynamic? Check. Accurate? Check. Build quality? Check. Any other boxes I may have missed? Check.
KEF Ref 3 checks all the same boxes by the way. I would add imaging is superior to the Focal (and probably everything else in this price range).
Plenty of listeners will disagree with me - and perhaps even the majority - but I’ve yet to hear any Focal (from $ to $$$$) that I’d consider buying. No matter the source or electronics, when I’ve heard them, I didn’t listen long. They were initially exciting and fun, but ended up being fatiguing with time.
For me, given my biases and my ears, the KEF would get my cash. And, I particularly think they are the better match with your current NAD M series electronics which are quite good.
Again, only my $.02.