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VAC amps and Focal Grand Utopias at $195k a pair

Ny audio best of show had to have been the VAC suite driving Focal Grand Utopia speakers. Dynamics were off the chart! Bass was tight and forceful!! The Eagles singing Hotel California from the Hell Freezes Over Tour had to have been the most realistic presentation that I've ever heard on any playback system anywhere in the world at any price! (Granted total room electronics cost topped $600k) It would have cost less to have the Eagles perform live at the show!! Anyone else get a chance to hear it or feel system didn't live up to hype and price??
lepps200228
mapman's avatar
mapman
21,890 posts
 
I've heard other similarly large Focals but not the top EM versions off ARC amps in a decent sized dealer showroom at Lyric in NYC and though what i heard sounded quite fine and effortless, I felt substantiated in my general thinking that speakers that size really need quite a large room to breathe and for everything to integrate optimally on a large scale.

gpgr4blu
1,078 posts
 
Did not like the sound at all in the Focal room. Agree that size of room could have been the problem.
noromance's avatar
noromance
9,547 posts
 
Me neither. Recessed midband, lack of air. Flabby bass.
wwchange
18 posts
 
I beg to differ... Don't know what day you were there or what the status of the system was when you heard it but it's obvious to me that by the time I experienced it all the bugs had been worked out. Sorry your experience was less than perfect...
noromance's avatar
noromance
9,547 posts
 
Fair enough. I never heard them on the couple of times I went in, having as good a midband as the Nolas, the bass of the Zu Audios or the highs and imaging of the Harbeths. At a $1/3 million, they should have it all.
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