Focals latest - Cat Houses?

@erik_squires 

I mean speakers but at $70k a pair I have a real tough time holding back on the absurdity.

Agreed.  If they were trying to design something that had a good WAF, or wanted to connect with the masses by selling them at Pet City, they missed the target... or was it Target department stores.  

I just took a quick look at Upscale Audio, who is a dealer, and they list the model down at $40K a pair.  So not as bad, but still a lot in my book.  (And in the realm of impossible if you look at my checkbook. lol)  But I'm sure they will sell a good number of them to individuals that have too much money, are looking for bragging rights and/or want the simplicity of just plugging in the power cord and connect to the WiFi.  No other equipment needed.  

The big question, is this the direction that the market is going to go?  You have to admit there is some merit to the idea.  I've got a couple of rooms that it would make things a lot simpler if I didn't have to find where to put the electronics and run long speaker cables. 

@jeffbij  Double check the models.  The one with 6.5" woofers is $40k.  The larger one with 8" woofers is $70k, but I would not be surprised to find deep discounts.

[In good humor] If the French cared about what anyone thought... well, they would not be French! 

I led a diverse team in Europe for over a year. There was a flaming Frenchman (who has been a good friend for thirty years now), two Scots, Englishman, German, Belgian, Italian, Japanese. We had most meals together... it was endless teasing about the "Tommy’s terrible food", and the "Frogs" making passes at other men’s wives. It was non-stoped laughing. I found a map of France and all surrounding countries in a book of Frenchness. The center outline was of France and was labeled France... and all surrounding countries said "Not France". Completely capturing the spirit of France.

This is a great way to take nationalistic stereotypes. As fun, not as serious criticism. We should celebrate our differences... and that is how I take it. 

The speakers are funny looking... I kind of like the look. Not enough to buy them. But they are kind of cool.

You put those things in my house and I would start scratching them! Aesthetically they’re not bad; I mean, I would change that god-awful greige color to something with a bit more personality. But I’m going to echo @erik_squires observation about whether their DSP capabilities have improved to justify the price. 

And @jeffbij made a good point in terms of the ease of use that people are getting increasingly accustomed to and expectant of when it comes to electronics. I mean, all this fussing around with cables and boxes and this many variables in the signal path, etc, I can imagine for many up and coming financially able people, it's just too much. A product like these would solve that problem while also offering pretty good fidelity.

@ghdprentice + 1 - Totally agree about having fun with nationalistic stereotypes (as long as all participants are on board with it and not immediately offended); I remember Graham Parker's band The Rumour put out an album called 'Frogs, Sprouts, Clogs, and Krauts' in that same spirit, as it had a Euro theme. And of course the first stereotype I'd have fun with is my own.... .