STUDIO MONITORS I 2019 - Focal
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STUDIO MONITORS I 2019
These few words embody
the philosophy of the
professional universe of Focal,
the French manufacturer
of acoustic loudspeakers
and transducers.
From their very beginning
on the drawing board in
Research & Development,
LISTEN TO
our Focal Professional monitors
are designed to deliver just one
thing, at any cost: the absolute
acoustic truth.
Focal has established itself
as an innovation leader in the
pursuit of a unique principle:
total control of development
and production. This enables
YOUR MUSIC,
the company to continually
progress, while being sure
there’s perfect control during
the manufacturing process.
Focal has registered many
patents, such as the ‘W’
composite sandwich cone
or the pure Beryllium inverted
dome tweeter. These exclusive
NOT TO YOUR
technologies have brought
major progress to the
professional audio world
in terms of neutrality,
definition and precision
in reproduced sound.
It’s fundamental for sound
engineers to entirely trust what
they hear, either in music
SPEAKERS!
production, post-production
or broadcast.
Our products are designed
from the start to be professional
tools that exactly reproduce the
sound signal, without improving
or damaging it.
Focal Professional monitors
guarantee the reproduction
of all the micro-details, the
precise staging of instruments
and voices, with no coloration
or distortion. These basic
elements allow the engineer
to directly access the source
equipment and electronics
and ensure optimum transfer
quality onto public
audio equipment.
NEW
TRIO11 BE
The SM6 line is now completed with the new reference of studio monitoring : Trio11 Be. Offering a great versatility of use and
installation configurations, Trio11 Be is dedicated to studios looking for total acoustic transparency, extremely precise stereo
image, excellent dynamics as well as high SPL levels. Like Trio6 Be, Trio11 Be lets you switch between a 3-way monitor and a
2-way monitor allowing to check the mix transfer quality on smaller systems.
MONITORS 01 SM9
02
The irresistible
Focal Professional monitors feature the best details, while the hybrid amplifiers deliver SPL
of Focal’s technology to meet the needs levels to suit all musical styles. With the arrival
of music professionals, for the best music of Trio11 Be, the SM6 line adresses nearfield as
creation. well as midfield applications.
SM9 was born from a simple idea: create the Discover the Shape line. The four monitors,
most dynamic, sonically transparent and made in France, integrate five innovations to
accurate monitoring system ever built. The maximise acoustic transparency. Designed
now famous pure Beryllium inverted dome to meet the needs of nearfield monitoring,
SM6
03
tweeter has been improved with help from Shape monitors combine an ingenious
the latest technologies. Its linearity and ability design and numerous settings optimised for Keep focus and mix on!
to reveal micro information is unparalleled. the acoustics of small listening rooms.
The SM6 line was designed to meet the Featuring renowned Focal technologies, the
standards of the most demanding engineers. Alpha line has been developed to ensure
These monitors are the reference point in excellent sonic coherence regardless of the
their price range owing to their extreme listening environment. Alpha redefines the
neutrality, precise stereophonic imaging brand’s entry-level products, making Focal
and ability to resolve the most minute sonic Professional sound widely accessible.
SHAPE
04
Beyond the curve!
ALPHA
Reveal your music!
SM9 MADE IN FRANCE
The irresistible
It is hard to resist the charm and natural masking effect, ensuring perfect neutrality.
sound of this monitor, known for its precise The 8" (20cm) 'W' cone bass driver and the
stereo image, neutrality, and unconditional 11" (27cm) 'W' cone passive radiator allow
respect for original dynamics. extension of the frequency response to
30Hz, without any decay effect or distortion.
TWO MONITORS IN ONE!
One of the major innovations lies in swit- CUSTOM-MADE AMPLIFICATION
ching from a 3-way monitor to a 2-way The amplifiers developed specifically for
monitor by setting off the FOCUS mode on the SM9 demonstrate our no compromise
the side panel. The 2-way monitor offers a attitude. This class AB amplification drives
frequency response from 90Hz to 20kHz, SM9 on three separate channels, 400W
allowing to check the mix transfer quality (woofer), 100W (midrange) and 100W
on systems with limited frequency res- (tweeter).
ponse in the bass frequencies. This moni- These amplifiers are halfway between
tor also allows you to check the midrange class A and class AB with regards to the
register, hard to equalize and balance. bias current. This choice perfectly respects
the dynamics contained in the original
THE EVOLUTION OF FOCAL DRIVERS audio signal, a guarantee of extremely pre-
The pure Beryllium inverted dome tweeter cise adjustment of the compression ratio,
offers unprecedented linearity and abi- attack and release settings.
lity to reveal micro-information. This is
due to an entirely new magnet structure INPUT STAGE: FLEXIBILITY IN
that achieves a mind-boggling 2.1 Tesla ALL-ANALOG WORLD
of magnetic flux. This has a profound Six detended knobs situated on the back
effect on the tweeter’s ability to reproduce panel allow the engineer to compensate
micro-dynamics, which helps the engineer for any room anomalies and optimize the
to dial-in compression and reverb. monitor response in the room. For studios
The 61/2" (16.5cm) 'W' composite sand- with optimum acoustic conditions, the
wich cone midrange driver benefits from engineer can bypass these adjustments
great damping characteristics. The resul- (except for the low-pass filter) by activat-
tant Impulse Response is simply the best ing the DIRECT switch on the inside side
in its class. Midrange and mid-bass fre- panel, ensuring a direct signal between the
quencies are then reproduced without any input and the amplification stages.
TECHNOLOGIES
INVERTED BERYLLIUM
DOME TWEETER Focal produced a world first: a pure Beryllium
inverted dome, able to cover more than five
The particular advantage of this tweeter is the octaves (1000Hz-40kHz). Because if you can
optimization of the mechanical coupling between extend frequency response, you will improve
the voice coil and the dome. The voice coil is fixed the perception of transients and other micro
at mid-height on the dome and uniformly moves details. In addition, the linearity of the speaker’s
the cone’s entire surface. The positive dome is response curve is mainly a function of three
only joined at its edge, causing it to be inactive opposing parameters: lightness, rigidity and
beyond 16kHz for a flexible surface. The inverted damping.
dome directly radiates into the air, with maximum To this day, only one material permits a joining
efficiency. The dome’s response curve is clearly of these parameters: Beryllium. For domes
more linear than that of any positive dome. It pro-
vides better space dispersion and very low direc-
with identical masses, it is seven times more
rigid than Titanium or Aluminum, and the
'W' COMPOSITE
tivity, unlike ribbon tweeters. The inverted dome
tweeter offers unequalled dynamics, enabling
sound Wave propagation is three times faster.
In the end, the linearity of the frequency
SANDWICH CONE
sound engineers to very precisely control com- response curve, the acoustictransparency and
pression. The image precision (height, width and the impulse response of the Beryllium tweeter The ‘W’ composite sandwich cone permits The cone structure is more uniform and its
depth) is outstanding and makes the positioning are maximized and offer near-perfect sound. total optimization of the frequency response behavior in flex is much more superior. These
of each element very easy, as well as allowing one curve, thanks to total control of three key unique characteristics of lightness and rigi-
to exactly assess the reverb tails. parameters: lightness, rigidity and damping. dity provide control of the signal transmis-
The ‘W’ cone is composed of two sheets of wo- sion speed inside the material. Adjusting the
ven glass tissue that are ‘sandwiched’ onto the thickness of the structural foam allows a very
structural foam core. precise control of the ‘W’ cone’s damping. The
LIGHTNESS FACTORS
variation of the number of glass fibre sheets
CLASSICAL DOME (m3.kg-1) The glass tissue benefits from the incredibly
and the thickness of the central foam can ea-
fine weaving of very long fibers. This choice of-
sily optimize the cone’s behaviour according to
fers a mass and a size clearly inferior to those
>>Titanium the desired frequency range. When listening,
in Aramid fibres or other Kevlar fabrics, which
the sound of the ‘W’ cone is entirely transpa-
>>Beryllium generate coloration in the midrange. It’s also
>>Aluminum rent, has an excellent phase response and has
important to note that the molecular bond
a very low distortion rate (rigidity 20 times
between the resin and the glass is greater than
higher than Kevlar or Aramid fibre).
CLASSICAL DOME INVERTED DOME RAPIDITY (ms.-1) RIGIDITY (N.mm) that obtained with Aramid fibres.
Performance
SM9
AWARDS
• Frequency response - 3-way mode 30Hz - 40kHz (+/-3dB)
40Hz - 20kHz (+/-1dB)
- 2-way mode (Focus) 90Hz - 20kHz (+/-3dB)
• Maximum SPL - 3-way mode 116dB SPL (peak @ 1m)
- 2-way mode (Focus) 106dB SPL (peak @ 1m)
Electronic section
• Analog input - Type / Impedance Electronically balanced/10kOhms
- Connector XLR
- Sensitivity Adjustable, +4dBu or -10dBV
• Bass 400W, class AB
• Midrange 100W, class AB
• Treble 100W, class AB
• Power supply - Local supply 230V (3.15A fuse)
115V (6.3A fuse)
- Connection IEC inlet and detachable power cord
• User controls - Rear panel Input sensitivity selector (+4dBu/-10dBV)
High-pass crossover (full range, 45, 60, 90Hz @ -6dB)
Low frequency shelving (+/-3dB from 30 to 250Hz per step of 0.5dB)
High frequency shelving (+/-3dB from 4.5 to 40kHz per step of 0.5dB)
Low frequency EQ (+/-3dB per step of 0.5dB @ 50Hz, Q factor = 2)
Low-mid frequency EQ (+/-3dB per step of 0.5dB @ 160Hz, Q factor = 1)
Mid frequency EQ (+/-3dB per step of 0.5dB @ 1kHz, Q factor = 0.6)
Stand By / On switch
- Side panel Direct switch
Focus switch
• Indicators Power On, clipping and default on front panel LED
Transducers
• Passive radiator 11WPP52, 11" (27cm) Focal 'W' composite sandwich cone piston,
extra wide inverted surround radiator
• Subwoofer 8W7571, 8" (20cm) Focal 'W' composite
sandwich cone driver
• Midrange 6W0452, 61/2" (16.5cm) Focal 'W' composite sandwich cone driver
• Tweeter TB872, 1" (25mm) pure Beryllium inverted dome tweeter
Cabinet
• Construction 0.88" (22mm) and 1.2" (30mm) panels with internal braces
• Finish Black natural veneering top and bottom panels, Black body
• Dimensions (HxWxD) 12.8"x19.6"x15.6" (320x490x390mm)
• Weight 77lbs (35kg)
WE LOVE WE LOVE
MUSIC ARTISTS
DAVID KUTCH
(Mastering engineer - Alicia Keys, Natasha Bedingfield, Al Green, Erykah Badu, Estelle, Outkast, John
Legend, Jennifer Lopez, Justin Bieber...) www.themasteringpalace.com
Forget all about my gear and toys, the most critical element in my studio OPIUO
(DJ) www.opiuo.com
is my loudspeakers... To me, there’s no better nearfield loudspeaker
than the Solo6 Be, whatever the prices of other monitors.
For me, one of the most important things is the quality of sound.
About 6 months ago, I was introduced to some Focal speakers, from
a friend of mine. I haven’t looked back, I got a pair of SM9s. Now I feel like
I’m in the music instead of hearing this thing kind of coming towards me.
I can hear absolutely everything and that’s kind of one thing I’ve never
STEVE OUIMETTE
(Guitar hero®) - www.steveouimette.com
experienced is to be in the music and be part of it... The Focal thing
is really taking my music to the next level. It has changed my life.
I needed self-powered monitors and wanted a set that didn’t require a subwoofer,
a monitor that had a natural top to bottom, but no hyped frequencies. I definitely
get enough low end with the Focals – the balance with the Focal Professional
monitors is perfect! With the Focal Professional monitors you can hear everything.
DIEGO TORRES
(Singer and composer) - www.diegotorres.com
My story with Focal started many years ago, where I discovered them for the first time
in a studio. When I was working in the United States, among a pile of monitors,
there appeared a set of Focals. I really liked the audio they produced, and the way
they sounded. Some time later, I found myself working in another studio, in this case
STUDIO EL PIE
(Alejandro Sanz, Luis Miguel ...) - www.estudioelpie.com
at a colleague’s, Andreas Calamaro, and was able to work on a daily basis with those
Focals. And that is how I felt in love with them, in a certain way, with the audio which...
which Focal provides. I spent the entire pre-production for my last album, more or less
We love the flat frequency response at different levels of sound pressure. in that studio, so I was able to enjoy and appreciate them from day-to-day.
The Twin6 Be are the perfect balance between the warmth
of the legendary monitors and the precision of the modern ones.
SM6 MADE IN FRANCE
Keep focus and mix on!
The SM6 line was created for studios in TRIO6 BE
search of monitors that reveal all infor- This dual monitor is the new reference in
mation in the audio spectrum. The four price range owing to its extreme neutrality,
monitors stand out in this segment with its precise stereophonic imaging and its
their unparalleled transparency, degree of ability to resolve the most minute sonic
definition and precise sound image. details, while its Class G amplifiers deliver
SPL levels to suit all musical styles.
SOLO6 BE
The Solo6 Be monitor will surprise you TRIO11 BE
from the first seconds of listening due to Unprecedented solution, Trio11 Be can be
its size/extended bass response ratio. The used just as effectively in nearfield and
mid-woofer combines neutrality in the midfield applications. The 10" (25.4cm)
midrange, fullness in the midbass register subwoofer has all the qualities needed
and bass control. to deliver excellent dynamics and great
excursion while conserving an extremely
TWIN6 BE detailed bass definition. The 5" (12.7cm)
The excellent articulation of the bass and midrange woofer also benefits from new
midbass registers, even at very high sound technologies, with the addition of the TMD,
levels, makes it an unavoidable reference. which dampens certain resonances of the
Furthermore, the design of the Twin6 Be surround and reduces distortion.
permits a high SPL while at the same time
offering stable tonal balance. One of the SUB6
two 61/2" (16.5cm) woofers works in large Equipped with an 11" (27cm) woofer and a
band (midrange–bass) whereas the other rear laminar port, it guarantees bass linearity
reproduces from 40 to 150Hz. This creates whatever the intended SPL. The connectivity
bass that preserves all the signal dyna- allows 2.1, 2.2 and multichannel use. The
mics without any masking effect in the high-pass crossover dedicated to monitors,
midrange, thereby keeping all its neutrality the adjustable phase and level control
and transparency. Additional control of the provide optimum coupling with the four
bass register is accomplished by fine-tu- other monitors. The footswitch input allows
ning via the control plate on the back in to connect a pedal to mute the subwoofer
order to obtain a perfect mirror configura- and disable the high-pass crossovers on the
tion with its mate. outputs that supply the monitors.TRIO11 BE
Feel the difference!
NEARFIELD AND MIDFIELD amplification, which combines the best of
Trio11 Be delivers a unique solution classes AB and D, has been developed to
that suits nearfield as well as midfield optimise the power handling, distortion,
applications. The new midrange and bass bandwidth and noise. Thanks to these
speaker drivers combined with high power technological innovations, Trio11 Be
handling amplification make it possible reproduces the sound signal very naturally
to reach very high SPL levels, while and precisely.
guaranteeing extremely low distortion
and no noise. Whatever the installation FOCUS MODE
configuration of this loudspeaker, sound Just like Trio6 Be, Trio11 Be has two monitors
engineers can have absolute trust in total in one thanks to the FOCUS mode: the
acoustic transparency and ultra-precise control pedal lets you switch between a
definition, on its whole frequency range 3-way monitor and a 2-way monitor. The
(30Hz - 40Hz), including in the sub-bass. 2-way monitor has reduced frequency
response (90Hz - 20kHz) to check the
NEW TECHNOLOGIES transfer quality of mixes on systems with
The 10" (25.4cm) subwoofer has been limited bass frequency response such as,
designed without compromise. The light for example, televisions, radio studios,
weight of each of the driver’s components computers, etc. And since balancing the
as well as the very high strength magnetic register of the midrange is so critical, The
flux allows reproducing every micro- FOCUS mode also allows controlling the
detail of the low frequencies and sub- mix with a harder driven midrange driver
bass. Its high excursion and speed of as it also becomes the driver for the low
execution provide excellent dynamics. The frequencies in 2-way mode.
flare and dimensions of the vent have
been optimised to minimise turbulence POSITIONABLE MIDRANGE-TREBLE PLATE
and maintain a constant tonal balance, The aluminium plate incorporating the
whatever the listening level. Particular tweeter and woofer is adjustable through
attention has been paid to the 5" (12.7cm) 360°, in 90° increments, so the Trio11 Be
midrange woofer to minimise distortion as can be used either vertically or horizontally.
much as possible by using large openings This function ensures you really make the
on the chassis and driver which prevents most out of the loudspeaker, depending on
the effects of resonances. The class G the acoustics of the room.NEW
Solo6 Be Twin6 Be Trio6 Be Trio11 Be Sub6
Performance Performance
• Frequency response 40Hz - 40kHz (+/-3dB) 40Hz - 40kHz (+/-3dB) 3-way mode 35Hz - 40kHz • Frequency response 3-way mode 30Hz - 40kHz (+/- 3dB)
(+/-3dB) 30Hz - 250Hz (+/-3dB)
2-way mode (Focus) 90Hz - 20kHz (+/- 3dB)
- - 2-way mode 90Hz - 20kHz • Maximum SPL 3-way mode 118dB (peak @ 1m)
116dB SPL (peak @ 1m)
(Focus) (+/-3dB) 2-way mode (Focus) 105dB (peak @ 1m)
• Maximum SPL 113dB SPL (peak @ 1m) 115dB SPL (peak @ 1m) 3-way mode 115dB SPL Electronic section
(peak @ 1m)
• Inputs - Type / Impedance Electronically balanced / 10KOhms Right, left, LFE
- - 2-way mode 105dB SPL Electronically balanced/10k Ω
(Focus) (peak @ 1 m) - Connector XLR XLR 3 points socket
- Sensitivity Adaptable, +4 dBu or -10 dBv Adjustable, + 4dBu or -10dBV
Electronic section •O
utputs (towards - Type / Impedance - Right, left
speakers) - Connector - Electronically balanced/50 Ω
• Inputs - Type/Impedance Electronically balanced/ Electronically balanced/ Electronically balanced/
XLR 3 points plug
- Connector 10k Ω XLR 10k Ω XLR 10K Ω XLR
- Sensitivity Adjustable, +4dBu or -10dBV Adjustable, +4dBu or -10dBV Adjustable, +4dBu or -10dBv • Bass 300W, class G -
• Bass / Midrange - 350W RMS, BASH® technology
• Bass - - 200W RMS, class G • Midrange 150W, class G -
• Bass / Midrange 150W RMS, BASH® technology 2x150W RMS, BASH® technology - • Treble 100W, class AB -
• Midrange - - 150W RMS, class G - Mono right/left summation
•S
ignal internal - Subwoofer section
100W RMS, class AB 100W RMS, class AB 100W RMS, class AB LFE + mono low-pass 24dB/octave
• Treble treatment
and functions Phase adjustment
• Power supply - Local supply 230V (1.6A fuse rating) 230V (2A fuse) 230V (class T fuse 1.6A fuse rating) Polarity selection switch
115V (3.5A fuse rating) 115V (4A fuse) 115V (class T fuse 3.5 A fuse rating) - Speaker section - Switch high-pass filter, cut-off frequency selection
- Connection IEC inlet and detachable power cord IEC inlet and detachable power cord IEC inlet and detachable power cord 24dB/ octave
• Power supply - Local supply 230V (1.6A T fuse) - 115V (3.5A T fuse) 230V (1.6A fuse) or 115V (3.15A fuse)
•U
ser controls Low frequency shelving Midrange driver selector (right/left) Low frequency shelving
- Removable CEI supply wire
and indicators (+/-3dB from 40 to 150Hz) Low frequency shelving (+/-3dB from 35 to 250Hz)
- Connection Connection Detachable IEC inlet power cord IEC inlet and detachable power cord
High frequency shelving (+/-3dB from 40 to 150Hz) High frequency shelving
(+/-3dB from 5 to 40kHz) High frequency shelving (+/-3dB from 4.5 to 40kHz) • Indicators and controls Rear Panel Adjustable subwoofer level
Adjustable tweeter and woofer levels by (+/-3dB from 5 to 40kHz) EQ low-mid frequencies Input sensitivity selector (+4dBu/-10dBV) Low-pass cut-off frequency setting
potentiometers On/off switch, voltage selector (+/-3dB at 160Hz, Q factor = 1) Low frequency shelving (+/- 3dB from 35 to 250Hz) Phase adjustment
On/off switch, voltage selector FOCUS input / FOCUS output High frequency shelving (+/- 3dB from 4.5 to 40kHz) Polarity adjustment
On/off switch, voltage selector Low-mid EQ frequencies (+/- 3dB to 160Hz, Q factor = 1) Subwoofer switch (mute)
FOCUS input / FOCUS output 2.1 'Bypass' (external remote control)
• Light indicator Power On LED Power On LED Focus mode on, audio clipping and High-pass frequency selection
protection indicated by LED on front panel Releasable high-pass
• Auto standby Auto standby switch on the back of the loudspeaker: -
Transducers enable / disable switch
• Subwoofer 8W64701, 8" Focal driver • Light indicator Focus power on, clipping Power On LED
with 'W' composite sandwich cone and default LED on front panel Subwoofer switch (mute)
• Woofer 6W4370B, 61/2" (16.5cm) Focal 'W' 6W4370B, two 61/2" (16.5cm) Focal 'W' - Released high-pass
composite sandwich cone drivers composite sandwich cone drivers
Transducteurs
• Midrange 5W04701, 5" Focal driver
with 'W' composite sandwich cone • Subwoofer 10W96701D, Focal 913/16" (25cm) speaker driver -
with ‘W’ composite sandwich cone
• Treble TB871, 1" Focal pure Beryllium TB871, 1" Focal pure Beryllium TB872, 1" Focal pure Beryllium inverted
inverted dome tweeter inverted dome tweeter dome tweeter • Woofer - 11W7670, 11" (27cm) Focal ‘W’ composite
sandwich cone driver
• Shielding Integral through cancellation magnets/ Integral through cancellation magnets/
cans or by magnet design cans or by magnet design • Midrange 5W04701, Focal 51/8" (13cm) speaker driver -
with ‘W’ composite sandwich cone
Cabinetwork • Treble TB872, Focal 1" pure Beryllium inverted dome tweeter -
• Construction 7 " (19mm) MDF panels
1/2
7 " (19mm) MDF panels
1/2
7 " (19mm) & 0.86" (22mm) reinforced panels
1/2
Cabinetwork
• Finish Dark Red natural veneering side panels, Dark Red natural veneering side panels, Dark Red natural veneering side panels,
• Construction 13/16 and 13/16" (21mm and 30mm) panels with internal braces 71/2" (19mm) MDF panels
Black body Black body Black body
• Finish Natural veneering side panels Dark red burr ash, black body Dark Red natural veneering side panels, Black body
• Dimensions (HxWxD) 13"x97/16"x117/16" (330x240x290mm) 913/16"x1911/16"x133/8" (250x500x340mm) 201/2"x1015/16"x143/16" (520x278x360mm)
• Dimensions (HxWxD) 25" x 139/16" x 173/4" (635 x 345 x 450mm) 1415/16"x139/16"x175/16" (380x344x440mm)
• Weight 24.2lbs (11kg) 30.8lbs (14kg) 44lbs (20kg) 82.2lbs (37.3kg)
• Weight 50.7lbs (23kg)AWARDS
WE LOVE WE LOVE
MUSIC ARTISTS
FAB DUPONT ANTOINE CLAMARAN
(DJ : Gold, Back again,... ) - www.antoineclamaran.com
(Sound engineer - Shakira, Jennifer Lopez, Nat King Cole, …) - www.fluxstudios.net
After trying various brands, Focal SM9s finally met all my expectations. Very precise and perfectly
After trying just about any near field monitor available to me for years, both cheap
balanced over the whole audio spectrum, they enable me to produce with very high quality control.
and expensive, and many, many days spent wondering why I had to work so hard
to get consistent results from my mixes, I stumbled upon the Focal speaker line
and never looked back. I now mix on a pair of Solo6 Be, and the other two rooms
at FLUX Studios have Twin6 Be. Besides the phenomenal translation from studio to real
world, which other monitors lacked, the sheer absence of distortion allows us to work
very long hours without getting tired or losing perspective. We work faster, better and
with less recalls than we did before we switched to the Focal system. There is no way back.
THE CHEMICAL BROTHERS
www.thechemicalbrothers.com
We’ve been searching for a midfield speaker to complement our monitoring system
JEFF JULIANO
(Sound engineer - James Blunt, John Butler…) - www.jeffjuliano.net
at Rowlands Audio Research for a while now. We’ve tried all the competition
and the only ones that truly delivered what we needed were the Focal SM9s.
They are the perfect bridge between our main monitors and the nearfields.
The Twin6 Be monitors are the best that I’ve used in terms of studio-to-consumer
listening translation. They really translate: what I hear in the studio is what the outside
world hears, in my experience. The Twin6 Be is the first powered monitor that
I’ve heard that you don’t have to be afraid of hearing in the mid-range. You get the
ARMAND AMAR
mids really kicking and it’s fine. Listening back to mixes I’ve done on the NS10s through
the Focal Professional, it kind of scares me because I hear top-end distortion that
(Composer - Home, Amen, Indigènes) - www.armandamar.com
I wasn’t hearing in the NS10s, I was so used to using them, I thought I knew them. With
the Focal Professional there wasn’t a learning curve, it actually spooked me at first.
The SM9 equip the composing room as well as the mixing and sound editing studios in 5.1.
What seduced us the most and convinced us to choose these monitors:
• The precision in the entire spectrum but also in high and low frequencies.
• Comfortable at both low and high volume.
• A very good space sensation and a good stereo image rendering.
• An impressive transiants rendering.SHAPE MADE IN FRANCE
Beyond the curve!
Focal’s commitment to provide innovative SHAPE 50
monitoring solutions has led us to comple- Shape 50 is the versatile monitoring louds-
tely rethink our approach to nearfield peaker by excellence. This monitor can be
studio monitors, as demonstrated by the used from 30" (80cm) away, and it has
Shape line with its double passive radiators a greatly extended low end frequency
and cones for the woofers and tweeters. response (50Hz) considering its compact
The four monitors integrate five innova- design. Thanks to this design and to its
tions to maximise acoustic transparency. numerous settings, this monitor is ideal for
They combine a clever design and nume- rooms measuring less than 130ft2 (12m2).
rous settings optimised for the acoustics
of small listening rooms. These work tools SHAPE 65
create a wide and extremely precise ste- Although it is dedicated to nearfield moni-
reo image. The bass register is articulated toring, Shape 65 enables extraordinary
and controlled. The lower mid-range and monitoring quality, in the lowest to the
mid-range benefit from amazing neutra- highest frequencies. Simply a must, this
lity, without any masking effects, making monitor will express its full potential from a
equalisation of these essential registers listening distance of 3ft (1m) away.
much easier. Finally, the new tweeter is at
the source of the very high definition. It effi- SHAPE TWIN
ciently reveals any hissing and is also very Shape Twin stands out through its excellent
precise in the very high-end. rendering over the whole audio spectrum,
in addition to its broad frequency response
SHAPE 40 in the low end, and its high SPL conside-
Shape 40 is the most compact studio ring its size. The 2.5-way design gives it
monitor in the Focal Professional line and a decisive advantage when it comes to
the perfect solution for nearfield monito- controlling the bass and low-midrange
ring. These monitors can be used from 23" registers. This monitor will express its full
(60cm) away, and they have astonishingly potential from a listening distance of three
extended low end frequency response. feet away (1m).
Whether you have a room of less than
107ft2 (10m2), or an installation where
compactness is paramount, Shape 40 is
the perfect solution.TECHNOLOGIES
'M'-SHAPED ALUMINUM/MAGNESIUM
INVERTED DOME TWEETER
Aluminum has the advantage of having very distortion even further. Poron® suspension
high rigidity and the combination of addition of provides a more linear frequency response
magnesium increases the damping of the dome. curve below 6kHz, improving crossover with the
At the same time, the ‘M’ shape of the inverted woofer. The magnetic component has also been
dome has two major advantages. Its directivity optimised thanks to a voice coil with a Kapton®
is even less that of the inverted dome tweeter, frame, significantly reducing the Foucault
allowing more listening position flexibility. current and consequently, distortion. Finally, the
Mechanically speaking, the ‘M’ shape gives horn housing the tweeter has been designed to
the dome much more rigidity, while reducing provide equal horizontal and vertical directivity.
FLAX SANDWICH CONE
Developing speaker driver cone technologies Flax fibres are twice as light as glass fibres as
is part of Focal’s core expertise. The Flax sand- they’re hollow. What’s more, they also have
wich cones used for the woofers on Shape very low elasticity. This consequently increases
loudspeakers are composed of two materials: the speaker driver’s Young’s modulus when in
glass fibres and Flax fibres. A layer of Flax fibres excursion, an essential property to ensure a pis-
Glass fibre is sandwiched between two layers of glass ton-like action even in the very low end. Finally,
0.04mm
fibres. Glass fibre cones were also used on the it is composed of 80% cellulose which gives
‘W’ composite sandwich cone of the SM6 and it excellent damping. As a result, Flax was an
SM9 series and are revered for their high rigidi- obvious choice for us. This new technology has
ty, considering their light weight. proven to be a considerable improvement over
The soul of the sandwich cone needs to provide the Polyglass cone in terms of weight, rigidity
Flax good damping while being as light as possible. and damping.
0.4mm
Glass fibre
0.04mmAWARDS System Shape 40 Shape 50 Shape 65 Shape Twin
• Frequency response (+/-3dB) 60Hz - 35kHz 50Hz - 35kHz 40Hz - 35kHz 40Hz-35kHz
• Maximum SPL (musical signal) 102dB SPL 106dB SPL 109dB SPL 110.5dB SPL
(peak @ 1m) (peak @ 1m) (peak @ 1m) (peak @ 1 m)
Electronic section
• Inputs/ - Type XLR: balanced 10kOhms
Impedance
- Connectors RCA: unbalanced 10kOhms with sensitivity compensation
•M
idrange and low frequency amplifier 25W, class AB 60W, class AB 80W, class AB 2 x 80W, class AB
• High frequency amplifier 25W, class AB 25W, class AB 25W, class AB 50W, class AB
• Automatic standby - Standby on After approximately 30 minutes with no signal
- Standby off Signal detection > 3 mV
•E
lectrical supply - Voltages 220-240V (T500mAL / 220-240V (T800mAL / 220-240V 220-240V
250V fuse) or 100-120V 250V fuse) or 100-120V (T1AL / 250V fuse) (T2AL / 250V fuse)
(T1AL / 250V fuse) (T1.6AL / 250V fuse) or 100-120V or 100-120V
(T2AL / 250V fuse) (T3.15AL / 250V fuse)
- Connection IEC plug and detachable power cord
• Settings - High pass filter Adjustable, Full range Adjustable, Full range 45/60/90Hz
/ 80Hz
- Bass (0 - 250Hz) Adjustable, +/-6dB
- Midrange/bass Adjustable, +/-3dB
(160Hz, Q=1)
- High (4.5 - 35kHz) Adjustable, +/-3dB
- Power On/Power Off On/off switch on rear panel
• Standby consumption < 0.5W
• Displays and controls LED for power on/off and standby
Transducers
• Woofer 4" (10cm) 5" (13cm) 61/2" (16.5cm) 2x5" (2 x 13cm)
Flax Cone Flax Cone Flax Cone Flax Cone
• Tweeter 1" (25mm) 'M' profile Aluminum-Magnesium
Cabinet
• Construction 0.5" (12mm) MDF 0.6" (15mm) MDF
• Finish Vinyl, real walnut and black painting
•D
imensions with four rubber feet (HxWxD) 10.1 x 6.3 x 7.9" 12.3 x 7.5 x 9.5" (14 x 8.6 x 11.2") (18.8 x 8.3 x 11")
(257 x 161 x 200mm) (312 x 191 x 242mm) 355 x 218 x 285mm 478 x 211 x 279mm
• Weight 11lbs (5kg) 14.3lbs (6.5kg) 18.7lbs (8.5kg) 24.2lbs (11kg)ALPHA
Reveal your music!
The Alpha range is specifically designed ALPHA 50
for the music production industry. Right Alpha 50, the most compact of the line, is
from the early stages of R&D, particular equipped with a 1" (25mm) tweeter and a 5"
attention was paid to ensure the studio (13cm) woofer. It features a 20W amplifier
monitors could be integrated into diverse for the tweeter and a 35W amplifier for
environments, both in terms of size and the woofer and has a frequency response
acoustic quality. of 45Hz to 22kHz (+/-3dB). It is perfectly
adapted for confined spaces.
The versatility of the studio monitors was
reinforced by the capability of each loud- ALPHA 65
speaker to reveal the tiniest details of the mix Alpha 65 is equipped with a 1" (25mm)
for all musical genres. Alpha features Focal tweeter and a 61/2" (16.5cm) woofer. It fea-
technologies such as the Aluminum inverted tures a 35W amplifier for the tweeter and
dome tweeter and Polyglass cone woofer, a 70W amplifier for the woofer and has
resulting in a very precise and wide sound a frequency response of 40Hz to 22kHz
stage. The bass frequencies are always (+/-3dB). This model performs just as well
controlled and the midrange frequencies with instrumental music as with electronic
are characterised by remarkable neutrality. music and is characterised by its great
The double AB amplification ensures the versatility.
dynamics are respected and allows for high
SPL levels, offering endless possibilities. ALPHA 80
Finally, the bass reflex design with large dou- Alpha 80, the flagship of the line, is equipped
ble front ports enable the studio monitor to with a 1" (25mm) tweeter and an 8" (21cm)
be installed near a wall whilst ensuring max- woofer. It features a 40W amplifier for the
imum stability of the tonal balance. tweeter and a 100W amplifier for the woofer
and has a frequency response of 35Hz to
22kHz (+/-3dB). This model is ideal for
producing music which is rich in bass or
requires high power reserves.ALPHA 50 ALPHA 65 ALPHA 80
Performance
• Frequency response (+/- 3dB) 45Hz - 22kHz 40Hz - 22kHz 35Hz - 22kHz
• Maximum SPL 103dB SPL (peak @ 1m) 106dB SPL (peak @ 1m) 109dB SPL (peak @ 1m)
Electronic section
• Input - Type/Impedance XLR: balanced 10kOhms XLR: balanced 10kOhms XLR: balanced 10kOhms
- Connectors RCA: unbalanced 10kOhms RCA: unbalanced 10kOhms RCA: unbalanced 10kOhms
with sensitivity compensation with sensitivity compensation with sensitivity compensation
• LF amplifier stage 35W, class AB 70W, class AB 100W, class AB
• HF amplifier stage 20W, class AB 35W, class AB 40W, class AB
• Auto Standby Mode - Standby After about 30 minutes After about 30 minutes After about 30 minutes
without using the monitor without using the monitor without using the monitor
- De-activation of standby By signal detection >3mV By signal detection >3mV By signal detection >3mV
- Mains voltage 220-240V 220-240V 220-240V
(fuse T500mAL / 250V) (fuse T800mAL / 250V) (fuse T1.6AL / 250V)
- THE VOLTAGE CAN NOT BE
or 100-120V ou 100-120V ou 100-120V
• Power supply MODIFIED (fuse T1AL / 250V) (fuse T1.6AL / 250V) (fuse T3.15AL / 250V)
- Connection IEC inlet IEC inlet IEC inlet
and detachable power cord and detachable power cord and detachable power cord
- Sensitivity Adjustable, 0 or +6dB Adjustable, 0 or +6dB Adjustable, 0 or +6dB
- LF shelving (0 - 300Hz) Adjustable, +/-6dB Adjustable, +/-6dB Adjustable, +/-6dB
• User controls - HF shelving (4.5 - 22kHz) Adjustable, +/-3dB Adjustable, +/-3dB Adjustable, +/-3dB
- Power ON / OFF Power ON/OFF switch Power ON/OFF switch Power ON/OFF switch
on rear panel on rear panel on rear panel
• Standby mode power consumption < 0.5W < 0.5W < 0.5W
Power ON/OFF LED Power ON/OFF LED Power ON/OFF LED
• Indicators
Standby LED Standby LED Standby LED
Transducers
5" (13cm) drive unit 61/2" (16.5cm) drive unit 8" (21cm) drive unit
• Woofer
Polyglass cone Polyglass cone Polyglass cone
AWARDS
1" (25mm) drive unit 1" (25mm) drive unit 1" (25mm) drive unit
• Tweeter
Aluminum inverted dome Aluminum inverted dome Aluminum inverted dome
Cabinet
• Construction 0.6" (15mm) MDF 0.6" (15mm) MDF 0.6" (15mm) MDF
• Finish Vinyl and Black painting Vinyl and Black painting Vinyl and Black painting
12.3"x8.7"x10.2" 13.7"x9.9"x12.2" 15.6"x11.3"x13.7"
• Dimensions with 4 rubber pads (HxWxD)
(313x220x258mm) (348x252x309mm) (397x287x348mm)
• Weight 16.1lbs (7.3kg) 20.7lbs (9.4kg) 28.2lbs (12.8kg)HEADPHONES 01 Clear Professional
02
The indispensable
Successful monitoring in music production Clear Professional are the reference among
greatly depends on the quality of the work open-back headphones. Made in France, the
tools available to the sound engineer, on full range driver with its completely open-
the producer and the artist, and also on the back design is the source of its ultimate
room’s acoustics. Focal has developed two performance. Capable of revealing the
reference headphones to ensure accurate slightest details of the audio spectrum with
work while offering solutions to meet extreme precision, it offers unprecedented
the different needs of sound engineers
regardless of their work environment.
dynamics, making it easier to adjust the
levels of each audio track, as well as those of
Listen Professional
compressors and other mixing tools. Listen to your music,
Whether for a room which hasn’t been not to your headphones!
optimised acoustically, for working during Listen Professional on the other hand are
a business trip or for having recourse to closed-back monitoring headphones which is
an ultimate monitoring solution, Clear particularly suitable for noisy environments.
Professional and Listen Professional It provides remarkable isolation which,
headphones have been designed to serve combined with the tonal balance, facilitates
the most demanding of sound engineers. equalisation of the different tracks and
registers. Its unique transducer features a
Mylar/Titanium alloy dome to deliver an
articulation in the low end which is unrivalled
among closed-back headphones.CLEAR MADE IN FRANCE
PROFESSIONAL
The indispensable
Clear Professional headphones take The Focal full-range completely open-
their place as an indispensable tool back speaker is already well established.
for the most demanding professionals. Its M-profile Aluminum/Magnesium dome
These headphones have just one, unique has a new copper coil. Combined with the
objective: offer the ultimate reference absence of vents, this provides total dyna-
a i m i n g to s e c u re t h e wo r k h i g h e st mic respect over the entire audio spec-
transfer quality. trum, with an extremely articulated and
always controlled bass. At the same time,
the very low-mass speaker moving parts
mean that these headphones reproduce
the tiniest details in the higher frequencies.
Turning to the headband and yokes, their
design ensures that the headphones are
in total contact with the head, for optimal
comfort. The new generation of perfo-
rated microfibre ear cushions provide
an extremely open design. Thus, Clear
Professional headphones are so comfor-
table that you forget you are wearing
them and the listening experience, equal
to the best monitor speakers, takes over.LISTEN
PROFESSIONAL
Listen to your music,
not to your headphones
Listen Professional headphones are the DESIGN: THE FAMILY HERITAGE
direct result of Focal’s historical expertise Like Clear Professional and Utopia
i n t h e d e s i g n o f h i g h - p e r f o r m a n ce headphones, Listen Professional is also
transducers. Just like the French manu equipped with a headband boasting a unique
facturer’s monitoring loudspeakers, Listen design to ensure comfort and durability. Its
Professional headphones ensure high- curve remains consistent, regardless of the
quality control of monitoring activities shape or size of the user’s head. Combined
without exception, freeing professionals with the layer of silicone underneath the
from the acoustic constraints related to headband, this ensures that the weight is
the size of their workstation. Supplied with spread out evenly over the head, preventing
a rigid carrying case, they are the perfect the user from feeling any pressure in certain
companion during work trips for giving areas, which can be very uncomfortable
you total control over your production during long working sessions.
wherever you may be.
ACOUSTICS:
NEUTRALITY AND TRANSPARENCY
FOR TOTAL CONTROL
The close attention paid to the design of
the Mylar/Titanium alloy speaker drivers
results in sound reproduction which res-
pects the original dynamics of the audio
signal without distortion, thus preventing
auditory fatigue. The neutrality of the tonal
balance combined with the remarkably high
definition ensure the reproduction of all
audio signals, even at the lowest volumes.
Finally, the heat-sensitive memory foam ear
cushions covered in microfibre and acoustic
tissue provide the ideal acoustics and an
adequate level of comfort to give engineers
optimal control over their work.Clear Professional Listen Professional
• Type Open-back circum-aural headphones Closed-back circum-aural headphones
• Impedance 55 Ohms 32 Ohms
• Sensitivity 104dB SPL / 1 mW @ 1 kHz 122dB SPL @ 1kHz / 1 Vrms
• THD 0.25% @ 1kHz / 100dB SPL 0.3% @ 1kHz / 100dB SPL
• Frequency response 5Hz-28kHz 5Hz-22kHz
19/16" (40mm) 'M'-shaped
• Driver -
Aluminum/Magnesium driver
• Weight 0.99lb / 450g 0.62lb (280g)
16.5ft (5m) unbalanced coiled cable
(01/4" / 6.35mm TRS jack) 16ft (5m) detachable coiled cable
• Cables supplied
3.9ft (1.2m) unbalanced coiledcable 4.5ft (1.4m) detachable cable
(01/8" / 3.5mm TRS jack)
• Connectors - 3.5mm jack plug with 4 conductors
• Spare cushions supplied 2 x spare cushions -
• Rigid carrying case supplied 913/16" x 97/16" x 43/4" (250 x 240 x 120mm) 913/32" x 811/32" x 43/8" (239 x 212 x 111mm)headphones & multimedia
classic loudspeakers
studio monitors
custom install
car audio
January 2019
EXP - GB
Focal-JMlab® - BP 374 - 108, rue de l’Avenir - 42353 La Talaudière cedex - France - +33 (0) 477 435 700
Focal® is a registered trademarks of Focal-JMlab®. Non-binding pictures. Photos L’Atelier Sylvain Madelon. SCAA190103/8 - PC1083
Due to constant technological advances, Focal-JMlab® reserves its right to modify prices and specifications without notice.You can also read
