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Pre/Power or Integrated for Focal Utopia Scala?

Hi, been shopping around for quite awhile but would like to get more ideas from you guys. Budget is about $30k+.

Primary music is classical, jazz and trance. No vocals. Key emphasis on dynamics and tonality. I am not particular about soundstaging and so on but expect a degree of detail.

I have tried these few brands:
- Chord
- Spectral
- Karan
- Goldmund
- Passlabs
- Jeff Rowland
- Plinius
- Octave

Each has some plus and minus.

- I find Goldmund power to be very good but not convinced about their pre-amps which can be abit dry. In comparison, Spectral and Karan are abit heavier and have their own tonality.
- I also liked Plinius power amps but their highest end pre-amp has a performance limitation (though good for the price).
- Chord's pre was good but the power abit strange. Not the last word in aggressiveness but good otherwise.
- Octave, as a tube, is missing the low end bite of solid state and not that expressive.
- Passlabs and Jeff Rowland are abit slow for me.

I intend to give Gryphon and Orpheus a try and perhaps ASR.. hope to have some other recommendations.
quest88
quest88 OP
7 posts
 
Focalfan, would you be able to elaborate on the differences of VTL with Octave, if you are aware?

I like the Octave sound from the dealer's place and they will be giving me a visit with the hp500se and re290. Have heard the V80 at home but it was not too conclusive.

Have not heard the VTL at home as yet, but felt it might have been a little similar from what I heard at the showrooms.
focalfan
53 posts
 
quest88, i think vtl is more musical sounding. octave is good ,fast and more strong hifi.
vtl makes music.both are good, but it is what you like.
quest88 OP
7 posts
 
Focalfan, thank you for your response. I did feel that the Octave V80 was lacking in expressions/emotion and that it was very aggressive.

However, since I listen to electronic music, was willing to give the pre/power a chance, hoping it will be better. I will go to hear VTL today. Hopefully this is my last 2 stops. :)
digitalear
7 posts
 
Hi Quest. We are a Focal Utopia dealer and the great option that we have found for the Focal Utopia speakers are Burmester electronics. I am quite surprised that this option didn't make your short list. The attack on dynamics, the tonal balance, and the airy image that the Scala/Burmester combination deliver has been second to none for us. We have the entire Focal Utopia line on display and have tested the Scalas with a variety of electronics and the Burmester amps and preamps have come out on top everytime. As a second and more advanced option, I will highly recommend the Devialet D-Premier. The Focal Scala Utopia has repeatedly been demonstrated at shows with the Devialet D-Premier and the result has been astounding. We regularly impress our clientel with the Devialet/Focal Scala package and many have opted to own this system. Of course, we would be open to hear from you and advise you further given our many years of experience with Focal Utopia. www.digitalear.com
quest88 OP
7 posts
 
Thanks for your response Digitalear. It's unfortunate but I think Burmester isn't represented in my country.

I also know of the Devialet and had high hopes, but wasn't impressed with what I heard during the HK show. Unfortunately it was not hooked to the Scala. This brand is also not represented in my country!

Anyway, I auditioned both the Octave and VTL and felt they have similar traits with varitants depending on the tubes used. Both are good in their own way, and I lean a bit more towards Octave from what I heard at home. But it seems that the Scalas like more power than I thought and 100w may not be enough (I did not try the black box).. going for high powered monoblocks for either brand will considerably up the cost.

I'm home trialing a full Chord setup now including 480W monoblocks as a no obligation courtesy from a friendly dealer and find it seems to finally wake this speaker up..
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