Focal/JM Labs Nova Utopia Be

Hey Bill, how'd the PBN's work out?

Yeah, as you know my wife doesn't share my enthusiasm for all things audio!! She has adjusted to the Wilsons, but still thinks they're ugly as sin!!

There is a smokin' deal on the net for a pair of Focal Novas, but have been told they may be too big for my 20'x14.5'x8' room. I have heard the Scalas at a dealer and thought they sounded fantastic. Very smooth with great extension. Similar to the Wilsons, but go lower without the midbass bump and a little smoother on top. I think they are more attractive than the Wilson's, but my wife still prefers the warmth of wood veneers, oh well.

Brett, I'm still liking your PBNs a lot. I've upgraded literally everything else in my system and they've risen beautifully to all challenges. Thanks again, and good luck with the next move. Either Focals would be marvelous, I'm sure.

Bill

Bill, that is great to hear. System synergy is something we all work on, and sometimes we get lucky! Enjoy.

I was hoping to hear from Adamg about his impressions of the Focal Nova, in his slightly smaller than my room.

Would also appreciate anyone else's feedback regarding Focal Novas or the newer Scalas. I was told by a Focal dealer that the Novas would be too large for my room, but the Scalas would be an ideal replacement for my Watt/Puppy 8s.

Thanks,
Brett

Hi Brett

Sorry for the delayed reply. I have been thrilled with the Novas over the past three weeks. I was expecting some difficulties assimilating them into my listening space but I could not turn down the opportunity to acquire them locally at a great price. There is an evident bass hump at 50-60Hz. On a very limited number of recordings, the execess bass is distracting enough to prevent me from enjoying the music. I will emphasize that this occurs on a very small percentage of my listening material thus far. Furthermore, my previous speakers, the Dynaudio Contour S3.4, is several definable and categorical leagues away from the W/P series 8. Certainly a large part of my enjoyment of the new speakers is that they are simply much more elaborately engineered than my preceding floorstanders. This certainly wont be the case with you. My instincts tell me that the Scalas would be a more ideal replacement than the Novas in your circumstances.

Adam

brett,the scalas should work wonders in your room size, in my opinion. the novas have a bump in the 5060 hz region by design , to fatten the bass a bit for the usa market.
this is not the case with the scalas ,maestro ,stella em and g.u.em very smooth and consistent across the frequencies.
good luck!