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Looking for Advice on Focal Speakers

Hey everyone, so currently I have a 9.1 Klipsch RP system. I’m looking to upgrade big time with new towers and a center channel. I was able to audition some Focal 936s last week and was really impressed. The store offered me a pretty good deal on them and also a good deal on the Kantas which I love the look of, but haven’t been able to audition them. Are they worth slightly over double the price? Any help would be greatly appreciated!

These will be used in a living room, open floor plan. I have a Marantz Receiver and a Parasound Halo for the tower speakers. I am mostly upgrading for music listening, but of course I would also appreciate the extra quality for movies/tv.

I’m drawn to focal for the aesthetics and sound quality. I also like Sonus Faber but all of their speakers have leather on them which is a non starter for me. I only mention these so you can get an idea of the style I like. I dislike the more futuristic plastic looking speakers out there. I’m open to suggestions. I did audition some Paradigms and I did not like them (too bright for me).

suboost
kota1
2,706 posts
 

OP, you need to address the open floor plan as well as addressing your speakers. Have you taken measurements of your in room frequency response yet? Can you post your system, pics, and your measurements in your virtual system in your profile (see mine for an example). I would not spend a nickel on speakers until you get the frequency response of your current setup as flat as possible.

I also use a Marantz processor and the new paid upgrade of Audyssey is a huge improvement over the one that comes with the unit. Don’t buy new speakers until you get the upgrade (and a calibrated mic) with your current system:

 

 

hilde45's avatar
hilde45
4,974 posts
 

I found the 936's Be tweeter too bright. I love my Ascend Acoustics towers because the RAAL tweeter is (a) not at the top of the speaker and this helps with first reflections from my ceiling and (b) the dispersion is kinder and gentler. I think the Ascends are a great value -- engineer lead, smaller US based company. FWIW. (Here's decent amateur review of these two speakers with great pictures.)

mofojo
2,289 posts
 

The 936 does not have a BE tweeter. 
I had the 906 for a while and thought they were really good for the price. Sounded way larger than they are. If anything I found them too smooth. Love my 836w s. Very different sound signature from the Arias. 

erik_squires
16,049 posts
 

The biggest advice I have is don't toe them in too much.  They like minimal toe-in.

bigtwin's avatar
bigtwin
1,193 posts
 

@suboost  My only advise is shop the used market.  The Focals come up often and you can expect to pay 1/2 the list price for a pair in "like new" condition that are 1 - 2 years old.  I speak from experience.  Buy at the right price and you will be able to move them along at little to no loss if you decide to make changes down the road.   

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