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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
suboost OP
22 posts
 

Thanks for all the help from everyone! I'm going to go with the Aria 936 and I'm just looking for the best integrated amp now. Definitely intrigued by the tube amps, but I've never heard one before.

mtbiker29's avatar
mtbiker29
170 posts
 

@suboost happy to help.  If you click on my virtual system you'll see my setup....I went through the same path as we are recommending and have a very satisfying best of both worlds combo using HT bypass.  I personally. wouldn't use tubes in this system.  I don't want to burn time on tubes just to have my wife watching Frank N Gracie on Netflix while I'm out of town.  I have my second system for that, and you can see it in the virtual setups also.  

Here's a list of amps that support HT bypass.  Good luck and keep us posted.  

 

erik_squires
16,046 posts
 

Try a Luxman, but 507 as a minimum.

boostedis
92 posts
 

In that pic of the Klipsch speakers, the speakers are too close together and the seating position is way too far away! No chance of that setup offering any real imaging! You are only going to get sound in that room, but not a true highend experience (which might not be your goal?). 

suboost OP
22 posts
 

@mtbiker29 I can't seem to figure out how to see your virtual setup. I clicked on your profile, but didn't see it anywhere. And yes I have been referencing that list of Integrated Amps with HT Bypass like crazy the last few days, haha.

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