Focal Grand Utopia vs. DIY: what happens when you match the Frequency Response?

[Scobass]

Hi everyone,

I’ve been following this forum for a long time. I read it regularly, share many of the same views, and I’m a big fan of good sound. Thanks to you guys, I haven’t had any real “audio itch” for quite a while — just curiosity and a desire to keep learning. Thanks to Amir and all the other contributors; you’re doing a great job.

I’d like to share a link to an interesting comparison. These guys compared the top-of-the-line Focal Grand Utopia speakers with a DIY speaker. The DIY speaker was specifically EQ’d, based on measurements, to match the frequency response of the Focal.

So, essentially, the comparison was reduced to just two variables: level and frequency response. The listening tests involved mostly random listeners, including both audiophiles and skeptics.

It’s a shame the test wasn’t blind, but you can see for yourselves what the results were.

The video is in Russian, so you’ll have to use subtitles/translation.

 

[Penelinfi]

The dispersion may still be different if the DIY speaker isn't built in similar way etc.

 

[TonyJZX]

since the box shape is different and the internal cavitys are different and bracing is different then there ARE going be be different relationships with the drivers

 

[RexrothPigeon]

Yeah, FR and SPL are very important, but unless the directivity is also a match, this remains apples and oranges quince.

 

[fpitas]

Of course, you could build a DIY MTM like that if you wanted. Even use very good drivers and still easily beat the price of the Grand Utopia. Might not be as pretty, but I've known more amazing carpenters than talented speaker designers.

 

[Scobass]

I understand, of course, the role of dispersion and all the other factors involved. These speakers were never going to sound exactly the same. I actually pointed this out in my post before the test. That’s what makes the result even more interesting: in an untreated, highly reverberant room, people who consider themselves knowledgeable about acoustics were essentially unable to tell one speaker from the other. The difference in both price and physical size is enormous. And on top of that, the test wasn’t even blind. To me, this is yet another demonstration of just how much our perception of sound is influenced by what we see.