Focal Solo6 Be Review (Studio Monitor)

[Doodski]

This is going to be picture intensive but here's some pics. There appears to be different versions from other pics I've seen.

 

[richard12511]

That 2-9kHz directivity decrease is definitely the Focal "house sound", so I don't think they see it as an error.

 

[vkvedam]

Magnifique! At last some praise for Focals

 

[eriksson]

Fascinating! My measurements of the Focal Solo6 Be were a bit different [...]

I went to Focal website and saw the Focal Solo6 Be with grille over the tweeter, both pictured and in the product data sheet:
https://www.focal.com/en/pro-audio/monitoring-speakers/sm6/monitoring-speakers/solo6-be

Obviously the speakers amir is testing have no such thing. So it's clear there are different versions.

 

[Doodski]

I went to Focal website and saw the Focal Solo6 Be with grille over the tweeter, both pictured and in the product data sheet:
https://www.focal.com/en/pro-audio/monitoring-speakers/sm6/monitoring-speakers/solo6-be

Obviously the speakers amir is testing have no such thing.

Yes and the gain switch on the back has a aluminum protection plate around it to prevent it being switched accidentally on some and not others.

Here's parts including the plate amp for sale.

 

[Morgoth]

I went to Focal website and saw the Focal Solo6 Be with grille over the tweeter, both pictured and in the product data sheet:
https://www.focal.com/en/pro-audio/monitoring-speakers/sm6/monitoring-speakers/solo6-be

Obviously the speakers amir is testing have no such thing.

The speaker in the review is from about 2014, when I bought it. No grill came with it back then.

 

[dfuller]

Focal has rather blinder-like focus on low distortion and the W cones are about the best out there. Truly brilliant cone design. Consider for a moment that these are nearfield monitors and 86dB per speaker at 1m is far louder than you'd be listening at most times, and clearly the distortion behavior is excellent.

This is going to be picture intensive but here's some pics. There appears to be different versions from other pics I've seen.

Damn, look at that driver frame! Clearly a lot of thought has gone into minimizing reflections.

 

[napilopez]

That 2-9kHz directivity decrease is definitely the Focal "house sound", so I don't think they see it as an error.

In a way. My understanding is that they emphasize maintaining wide horizontal directivity more than anything. They aren't going to sacrifice wide directivity in the name of a slightly smoother crossover region with a big waveguide for instance. Often that means there's some bunching in the presence region from diffraction, but their higher end models tends to smooth that out, such as the Sopra 1(perhaps simply because of the strong cabinet curvature) They also seem to be using shallow waveguides more often, as seen in the new Alpha Evo. Hopefully a revision of the Solo6's will tidy up the directivity more.

Despite the flaws, I'm always happy that wide directivity monitors exist. I'm very curious how the Alpha Evo line measure.

I went to Focal website and saw the Focal Solo6 Be with grille over the tweeter, both pictured and in the product data sheet:
https://www.focal.com/en/pro-audio/monitoring-speakers/sm6/monitoring-speakers/solo6-be

Obviously the speakers amir is testing have no such thing. So it's clear there are different versions.

Yeah for sure. There are at least 3 versions it seems. Just sucks that it's hard to know if the discrepancies are due to the versions, unit variation, or measurement differences.

 

[mjvbl]

The "BASH®" circuit uses a high-efficiency, fast-response, pulse-width modulated (PWM) power supply to provide the main voltage rails for a linear class AB amplifier. It varies the output voltage of the power supply in sync with the audio signal being amplified to maintain a constant voltage drop across the output transistors of the amplifier. As a result, the power dissipation (power waste) in the output transistor is greatly reduced compared to traditional class AB amplifiers, therefore the amplifier runs more efficiently."

Sorry, off-topic funny question. Is this a technique that could be implemented relatively easlily for a hot-running DIY class AB amp? Like replacing the power supply for the output stage with a class D chip amp that is sourcing DC plus a low-pass filtered version of the audio signal on top, something along those lines?

 

[Doodski]

Sorry, off-topic funny question. Is this a technique that could be implemented relatively easlily for a hot-running DIY class AB amp? Like replacing the power supply for the output stage with a class D chip amp that is sourcing DC plus a low-pass filtered version of the audio signal on top, something along those lines?

You mean change the power supply to a PWM switching supply and change the amp section to a class D? Sure if you replace the entire plate amp assembly.

 

[trl]

This is going to be picture intensive but here's some pics. There appears to be different versions from other pics I've seen.

I really love the internals with its good connectors for the cables, shielded transformer and nice clean work. Is this speaker yours?

 

[Doodski]

I really love the internals with its good connectors for the cables, shielded transformer and nice clean work. Is this speaker yours?

No, I googled the speaker and surfed till I found decent pics. Focal seems to be a class act.

 

[renaudrenaud]

Cocorico !

F***, I am late.

Cocoricooooo

 

[amirm]

I wonder if it has anything to do with the fact that my units had the tweeter grille, although I don't see why that on its own would have such a large effect.

I watched an interview with them and they said they put the grill on 40th anniversary. And that the had changed the filtering to compensate. So definitely a different thing even though they claimed they sound the same.

 

[PeteL]

It would be great to have some idea of the size of the box and the size of the woofer in speaker reviews. you say "small size" but in headphone you measure the cup. It would give us perspective, it's useful information.

 

[respice finem]

A rarity: A studio monitor with decent WAF

 

[GWolfman]

Are these ever so slightly bright? The slope of the estimated in-room response line is quite minimal.

 

[Pearljam5000]

Now we need a review of these monsters

 

[FeddyLost]

watched an interview with them and they said they put the grill on 40th anniversary.

Beryllium is fragile and toxic at the same time.
This is obvious step for anyone who sells speakers globally.
I've seen few Focal hi-end passives in adverts for sale with cracked tweeters, so it's common scenario.

 

[voodooless]

Does anyone know of these are real beryllium domes, or just dampend on aluminum?