I FINALLY got over to Sonic Spirits to hear the Focus Audio 2 way monitor speakers the FS 688. I'm not in the market for speakers, as I am elated with what I feel are fantastic monitor speakers in the Reference 3a MM De Capo I. However, I've been starting to read exceptionally good things about Focus stuff lately and everyone who has been to Phil's place has been raving- so I had to go hear them!!!
Phil has a very nice setup with Blue Circle preamps/amps, resolution audio cd player, audience cabling, and blue circle power conditioning. Obviously, all this stuff contributes to the FABULOUS sound I heard, so my comments apply to the other gear as well. Ok, the Focus 688 are among the best 2 way monitors I have EVER heard!!!!! If I were shopping for 2 way monitors right now, I would be looking at my own (MM De Capo I) and the Focus 688. First, the fit and finish is among the best I have ever seen- we are talking Wilson quality here!
Second, the level of refinement I heard from the little two ways was extraordinary; nothing stuck out across the frequency spectrum- it all sounded very neutral and all frequencies were correctly proportioned- no humps or valleys that I could detect. Third, the soundscape was completely formed in width and depth and put you right into the recording studio or acoustic space. The 688's aren't whiz bang type speakers (e.g., bass that makes your balls shake or high frequencies that only dogs can hear), but they have the level of refinement that acoustic music does. They are extremely natural sounding and pull you into the recording with a great midrange and pinpoint imaging. I could see listening to these for hours on end with no fatigue. For $2500, these speakers are a steal for what you get and given my listening biases, I like them more than similarly priced monitors I've heard from Revel, B&W, VMPS, and Joseph Audio. That's not a diss on the aforementioned speakers, as they were all very good, but the Focus has a very natural sound that appeals to my listening biases. These won't blow you out of your seat, but slowly and addictively draw you in. FANTASTIC!!!
Phil then put in the larger Focus 888. Ok, everything I said about the 688 may just be multiplied by 3!
Not only are these neutral, refined, and soundstaging champs, but the added weight to the sound make these among the best speakers I have heard from about 12K and under. The soundscape on orchestral was absolutely mesmerizing- fully formed and among the few speakers that gives a legitimate approximation of the orchestral space (at least as much as you can from a 15 foot wide space, right?). These are very, very special speakers. I have not been this excited about a speaker in a long, long time. Given their 6.5 K asking price, I think you are getting a lot of speaker for the money. Aside from maybe Quad's, I have not heard this level of refinement from a speaker.
These compare to favorably to similarly priced Audio Physics, JM Lab, or Dynaudio speakers I have heard.
If any of you are in the market for a $2.5K monitor or a larger floorstander under 10K, you really should hear these speakers. I'm not too prone to hyperbole, but these are really FANTASTIC speakers that I think people should become aware of. God knows $phile doesn't give them any coverage.
Further, check out Phil at Sonic Spirits to get a demo of them. Great guy!
