Any more Focal Twin opinions?

[TML]

The bottom end, build quality....what you were using? etc....Thanks,
Tim

[Fletcher]

Loving them... the build quality is excellent, the low end is very nice and clear.

[Slaytex]

Fletcher, I believe you said you worked with the Solo6's as well. Could you give us your opinon on those as well?
Thanks.

[Fletcher]

Take a solo 6... add an octave of bottom... you now have the twin 6 [and an octave in that range is indeed a big deal... at least it is to me... but I can certainly mix on solo 6's without a struggle].

[Slaytex]

Could someone explain what you mean by an "octave" lower when it comes to monitors? I interpret that into pitch, like on a piano "C3 down to C2". Both the Twin's and Solo6's go down to 40 hz correct. When you say octave do you mean that the Twin's are more pronounced in the low end but not necessarily hitting deeper?

Also I have enough to buy the Solo6's right now. I work out of a somewhat small room (10.5' by 14' with 11' ceilings), and travel to a lot of other places around town when doing projects so the Solo6's would be nice for that. If you were me, would you stress over saving up more money for the benefit of the Twin's in my situation?
Thanks.

[u b k]

to my ears the twins have more midrange presence and detail as well, and their image/soundstage is bigger; part of this is the added weight on the bottom, part of it is just because there's more of every kind of information. it's not a 'hit-you-over-the-head' difference, but when you've got both pairs side by side and you're switching back and forth it's very clear.

the solo's are fantastic, i've not heard any other monitor in their price range that articulates as well, but the twins really do put you into the upper echelon in terms of resolution.


gregoire
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ubk
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[Slaytex]

Gregoire, thanks for posting. Could you also answer my second question pertaining to which monitor would be better suited for my needs?
Thanks.

[Fletcher]

By "an octave lower" I mean that you'll hear better detail in the lowest octave... while the "specifications" may say they go down to 40Hz the reality is that the twin 6's get a lot closer to 40Hz than the solo 6's... the solo 6's are usually great down to like 80... maybe 60... but they're not going to put out anything like 40Hz at a reasonable volume.

This is a real common bullshit thing with speaker manufacturers... in fact, if anything Focal is more honest about the lowend response than most MFG's [who will be happy to tell you their monitors go to 20 or 30 when they barely get close to 60!!].

If you can afford the solo 6's I would say they're probably worth a try. If you find that when you take the product [mixes] out of your control room that the low end is all over the place then trade them in for twin 6's... if you low end references fine in the real world then they'll be all the speaker you need.

I hope this is of some assistance.

Peace.

[Slaytex]

Thanks Fletcher, that clears up everything I needed to know.

[tcause]

Strong second to what Fletcher has said regarding the additional octave in the low end... The Solo's are great... though whilst they may play a 40Hz tone, my guess is that its probably 20db down from what they produce at 80Hz.

The extra octave at the bottom of the twins gives them to my ears more balance but there are many many people who have percieve more mid range detail in the Solo's... perhaps as a result of the less bottom end focusing their attention into the mid range.

I am still a big fan of adding a sub to monitors of this size... and the Focal Sub6 integrates really well with both the Solo's and the Twin's.

[AB3]

That sub is a lot of $$$ for another 10hz. How necessary is it?

Originally Posted by tcause

I am still a big fan of adding a sub to monitors of this size... and the Focal Sub6 integrates really well with both the Solo's and the Twin's.

[tcause]

Its not a NEED Item. I love subs. They just make music much more fun for me... A really solid punch in the 30-50Hz range gives you that big monitor feeling.

The spec's may well say 10Hz... they do but the reality for the Focal Solo and Twins and most other near-mid field monitors I know including up to Adam S3As, Genelec 1031s, 8050s, Dyn BM6As... none of them pack punch in this range whereas a Sub is optimised for this range.

To get monitors that are really solid the sub bottom end, you need to move up to the Focal SM8s or 11s, Barefoots (amazing bottom end), Adam S4s and above etc...

In comparison to this, adding a Sub is a whole lot less $$ and while its still often not quite the same experience, it can give you the majority of it and gives you more options in that you can add one later, switch it in and out etc.

So... no you don't NEED it. Suggest you have a listen to the difference if you get the opportunity so that you understand with your ears what that 10Hz on paper sounds like...

Some of my mates say you can't mix with a sub... I just don't feel that way - Adam S4CAs + Genelec 7070 Sub :)

[adrianex]

Loving mine over here (the twins). and pretty much agree with what everyone has said about them. Regarding the subs, I never liked mixing with them, just my personal taste.

[TML]

I'm gathering from many the Twins smoke the S3a's in the bottom end.

[George Necola]

The Twin6 Be is an active, 3 way, professional nearfield/midfield speaker (3 built-in amplifiers - 2x150 +100W rms), comprised of two 6.5 inch (16.5cm) "W" cone sandwich composite drivers, loaded by two large section laminar bass ports and a Focal inverted dome pure Beryllium tweeter.

Both 6.5” drivers handle low frequencies but only one of the two (selectable) is passing lo-mid frequencies.

autch.. how does that work? phase?

cheers

[Sui_City]

Originally Posted by George Necola

autch.. how does that work? phase?

cheers

It works really well in my books. And it is the same principal as used by the S3As isn't it?

And yes they do have more strength in the bottom than the S3As.

[Muso]

For those that have used Adam's side by side the Focal's would you still recommend the focals (solo or twin's) over any Adam's (any nearfield monitor)?

[tcause]

Focal Twins versus Adam S3As....

In my opinion, thats the comparison. i.e. the Focals seriously compete with the Adam S3As. Now I fell in love with the Adams the very first time I heard them... the whole looking through a window experience provided by the ART and the tightness and control of the S range is just fantastic... Ohhh. and by the way, I haven't liked anything I've heard outside the S range.

The Focals are in my opinion, every bit as good... The extension in the top end provided by the barilium tweeter again provides that amazing top end, and while the bottom end is not as tight as the S3s... a lot of people find that they like it more.

So... I can't whole heartedly (price aside... and we will come to that..) recommend one over the other... find something you like and drink it... listen to both level matched in the same room and pick the one you like best... OR....

Revel in the fact that the Focals are seriously good and $2K USD less... and go with them... ohh and back to my earlier post... put the $2K Into the matching sub and they will seriously smoke...

That's my only gripe with the Adams (now that the Focals are available)... the are comparitively very expensive...

[Muso]

Thanks for that I think I'm sold on the twins. I still know and trust my 10m's I just want something that's going to give me a better bass response while programming.

[Slaytex]

I think I'm gonna stick with getting the Solo6's as they will be easier to tote around town. My room has 18 bass traps and sounds good, plus I figure 2-3 years down the road I'll get more of a midfield/main monitor (MM27 perhaps) If I feel that I need one.
Thanks again for everyone's input.

[studjo]

well Focal makes a wonderful Mid/Main-Monitor - it's called SM11

Jo

[tcause]

Originally Posted by studjo

well Focal makes a wonderful Mid/Main-Monitor - it's called SM11

Jo

Tick! I have spent many hours over the last few months with various people switching between the MM27 and the SM11s. Results in 2 versions of deleriously happy. Haven't seen one person who doesn't assume one of those unconscious grins when listening to either of these. Adam S4s will do the same to you...

[George Necola]

It works really well in my books. And it is the same principal as used by the S3As isn't it?

And yes they do have more strength in the bottom than the S3As.

yeah, but HOW does it work? that causes radical phaseproblems no?

[TML]

Anyone heard the Focal subs??? I'm leaning toward the Focals over the Adam after a few comments by a trusted mastering engineer..... although he likes the Proac 100 as well....
TIm

[u b k]

Originally Posted by George Necola

autch.. how does that work? phase?

my understanding, flawed as it may be, is that it's a simple crossover situation. one driver starts at the bottom and goes up, the other starts at the mids and goes up. the low driver also handles mids so it's not a true 3-way design.

the switch is mechanical and simply determines which driver is for dedicated mids.

i can say that this switch has proved immensely useful when it comes to tuning the low end response in the room. flipping the switch has the acoustic effect of moving the speakers a foot, which changes how the bottom plays in the room pretty dramatically.

i'm so hooked on these monitors it's absurd. i had a fellow slut over this weekend who has another 'competing' brand of monitors on order that ring in at double the cost. i fired up the twins and in 10 seconds the first 'wow' came out of his mouth; by 30 seconds he began to wonder if it was too late to cancel his order for the other speakers.

they're just that wonderful. i think it plays on the same exact level as the adam s3a and the barefoots, and it's a hell of a lot cheaper.


gregoire
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ubk
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[Bryce]

Originally Posted by u b k

one driver starts at the bottom and goes up, the other starts at the mids and goes up. the low driver also handles mids so it's not a true 3-way design.

Sounds like you've got it backwards. Only one driver handles the mids - both of them handle the lows.

As Sui_City pointed out, that's also the way the S3A (and it's lesser expensive brother the P33A) works.

dB
ADAM Audio USA

[u b k]

Originally Posted by Bryce

Sounds like you've got it backwards. Only one driver handles the mids - both of them handle the lows.

As Sui_City pointed out, that's also the way the S3A (and it's lesser expensive brother the P33A) works.

correct you are sir! thanks for the clarification, the manual clearly says this... but my brain apparently liked a different story .


gregoire
del
ubk

[tmcconnell]

I've now owned the twins for two months or so... and I still like them a lot. I can hear what I need to hear, when a mix is right, they sound right. I don't have to compensate in any way. I could have bought more expensive monitors but did not - but its always a crapshoot - there's no prize cow. One fact I like is that they sound like hi fi speakers - not too clinical. This means that my clients give me better feedback as we are mixing together because its a sound they relate to. Still, they are clinically accurate in terms of what I can hear. 1 db of 10k on the overheads is very obvious even in context. t

[kgdrum_nyc]

I had the Focal Solo 6 for evaluation the last 6 months and I agree it is a very Very Good speaker................but I wasn't totally satisfied.........................3 weeks ago I switched them for the Focal Twin 6................. right out of the box the quality was way improved............clear ,quick,and open,this monitor is amazing!the Be tweeters give you amazing detail as well as no fatigue!
*note I am somewhat affiliated w/Focal,I do not work for them,but sell speakers in their HiFi line,but I can honestly tell you I was on the fence on purchasing the Solo 6 as good as it is............but the Twin 6 is in another league,I don't think there is a better monitor out there, any way near this price range.I am buying these..........,now I am thinking :do I need the Sub?