Focal Utopia 180 W

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
3 Months to 1 year

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5, 1.00 votes

Price Paid:  $0.00

Year / Model Reviewed:
2004 US Amps TU 600

Summary:
First off let me say I like my music very loud and very clean. When I began my research for this purchase I went to the typical places, the local audio experts. They all gave me the same line and showed me the same basic stuff. Nothing unique or different. THEN I happened on an old buddy who was in the business and he told me about this little co. in Florida that made their own amps in house. Designed and produced in AMERICA. BY HAND!!! WOW. I checked it out and boy I'm glad I did. The TU 600 2 channel tube amplifier is awesome. It transmits 150 x 2 watts true RMS power to your speakers so clean, so pure, so free from noise you'd swear the Dept. of Infectious Diseases gave it a clean bill of health. You are able to pick up nuances in your music you never heard before. It is so smooth, with clarity that is un surpassed. You are able to send as much signal as you can to these amps b/c you have to TRY to make them clip. I feel perfectly safe in cranking it up knowing my speakers are getting the best power available. I like it so much I have two!!!

Strengths:
American engineered and made. Ultra high quality in workmanship and in sound reproduction. Very resonably priced. Ease of tuning and looks darn cool!!!

Weaknesses:
Depending on you needs, it will most often require a crossover to get the most out of it flexibility wise.

Similar Products Used:
I also have the little brother TU 300 for my tweeters and the butt kicking 400X for my sub. I've used AutoTEK, Alpine and MTX. They don't compare.

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Visitors rate this review
4.00 of 5, 1.00 votes

Price Paid:  $0.00

Year / Model Reviewed:
2004 FOCAL UTOPIA 180W

Summary:
For the trained ear or for the novice, they are ABSOLUTELY the best, unbelievable quality sound reproduction. Like your in a studio. If you went to your favorite audio store and your salesperson started dissing these speakers it could mean only one of two things, he is insanely jealous b/c he doesn't have them or he simply doesn't carry them and wants to sell you something less. Reproduces true mid-bass and all mid frequencies. I currently have the woofers cut off on the low end at 55hz. Has more punch than ANYTHING currently on the market. The tweeters are smooth as glass and really kick ass. I like the fact they play down to 3000hz. It makes everthing blend so well. With these speakers I'm able to hear little nuances in the music I never heard before. Don't believe me? Invest in a trip to a dealer that carries them and put them to a test. You WILL be blown away!!! Power!!! OOOOh Yeah. They like power for being some of the most efficient speakers produced. These babies are bi-amped with EACH woofer receiving 150 RMS super clean watts from an US Amps TU600 tube amplifier. The tweeters are each getting 75 RMS watts from their TU300. (see separate review) The signal comes from an all digital ECLIPSE CD8053 head unit that allows great flexibility in tuning. If you like your music to be as perfectly true as possible then there is no other choice. REMEMBER, KEEP IT LOUD, but KEEP IT CLEAN!!!

Strengths:
Clarity, Punch, Smoothness, Power handling, efficiency, relative ease of installation, tunability.

Weaknesses:
Some may say price but that is not what I say. You want the best... Some say installation, well for someone with some common sense it was a piece of cake. They are not a direct replacement nor are they meant to be.

Similar Products Used:
In the past I've had Eclipse Point Source, Infinity Kappa, Boston Accoustics and JL. All component sets. They don't rate. Currently there is a set of Diamond HEX 6.5's doing fill duty in the rear and a JL sub in the back.

Price Paid:  $450.00

Year / Model Reviewed:
 2000

Summary:
Speakers were fit into my 1999 Diamante in original speaker locations. Tweeters are quite large and decision was made to put them in pods for better speaker placement. I am not a professional but can tell you that I was originally running Boston Pro 6.5 components in the front stage and I literally did unhook my eq becuase it was no longer necissary. The Boston Pros were very bright and needed much tweaking to get the sound right. The Utopias were pretty much plug and play. I am running an Alpine CDA-7940 deck with Alpine MRD-F752 amp bridged to the front speakers. 6x9's are currently unhooked to see if I like it. Also, two 12" IDQ speakers in trunk. I am not a pro but I can tell you my installer seemed very impressed with the Focals.

Strengths:
Great clarity and amazing bass up front. Also, can handle a lot of power.

Weaknesses:
Hard to fit in most cars. Requires additional work at installation.

Similar Products Used:
Boston Pro 6.5" components, Focal Utopias blew them away hands down