With that, you’re ready for your first stream. But these weren’t supplied and so instead we had the speakers perched on a pair of decent, albeit fairly standard, stands. Dedicated stands, that are tilted for time alignment, are available for the 806s and can be had online for around £199. If streaming is your sole source of music, then The Compact Music System is pretty much a plug ’n’ play affair. Focal reckons the result is greater damping, rigidity and lightness, with midrange frequencies that are ‘perfectly balanced, rich and with minimal colouration’. Removing each speaker’s magnetic grille reveals a 165mm (6.5-inch), ‘slate-effect’ bass/midrange driver made using new materials that include thermoplastic polymer and non-woven recycled carbon fibres. The Chora range includes the first speakers to use Focal’s new ‘Slatefiber’ cone technology. It’s also claimed this has been enhanced with the development of a wave guide which, according to the designers, “guarantees” a very stable sound stage and makes the listening position much less critical. According to Focal, the spatial characteristics and “very low” directivity of its high frequency unit’s design give it the edge compared to conventional domes. The Chora 806’s 25mm (one-inch) aluminium-magnesium tweeter is an example of the company’s signature inverted dome design. The drivers in all three models are what makes Focal unique. The three hi-fi models have front-firing bass-reflex ports with the cabinets themselves available in a choice of light wood, dark wood or black finishes, with the latter also adding a touch of class with its glossy fascia. There’s also the 826-D floorstander and a centre speaker, both designed for home cinema set-ups. As a result, the new Focal Chora range is said to take “design cues” from the Naim Uniti range which, it’s claimed, makes them a visual as well as sonic match.Ĭhora replaces Focal’s previous Chorus line-up of speakers and comprises the 826 and 816 floorstander, as well as the 806 bookshelf design that is included in ‘The Compact System’ on trial here. The two brands also share an industrial designer in the form of group design director Simon Matthews. “It’s key to stress that we’re not just two brands with the same ownership, but two brands working together to be greater than a sum of our separate parts.” The five system packages were created to make it easier for listeners to enjoy the synergy shared by Focal and Naim and save some money in the process. “Made in France and Made in Salisbury remain key brand USPs,” says the Vervent Audio Group. The new group is keen to point out that the two brands, despite being part of the same company, retain their own individual identities and specialist production facilities. ![]() In 2011, Focal reached a milestone in its history and merged with Naim Audio, leading to the formation of the Vervent Audio Group. Naim’s Uniti Atom will need no introduction to regular readers as it has already been extensively covered by The Ear, most recently by Chris Kelly in his September 2020 group test, as well as Jason Kennedy’s first listen back in 2017.įor those not so familiar with Focal, the firm was set-up by precision mechanics specialist France Filières which first started making loudspeaker drivers in 1979. The company went on to launch a second brand, JM-lab, which made its debut with a range that included the flagship DB 13 which featured a unique double voice coil speaker driver and met with critical acclaim for its ability to deliver a sound that was bigger than its small bookshelf enclosures suggested.įocal itself continued to evolve, and as well as designing high end luxury loudspeakers, it has departments specialising in car audio and professional monitors, as well as headphones aimed at the hi-fi market. ![]() The cost saving on this so-called Compact System is £400 on the combined price of electronics and speakers plus terminated cable valued at £200, so it looks like a good deal. As recently reported this combination of Focal Chora 806 loudspeakers and Naim Uniti Atom integrated amplifier, network streamer and DAC plus a four metre pair of Naim NAC A5 speaker cable is one of five specially priced and sonically matched systems featuring kit from the two brands that will be available for the remainder of 2020.
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