Demo #1 Focal Stella Utopia EVO, Gryphon Essence pre & mono power amplifiers - rec’d with iPhone mic

Quick trail with built-in iPhone microphone. Please compare to my other demo video recorded with the Shure MV88 microphone: • Demo #2 Focal Stella U...
Source component is Mola Mola Tambaqui DAC. Streaming Tidal via Roon Nucleus. Full loom of Triode Wire Labs cables.

[@arnoldt77]

absolutely amazing. My dream setup. I have lower end version of this with Focal 1038 and Gryphon diablo 120 that I love, but this is on another level.

[@carlbrown3634]

Beautiful speakers, and wonderful sounds. Thanks for sharing! Looking forward to hearing more!

[@pf5658]

Beautiful system and room. Focals are my dream speakers.

[@robsaudiophilejourney]

Thank you

[@jandmbooks]

Pretty impressive recordings off of an iPhone. Nice.

[@michaela.5363]

Nice speakers. My dream is one day to have a room large enough to fit the big Focals.

[@mihaihertz1059]

Beautiful 🥰

[@rfoliente1]

Really nice!

[@robsaudiophilejourney]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@alphamoleliza6749]

Very, very nice! What db level are you playing the music at? Is the image life sized or more in your face?

[@robsaudiophilejourney]

Depends on the music: usually 75-85dB but when I want to tock the place, up to 90dB

[@boltingvenom82]

Nice system , are there any absorbers in the room or is it only diffusers in the room ?

[@robsaudiophilejourney]

The green panel behind the grey skyline diffusers has absorption panels behind the fabric. But not very thick. I managed to make the white diffusers look nice and blend well with the room. To really reduce echo, I'd need quite many 6" thick absorbers. Doesn't look well in a living room. Sofa, rug and other soft furniture are the only absorbers.

[@peterguo3395]

I used Chord Mojo together with my headset to listen to the music. Actually I expected a better experience than this because of the setup. I would say that something need to be done to improve the speed of bass. Now I heard a lot of echo and the bass is muffled. My Scala Utopia Evo sounds better than this. Have you tried to do hand clap testing in your room? I think you should be able to hear the echo when doing that

[@robsaudiophilejourney]

I have measured using REW. Goal is indeed to reduce echo. RT60 times are too long

[@chongchingyong9009]

it sounds awesome! whats ur comment about the gryphon to the D'agostino?

[@robsaudiophilejourney]

The Gryphon Essence set is more powerful, fills the room better, doesn't run out of steam in my large room. The Dan D'Agostino Momentum Integrated sounds gorgeous too but would work better in a medium sized room. Please check out this new video, where I demo many more different tracks with a much better stereo microphone: kzbin.info/www/bejne/jF6lY6aaep5qi6M

[@bricedoan6695]

@@robsaudiophilejourney Are the Essence Monos much more powerful than the Diablo 300 and can they drive pretty difficult speakers with more authority ? Thanks.

[@itsmatty365]

what amps for power?

[@robsaudiophilejourney]

Gryphon Essence monoblocks

[@LetThereBeSound1]

(copy & paste from other video because same comments apply here) I don't frequent making comments on other's KZbin videos but it seems you are requesting opinions? My apologies in advance if my opinions seem too harsh. It is not meant as an attack but merely a brutally honest opinion based on a KZbin video. This last part is important as I suspect (or hope) your system might sound much better in person. In any event, my immediate reaction would be how bright and/or digital the sound is. In other words, it is the opposite of warm and organic which is the sonic signature I favor. It doesn't help that many of the recordings used are typical audiophile variety meaning that they are borderline over-processed or hyped up for effect. The room appears to be part of the problem. There is too much slap echo. Too reflective. It sounds like an echo chamber (ok not quite, but almost) Best regards and very sorry for my less than enthusiastic comments. They are meant as constructive criticism.

[@robsaudiophilejourney]

Thank you. I asked for opinions so I should be able to deal with constructive criticism. You're right about the echo. It's a living room and I'm trying to get the best sound without installing a dozen 6" thick absorbers around the room. The bright and digital part is harder to recognise. Here it's not bright or harsh. I did play loud when recording this so maybe I "overloaded" the room a bit. Will try a next video at lower SPL. BTW, do you have any suggestions for tracks to play? Ones that are not overly processed?

[@MD-cy6pe]

vocals sound rolled off.

[@philipw7058]

The echo in this room is ridiculous 🥴

[@Burevestnik9M730]

Very poor acoustics in the room.