Focal Grande Utopia EM EVO Loudspeaker Review w/ Upscale Audio's Kevin Deal

[@greggb681]

I have to say, out of all the videos you have posted, I have never seen Kevin so passionate talking about a speaker. I am a horn guy, I love Oswald Mill Audio, some Klipsch products and Avantgarde Acoustic BUT watching this made me truly appreciate Focal. Great video Kevin and great job Focal!

[@bubbleone6526]

That’s exactly what I was thinking too. I’ll never be able to afford a pair but I’d love to hear these at Kevin’s place.

[@upscaleaudio]

Hey I want to thank you guys and gals for being so kind. I don't get to say this as much as I'd like, but I love all of you and it's such a gas to be able to play with the stuff I fell in love when I was a 12 year-old. Best wishes to all you crazy audiophiles! - Kevin Deal

[@motuknight5569]

Want these speakers? 1. Have superhuman work ethic 2. Possess the gift of gab (bionic communication skills) 3. Absolutely love what you do and do it with passion 4. Keep your mind clear, bright, and energetic 5. Structure your life with goals and purpose and implement them forthrightly with assertion. 6. Have a strong desire to work with people. Well done and deserved sir!

[@welderfixer]

Your 6 points were correct at one time in history, however there no chance for anyone to be "successful" today. All of the Sci-Fi dystopian movies are prophetic and are showing us the future. Soon there will only be the super rich and the desperately poor working themselves to death while making the super rich even more rich. Anyone who is still hopeful will be sadly disappointed that their efforts was a waste of their life.

[@Mark-lq3sb]

@@welderfixer OK, Debbie Downer. Do you by chance run a cult?

[@DQ-su6qf]

Or you can marry a rich woman..

[@jamesbegera9208]

Thank you Kevin for this review, I've never realized the history of Focal. I'm upgrading my setup with the 100 and 300 series and once I win the lottery I'll buy a pair of these!

[@mpi5850]

Thank you Kevin for sharing your room and speakers with us. Would love a part two where you show the room off a bit more (incl. room treatment) and also all of your equipment. Kudos also on the beautiful design of your room - stunning.

[@user-xx2hj7xb6b]

Another entertaining review. Most of us can only dream of owning a pair of Grande Utopias. But dreams are the stuff of hope.

[@noahman27]

Love the enthusiasm and the pure giddiness of excitement here.

[@Nephilim-81]

When you have a speaker bigger than you? You know you’ve made it big. ❤

[@tothemax324]

Huge Tannoys down stairs, huge Focals upstairs, what a joint 👍

[@brianfernandes2382]

I discovered Focal as a brand in the 80's because I sold car audio. Ever since, I have admired the attention to detail in the engineering.

[@MrBonger88]

Was Focal also known as JMLab in the car audio world back then?

[@brianfernandes2382]

@MrBonger88 I believe that JM Labs kept its name for the domestic market and Focal for the Car Audio & Spares division.

[@FelixtheMetalcat]

I put Focal in my car and never looked back...fantastic balanced sound that never is fatiguing. What a joy and eventually they will find there way into my home.

[@brianlewis5042]

Great video Uncle Kevin. Thanks for showing us your system and the room. I was always wondering how you were going to setup your listening space since I saw your first video some time ago. Your passion shows not only in your videos but it also in the staff of Upscale Audio.

[@markdecker2112]

in so many pictures of a high end system, you see a lonely Eames chair siting in the sweet spot. I call it the loneliest seat in the house. Your room looks incredibly inviting and clearly meant to be shared with your family. Excellent video.

[@dayak1286]

Finally! I've been waiting for thos video Kevin promised us a video and it's been about 2 years now. Love seeing your setup Kevin.❤

[@PersonaNonGrata-uz4of]

I'd like to see the dog lift its leg and mark those speakers.

[@FelixtheMetalcat]

Focal in my car sounds amazing and soon for the house! Great video.

[@rp696-t8k]

The only speakers I've heard that sounded better than these are the all new KMD Orchestalls OCS 1000CG Loudspeakers from South Korea. I heard them at the 2024 Axpona Show and many were raving about these speakers there. Major-Breakthrough for Speakers.

[@Edward135i]

Focal has the most incredible fit and finish, their speakers are like a high end car, and cost about the same 😂

[@ChrisMag100]

I have Scala Evo’s. Absolutely love them.

[@true2016blue]

Congratulations, Kevin! I auditioned the previous Focal Grande Utopia III EM and loved it. Only a Scala would fit in my room, though. What a realistic with a capital R portrayal. Kudos!

[@rushgush]

for the price. i would expect 100db at 20hz. 😎

[@faithhopelove6945]

This Man is on FIRE" I like it. Thanks 👌💫

[@xray111xxx]

The beauty of engineering. Focal is getting it done. So many pieces of audio are overpriced mystery who knows what. Focal nails it every time with anything they do. Fanboy? Yeah I am. I am on the headphone feign, and Focal is King of my Headphone roost. Their speakers are sublime. Kevin's speakers are outright insane. I have heard these, and it is a sit down, shut up, and hold on because this speaker demands your attention. Done!

[@CarlVanDoren61]

20.7s & Rel Carbon Specials JLA cr-1 active crossover 😊 Better sonics for much less

[@bingdong8571]

Well, im glad you think you spent your money wisely. May they bring you joy

[@FlyOnAlbatross]

I will never be able to afford these but doesn’t mean I don’t appreciate the ingenuity and the passion involved in making something so remarkable. Plus I just love to hear Kevin talk 💩. Bullshit talks money walks and Kevin does both.

[@dihydrotestosterone]

Where's the room treatment? 😅

[@itisjustacomment]

I build such a speaker out of 2x guitar bass 15" with my own bass control and cross over , built a speaker just for mids with 2 speakers and one unit for highs with different frequencies. I also build bass amp mono blocks 1000watt 5hz lows class Ds. All in for £500 for the two It took a while to find the right amps and tuning . But 30 years later, after buying many speakers, they didn't touch what I once had with such a setup. It was another level for stereo, which I've tried to achieve with good speakers adding bass bins . What I did find was that an issue was in direction with the speakers being so far apart , I did the same setup as in the video to get the sound correct in a concave pattern.

[@joenovak6393]

Very Nice, will be calling this week to trade-in a PrimaLuna HP for Pathos InPol2 MkII. Time to Move-Up into the next level.

[@scottbennett3119]

Very cool to see some of your goodies!

[@morksbeanbag]

I'd still be very interested in you doing a comparison between these and the NS-1000M.

[@dan-sc7fm]

Good for you, Kevin. Live big, baby, and enjoy life.

[@LOUDERthanU]

Which subwoofers are you pairing with these?

[@sickjohnson]

Seeing/hearing Lenard Cohen live is like no one else and unforgettable...until then I didn't get his massive success, but now I do! Don't Focal employ a diode on their convex tweeters to correct some design flaw?

[@Questionsandconsequences]

"A voice coil that weighs 15 lbs...." Sorry but that cannot be right... Do you mean you mean the magnet surrounding the voice coil weighs 15 lbs? The moving mass (Mms) to motor force factor (Bl) ratio is a defining TS spec and there even external power supplies for "active" magnets could not generate the BL to drive (never mind control) a cone/suspension/voice coil assembly (they are all connected and form the total Mms).

[@ThePresleyelvis]

You're right. Here's the text copied out of the Focal catalogue. The Grande Utopia EM and the Stella Utopia EM own the same Electro-Magnet that is made of a 15,43lb (7 kg) copper voice-coil. The motor including the coil weighs 48.5lb (22kg). The 16” reaches a total weight of 52.9lb (24kg).

[@annenominous7220]

i love my 7k speakers so much :) You even sell them! the Spendor D7s sound like real sounds, especially piano and voice. Never heard the Grand Utopia, i hope they sound as good as the D7s :)

[@eopal-uk265]

HOW DOES IT SOUND??

[@johncox4273]

Great video Kevin! Enjoy them😃

[@edwin97a]

End game hyper super speakers.... thank you.

[@rainman3269]

Uncle Kev ... Nice system Man ... 🎶😎

[@deoncarter9402]

No matter how much passion about Focal , wilson and magico and MBL are just as good if not better

[@Skyshakerrrr]

You are probably right but we have to remember a lot of this very much personal taste very subjective.

[@dost328]

What's the deal with the t-shirt? 🤔

[@arturomaiola2400]

Mas de 22 años usando los focal asistidos con KRELL FPB 600 indestructibles!

[@Skyshakerrrr]

Yo tengo las kantas no1 focal. Saludos..

[@silviosarunic3234]

Last speakers you will ever need. Best speakers ever

[@deoncarter9402]

Let's get it straight at that price point they HAD to be wife approved, period🤣🤣🤣

[@davidcarter9156]

Love my new kanta no.1’s as I WAS a horn guy.

[@Skyshakerrrr]

I have the kantas no1 as well. The only problem I have it's the turntable interferes with the kantas but not the cheaper dynaudio special 40s so. So what I do now it's the focal for digital audio and the dynaudio for analog playback. By the way the dynaudio sounds amazing with the turntable because it's warm sounding. The kantas are more forward sound larger and have about 5% to 8% more detail retrieval on the tweeter.

[@cyclistman6358]

Primer Gray on a six figure speaker!?!?!

[@brentcollins9727]

Amazing

[@mikemorrison377]

Knew I liked you for a reason… Akitas are the best!

[@brianesbaugh6897]

Wow! Never knew there was so much cashola in selling gear. Good for you brother

[@jazzbase412]

You are a lucky man! Take your win!

[@Ghost-Matrix]

I think he meant infinity near the end

[@DQ-su6qf]

My thought exactly…Never heard them though.

[@khoi83]

I had a pair of JMLab Electra 920.1. Excellent Lively punchy sound. They already have the W sandwich cone technology. Really good.

[@khoi83]

If someone want to know and Enjoy the typical real Focal sound without breaking His or her bank account, the JMLab Electra series is the way to go. One Day I probably Will Get a Electra 936 pair here in Canada. Very rare on the used market.

[@mikeeygauthier2959]

Oh!! LOTTERY GODS, where for arth thou!

[@suyashmoorpana9408]

Hello, I absolutely love your videos and this one is too good. You are one of the very best youtubers out there for HIFI gear. Very informational videos I must say. This one too you have explained it so so well. You being so experienced I wanted some help and guidance. I currently own the Choras 826 powered by a Nad C388 150w per channel Integrated amp, streamer being blusound node with the JL Audio E110 sub. I am planning to buy the Focal Sopra N2s and upgrade my amplifier later. Just wanted to know if the power on my Nad is enough to drive them at moderate volume? do not want to risk damaging them. Also, what amplifiers would you suggest with them when I plan on upgrading later. Thank you so much for your help in advance man. Cheers

[@DQ-su6qf]

I’ll be getting my bucket list stereo system in about 5 months..it arrives inside my cybertruck…

[@silviosarunic6709]

My dream speaker ❤

[@MrPINKFL0YD]

Nice speakers if you have a huge room to get the best out of them

[@Bobbear1976]

Pleased for you, enjoy you new speakers🎉

[@MrBonger88]

Wow! Now that’s a big speaker

[@marksonsparks698]

After agonising about whether to buy a pair of these speakers, I decided not to because I think that my $300 Onkyo receiver may be a little inadequate to power them.

[@GBGOLC]

Yeah, I hear you. May I possibly suggest that you upgrade to a $600 amp and will your budget stretch?

[@dripslobber]

Very cool …..what’s the guitar in the niche?

[@klepp19]

I will reserve my judgement until I hear a set up like yours. Every Focal I have heard to date from Sopra 2 down doesn't sound good but excellent resolution though!

[@user-zx1ir7jt4c]

Nice home! Looks like my kind of pad... It's a temple of fine European engineering😎

[@RUfromthe40s]

79 the year JMLabs released it´s focal model, already with the future symbol of the focal brand so they aren´t around since 79 as the STASIS power amplifier from Nakamichi is a signature power amplifier ,nak sold so many that they released the MKII which as nothing to do with it , so the engenier that created the STASIS amplifiers open a law suit because nakamichi wasn´t allowed to call future amplifiers with the name STASIS ,in the JMLabs speakers ,the focal model had legs to evolve to a single brand as we know it today and where are the JMLabs speakers today?does anyone know?

[@adambrown8867]

I could have a very nice house & a nice new car & a new carry pistol for what those cost. Probably a bass boat too.

[@arsenal10141014]

Buy these or eradicate Aids - i think the cost would cover the funding gap

[@missinglinq]

I wish this guy was my neighbor.

[@timeWaster76]

I can hear your cables have a problem....

[@F.S.111]

Loving my Kanta No2’s. They feel small now lol. 600 lbs each is good theft deterrent too. Lol. I’d love to hear these love someday.

[@rasta.j]

What are you powering them with?

[@Skyshakerrrr]

I have the kantas no1 I like them as well.

[@remi2206]

Wish i can hear how they sound😢❤

[@spiritualarchitect4276]

Looks like a robot from the Jetsons house. And just that one speaker cost more than his car.

[@terrywho22]

Not only are these the last speakers you will ever buy, but when the wife sees how much they cost, they will be the last *thing* you will ever buy... unless you somehow figure out how to charge stuff to your credit cards from beyond the grave. 💀

[@dbert5963111]

her voice will be the last thing you ever hear...

[@terrywho22]

@@dbert5963111 😅

[@cirenosnor5768]

I always have to roll my eyes at wife jokes like this A musician friend got married and then got speakers the same size as these Utopia’s. When she expressed her displeasure, he said “you knew how important music is to me” and divorced her The best is a wife/girlfriend who’s also a “audiophile” like mine ❤️

[@terrywho22]

@@cirenosnor5768 Did she get the speakers in the divorce settlement? That would have been rather ironic.

[@RUfromthe40s]

everyone who enjoys music knows Leonard Cohen, he as a style of his own and early songs were already works of art , in the 80´s when he was kind of forgoten by mainstream fashion at the time that had a lot of good musicians but they had to adapt to the style of production and sound synthetysed for the first time in the 80´s ,who doesn´t know the famous keyboard YAMAHA DX-7 ,it was completed like no other at the time, i was a Roland fan but i had to buy a DX-7 , this today is for me to hear music in my last years of life , i´m not sick but for sure it will come one day ,others were ok and in a month or two they went underground

[@CarlVanDoren61]

It's so sad Kevin sold out 😢

[@silviosarunic3234]

Great video! Thank you❤

[@BRB499]

Focal makes amazing speakers.... But at those prizes they should be able to use screws that are black, talking about the ones use at the Units....

[@itisjustacomment]

I guess you, the speaker, you didn't want to mention has F6 in thier name that are some 550,000 dollars ?

[@ec6843]

You had me going up until you mentioned speaker break-in, which is a myth.

[@fcalin21]

Beautiful but they have a bad sound measurement.

[@Canadian_Eh_I]

279k BARGAIN.... LMAOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO You are a good sales man thumbs up :)

[@antonyharding5360]

I enjoyed it kev, Some people just don't get it.. And that's fine..

[@carlsitler9071]

My speakers are bigger than that and sound perfect. Each have two 15" Marantz woofers bi-amped with 100 hz low pass and MTMs with Danish Logic drivers with Triad boxes and crossovers high passed at 100 hz. The boxes are 6' x 2' x 1' and the MTMs are on stands. Price $400 (used). I think you paid too much. Lol, 😄 🤣 😂

[@micheandmikey]

Never before has my $40,000 system seemed so meagre.....🙄....damn, those are beautiful though.

[@Skyshakerrrr]

My hifi system it's 26k it sounds amazing. Current system it's compose of pma 110 denon,special 40 dynaudio bookshelf speakers,focal kantas no1s,matching denon cd player 110 anniversary,eat c sharp turntable with a black cadenza cartridge ortofon, a cheap 250 dollar phono and also a mkII phono by sound smith and 30 dollar speaker cables. And 120 hi quality records probably 50 of them are very good the rest are just ok. I love analog but it's tedious.

[@Octocoupler]

Scandalous price

[@petenamlook18]

I can't buy these speakers if the crossovers aren't cryogenically treated.

[@Mark-lq3sb]

You can't buy these speakers because you don't have the financial means. If you did have the means you wouldn't criticize.

[@Music_time82]

​@@Mark-lq3sbhahaa snaaap

[@Mark-lq3sb]

@@MusicStillRules No, I don't think so or I wouldn't have gave that comment. Humor, where? It's the typical comment about something that the commenter can't afford, so they have to shoot it down anyway they can. BTW, two other people agreed with me.

[@NosEL34]

Very cool

[@KareezyG]

fuckin love the intro. Spot on

[@skateboarding3007]

I bet he would pay 50M to be 20 again and listen with his 100% hearing

[@borlach321]

Wow, that's a crazy speaker. How do you move it?

[@veroman007]

many friends. its on casters tho

[@asadabbasmirza9519]

Altec VOTT will put them to shame Just compare frequency response graph.

[@beornthebear.8220]

That is quite a speaker. How big is the bass driverr?

[@terrywho22]

16"

[@ColocasiaCorm]

Man i need to start a business

[@dougg1075]

Fire em up

[@palmito22]

I am afraid while listening, speaker transforms in an decepticom

[@genetung8590]

My wife would kill me if I put her on KZbin while in casual garb. 😵

[@tg6373]

1:10 ❤

[@dariopohulek8843]

SEEN THEM, HEAR THEM... KEVIN, YOU HAVE TO SELL FOCAL'S AN GET YOU SOME SONUS FABER - THE SONUS FABER SPEAKERS... TRUST ME...

[@richardpeters2193]

It's only $140k for Kevin.

[@dangullik1]

15 lbs voice coil , are you sure about that ??? Dont you meen oounce ??even ouncese is wild??

[@piotrbiedowicz1602]

Ok, you have lots of money, you like to show off your equipment. If I had that much money, I would buy one pair too🤷‍♂️ Congratulation

[@RUfromthe40s]

they are great but i would never buy them because of the excessive price, i already have good speakers and huge and powerfull only from the 70´s ,restored to original specifications ,from tannoy, Pioneer, kenwood, and furacão which means in english hurricane