Focal Solo6 Long Term Review

[@joemaymusic]

I’ve been using the Solo 6’s for about a year as well. Transformed my mixes in a small, but treated space. Most importantly, they keep listening to and making music fun. People come over to listen to their mixes or their favorite albums in my space, because they like them so much. Music should be fun and collective!

[@nutellaontoast4281]

Would love to see the PMC result 6's reviewed. Interested at getting some myself eventually!

[@ralphgilbert9527]

Great video colt...keep up the great work you do on you tube

[@ColtCapperrune]

Thank you for watching!

[@theabihurairoh]

I’ve turned to focal speakers after seeing your video! Tried listening to Focal Trio 6 in singapore comparing it to some other brands and the one’s that i was using at the time. I immediately purchased it. Thanks colt!

[@JasonBuffin]

Curious if the new Audient ATMOS monitor controller is changing your atmos setup thoughts at all. It seems like a really great box. I think I'd rather it be DB25 in the back and just use breakout cables if you need TRS.

[@ColtCapperrune]

Fortunately, I had acquired 100% of the gear for the Atmos rig before I started construction. So my set up is 100% decided. But there has been quite a lot of very very interesting looking pieces of gear coming out lately!

[@thewardrums]

Cheers to the woofer touching trick hahah i naturally started doing that too, years ago. Works so well!!

[@kevinlentz7604]

Hi Colt love your show picked up the Shape 6/5 and the Sub ❤One absolutely love Focals Thanks for great advice as usual

[@ColtCapperrune]

Glad you are enjoying them!

[@richardpenrose1968]

Hi Colt, have you tried the Neumann KH series? I had the Focal Solo 6 ST6 here for a while to try out and they were very impressive monitors. There was lots I liked about them but in my room I preferred the Neumann KH120’s. The first thing I noticed was the KH120’s imaging was noticeably wider and the phantom center was more precise defined. I could hear at little more detail on the KH120’s. On one particular live mix that I’m familiar with there was an issue recording lead vocals and it was clipping in places. The KH120’s really highlighted this but it didn’t sound as obvious on the Solo6’s. I also find I can hear things like reverb tails on the KH120’s a little easier. I’m considering upgrading to the newer Neumann KH150’s for the extra depth of bass frequencies and the MA1 room correction dsp. I’d love to know your thoughts on the Neumann KH series if you’ve had a chance to try them?

[@richardpenrose1968]

@@mittenguitars Thanks for sharing your thoughts. In my room the Focals sounded a little scooped in the low mids and vocals were less forward compared to the KH120’s.

[@richardpenrose1968]

@@mittenguitars Thanks. I'm most likely going to add the Neumann KH750 sub to the KH120's.

[@snoopywalker1881]

Colt, great video. How much better is the Solo 6 Vs the Focal Shape 6?

[@SvetlinDimitrov]

Phenomenal speakers. I've listened to the old Solo6s only and to my ears they sound like magic ;)

[@nucentury08]

Just Got Adams New A Series A7Vs Love them with the Built in Sonarworks DSP also the A8H from Adam would be two monitors on that level and 2K$ to 3K$ range.

[@lmrecorders]

That wide angle lens from the Sweetwater interview was an eye bender. Your left side loos like a linebacker and right side looks like a marathoner. 😂

[@ColtCapperrune]

It’s not the lens… I use my left side for everything 😜😂

[@TRXST.ISSUES]

Just finished the vid, super solid review 🔥🔥🔥

[@ColtCapperrune]

Appreciate it!

[@vadimmartynyuk]

I thought you're using those big Focals that you showed in that video where you were choosing monitors

[@joshgoode8788]

You should check out the Neumann KH150s for that rook when the Focals go into the atmos rig! I personally like their sonic signature a good amount more and they’re in about the same ballpark price range, so I’d love to see how you think they compare!

[@claudius3124]

Hello Cole! Love your videos! Love those Focals as well, been thinking about buying them... Just to let you know, those songs you play the beginning (great songs by the way), they sound really clipped here. Your voice is ok though. I compared with other videos on KZbin, I double-checked many time and everything else is fine. It's probably a KZbin thing. Just wanted you to know... Thanks again for sharing those videos with us 🙂

[@ColtCapperrune]

Thank you for the feedback! Must be some KZbin compression going on… Gotta love it!

[@rafaelocandof]

These look great. I have the Alpha 50s and for the price, I really don't feel like I'm missing a ton of detail. Mixes translate perfectly.

[@ColtCapperrune]

Mixed translation is the only thing that really matters!

[@guitarplayer5932]

im reading a book called mixing secrets by mike senior and hes saying eq correction software is a waste of money, recommends spending on better monitoring hardware, thoughts?

[@BOODA575]

would love a vido on how you get your own mixes ready to master

[@OTTOAUDIO]

Why do you have two rooms ? Segmenting projects? Change of scenery ?

[@ColtCapperrune]

Several reasons. The biggest is that I will eventually have an assistant working in the B room. But for now, it’s my room full-time while the A room is getting redone.

[@OTTOAUDIO]

Very cool man, fair enough. How many projects do you do per year ?@@ColtCapperrune

[@StanAllDay]

Hi Colt thank you for the video. As you said bang for the buck I thought it would be cool to see a video on buying monitors second hand or demo units/ how to look for deals. Would be interesting to see your take. Thank you and take care!

[@ColtCapperrune]

Personally, I prefer to buy as much new as possible… Just so that way, I know how they have been cared for, and that they have not been abused. That said, I would only buy a pair of speakers used if they are getting shipped in the original factory boxes, or if I could pick up in person. Outside of that, as long as you are getting a good deal, nothing wrong with the used market for most things!

[@wayneebersole2054]

Fedex says my pair is out for delivery today. Can't wait to test them out. Thank you for your comments on the sub. I'm really considering adding one just to give me a full spectrum sound profile but going to wait until I test them without first. Sweetwater pairs it with the Sub 12. Would your recommend the Sub 6 or Sub 12?

[@ColtCapperrune]

Congrats Atz! Really depends on your room, how big it is, how well treated it is, and how far down you would like to hear. I think for most smaller rooms the sub six would be just fine, but I have two of the sub 12, and they are absolute monsters!

[@QFXmusic]

Your Hand Position caused the focus issue

[@ColtCapperrune]

That was an odd one, I don’t think this camera set up has ever lost Focus like that before…

[@QFXmusic]

@@ColtCapperrune Some times things happen for the strangest reasons :) We get signs all the time we just need to look at them and figure out what they mean :) Great content by the way :) always look forward to your videos :) especially if its about Focal stuff or Atmos :) Love my Focal 9.1.6 rig :)

[@DavideGuerri]

I have the older solo6, had them for the past 3 years in a room I treated and tuned with sonaroworks, minor eq, had no revisions asked on my masters, mixes, of course but it’s a different world. I did masters that beat “real mastering studios”. The only difference with your setup is that I keep them at ear level and the tweeters are 70” from my ears. And, being in Europe they’re way cheaper, 2000€ for the pair

[@bryanrosario1361]

Great video as always!! What's your opinion with the Sub6 and the Sub12? On the other hand, can you put together the same playlist from apple music but in spotify?

[@ColtCapperrune]

So I’ve been running a single sub 12 for a long time in the a room. And I’ve picked up a second sub 12 for the Atmos rig when it’s finally finished. But I really think with all subwoofers it comes down to how big your room is, how well it is treated, and how far down you’d like to hear. With low end, and especially subwoofers, it’s hard to beat physics. The better treated, and the larger room is, the more low end it can handle, generally speaking.

[@marvsowell684]

I’m in a 15x14 treated room with the Twins (ST6) and a Sub 6. Sounds incredible! I high pass the Twins at 60hz and the sub handles the super lows.

[@Chaz_r]

I have the old Solo6’s. I’d love to see you try out some ATC’s and the new barefoot monitors

[@ColtCapperrune]

I’ve worked on ATC many many times. They are fantastic! It’s purely the quantity of low end, at the price point that keeps me from having a pair. But they might have the best mid range in the game.

[@Chaz_r]

@@ColtCapperrune ahhh gotcha! Well I think I’ll do more research on the new Solo6’s. Thanks Colt

[@braxal6983]

Colt, I do not think my Focal solo 6's have that noise when they go to sleep. I bought my speakers December 2023. Maybe they fixed that? I still like to know why 2 of my speakers had to be returned because they completely shut off after running them after 10-15 min. I wish they would tell me other than reading online how the power switches have a tendency to break very easy.

[@ColtCapperrune]

Interesting on the relay for going to sleep… They may have used different ones in the later models. And it is a bummer you have had issues, hopefully it’s all sorted and you don’t have any further issues!

[@RecordingStudioLoser]

Josh is the Goat. That guy knows his stuff.

[@Studio22mix]

Great video 👍🏼 I noticed that your speakers are placed relatively low isn’t that a problem for near field listening? My speakers are also very close to the back wall something I don’t really like but I wonder if it really effects the sound as much as I think, what’s your opinion on that? And one more question do you have absorbers or acoustic panels behind the couch or just drywall?

[@ColtCapperrune]

When I’m mixing, I lower my chair all the way down. The speakers are one or 2 inches lower than the perfect height… I have thought about getting the taller iso acoustics stands for the desk, but this set up will be changing before long so I figured I’ll see what monitors land in here permanently before I do that.

[@Studio22mix]

@@ColtCapperrune thanks for the reply

[@joaocesar414]

If solo6 got so many praise by you why are you switching them on that room?

[@Studio22mix]

@@joaocesar414 I think because Colt is going Atmos and to make it work properly you need all speakers to be exactly the same.

[@synchemist6462]

I've had the old Solo6 for over 6 years. I use them for listening to music, watching movies, playing games, and general web surfing. I love them and hope they last a long time.

[@Raykeur21]

I want to buy these new Solo6s for gaming, watching movies, etc., but I'm just worried about the treble because I sometimes turn up the volume, and I don't want to hurt my ears

[@Sonic-Boom]

I've got the Shape 65 (with Sub One) for the same use as you. I wonder how much of an upgrade it would be?

[@synchemist6462]

@@Raykeur21 When I first got my Solo6 Be's I would sometimes get hurt ears when blasting the speakers, but now I NEVER get hurt ears and play them as loud as I want. I just played them louder than I really wanted just to do it.

[@synchemist6462]

@@Sonic-Boom Having not heard the Shapes or the new Solo6's I would venture to say they would be a definite upgrade, but I would also ask you if you really need it. I was considering upgrading to Kii 3's and I'm glad I didn't, not that I wouldn't enjoy them, but I am glad to have the cash in the bank and I am satisfied with what I have after living with them. If money is no object, obviously you should upgrade. If not I would suggest you wait for a while to see if an upgrade is really something you want/need.

[@Sonic-Boom]

@@synchemist6462 Sensible advide. I'm more than happy with my Shape 65 /Sub One combo. It's the GAS that gets you.

[@tiffanyflanagan1892]

You might try finding a used subpac S2 for feeling the really low frequency stuff. You can dial in the “physical” aspect of the bass really well and make decisions about how far you want to push that tactility. I use them with the solos and the my high end reference headphones.

[@anthonycunningham4598]

Thanks Colt!

[@ColtCapperrune]

Thanks for watching!

[@sbanville4761]

I've been a Genelec user now for the past 8 years and upgraded to the Genelec One's with a SUB. I'm wondering how the Focals would compare up against the Genelcs ?

[@ChaxSouthSide]

hi Colt! two things: 1) have you considered sonarworks or this new ik mic thingy to adjust the room correction with them to have even more flat sound and to "extract" even more from them? 2) what loudness are you pushing here in this video, `cause man o man, do your vids go louuudd without distorting :D

[@Frank290578]

first I wanted to get the genelec 8040b . but I get the event opal today for 1000 euro

[@nickbitlee]

Hi Cole, is it easy to do the standby bypass on these?

[@ggmusic6974]

Hey Colt. I remember a interview where you said something in the line of "CLA was your hero, until you realized that he uses the same kick and snare sample on every mix", or some rendition of that. What I heard in the intro with the mix-samples you provided, I had a hard time hearing the difference between the artists/bands.... My point beeing; CLA has a "sound", and so do you. Maybe mix-engineers that do this to pay the bills, tend to turn mixing to a JOB, and faster workflow with templates will increase the number of projects you can invoice? 😊

[@SayHeyMaize]

So I can't help but notice the way you "found room" for the auratones was just to put them on top of the focals... I'm assuming you didn't want to do that originally or you would have done it as soon as you set up the room. Just curious what the thought process was there because I'd like a pair or auratones but I don't really have room either. Is that okay to do? I genuinely don't know haha love the video as always dude 🤟

[@Kalyptic]

I bought these to play pc games on. Did I do good?👀😁

[@vc2tb]

Great video 👍

[@ColtCapperrune]

Thanks for watching!

[@lariatolariato]

What's your opinion on the PMC 6-2s?

[@TRXST.ISSUES]

Maybe get a Woojer vest to feel those sub 40hz freqs

[@ColtCapperrune]

Woofer vest??

[@TRXST.ISSUES]

@@ColtCapperrune woojer vest 3 - strange name for sure 😂

[@TRXST.ISSUES]

@@ColtCapperrune gave me such a respect for a lot of Kid Cudi and Eminem mixes, felt a dimension to many songs that I never heard/felt before.

[@MountainViewStudio]

ADAM AH8s great monitors in that 3k range and they do have sonarworks room correction build in in them which makes your life a bit easier

[@ColtCapperrune]

I haven’t used those particular monitors. But they do look like a compelling option! They are however, too large for a small set up like this.

[@chasehaggard161]

I love my Adam AH8s and highly suggest people give them a try if they have a chance.

[@faithfuluntodeath]

Great monitors I love mine! I also Kali in 8s there darker but great to beat on and check translation

[@MountainViewStudio]

Yup I have those Kali's they are great and honest for the price but eventually I'll go for the Adam's sometime soon@@faithfuluntodeath

[@nucentury08]

😎The Built in Sonarworks is 👌🏽🔥​@@chasehaggard161

[@ericsami2277]

I mixed and tracked on focal twin 6s? A couple of times and also have experience with other focals. I don’t like the brand generally, not my bag. Twins had the most beautiful top end I’ve ever heard on a speaker but mids and lows useless and accuracy and translation completely off for me. Records don’t sound like they were meant to sound on any focals. But everyone has their preference. Mine are Dynaudio’s. BM5a or any of them really.

[@ChrisKerryAudox]

Gotta be honest, I tested some focal trio 6s and they were pretty underwhelming. Not holding out much hope for the Solo6s. You should try the present day production MUM8s. Had them in my studio and the detail at all frequencies is astounding for the price

[@ColtCapperrune]

Did you try the old Trio 6? Or the new ones that just came out? There’s a big difference in my opinion. Haven’t heard of the MUM8s. I’ll look into them!

[@ChrisKerryAudox]

@@ColtCapperrune the new trio 6. Had them up against my event opals where they did marginally beat them in the mids and lows, but the MUM8s were miles ahead in all areas.

[@JoeyFTL]

Please correct me if I'm wrong but the PDP MUM-8 looks like a mid-field solution, different price bracket as well. I don't really understand the basis of comparison.

[@ColtCapperrune]

Oh yeah, they are $5000 per pair. That’s a completely different bracket of monitor. I’m sure they’re great, but not a competitor for these.

[@LightsandMotion]

do you prefer the older BE´s against the new ST´s? I spoke to another guy that said the new ones are more analytical, compared to the warmer old ones. I'm looking to get a pair, I just don't know which ones to purchase. trying to strike the balance between an enjoyable listening environment and optimal mixing monitors.@@ColtCapperrune

[@TonyThomas10000]

40K? What is the plus/minus dB?

[@Fastvoice]

-3 dB.

[@TonyThomas10000]

@@Fastvoice That is pretty impressive, especially for dogs in the neighborhood! LOL!

[@chrisdavis9135]

🏆🏆🏆

[@1loveMusic2003]

5 minutes seems really quick for sleep mode should be an hour.

[@revelationsoundstudio]

Paid advertising for this review?

[@everydaysame4880]

the guy from focus speaks too fast bra

[@melvinp1324]

i think they re crap ..

[@D310R10N]

Ha-ha-ha DMAX 261 cost $1400 sound at least $4000

[@ColtCapperrune]

Never heard of them… Thanks for watching.

[@ThomasL]

You also can get a pair of used passive ATC SCM 40MkI's for 1500€ ...