[R3 vs Chora 806] KEF R3 / Focal Chora 806 / ELAC DS-A101G Discovery Series Amplifier / Bookshelf

[@donaldspaulding6973]

Thank you doing these videos! I can't believe I watched an hour of people blabbing on about HOW a speaker sounds, rather than listening.

[@donaldspaulding6973]

Is anyone else hearing a hum from the Focals on the left channel in the low frequencies (

[@DougMen1]

The Focals sound pretty close to the KEFs, which is saying a lot, since they cost less than half what the R3s cost. It's so close that I couldn't even tell the transitions from one speaker to the other if I'm not watching. I think we now need to hear them compared to our other favorites, like the R200, Q350, and 12.2s

[@davidcarr2216]

Up is down and black is white 😃

[@DougMen1]

@@davidcarr2216 Focal makes good stuff!

[@davidcarr2216]

@@DougMen1 Jay's dilemma: Focal or Magico ?

[@DougMen1]

@@davidcarr2216 Focal, all day every day. That guy is a joke. Everything he gets is the best ever, until a month later, when it isn't anymore, and it's replaced by something else.

[@DougMen1]

@@davidcarr2216 His latest video is about why he sold his Focals. The Magicos won't last more than a couple months before they're no longer "the best ever" and will be replace by a new "best speaker". What a clown! 🤣🤪🤡

[@davidcarr2216]

Confused again !! Maybe I'm getting too old for this. To me the Elac DS A101G sounds quite tame in the upper mids/treble. like someone has hit the tone controls big time. The Chora 806 sound very similar to the R3s on this rig.

[@legione1capone]

I amazed at how similar these actually are. The R3 is more balanced while the chora is ever so slightly more forward with more air between instruments. Considering the Kef R3 are $2199 a pair vs the chora 806 at $798 a pair. I'd say thats quite a deal.

[@34332]

Good call, however, the R3 sounds cleaner, more outlined and less (or none) bleeding from the midbass into mids. The 806 is doing a good job, have to give them that. Maybe they benefit from another amp. For the record, there's a slight hum on the left channel.

[@LisaL.]

I can never understand how people can compare speakers when listening to a video using their own speakers. I for one can't tell the difference. Moreover, the music is not even the same part for comparison. There are parts in a song that can shine better, and some parts that are just filling the time before the climax. All I can tell is the sizes are similar. 😅 I think the Chora need to be tilted up as well to sound best, and need play for a few days before they can sound "good". But thank you for sharing.

[@donwatkins397]

What these comparisons do for me is allow me to hear the 'differences' between speakers. With this particular comparison, even before reading comments, I identified all of the differences that others heard. It isn't as good as listening to the speakers live, as in ones own room, but it does help to hear subtle differences as well as the stark differences which are sometimes revealed. I certainly hear what you mean about comparing the same parts of music. I longingly wish that the switches between speakers were made in the center of passages which have the same musical elements occurring (the same 'sound') vs making switches which are frequently at the same time as a change in the 'sound' (for example, a switch right between a verse and a chorus bridge... especially when the chorus or bridge introduces a change in instruments and dynamics.) Also, and based solely on my past experiences with speakers, I agree with you wholeheartedly that the Chora would sound better tilted slightly up, as this could attenuate some of the low frequency dynamics which are acoustically attenuating some clarity in the lower midrange area. This is based primarily on my experience with studio monitors which Ive had to install either on shelves or unavoidably too near to glass windows behind audio consoles. Therefore... I conclude that you are able to "tell the difference" between speakers more so than you give yourself credit.

[@UhOhUmm]

You can't. The only way these comparisons make even the slightest bit of sense is if you have a pair of in-ear monitors. And it still depends on the microphone used and if the levels were properly set on both recordings.

[@LisaL.]

@@UhOhUmm you mean I need to wear headphones to hear the difference?

[@jefflock7635]

These are so similar, sometimes I cant hear the transition. Glad I just picked up a pair of 806's for $500. They are great speakers (and maybe the drivers wont dent). Nice job on the video!

[@joshuawang5859]

Great comparison, KEF is a little bit more neutral around 1KHz

[@RBBBBBBBBB533]

Why do I hear buzzing on the left ear from the Chora 806s… this is especially apparent on the chemtrails song.

[@jari121]

The Chora 806 video has a terrible hum in the left channel. Kef goes lower in the bass, is clearer and its tone and timbre are more natural.

[@williammiebach1798]

This is obviously the previous recordings of these speakers with the new mic set-up and the very audible buzzing on the second half of the Chora demo. The Choras fare well against the R3s to me, despite a touch of accentuation and shimmer to the treble, and a bit less presence in the midrange. I basicly like them as they are fast and controled sounding, with tight, linear bass and an immersive and deep soundstage wich is a hallmark of inverted dome tweeters.

[@DougMen1]

You're right that it is the new setup with just the 2 MXL mics. I don't don't know why it sounds so much better to me here than it did in the other two videos when they were first posted.

[@DougMen1]

The first video he posted today with the Elac amp and the R3s used both the MXL and Zoom mics, and, IMO, is a great balance between the old mic setup and the new one with just the MXLs, and is the best of both worlds, IMO. Maybe it's the mic placement, or maybe he recorded or mixed it with the MXL mics a little louder than the Zoom ones, but we seem to get the solid center fill and clarity from the Zoom mics, with a bit more stereo separation than the original setup using the Zoom and MXL mics.

[@williammiebach1798]

@@DougMen1 I'm willing to bet it's the same exact old set-up he used for so long. I don't hear a drop more separation, and still hear a blurring between the channels, wich I strongly suspect is being caused by the Zoom's left and right channel mics being crossed. If he could address that, I think that set-up would be great. You downloaded the manual for it. Maybe you could figure it out. He says there's only one stereo plug for both mics, but there has got to be a way to assign the channels properly for when the mics are cross-paired and thus the channels reversed, or when they're seperated, when left is left and right is right. That I believe is the real problem with the old set up. However I still think the new set up with just the condensor mics is better, if he would fine tune it a bit. I've stopped holding my breath for that.

[@DougMen1]

@@williammiebach1798 There is only a single stereo channel for the two mics in the Zoom, so there's no way to assign them left and right. There is the optional mic capsule available where the two mics can be swiveled out into an A/B setup, instead of the crossed X/Y one. I think that might be the best solution, but you don't seem to think that's the issue. Maybe you could ask him to do a test recording reversing the MXL's channels and see how that blends with the Zoom mics, because maybe they're being crossed between left and right between the Zoom and MXL mics. It could be that the Zoom assigns the left mic that is pointing right as the left and vice versa, which would then make the left/right polarity between the Zoom and MXL mics reversed.

[@williammiebach1798]

@@DougMen1 I thought the mics on the mic module he has swiveled and could be separated and spread apart, or be moved together into the crossed pair configuration, in wich case the channels reverse. If they are fixed in the crossed pair position (as they seem to appear to be in the horrible images he gave us of his set up) they must be assigned to left/right correctly for that set up, so that means the channels shouldn't be crossed between his two sets of mics...wich means my theory can't be right.

[@sergs45]

TY for video ! R3 sounds punchy and clearly (I'd say crispy) & wins but ... removing metal grid from HF ("acoustic lens") worths another round of comparition. I own a pair of chorus 714 & result is may be not right but is amasing. Pay attention: 900 focal has no grids. Never wanted put grids back :)

[@AbsoluteFidelity]

I am seriously thinking of taking off the metal grill on the tweeters of the 806 and 826. How do you do that?

[@sergs45]

@@AbsoluteFidelity Get a paper clip, bend it (a kind of hook 2-3 mm), gently pool the grid off by hook. It's like a magnet that hold this grill and a bit pressed. Be very careful , don't tuch a membrane of speaker itself, good luck! Any time put it back. No harm.

[@AbsoluteFidelity]

@@sergs45 wait..... what????? So the grill is just stuck in place on the outside??? When you say a bit pressed, is there a possibility of the speaker getting damaged when pulling out the grill? You sure this works on the 806 and 826?

[@sergs45]

Chorus 706, 716, 714, 726 has a metal frame\horn so 100% there is no harm and it's only looks like a bit pressed while removing. If Chora has a plastic horn may be you should reconsider removing it?

[@AbsoluteFidelity]

@@sergs45 can you find out if the tweeter grill is really removable on the 806 and 826?

[@RockCity1111]

Man I miss this channel putting new videos out ?? . Do u ever sell the speakers to recoup any money?

[@FotoFilmEvents]

i own a pair of kef r3, they are amazing!

[@jasonpaoletti263]

Welcome back. Could you pair the R200 with your Marantz?

[@williammiebach1798]

Hey, E Project. Could you please sort out your recording set-up, or go back to the previous one, and grace us with a comparison of the Focal Chora's and the the Polk R200s or R100s, and the Metas as well. Also I'd love to hear the new Elac DS101G amp compared to the Marantz 7000N, the BRIO and the Arcam SA10. I'd love that. 🙂

[@HawkFest]

Does the Chora come with the hum?

[@fluxcapacitor3273]

they're almos identical...lol price difference is 3X....nowaday there's no need to pay premium for hifi, budget products are damn good.

[@darthdurkelthewise320]

Very audible hum in the left channel w/Chora samples. I usually enjoy these videos but this one is not very useful as a result. An oversight I’m sure based on quality of your other comparison videos. Thanks though 👍🏻

[@Torulv]

Id pay the price for Kef R3 clarity..

[@robicahyadi1161]

Star on r3

[@shaunyweaver1144]

There all good, but the mission qx2 original beats them . imho

[@zeppzepp1234]

signature Focal mid tone. but also signature Focal lower range not-so-attractive cosmetic.