Focal have just ordered some replacement stock of the outer covering.
DG…
Apparently you can fine tune the performance by having a hi-end pedigree cat scratch the fabric covering.
It’s a Focal product so they presumably were the drivers for room correction, which is probably necessary for their targeted market.
I think they’d look better in leather than that felt, or can only the Italians get away with that.
Jokes aside, I think it’s an interesting and brave choice of material. It’s not to my own (somewhat conservative?) taste, but I’m sure others with a liking for more modern design may really like it.
Don’t tell anyone but I quite like the cloth!! And am desperate to change the subject from it to something more interesting X)
I see the point about Focal likely initiating it, just curious about the possibility it finds its way into other bits.
I wonder from this description whether it’s a sort of eco-system locked in feature that will only be available with the Diva speakers and future Focal models.
It was that post that triggered me actually. It does read that way now you mention it. Thanks for pointing it out!
Joking aside, it’s quite a good design for a lifestyle product and the market it’s aiming for with grey being one of the in colours presently.
They have stated that they will introduce different covers in 2025 which would be good as you can style them to your decor.
Be interesting to see if they add just other colour variations to the felt or add some different finishes / materials, such as laminate, wood veneer, high gloss plastic, etc.
Linn has an active speaker that has fabric covers, the Series 5 with Exact technology and you need one of the Linn DSMs to drive these. This presently has 12 fabrics / colours to choose from.
However, with Linn, the covers are changeable by the user whereas with Focal, the covers are only changeable by the dealer.
It’s interesting to see the direction that Focal are taking and I think that we will see more products from them along these lines, as I think that these will sell well in this market sector. Perhaps smaller versions for smaller apartments / flats / studios. However, that may create some conflict with the Naim Muso range but then this could be exploited further, so that Naim and Focal capture both ends of the lifestyle market.
DG…
I do think it’s time we dropped this rather silly ‘lifestyle product’ tag. It is clear that what people feel is acceptable in their living rooms is changing. To have good music without racks and racks of boxes is entirely reasonable. You could argue that your Linn Selekt is a ‘lifestyle product’ as it is a single, good-looking box but that would be silly - it is possible to have great music AND something with minimal footprint without compromise
Indeed, and while I’m sure it’s not DG’s intention here, it’s usually used in a rather dismissive way, as if products are for people who don’t care about sound but want something that looks pretty.
I’ve been at both ends of the scale - twin stacks of Fraim stuffed with top Naim boxes, and nowadays just a little Atom HE - neither is better, they are just different ways of doing things.
Some kind of room calibration I guess, or EQ which doesn’t sound as sexy. Nothing written about the patented tech? The “patent” word is heavily misused. Those actually having a patent normally write about it more in detail. Many hides behind “patent pending” or not even having searched for a patent.
The lifestyle definition or silly tag as you refer to is not a derogatory term but it a well known marketing term, used to identify a particular marketing demographic.
Manufacturers want to have a foot in all their marketing regions, to ensure that they are not losing sales to their competitors.
It is appreciated that some manufacturers are high end only, whereas, some are lifestyle only.
Take a look at Naim’s product range, their markets are essentially three main areas;
Naim needs sales from all these market segments. There maybe more profit on a Statement range individually, but they don’t sell many of them. Whereas, there is a very small profit in comparison on the Muso range, but they sell considerably more of them.
Again, within the Lifestyle market, there is low end and high end products, for example; Take speaker systems, at one end you have the Focal Diva Utopia (high end), then you have JBL BT products (low end) and many other product with varying prices in between, Sonos, Amazon Echo.
The parent company, Vervent, want to maximise the profit they get from Naim and Focal, so they will sell into the markets that their marketing departments have identified have good potential. Hence, selling into the lifestyle market, along with automotive and marine markets, it’s not being derogatory, just good business practice.
Both Linn and Naim sell high quality products to appeal to differing market segments and yes, I’m very happy with my Linn Selekt DSM; Edition Hub. It was very much a lifestyle choice to have audiophile quality Hi-Fi with fewer boxes, like many others have done or are considering.
DG…
Why would putting a Muso Qb in your kitchen when you want a great sound but have limited space (unless you’re an oligarch) be a ‘lifestyle’ choice? It’s just being practical
I can see many users liking that way of thinking, but most people with a decent system build by increments , a system like that is a one stop shop.
I agree, but then Naim are appealing to all market segments, which they need to do to survive.
Going by Focal’s product release and associated press coverage with general approval of the Diva Utopias, they seem to have hit the right spot with their marketing.
Don’t put all your eggs in one basket as they say.
DG…
As I did above. And I have one.
I know the term can be used in a derogatory sense, but so can many others. For example, I always think it’s a bit odd that some posters use “HiFi” in a negative sense when posting in 'Hi-Fi Corner.
For me, a lifestyle product is simply a piece of audio equipment that’s designed to look good, as well as sound good, when on display in a domestic environment. And I applaud manufacturers for doing that, even when the result does not appeal personally.
Roger
I wouldn’t disagree. It’s just that in the last few years, the quality of sound from minimalist boxes is so good that the word ‘lifestyle’ is now redundant. It’s all hifi - just depends on how many boxes you need to make a noise that you like
no, it’s not redundant, it’s even more relevant than before actually
Certainly, SQ is the major factor but, for some of us, usability and appearance matter as well. I recognise I’m rather shallow, but I do sometimes use the control dials on my Selekt and Atom rather than the app, simply for the pleasure of doing so.
Roger
You’re talking to someone who used a Nova as sole source until recently and previously owned an Atom!