So Focal has a perceived more powerful brand image/value than Naim?? Interesting.
Interesting take on comments about a picture. As implied I am not a fan of grey rooms nor of imitation fires. I am sorry if you are and if my jocular comment offended you. And I’m not sure who you are suggesting is grumpy or is grumbling? Meanwhile, none of us knows what it sounds like yet, but I understand it is not intended as a substitute for a hifi system, but is a one-box home cinema audio system, in effect a soundbar apprently with more capability than many. On that I personally have no views.
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Hi All,
The important bit is also the inclusion of ADAPT.
If anybody wants to give it a go, just let me know how long it takes to ‘set up your room’, i.e. simply measuring with a tape measure or using the fancy smart phone app then following the step by step ‘tuning’ for the listening position experience. Anything less than 3 hours and it definitely beats the setup process for Linn SO!
PS: If you look at the Focal website for this Hekla product (under the ‘connected to your world’ section), there is an image of the Naim Statement amp system on the screen of the tablet being held by the user.
Unlike Naim, Focal are already in the AV market, so I think that’s why it’s a Focal branded product.
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Hi Richard,
I think it is interesting that the existing Focal Astral 16 AV product that you show uses DiracLive for room correction - however for the new Hekla (all in one box) AV solution the proprietary ADAPT software is the approach with no microphone required.
Benefit to Focal/Naim is no licencing fees to Dirac and benefit to customers/installers is no microphone fussing about in setup.
ATB
E of E
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Wonderful product for TV viewing. I have tried to use my Focal Scala to watch Apple TV Netflix and the missing Center Channel always make dialogue hard to get it. A good sound bar like this is very helpful.
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It could be something to do with the fact the Hekla has 15 drive units in one location, presumably it relies on room reflection to provide a 3D affect, whereas the astral has 16 remote speakers. Maybe dirac isn’t suitable for a multi driver, single box unit.
Primare also use dirac, but not in the multi driver single box unit they have just released.
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Doesn’t it imply the opposite? The “lifestyle” products that have been announced recently (Diva speakers and the new Muso) have been Focal branded with strong mention of the Naim electronics internally. Naim branded launches in the last few years have been in the traditional Naim electronics space, the Nait 50, 200 and 300 series, and the CI series, (integrated amp, digital sources, pre and power amps , power-supplies and home integration, nothing with integral speakers. All those ranges are product sets that Naim offered in the ‘90s, taking streamers to be the equivalent of CD players.) The exception to Naim tradition being the turntable.
This suggests that the Muso brand is moving to Focal, leaving Naim with Uniti, home integration and high price separates, full lifestyle (integrated speaker) products be8ng Focal’s bag. That feels more like a boutique electronics shop whose electronics are also used to add brand strength to Focal lifestyle ranges (while Focal also have their traditional speaker products).
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What do you do if your TV isn’t mounted on the wall? There’s a reason soundbars are 8 inches deep.
What a stupid design.
Glad it’s Focal badged. That thing has failure written all over it.
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Quite right. That’s horrendous.
Yep I agree I think the Naim stack….is on very borrowed time….the Diva is the way…but the price is hard to swallow. The Devailet Phantom Extremes are very persuasive 15hz to 40khz performance…all in one…. My wife has the little Mania and I was blown away by that…the articulate bass and midrange is superb….
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I’d guess that the investment return window for the NC R&D will be quite a few years, so Naim’ll be projecting they’ll sell 200 and 300 series for a long time to come. It might explain why we haven’t seen a 500 replacement, if their projections are that the high end market will see significant uptake of the active speaker/streamer hybrid then they’d be unlikely to make ROI.
This so true especially outside of UK. Just go the audio shows. I would only add to that list is the emergence of active speakers becoming increasingly popular. Naim/Focal made a good first step with the Diva Utopia active. Now comes the hard part to bring the baby brother at 30-40% of the price. Just as good in sound and visual quality.
Hifi Rose, Eversolo, Advance Paris are just some of the brands catching a lot of attraction in NA.
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I am unsure why people are being so rude about it.
Whilst it doesn’t appeal to me, I do have friends who would love it. Hi-Fi companies have to release products to draw in new customers to the brand, and this seems like an ideal product to do that. And while being released under the Focal brand, it won’t harm Naim. Good luck to them, and if I get a chance to listen to one, I will with an open mind, as I did with the original Muso and was surprised at how good a single box could sound. I expect the Hekla will be equally impressive.
Though I do wonder if IKEA will have something to say about the name, it could easily have been used by them.
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It’s the name of a volcano - I remember it well.
Yes I was kinda thinking of the 500 series….these are just my musings….hmm
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In fairness this is not a good example they sold like three of those lol.
I think it’s a great idea, I gave up a surround system that was cluttered with wires and cables before giving up a getting a simple Sonos set up.
As other have stated the days of multiple boxes, miles of expensive cables and wires are numbered. If Naim/Focal don’t move with the market they’ll simply be left behind.
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I like it too. I have a full 300 series system for when I listen to music. And a Mu-so 2 as a sound bar, but it is not the best with dialogues. I can definitely see myself upgrading to this.
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