Focal Expression specifications

Top-class loudspeakers

General

At the latest since the appearance of his a92f2418fb7a402879ffa1127f6bc408(1986), which still sells like hot cakes to this day, Manfred Zoller's Focal distribution has been one of the top addresses in the speaker market. But resting on the laurels is not the way of the ambitious developer, after all, the competition does not sleep either. This time stereoplay secured the brand new Focal Expression, the second largest box in Zoller's program, for testing. Two 25er basses go about their work in separate housings of 70 liters net each, two reflex tubes each support the low bass. Since the maximum sound pressure depends not only on the diaphragm area but also on the possible stroke, these values are of great importance: Focal gives +/- 8 millimeters of linear freedom of movement for its woofers – the thumb test also approximately confirms these far above-average values. A midrange driver with a Neoflex cone and stray cone is responsible for the range from 150 to 3000 Herz – more than 4 octaves. A narrow air gap and a strong drive should ensure that the relatively small chassis can keep up with the double bass equipment. The Kevlar membrane ( tensile, lightweight) of the tweeter measures an unusual three centimeters and is curved inwards to achieve a wide radiation as with smaller surfaces. The tweeter is not a dome in the strict sense, because its voice coil measures only two centimeters and therefore does not attack the diaphragm edge. Focal expects a particularly uniform drive of the total area from this.

In the listening room it was time to take a deep breath, because what the Focal expression brought out of the records in terms of dynamics, openness and form pressure were simply phenomenal. The fact that there was also neutrality and an excellent location time was the second surprise. Die Spitzenkl.1-References ACR Isostatig 300 ( kits) and T+A TMR 160 (ready-made boxes 7500,- DM pair) provided hot battles for the expression. Although the T+ A could still play a little more balanced music overall, and the ACR balanced its somewhat slim bass within the trio with superfine sparkling overtones, but in terms of liveliness, no one could fool the expression.

Thus, Focal Expression is also a reference in the top class I.

PURCHASE VALUE: Sound.............very good. Production quality............very good. RANK AND NAME: Top class I, Reference.