Focal diablos vs Dynaudio focus 380 PLEASE HELP


Curious as to what peoples thoughts are comparing these. I know they are both totally different animals but im having a very hard time deciding weather a pair of super high end mini monitors with a JL fathom 12" subs, is a better choice for a wide variety of music vs the dyns (also paired with 2 f112's). The dyns would be able to get me the SPL over the focals, but they probably aren't as smooth, not to mention almost half the price for the setup im considering.. Any thoughts would be most appreciated! The electronics used would be a classe cap2100 and cdp 302 for the focals (roughly $10,000) Or Bryston 4bsst2 with bp 26 and cd1 for the dyns (roughly 18,000 used)
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Drubin, my experience is that older models from superior lines (e.g. Confidence
mk1 models) are almost never outperformed by newer models from inferior
lines (e.g. new Focus models). This is especially the case with companies like
Dynaudio. I have never compared the Focus 380 and the C2 mk1 speakers.
However, I have compared the Confidence C1 mk1/mk2, Contour S1.4 and
Focus 160 monitors. If the amp is up to the task (i.e. drive appropriately
Confidence speakers) then to my ears there was no contest C1 mk1/mk2 >>
S1.4 > Focus 160. I see no reason why this situation will change when
comparing the floor standing models from these lines. Finally, I realize that
many might prefer a speaker with more bass (Focus 380) over one that images
more precisely (C2 mk1).

Dave, one should never buy a speaker for its tweeter. It is the midrange that is
important. The Focal and Dynaudio speakers sound very differently as their
designers had very different goals. With Focal the focus is on transparency and
speed, whereas with Dynaudio the focus is on the music. That is, Dynaudio
speakers have a more relaxed presentation and a much more fuller midrange
(and bass) than Focal speakers.
Ok, thanks for highlighting the differences. From what you said here, the Focals are more attractive to me.
My general impression is that the Dynaudio Focus is a very excellent speaker that is pretty much full range, whereas the Diablo Utopia gives you the state of the art from around 65 Hz on up. Here's an interesting review of the Diablo which toward the end says:

For $12,000 plus - expect to be seduced by your music collection all over again. Add in a top-level subwoofer and expect to get 85 to 90 percent of the performance of the $185,000 Focal Grand Utopia BE reference speakers, a speaker that many think are the best speakers money can buy. If you wanted to make an argument that this makes the Diablos a relative value, I wouldn't argue with you. When paired with a sub, Focal Diablos will take on Wilson Sasha WPs, Bowers & Wilkins 800 Diamonds, Revel Salon2s and Magicos and give them a run for their money on all counts.

I suspected that that's the crowd you're running with when you add JL-quality subs to the Diablos. Read the whole review; he found the Diablos musically seductive and totally involving.

Subs with stand-mount speakers also have the distinct advantage of lower cabinet noise. As opposed to large floorstanders, small speakers have no large side panels and no huge woofer backwave to deal with in the same space as the midrange and tweeter. Properly integrated, JLs plus Diablos should sound cleaner than full-range speakers *built to the same price point.*
I see no reason why this situation will change when
comparing the floor standing models from these lines. Finally, I realize that
many might prefer a speaker with more bass (Focus 380) over one that images
more precisely (C2 mk1).
exactly,that is what happened when I compared S5.4 and C4,At that time I prefered thundering and very expressive bass of S5.4 ,but now I know that confidence line needs even better electronics to shine and when it does I see no contest here.As for comparison of focal diablo and new dyn focus ,focal will give better quality sound,fair comparison should be between confidence line and diablo.And in this case will be matter of taste,as everybody states that