Focal introduced a new line today beginning with the Kanta No.2. It looks like they're positioning it between the W cone equipped 1000 series and the Sopra. It's got the shape of the older Utopia products before they went segmented. Any thoughts? Curious what people will think when they hear them.
The Focal 948 are slightly more efficient over the 936's, but cabinet volume in relation to surface radiation area is a bit less on the 948 as compared to the 936. The main reasoning to not going further is the efficiency for the mid and tweeter drivers are not any more capable in the 948 or 936. At 92db vs 92.5db, either design is at the upper end efficiency for typical cones and domes without resorting to horn loading or other techniques for the mid and tweeter. Focal hit the limit of those drivers first and in the bass could instead be tuned for deeper response in port tuning and lower distortion.
A good deal of other lines out there do gain significant efficiency in larger models as they shelve their mid/tweeter drivers down in level in the crossover in smaller designs as compared to larger. The flax cones are pretty light and achieve output similar to coated paper drivers, but obviously they have their own set of compromises.
Now the line array theory isn't entirely effective in the 936 as the driver symmetry goes off in the upper end of their pass band. Since its pretty low in level, the audibility isn't high and is given as acceptable in a design at this price point. Agreeably, this has more to do with the more complex bass driver arrangement in the 936 over the other models in the line. To make that coupling work really well, you require high constancy in driver and operating environment, which some designs to practice to good effect.
No, the most certainly are not more efficient in the bass region! Do the math. .5dB is just about the margin of that error so that increase in sensitivity isn't going to amount to a hill of beans. However, the 2.5 ohm impedance right in the middle of their bass pass band is going to draw more power.
As for the line arrays theory, generally, coupling breaks down once wavelengths exceed the on center distance between drivers. That distance on the 936 is under a foot so they don't really break down as a coherent mechanical unit until 1000Hz. They're down about 18dB at that point. My guess is that's why you see some odd behavior from the bottom 2 as the top one tapers off more shallowly.
It seems we're generally in agreement. In any event, I'd expect the Kanta No.2 to have better controlled bass considering the only difference between those drivers and the 936 drivers is a significantly more linear motor.
My expectation is the use of the extra current use was to extend very low bass and the phase angle is moderate. Still, I would never suggest pairing a Focal design with anything that doesn't have good impedance stability. It is likely one on of the greater causes of complaint about the speaker balance as the wrong paring will change it.
Its likely the mechanical limits as the upper driver isn't experiencing this to the same degree. Since those are lower in signal amplitude, the relative mechanical impact is increased.
Granted the efficiency gain is in a typical margin of error, but I expect Focal gave it that slight nudge as its own measurements had shown it regularly having a slight advantage. I still believe Focal was at the efficiency limit of the mid or tweeter driver instead of the bass arrangement when designing the 948.
But yes, for the most part we are in agreement with differences in talking points only.
Had the opportunity to listen to both the Kanta 2 ($10K) and the Electra 1028BE ($7K) side by side last month at my local dealer. 1028BE better in every way to my ears. and $3K less. Am I missing something?
@ozzy I'm sorry reality evades you, but your denials of it changes nothing. A speaker that reaches down into the low 40's is a full range speaker. It's just a fact. There's practically nothing below 32Hz of consequence and that's the point where most producers worth their salt will apply a steep filter.
In a room appropriate to their intended listening distance? I have no doubt at all they could. My 936's don't struggle at all in that regard and the 926's were respectable in a much smaller cabinet and a much larger room than I'm in with my 936's. Those aren't speakers intended for a 30'x 40' room to be heard from 18' away at 95 dB. That's what the 948, 1038, Sopra No.3, and presumably the Kanta No.3 when it arrives, are for.
I bought a pair which I have mated to a Krell Vanguard with Transparent Ultra cabling and the bass is deep, full and fast. Zero distortion and goes below 32HZ then drops off...only pipe organ or synthetic tones below 30HZ would require a subwoofer.
Yes, the 1038’s were detailed but too tight for my taste and not as warm. I really like the midrange and tactile bass on the Kanta flax drivers. I’ve had watt puppies and Kef C5’s which were great but the Kanta delivers a nice balance of detail, space, bass texture and power with expressive mid’s...no glare or etch!
Hi all, any thoughts on how the Focal Kantas would compare to a combination of high quality stand mounts like the Joseph Audio Pulsars and decent subwoofers like the JL Audio E110?
I am not sure how the Kanta 2 would compare to something like the Pulsar and subs.
I prefer a unit that performs on its own than combo'd with subs.
I really find the Kanta 2 to be very good, the tweeter is excellent, the midrange is just right. The bass can be a little overripe in the wrong room, but the bass is enough to enjoy on its own without requiring subwoofer reinforcement.
I Expect the 1028be could out perform just about anything out there with a select number of favorite tunes and I nearly fell under their spell until I played some old average recordings and the salesman couldn't turn the system off fast enough! At $10k there's a lot of new and used speakers to choose and the listening room is going to decide what speakers sound like more than anything else. I passed on the Kanta 2 and persona 3f without even consideration because their internal volume appeared to small to play cleanly in my 18'x26'x7' listening room! Axpona had speakers of all sizes crammed into small hotel rooms and to my ears the best sound came from the smallest speakers, but those were small rooms. At $10k new there's also the contour 60 and F228be, not to mention the new Magico! If I can't get a home demo I buy used to limit the bleeding if my dream speaker becomes a nightmare in my room. I don't care for the pastel finish on the Kanta speakers and the OP sounds like a 'my way or the highway' personality.
I bought three of them for my front L/R/C paired with a Mcintosh mc452. Great low end. Had them with a marantz 7 ch, 150 wpc, left alot to be desired. Gave them good power and the results were what I expected.
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