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Focal Kanta No.2

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. 
kosst_amojan
mmeysarosh
124 posts
 
@twoleftears 

Golden Ears and Definitive Technology were both cofounded by Sandy Gross, and certain ideas have cross cross pollinated, or so to speak.

As for the term "home theater speaker" references used, I do agree its a poor term as it doesn't convey the intent properly. I also don't believe its bass that is being discussed, but instead an eager treble. There is always a difference of opinion in that part as our hearing varies more so in treble response than almost any other in the audible band.

Early GE models had some enthusiasm in the upper registers which meant pairings and setup would be key. The most recent Triton Reference is much better in this regard. An evolution in design they continue to make rather quickly. That is why I do feel that past listening is no longer representative of current offerings and should be revisited.


kosst_amojan OP
2,095 posts
 
The thing is that all that "real good bass" is overblown. Overblown bass is what people like in home theater speakers. 
gdhal's avatar
gdhal
1,641 posts
 
The thing is that all that "real good bass" is overblown. Overblown bass is what people like in home theater speakers.

I disagree, but I respect your opinion.

I’ve found the bass to have the right "weight" to it. IMO, the crossover integration from mid-to-low bass is as good as it gets, or at least as good as I’ve heard. There’s also a DSP processor ahead of the sub amplifier to further refine the bass signal.
kosst_amojan OP
2,095 posts
 
Virtually every review I've read of ant GE with active subs has commented on how they require constant fiddling between recordings to sound right. 

Most of my gripes with GE's are opinion and preference. The reason I liked them was that tweeter. The reason I didn't buy them was that tweeter. Kinda had enough of the quirky ribbon tweeter dispersion challenge. They were among the brightest speakers I listened to as well. 

Bottom line is real simple: the towering, enveloping soundstage the Focals projected combined with their transparency and ability to be as aggressive as the material commanded sold me. Golden Ear hadn't sorted that jazz out when I bought my 936's in anything they made. 
stereo5's avatar
stereo5
2,766 posts
 

@kosst_amojan

From all the reviews I have read, once the bass was dialed in, that was pretty much it.  That's the way it worked with my Triton Ones and my Triton References.  I am very picky about the treble extension (bright) and I was very wary of the folded ribbon tweeter, but I found that it wasn't bright at all.  I am running both sets of speakers in 2 different systems with McIntosh so that may account for that.  My only gripe is that people who never heard them dismiss them as home theater speakers and won't even think they could be wrong.

I have been into high end audio since it's infancy back in the early 70's and have owned probably 15 different pairs of speakers since then.  The Golden Ear speakers and a pair of Odyssey Kismet speakers are the only ones that have stood the test of time in my systems.  I heard the Focal Kantra at the RMAF and I thought they sounded superb.  It is the first time I could actually listen to a Beryllium  tweeter without wanting to rip my ears off.

We all hear different and that is what makes this hobby so much fun.

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