Can a boutique bookshelf loudspeaker stand up to the mighty Tannoy Arden, in any way?
A review of Canadian made Focus Audio, Signature Series, Model 68 bookshelf loudspeakers.
By Scott Lylander, Sept. 10, 2021
I’ve been melon collie and listless with my Focus Audio Model 68s for months not having a purpose for them. That changes now because soon these are off to a new owner. What else is there to do but evaluate them in my reference system? Can they perform to the standard of Legacy Tannoy Arden loudspeakers? Find out below.
About the brand:
Focus Audio is a long standing Canadian speaker manufacturer in Markham Ontario offering High End Audiophile Loudspeakers, checkout https://www.focusaudio.com/ Their website needs modernization, but let’s not judge the sound on that because there is more than meets the eye, both inside and out, of Focus Audio Model 68 loudspeakers.
The newest version of this speaker is the Signature68LE with a retail price of $2150/pair, shown below. The Model 68s in review is a close twin, the 5.5” driver uses a semi-spherical dust cone. Focus Audio’s drivers are custom made and the speakers hand built, resembling a ProAC maybe. The cabinet is very inert with Cardas binding posts, Litz internal wiring and performance cross over filters. The piano gloss is gorgeous.
First Impressions:
I’m awestruck that small speakers can magically disappear; the Model 68s are really doing it for me. What stands out most is radiance; the sense that the music is wrapping around the speaker. You don’t have to be in “the sweet spot.” As I play Art Blakey Moanin’ in native DSD64, I look directly at the left then right channel and I’m not drawn into any singular pinpoint location. The 68s create a full soundstage making my room feel big. I hear instruments and sounds around my room when the recording presents it. Even when I stand behind the speakers, soundstage is there.
The Paul McGowan debate: what is more important, speakers or amplifier?
As B-room speakers, the Model 68s did not perform to my pleasure with either the Hegel H90 (60 watt/channel) or the NAD C368 (80 WPC) integrated amplifiers. However, when paired with reference gear including the 250 WPC NAD M22 power amp, Sonic Frontiers Line 1 tube preamp and exaSound e62 DAC the results are stupendously different! I claim that in today’s market, amplifiers and input sources are more important because on a dollar-for-dollar basis, your equivalent performing front end is going to cost more. There are some excellent speakers today that are not going to break the bank, like the Dali Oberon 5, or KLH Model 5, but great amps and DACs will cost more. This example proves to me that the front end is more important to make great speakers sound great. The front end is more important than speakers.
Focus Audio Model 68 on Skylan stands paired with the NAD M22 power amp, Sonic Frontiers Line 1 tube preamp and exaSound e62 DAC
Design compromises
At 85 dB/W/m the Model 68s need power. Why are most high-end bookshelf loudspeakers inefficient? Unlike the massive 600W capacity of the Arden’s, I don’t want to overdrive the Model 68s, but I didn’t expect to create as much SPL as they do, comfortably. The Model 68s were lacking in Led Zeppelin’s Moby Dick, you simply cannot compete with the attack and power created from the Arden’s on huge drum solos.
“So smooth it makes bad music sound good,” said one audiophile.
Poorly produced music sounds bad unless played in my car, or apple airpods, then it all sounds “fine”. With soft dome tweeters, the 68s are not at all harsh. Self-proclaimed as being “Musical” - yes, what does that mean? - the 68s are fun, small sized with large sound, non-fatiguing with a large soundstage and wrap around; they are very HiFi. The Tannoy’s are pinpoint different, but I don’t regret making this swap; the Model 68s stack up.
Digging deeper; Focus Audio Model 68s, ELAC Carina BS243.4 and Dali Oberon 1
Saturday afternoon September 25 was spent at The Audio Room authenticating the Model 68s getting other perspectives. Differences became apparent; the 68s strength is width, depth, and left-right coupling; it’s as if the side walls are wider and the front wall is pushed back. The ELACs share this soundstage with their JET Folded air motion transformer tweeters. The Dali Oberon’s differ with their attack which makes the sound feel forward; like a Focal. In this comparison, I noticed high frequency roll off in the 68s and ELACs, the crashing of symbols is relaxed. Like ice cream, speakers come in many flavors, sometimes you want smooth and other times cotton candy, or tiger tail.
Comparing the ELAC Carina BS243.4, Dali Oberon 1 and Focus Audio Model 68 at The Audio Room, Calgary AB, Canada
Music:
Here are some musical experiences I’ve had with the Model 68s:
Justice, Justice (2007)
I’m a virgin Justice fan drawn in by their graphic design and fun music. Justice is a French electronic duo. I have no issues with Model 68s and JLs filling the room with Justice sounds.
Netflix, The Last Dance & Pearl Jam, No Code:
The Model 68s are great for TV, check out the ten ep. series on MJ and the Chicago Bull’s double three-peat. Michael said, “You have to establish who YOU want to be in this life, don’t let them tell you who you will be.” Episode X featured Pearl Jam’s Present Tense from No Code (1996); I got and get goosebumps from this production. The smoothness of Eddy’s voice, the distortion of McCready’s rhythm guitar and the radiance from the 68s; this music through the Model 68s is embracing.
Lakou Mizik & Joseph Ray, Leave the Bones (2021)
Courtesy of Marcos at The Audio Room in Calgary AB, I got exposed to the song Ogou. To me it’s like an African rain forest celebration that brings happiness. Crank up Ogou on the Model 68s and your whole room feels like that rain forest.
In closing
I really enjoy the Focus Audio Model 68s in my reference system, so much that I don’t want to take them out, yet! Small speakers are fun.
I didn’t expect to enjoy the Model 68s like I do, reasons for this were:
(1) I didn’t think a small speaker could fill my room like the Tannoy Arden’s: Wrong.
(2) I judged them based on their performance in my B system, but I’ve been hearing the limitations of that system more than of the speakers.
(3) Bias: my audiophile friend said, “The Focus Audio Model 68s are smooth, so smooth they make even bad music sound good.” You may like this once you try it.
Front end equipment is most important. Big power is also very important for many bookshelf speakers, even the KEF LS50
