Amps-Cables for Focal 1007 BE

During my audition of smaller size speakers, I loved the BE tweeter but came to the similar conclusion after many auditions and comparisons. But I could easily bought the 1007 Be.

The majority of the auditions with the 1007 BE were with tube amps like Conrad Johnson LP66, McIntosh MC275, and Consonance monos. I think either one of the SS amps I auditioned Simaudio, Classe, and McIntosh) enhanced the treble and midrange a bit more.

As far as cables you have to make that determination with the final components selected. But I've auditioned AudioQuest, Analysis Plus, Shynuata Research, and Acoustic Zen.

I've heard people say that they had trouble 'taming' the highs in the various Be series, and surprisingly found good results in treating their digital source with something like Shunyata products. Only 2nd hand word though...

For ICs try the Van den Hul The First Ultimate. One of the very top ICs , detailed but very smooth. Also one of the cheapest top interconnects, about $450 a pair new, often seen used for $200. Now in MK2 version, which I have but not broken in enough to judge the change from MK 1. When we subsisted it for the digital link in my friends system the top end was softer without losing detail. I use it everywhere in my system, it had a wider range of compatibility than most ICs as it has very little character of its own.

JMlabs are quite easy to drive and love tubes. Tubes should help tame any glare and brightness. I am currently running a pair of original Micro-Utopias with a 24 watt tube amp and they sound fantastic. A quality tube amp from 10-50 watts should be a great match for your speakers. Happy listening!

Thank you all for your responses! I will look at some tube gear as suggested before I consider abandoning these speakers, and will them take the info on cables. Thanks again.

Good idea, try the tube route first. Cables will only give a very small change and it sounds like you need more than a very small tweek.

Cary and Quicksilver tube amps tend to be more forgiving in the midrange. Audio Research and CJ's tend to be a little more analytical. These are just generalizations.

Agree with the tube idea. You might want to look into Pathos. I know it was under show conditions but the the big pathos amps sounded great with the JM Labs 1027's. I have the 1027's BTW. I am sure that the lower models would still be very good.

I'm running 1027be's with SimAudio i7. Great synergy, no need to tame any hf problems. Cables are Analysis Plus speaker cable and Acoustic Zen Matrix Balanced Interconnects. Also auditioned extensively at home with: Pass Labs 150.5 (almost got this over the Sim), Spectron Musician III (no synergy, flabby bass with the 1027be), MasterSound 845 Integrated(great pairing with the Focals but too hot in my climate). MF KW550 (lots of power but no emotion paired with the 1027be's), Cary CAD 200 (cant even remember now what it sounded like but didnt do anything for me obviously!), Sim W7 (excellent but more than I wanted to pay). Preamps listened to were a combination of Cary SLP 98/SLP03/SLP05, Herron, Sim P7 and Pass X1. After all of that, the i7 came out on top for ease of use, great tonal balance, power and grace when paired with the Focal 1027be. Good luck!

I'm running 1037BE with Levinson 335. There is absolutely no edge in the treble region at all. Previously I've used B&W N804 and Revel M20. They both utilize aluminum dome tweeters. Compared to the previous speakers that I've used, BE tweeters are absolutely clear sounding that does not give any hint that the tweeters are made of metal. I understand silk dome tweeters can sound more delicate, but now we are talking preference. To my ears BE tweeters sound great. They are fast and articulate but they don't sound hard or edgy.