Anyone heard the new Focal Grande Utopia EM?

Hi Phaelon,
For the past 5 years I have been using the Halcro dm68's. I love these amps. As a matter of fact, I am toying with the thought of replacing them with the dm88's. I would not expect more than a slight difference but for my taste the Halcro's are just about perfect. I also use the Halcro preamp with phono stage.

The other day Alectiong asked if I was unhappy with the Alexandria's and yes I am not satisfied with the Wilson speakers in general. The reasoning is kind of complicated so I will respond with my opinion about this when there is a little more time to do this thoughtfully.

Lastly, Congrats Seos. You pointed out the Grand Utopia's need a good 300 hours to break in. I knew it was going to take a chunk of time and the folks a Focal actually said they would like me to run them in for 1000 hours. I'm just passing their advice along to the group. I'm not sure if I can be that patient but so far I am staying with the program! :-)
Paul

Paul--congrats! What a marvelous thing to be able to sit in front of those wonders every evening. Hope you enjoy them.
Pepe

Yes Cajunpepe, I never forget that I am lucky to be able to enjoy this type of equipment. I have used the dCS going back to the earliest Verdi and Elgar and now listen with the newer Scarlatti stack. Finally digital has come of age and is giving my vinyl a real run for the money. I have not yet put the Grand Utopia's into the system but as they flex their mussels in the corner of my listening room I can start to hear the base and highs start to sound very intoxicating.

Paul, how is the Grande Utopia breaking in? Anxious to hear your impression and how it compares with the Alexandria.

Alectiong,
We have not yet replaced the Alexandria's. The new EM's are still breaking in but that is coming along very well. The EM's are connected to an arcam amp and transport and can hear them playing in a different area of my music studio. They have been running 24/7 for roughly three weeks and are clearly settled in. This coming Wednesday Bob Hodus, a good friend and well know acoustician, and I will set them up and begin to turn them to my room. When we swap the speakers we will be able to see how the Utopia’s sound with the Halcro amps and the Scarlatti stack. Some time ago I discovered that the dSC DAC sound far better when bypassing the preamp and connected directly into the amps. It is like a different piece of equipment. It is however already clear to me that the Utopia's are in an entirely different leaguing that the Alexandria's. I don't think anything I have heard to date will compare favorably to the EM's but I will know better by the end of next week and start to report back to this forum. I have done absolutely no critical listening yet while they are breaking in but I can hear that these speakers are extremely musical.
Paul