Focus Audio Classic

"I've noticed alot of FA owners and even FA themselves when doing shows, tend to opt for quality SS rather then tubes"

FWIW, my favorite setup with the Focus speakers is using a hybrid Blue Circle amp (either BC28 or BC206), so technically there's a tube in there. And the folks at Focus tell me that a very popular combination for the 688's in Asia is with the Antique Sound Labs Hurricanes...

Right SS amp with tube pre. I noticed looking at the FS website they seem to have used SS amps at shows. The Ayre and PS Audio being the most common.

I never seen any pictures from shows where they were driver by tubes.

However Tony does use the Hurricanes in his setup along with Audio Aero CDP. Another owner of the 688s used both a Audiomatt tube and Gaincard SS and felt the Audiomat sounded considerably better. However I'm not so sure that 22 solid state watts was enough in his 18x22 room.

Phil, Do you know how much of FA's business in the Far East? Tony, a year ago August when I visited him indicated FA had sold over 1000 pairs of the 688. Amazing for a speaker less then a year old. I know they are the darlings of the orient and if one looks at audioreview of the previous signature series. Almost every owner/reviewer is from Hong Kong, Singapore or Maylasia.

I apprecitate your help. Had the speakers for just over 12 months now and want to do a formal review over at AA in a few months when my system is complete. Amazing IMO no OWNER has written a formal review that I can find, anyway.

Don't think it would hurt to have 1 review to balance those reviews of the Merlins, which seem almost daily, over at AA. Hoping to write something a little more insightfull and helpfull then: "The Merlins are perfect and Bobby is the Man" :) Amazing something so "perfect" turns up in droves used at here A'gon.

Thanks again

Maxxc
The i-5 I own is a limited edition (number 178 out of 250 i believe) and compared to the other regular i-5 in my previous system the sonic signiture has a blacker background and a new found clearity...great equipment
Jason

Focus usually uses PS Audio for the amp/preamp; the Ayre unit you usually see in the show coverage they get is what they use as a transport to feed a Weiss-Medea DAC. At HE2004, we used a Blue Circle BC206 hybrid amp with the Focus FS888.

I know about what Tony knows...that the majority of Focus' business is in the Far East. They are picking up some steam here in North America, with strong reviews from Soundstage, Wes Philips, and a few more. There is one "formal review" on Audio Asylum for the FS788:

http://db.audioasylum.com/cgi/m.mpl?forum=speakers&n=138849

And yeah, it would be great if more Focus owners were more active on AA. But I can tell you that the number of inquiries/sales for Focus at my dealership has been steadily increasing, so I do think word is getting out there...!

Thats way cool. Do you have your 'replacement' 688s yet?