So, I almost always hear Focal gear demo’d With Naim equipment. Focal and Naim are like peanut butter and jelly. Together they are awesome and should be since they are owned by same company.
That at being said, Naim gear is shockingly warm for SS and Focal’s beryllium tweeter tends to be bright when driven by mainstream SS gear and the tube input stage on the BHK does not warm that amp in a noteworthy way. Certainly not enough to offset the Sopra’s tweeter.
You might be unhappy moving from Harbeth to Focal with the same amp. Consider the Wilson Sabrina, Magico S1 MKii or the Marten Django. They will all be more natural sounding with your amp.
For stand-mounts, oh boy. There are not a lot. I listened to every stand-mount I could find for under $22K. The Kaiser Chiara at $22k is probably the gold standard that all stand mount speakers should be measured by. My cap was $10K, and you don’t find Kaiser speakers used, really ever.
I could not find a stand mount I liked otherwise. I even bought one and was supremely disappointed. The end result was that I started my own company and am producing a composite stand mount that is quite natural. Several reviewers were pleased at AXPONA and we were called out in TASs under $20K coverage which was really cool.
In gloss black they are $7500. If you want a wood veneer, different color, etc... they can be customized for an additional $1500.
My Blackthorns are carbon fiber sandwich cabinets with a magnesium composite driver and ceramic tweeter. I ran out of stock after AXPONA and have been waiting on parts from Europe. I am also making a small tweak to the design. Previously the binding posts were mounted in the CF. The detail machining was hard and we are switching to a WBT anodized plate.
I have them in a 13’ x 30’ space with a vaulted ceiling and a loft and they deliver room filling sound. The space is actually bigger than that as if spreads out to 25’ with the dining room after about 10’ or 12’.
I will I’ll be back taking orders within two weeks I expect and have a better stock position moving forward. If you are in NYC, Boston or Philly Metro I could arrange an in-home demo for you.
Otherwise, Marten has a new floorstander out that I haven’t heard but since it is Marten, it is worth listening too. Magico has the new A1 coming. Not sure how it will sound.
That at being said, Naim gear is shockingly warm for SS and Focal’s beryllium tweeter tends to be bright when driven by mainstream SS gear and the tube input stage on the BHK does not warm that amp in a noteworthy way. Certainly not enough to offset the Sopra’s tweeter.
You might be unhappy moving from Harbeth to Focal with the same amp. Consider the Wilson Sabrina, Magico S1 MKii or the Marten Django. They will all be more natural sounding with your amp.
For stand-mounts, oh boy. There are not a lot. I listened to every stand-mount I could find for under $22K. The Kaiser Chiara at $22k is probably the gold standard that all stand mount speakers should be measured by. My cap was $10K, and you don’t find Kaiser speakers used, really ever.
I could not find a stand mount I liked otherwise. I even bought one and was supremely disappointed. The end result was that I started my own company and am producing a composite stand mount that is quite natural. Several reviewers were pleased at AXPONA and we were called out in TASs under $20K coverage which was really cool.
In gloss black they are $7500. If you want a wood veneer, different color, etc... they can be customized for an additional $1500.
My Blackthorns are carbon fiber sandwich cabinets with a magnesium composite driver and ceramic tweeter. I ran out of stock after AXPONA and have been waiting on parts from Europe. I am also making a small tweak to the design. Previously the binding posts were mounted in the CF. The detail machining was hard and we are switching to a WBT anodized plate.
I have them in a 13’ x 30’ space with a vaulted ceiling and a loft and they deliver room filling sound. The space is actually bigger than that as if spreads out to 25’ with the dining room after about 10’ or 12’.
I will I’ll be back taking orders within two weeks I expect and have a better stock position moving forward. If you are in NYC, Boston or Philly Metro I could arrange an in-home demo for you.
Otherwise, Marten has a new floorstander out that I haven’t heard but since it is Marten, it is worth listening too. Magico has the new A1 coming. Not sure how it will sound.