Hi Quest. We are a Focal Utopia dealer and the great option that we have found for the Focal Utopia speakers are Burmester electronics. I am quite surprised that this option didn't make your short list. The attack on dynamics, the tonal balance, and the airy image that the Scala/Burmester combination deliver has been second to none for us. We have the entire Focal Utopia line on display and have tested the Scalas with a variety of electronics and the Burmester amps and preamps have come out on top everytime. As a second and more advanced option, I will highly recommend the Devialet D-Premier. The Focal Scala Utopia has repeatedly been demonstrated at shows with the Devialet D-Premier and the result has been astounding. We regularly impress our clientel with the Devialet/Focal Scala package and many have opted to own this system. Of course, we would be open to hear from you and advise you further given our many years of experience with Focal Utopia. www.digitalear.com
Pre/Power or Integrated for Focal Utopia Scala?
Hi, been shopping around for quite awhile but would like to get more ideas from you guys. Budget is about $30k+.
Primary music is classical, jazz and trance. No vocals. Key emphasis on dynamics and tonality. I am not particular about soundstaging and so on but expect a degree of detail.
I have tried these few brands:
- Chord
- Spectral
- Karan
- Goldmund
- Passlabs
- Jeff Rowland
- Plinius
- Octave
Each has some plus and minus.
- I find Goldmund power to be very good but not convinced about their pre-amps which can be abit dry. In comparison, Spectral and Karan are abit heavier and have their own tonality.
- I also liked Plinius power amps but their highest end pre-amp has a performance limitation (though good for the price).
- Chord's pre was good but the power abit strange. Not the last word in aggressiveness but good otherwise.
- Octave, as a tube, is missing the low end bite of solid state and not that expressive.
- Passlabs and Jeff Rowland are abit slow for me.
I intend to give Gryphon and Orpheus a try and perhaps ASR.. hope to have some other recommendations.
Primary music is classical, jazz and trance. No vocals. Key emphasis on dynamics and tonality. I am not particular about soundstaging and so on but expect a degree of detail.
I have tried these few brands:
- Chord
- Spectral
- Karan
- Goldmund
- Passlabs
- Jeff Rowland
- Plinius
- Octave
Each has some plus and minus.
- I find Goldmund power to be very good but not convinced about their pre-amps which can be abit dry. In comparison, Spectral and Karan are abit heavier and have their own tonality.
- I also liked Plinius power amps but their highest end pre-amp has a performance limitation (though good for the price).
- Chord's pre was good but the power abit strange. Not the last word in aggressiveness but good otherwise.
- Octave, as a tube, is missing the low end bite of solid state and not that expressive.
- Passlabs and Jeff Rowland are abit slow for me.
I intend to give Gryphon and Orpheus a try and perhaps ASR.. hope to have some other recommendations.
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- 17 posts total
- 17 posts total