We love it when an interesting computer setup on social media — something real and well-used, not staged — shows us a brand-new thing (new to us, that is). And this week that comes in an audio engineer’s iMac Pro setup featuring brilliant Focal studio-monitor speakers on stands above a massive Focal subwoofer under the custom-made desk.
We’re pretty sure Focal speakers have never appeared in setups featured on Cult of Mac. For one thing, they’re from France. That country comes to mind less for premium audio than the United States, UK, Germany, Japan and Denmark, to name a few leaders.
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Focal Shape studio monitor speakers and Focal One subwoofer
Redditor Wanderedabit (“Dab”) showcased the setup in a post entitled, “Anyone still running an iMac Pro?” On Monday we covered the setup from the perspective of its 2017 iMac Pro. The all-in-one desktop still runs strong and handles tasks, and that could make some model years tempting targets to acquire on the used-computer market.
Today we’ll look at those French speakers. Some people make the French out to be cheese-eating surrender monkeys, but it sounds like these speakers don’t quit.
So Dab mounts two Focal Shape studio monitors on floor stands behind his custom desk. If he were seated in the chair, they’d point at his head. Studio monitors are meant to issue neutral sound suitable for audio recording and mastering. They tend to lack a huge, echoing sound stage or an emphasis on one element, like bass. That way, you can fine-tune the sound, whether for your own enjoyment or for ways you want a recording to come across to other listeners.
However, some indicators — like two 5-star reviews for the speakers on Amazon — suggest Focal Shape speaker offer a warmer sound than purely neutral. And that might suit a lot of users.
Why choose Focal?
Dab replied to Cult of Mac‘s question about how he came to choose the Focal gear and what he likes about it this way:
A local music store has a pretty nice recording off the back of it, I was in there one day randomly and one of their reps was there doing a demo they let me attend. This was back in like 2015 maybe? They sounded fantastic and I grabbed a pair of the Alpha 6.5’s and immediately loved the frequency response and output. (i still have them and still sound great 9 years later).
I also found they translate really well to other environments and devices like cars, headphones etc. and have stuck with the brand ever since. They’re reliable, have never had any issues with power or parts.
I just got the Shapes in 2021 and the subwoofer last year and have been impressed by both. The sub has so much power and pairs with the monitors seamlessly. The solo 6’s which are also fantastic, I’ll probably go with those in the near future. Parts are easy to get. I accidentally stabbed through a tweeter of a solo 6 when moving them and got a replacement from a shop pretty quickly.
Power to burn
The speakers pump out 220 watts apiece. Focal designed them with no port on the back so you can push them near a wall without losing audio quality. Interestingly, the speaker cones are made of flax fibers instead of wool, titanium or plastic.
And the big Focal One RMS 200W subwoofer under the desk features two 8-inch Slatefiber-cone woofers designed for sound neutrality and bass control.
The speakers and the subwoofer offer a range of settings for audio control, too. That said, they’re a bit on the pricey side, at about $900 per speaker and $1,000 for the subwoofer.
See the setup’s Focal Shape speakers on stands and Focal One subwoofer under the custom desk:
Photo: Wonderedabit@Reddit.com
Shop these items now:
Audio:
Computer (options for used iMac Pro):
- 27-inch iMac Pro (32GB RAM, 1TB SSD, $1,380)
- 27-inch iMac Pro (32GB RAM, 1TB SSD, $2,899)
- 27-inch iMac Pro (64GB RAM, 1TB SSD, $800 + $273 shipping)
Input devices:
If you would like to see your setup featured on Cult of Mac, send some high-res pictures to info+setups@cultofmac.com. Please provide a detailed list of your equipment. Tell us what you like or dislike about your setup, and fill us in on any special touches, challenges and plans for new additions.
