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Focal announce Utopia Main 112 & 212

Pro-audio range gains flagship main monitors

Focal Utopia Main 112 212 recording mixing mastering studio monitors

Focal’s Utopia series has long represented the pinnacle of the company’s loudspeaker and headphone designs, although until now, it’s a title that has been reserved for their hi-fi range. The latest products to bear the name sit firmly in the pro-audio camp, though, and see Focal take a step into the field of main monitoring systems designed for the most demanding audio professionals. 

The new series comprises two models: the Utopia Main 112 and Utopia Main 212. The former features a single 13-inch woofer, a five-inch midrange driver and a 1.5-inch beryllium tweeter; the latter is loaded with two 13-inch woofers, two five-inch midrange drivers and a 1.5-inch beryllium tweeter. The series has been in development since the beginning of 2017, and Focal say that it marks the most significant milestone for their Professional Audio division since it launched in 2002, representing over 40 years of research in driver design and 20 years of innovation in studio monitor development.

Both systems have been designed to be soffit-mounted, although they can be used on stands if required, and promise to deliver unparalleled monitoring experience for reference recording, mixing and mastering, maintaining their precision even at the highest SPLs.

Focal Utopia Main 112 212 recording mixing mastering studio monitorsBoth the Utopia Main 212 (left) and 112 (right) are powered by custom-designed amplifiers, and can be either soffit- or stand-mounted.

Midrange & High-Frequency Drivers

Focal’s ‘M’-shaped driver concept has been applied to both the five-inch midrange driver — an all-new model developed specifically for the Utopia Main — and the 1.5-inch beryllium tweeter, helping to precise imaging with a true ‘phantom centre’. The driver suspension utilises the company’s patented Tuned Mass Damper (TMD) technology, which is said to significantly reduce intermodulation; for the first time, the technology has also been integrated into the high-frequency driver, halving its THD figure at 3kHz. An increased voice coil diameter provides improved heat dissipation and reduced thermal compression, while an optimised cabinet design and waveguide further improve the tweeter’s performance. 

Low-Frequency Drivers & Amplification

Both models are equipped with the same 13-inch long-excursion subwoofers, which are housed in a substantial enclosure and paired with bass-reflex ports. The drivers are said to deliver excellent articulation and definition thanks to a combination of light mobile parts and soft suspension, while the cabinet design is the result of an in-depth study that led to the use of 30mm MDF panels, reinforced with a bracing network designed to remove warping. 

As both units have been designed for soffit-mounting, they are supplied with external amplifier units. The units combine a Class-H design with current-mode amplification, an approach that is said to offer the most natural and transparent amplification possible. Here’s what Focal have to say about the design: “Most amplifiers control voltage instead of current, however, the link between current and voltage is made via the impedance of the drive unit, which varies depending on temperature, frequency, and the coil's position inside the magnet. By controlling the current, instead of the voltage, one directly controls the force submitted to the membrane and gets rid of any additional unwanted artefacts.” The work seems to have paid off, as apparently, the amplifiers have set the record for the lowest THD levels ever measured in Focal’s anechoic chamber!

Focal Utopia Main 112 212 recording mixing mastering studio monitorsFocal were kind enough to invite SOS along for a sneak preview of the Utopia Main prior to their launch.

In terms of frequency response and playback levels, the -3dB points sit at 28Hz and 40kHz for both models, with the 112 capable of delivering a maximum SPL of 120dB, and the 212 reaching 123dB. As you’d imagine, they’re not light, either: each 112 cabinet weighs 77.6kg, and the 212 comes in at a whopping 119.5kg per speaker!

Pricing & Availability

The Utopia Main will be on show at the NAMM Show on 23 – 25 January 2025 in Anaheim, California, USA. Shipping dates are yet to be confirmed. Pricing is as follows:

  • Utopia Main 112: $29,999 per pair.
  • Utopia Main 212: $49,999 per pair.

www.focal.com/catalog/pro-audio/monitoring-speakers/utopia-main

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