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From: schulz@darmstadt.gmd.de (Guenter F. Schulz)
Newsgroups: rec.audio.high-end
Subject: Re: Suggestions Wanted
Message-ID: <10982@uwm.edu>
Date: 12 Apr 91 12:40:31 GMT
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Approved: tjk@csd4.csd.uwm.edu
Originator: tjk@csd4.csd.uwm.edu


In article <10850@uwm.edu>, zuhars@iris.eecs.ucdavis.edu (Gary Kreskin Huckabay) writes:
> I have a few questions which I would very much like to hear people's
> suggestions on.
> 
> I am currently shopping for a new set of speakers for my system, as I
> have, over time, upgraded everything else to the point where I definitely
> need some.  My budget for a set of speakers is anywhere from $1000-$2500,
> and space limitations are not a problem.
> 
[much deleted]
> 
> Thanks very much,
> 
> Gary Huckabay.
> 
> 				    
...speaking about speakers, did you ever think of buying a kit
if not building them completely on your own?

In France and Germany and probably in some other countries
as well there are really great speaker kits available from
a company named FOCAL. Wonder whether you have heared about 
them in the US? If they are available with you I'd strongly
recommend you to listen to them before you make up your 
decision.

Some years ago when I did not want to spend much time into
building speakers any longer I purchased my first FOCALs:
the ONYX. At that time I could not spend so much money for
extras and hobbies, but what I got for a total of about
$$1000 and 16 hours of work was really great and you could
easily compare them with factory-ready speakers three times as
expensive.

About a year ago I purchased the FOCAL EXPRESSIONs. They cost
me about $$2.700 (a pair) and only 10 hours of work because
I decided to buy assembled and finished enclosures (? term).

How should I describe them? They are simply wonderful, period
(or better: exclamation mark...). I will not go into details
now, as I don't have too much time left, but if you are
interested further, please mail me and I will return on this topic.
If you should know any hifi dealer in the US who has them,
rush to him and give the FOCALs a listen.

By the way, in the meantime they've got an excellent rating by
our most competent German hifi mag (Stereoplay). They placed
them on the top of the "Spitzenklasse" list which is one level
below the high-end list (with items starting at ~$$10.000).

Hope I made you a little curious...

Regards,
Guenter.