Diva Utopia: Focal and Naim unite around a pair of exceptional active hi-fi speakers
For its very first active domestic speakers, Focal is not doing things by halves by immediately opening the doors to the exceptional hi-fi market. The result of five years of R&D, the Diva Utopia combine careful acoustic architecture, custom internal amplification from Naim and cutting-edge connectivity allowing intuitive music streaming.
For its entry into this segment, the French brand could indeed have followed the path of its competitors KEF, Cabasse and Dynaudio by offering high-end active speakers, certainly, but at reasonable prices. However, it decided otherwise by deciding to launch a column model at a price of €35,000, which immediately ranks among the most expensive wireless hi-fi speakers in the world.
Far from being its first attempt, Focal is already in this price range with the Utopia passive speakers. The affixing of the name of the latter to its first active living room speakers also demonstrates a desire to address demanding audiophiles. This positioning remains quite surprising, we asked Cédrick Boutonet, CEO of Focal, if this model could be considered as a showcase which would open the way to more affordable active speakers. In response, he gave us an eloquent “we are on a range effect”. To be continued.
A clever blend of Naim amplification and Focal acoustics
Combining the best of connected amplification with great acoustic know-how, the Diva Utopia speakers represent the culmination of Focal's acquisition of Naim more than 10 years ago. Featuring a 3-way architecture, they incorporate speakers inspired by Focal's high-end hi-fi speakers. First of all, we can count on a new beryllium tweeter with an “M” membrane whose diameter has been extended to 25 mm. Also positioned at the front, a 165 mm “W” membrane mid-woofer provides reinforcement to restore the midrange and reinforce the impact in the low end. The latter would notably draw its performance from the famous TMD suspension, which uses an additional mass oscillating in opposition to resonance in order to reduce distortion and preserve dynamics.
The bass is entrusted to no less than four side woofers mounted back to back, in push-push fashion. Introduced in the Diva Utopia BE released in 2002, this configuration cancels the forces of the speakers to leave the speaker free of any vibration and offer high power handling. Put to the service of performance, this process would also have made it possible to obtain a box of an almost reasonable size while retaining a large emissive surface.
The Diva Utopia also have a vent oriented towards the ground accompanied by an exhaust ramp facilitating air flow. This unique design would promote homogeneous bass diffusion in the room. In order to power this set in the best conditions, each speaker includes four Naim amplifiers with a total power of 400 W. Each of them has obviously been custom-developed to work in perfect synergy with the speakers.
Focal Aria Evo XN°1
Introductory price €749
How the pricing table works
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Wireless streaming at your fingertips and modern connectivity
Designed for demanding music lovers, the Diva Utopia are a true concentrate of technologies allowing uncompromising music streaming. They are firstly counting on the integration of the new Naim Pulse Platform active module, which would be capable of decoding high-resolution wireless streams without the slightest loss thanks to “large computing capacity”.
Focal also promises a wireless connection “uncompressed and low latency” up to 24 bits/96 kHz between the two speakers thanks to the proprietary UWB protocol. However, it will be possible to increase the transmission quality to 24 bits/192 kHz using an included Ethernet cable.
Although Focal has endeavored to equip these new speakers with complex digital technologies, wireless broadcasting means remain within everyone's reach. The Diva Utopia firstly relies on a wifi module allowing uncompressed music streaming via the AirPlay 2 and Google Chromecast protocols. A Bluetooth receiver compatible with aptX and aptX Adaptive codecs is also available for more traditional, but qualitative, broadcasting.
The Diva Utopia work in conjunction with the Focal & Naim app, which centralizes your Hi-Res files stored locally and the streaming services to which you subscribe (Spotify Connect, Tidal, Qobuz, etc.). Through it, it will also be possible to integrate the speakers into a multiroom network made up of Naim electronics.
Focal Azurys
Introductory price €549
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Relatively provided, but incomplete, wired connectivity
The Diva Utopia's connectivity is obviously sufficiently comprehensive to accommodate several wired sources. First of all, there is an optical input and a USB-A port to connect a CD player or USB key, for example. In this configuration, we would benefit from their DAC converter “ultra-efficient” to reproduce Hi-Res files in the best conditions (WAV, AIFF, FLAC, DSD128, etc.).
The presence of an HDMI eARC input is also available if you wish to use the Diva Utopia in a home cinema setting. However, we regret the integration of a simple stereo RCA input, which requires us to insert a phono preamp between our vinyl turntable and the speakers. Likewise, an asynchronous USB-B input would have been welcome in order to associate a computer with it in the best conditions.
An exceptional design put at the service of acoustics
The Diva Utopia adopts a high-density die-cast polymer structure with anti-vibration properties, also used on certain parts of the Sopra range speaker cabinet. As an additional shock absorber, they also have a base weighing almost 10 kg.
The Diva Utopia have gray felt finish cheeks which, according to the brand, have no influence on the acoustics. It will therefore be possible to replace them with other materials under the control of Focal.
The Digitals had the opportunity to listen to these exceptional speakers in preview and in good conditions. We can already tell you that they compete without batting an eyelid with the flagships from Focal, in particular the properly powered Sopra N°3.
When listening, we immediately note an excellent separation of the different frequency ranges. Each instrument is perfectly transcribed and expressed with precision within a large soundstage. The listening session, however, only lasted around twenty minutes with sound extracts as always calibrated to impress. We will be sure to share new impressions with you in a future test.
