Focal

NOT FLAT These two-ways are
slim and attractive, but the dual
passive radiators on the sides
prevent horizontal orientation.
GOOD WOOD Black MDF cabinet
combined with walnut veneer gives
the Shapes a luxurious ‘hi-fi ’
aesthetic that sets them apart.
EASY ON THE EYE 6.5" fl ax
cone woofer and 1" inverted dome
tweeter not only sound terrifi c,
but are a pleasure to look at
Shape 65s more than deliver in this
regard, as after a couple of test mixes,
I felt they were indeed shaping (pun
intended) my decision-making in the
right direction. As far as translation is
concerned, what you hear is what you
end up with on other systems.
As you’d expect from a monitor of
this price, the overall frequency
balance is exceptional. The highs are
sparkling and revealing without
sounding overly ‘metallic’ or ‘plastic’
like other monitors. And that
midrange is balanced and true to
source. Something I like about Focals
is that they don’t have that sterile
ruthlessness that makes more clinical
monitors a bit uninspiring to work
with, but they still give you more than
enough transient detail, depth and
accuracy to facilitate critical
decision-making in terms of EQ and
dynamics. To be fussy, though, when
compared to more expensive monitors
from Barefoot, Neumann, HEDD et
al, I do feel the 65s have a very
subtle ‘homogeneous’ quality to
them. Differences between different
recordings and tracks aren’t quite as
night-and-day as with pricier
mastering-grade alternatives. But this
is high-end nitpicking here, and the
65s more than make up for that with
their personality and character.
When it comes to the low end of
the spectrum, the 65s don’t kick out
an overwhelming amount of sub bass
in comparison to heftier monitors,
which makes sense due to the
physical limitation of a 6.5" woofer.
For the fi rst couple of sessions, I
found the Shapes’ 40Hz-35kHz
frequency response lacking in the
bottom octave for my personal taste,
elements around the stereo fi eld is as
easy as it should be. Focal claim the
tweeter’s low directivity allows for a
fl exible listening position, and rightly
so: I found the accurate stereo image
remained consistently good when
reaching for synths and gear at
various off-axis positions around my
room – more so than more directional
monitors I’ve used.
In summary, the Shape 65s
punch far above their weight, and are
a serious contender for the best-
sounding and effective monitor
speakers at this price point. Their
sub-bass response won’t smack you
in the chest, but this might be exactly
what’s needed for a smaller, less
treated home studio. Most importantly,
they really do guide you towards
simply fantastic mixes that sound as
they should on other systems. If
you’re planning a serious monitor
upgrade, the Shape 65s defi nitely
deserve a test drive in your studio.
FM VERDICT
9.2
Delivering delicious frequency
balance, terrifi c transient
detail and crystal-clear stereo,
this is a worthy monitor
upgrade for the price
and sub-bass junkies will defi nitely
want to pair these with a subwoofer.
However, after getting past that, it
became clear that there’s enough low
information to work with: tuck in and
balance your sub frequencies on the
65s in comparison to well-produced
reference tracks, and your mix will
translate perfectly to the outside
world (perhaps alongside the odd
headphone check for sanity’s sake).
What’s more, that supreme midrange
representation – specifi cally the
low-mid area – really helps you nail
your low-mid EQ and dynamics,
which is where important low-
frequency harmonics live, and often
clash with other sounds.
The Shape 65s’ stereo image is
also second to none. Positioning mix
POWER SAVING
Just like Focal’s Trio6 Be monitor, the Shapes feature an
automatic bypass function. If no signal passes through
them for 30 minutes, the green light on the front turns
red, and the speakers put themselves into ‘bypass’
mode, indicated by a fi rm click sound. It’s a neat
power-saving idea in theory, but proves annoying in
practice, as that two or three second wait for audio when
you hit play again is a bit of a pain – and if you’re used
to monitoring quietly, you may need to turn up your
levels a bit more before sound comes back on. It’d be
nice if there was a way to turn this mode on or off.
THE ALTERNATIVES
HEDD Type 07
£525 each
Designed by an
ex-ADAM engineer,
these new kids on
the speaker block
defi nitely deserve
your attention
www.hedd.audio
Genelec
8040BPM
£929 each
Another 6.5" monitor
at this price point,
this time with the
signature Genny
clarity loved by many
www.genelec.com
PreSonus
Sceptre S8
£650 each
Need the heft of an
8" driver within a
similar pricerange to
the Shape 65s?
These DSP-wielding
coaxial monitors
deliver the goods
www.presonus.com
Reviews | Focal Shape 65
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FMU328.rev_focal.indd 96 24/01/2018 17:25