Acoustic systems Focal Utopia BE 165 W-RC have a conventional equipment: midbasses, tweeters, crossovers. It would seem that there is such? Just acoustics of a similar level is often used in diagrams with skiing, which can be dispensed with without a crossover. For such systems, an appropriate truncated option is proposed that has the designation of ACT IF. Today in our stand acoustics Passif.
Design
Unlike the previous “Utopia”, where crossovers were combined into a single block, the Crosses of the Utopia BE 165 W – RC are more familiar, one for each amplification channel. It contains two coils on the air core and several MKR film capacitors. The filters of the lower frequencies of Midbas have a second order, and the FVH of Twiter is the third, with a higher steep cut. Two switches on each of the crossovers are driven by tweeter levels and FVH cut frequency settings. In the manufacture of any speakers, the spread of their design parameters is inevitable. And although in the manufacture of the components of Focal Utopia BE 165 W – RC it is minimized due to the most severe control of the process, all components are still selected paired and have a common serial number.
The diffusers of the midbasses are made manually from the multi -layer corporate material Sandwich W, the detailed composition of which the company holds a big secret. Top and below are a fiberglass -based material, and between them is an overwhelming acrylic. As a result, the uncertain combination of lightness, stiffness, and at the same time good internal damping. The dynamics basket is made of a light alloy based on zinc, aluminum, magnesium and copper.
The tweeter looks absolutely the same as its predecessor, but constructively differs from it. For example, from the back side he now does not have an axial hole, as in TVA, now its acoustic design is completely closed.
In practice
The sound assessment of this kit began to be carried out after preliminary heating of the speakers. It is no secret that during operation the parameters usually swim due to warming up the suspension of the diffuser. Such a change is especially noticeable in the first few tens of hours of work, for which the speakers come to their normal working condition provided for by the manufacturer. The heating is somewhat reduced, but, as practice shows, a night run of equipment on the Burn – in CD disk in. L. Reznikova is usually quite enough to start listening.
The first thing that immediately attracted attention was the clarity and openness of the medium -frequency range and a very good study of small nuances in vocal parties, sometimes suddenly exposing all the flaws of the record itself. However, there is no brightness of the sound that makes us carefully take the selection of the amplifier, and which we, we will be frank, sometimes reproached with the speaker systems of the Focal younger lines, for Utopia BE, we did not find. The annoying feeling that the vocalists took a step forward and sing in the ear, while also does not arise, everyone remains exactly where they should be. This feature makes listening very comfortable and easy, one might even say, fascinating. As for the latter, listening to such tracks, kakjacintha, heres to live or, for example, Laura Fygi, the track of if s crazy, at some point we caught ourselves that acoustics allows us to abstract from the formal characteristics of the sound and simply follow Behind the mood of the performers. Very impressive.
As for the high -frequency range, we and the former Utopia Tvi Twer Tviter were considered one of the best automobile high -frequencies to date, and in the new TV 872 we were not disappointed. Acoustics not only conveys the nature of high -frequency tools, but also allows you to almost visualize them.
Of course, to realize all this potential in the car, the installer will have to work hard. For example, a lot will depend on how to establish and direct the speakers and in what positions to set the switches of crossovers. For example, in our stand on almost direct radiation as an optimum, we decided to accept the level of tweeters “About DB”, and set the filter cutter to “3.5 kHz”.
The transfer of the tweeter level switch to the “-3 dB” position as it would be moved away by the performers. The feeling of intimacy of sound leaves, but at the same time a no less interesting sensation of the depth of the sound scene begins to appear more strongly. And this, by the way, despite the fact that the airiness of the upper frequencies is fully preserved. It is possible that in the car’s salon, with a relatively close location of tweeters, a change in character will appear a little differently, so we will not say which option will not be preferable in a particular installation, we will not be. It is worth trying, good, the opportunity is provided.
The “2.5/3.5 kHz” switch after some doubts we decided to leave in the second position. In fact, the difference is literally captured at the level of the nuances, for example, the separation of the solo voice and choir into the 7th track of the AMT disk is felt somewhat clearer, and the flute with 8 track sounds more naturally, we can say, closer to the original. On other notes, the sound in the second version also seems more open and light, a small pressure leaves in the sound of vocal parties and some instruments, whose informative spectrum lies on the upper edge of the mid -frequency range. But, for example, how the metallic strings of guitars -dreadnoughts on the 6th track of the same AMT disk sounds more in the position of 2.5 kHz -more “metallic”, or more lively and dynamic.
Separately, it is worth noting the low -frequency opportunities of acoustics. For their caliber, Midbasy, albeit not record, but still very well climb down the frequency. However, this is still half. For example, I heard a lot of acoustic systems with good bass potential, which, nevertheless, could not provide at low frequencies the proper control of the movement of the diffuser, and as a result the sound turned out to be at least “cotton”, or even a bitterness appeared at all. In such cases, the proven tool is to turn on the FVH in the amplifier, removing the signal from the signal too low frequencies.
When listening to the Utopia BE 165 W-RC found that the 6W-RC midbasses are quite easy to play without such measures, being included in the full strip. Such a combination of accuracy and dynamism of the lower frequencies with the ability to play is quite low in 6.5 – inch caliber rarely. Yes, the attack of the bass is the guitar in this version is still somewhat softened, and the sound of the smuggling is not as elastic as we would like. However, do not forget that automotive acoustics in the vast majority are still designed to work in systems with a subwoofer, and Utopia BE 165 W -RC is not an exception. So the inclusion of the FVH is not at all forbidden, but you can play with the frequency of the section already within a wider limits.
By the way, it is worth recalling that we put the midbasses in test boxes with a volume of slightly more than 30 liters, which is equivalent to the average door. We would not advise packing them in closed buildings -this will inevitably reduce articulation at low frequencies. When installing, try to make the catwalks as strong and harder as possible. The potential of acoustics is very great, your task is to realize it.