Focal Unveils 'Utopia Main' Studio Monitors - a New Apex of Monitoring for Audio Professionals

With development beginning in 2017, the Utopia Main range marks the most significant milestone for the Company’s Professional Audio division since its inception in 2002, and represents over 40 years of Focal's research in driver design and 20 years of innovation in studio monitor development. Each component has been meticulously designed to ensure that these 3-way UM 112 and 3.5-way UM 212 revolutionize the landscape of main monitors. These monitors are a technological triumph dedicated to maintaining precision even at the highest SPL in the studio environment, ensuring an unparalleled monitoring experience for reference recording, mixing, and mastering.

The ‘M’-shaped Membrane: Audio Precision and Striking Realism

The 'M'-shape concept was applied to both the all-new 5" midrange with a 'W'-membrane and the 1.5" Beryllium tweeter, for increased rigidity. Thanks to its reinforcement and the acoustic optimization of its magnet to avoid resonances, the dynamic range and transparency delivered by the 5" driver are unparalleled. The 'M'-shape, moving in and out in a perfect pistonic movement, provides a strong planar waveform and gives a true "phantom" center. In addition, its small-roll suspension integrates Focal’s Tuned Mass Damper® (TMD®) patented technology which deeply reduces intermodulation created by the suspension. This top-notch midrange allows the Utopia Main monitors to achieve surgical precision across all music genres and audio-related tasks while providing a very precise stereo image. The tweeter, with the combination of Beryllium with an 'M'-shaped membrane, offers exceptional transient response without causing listening fatigue. For the first time, the Focal TMD technology is also integrated into the high-frequency driver, halving the Total Harmonic Distortion (THD) at 3kHz. The voice coil diameter was also increased to 25mm, for better heat dissipation and reduced thermal compression. A fully optimized rear acoustic environment with a waveguide and an Infinite Acoustic Load® (IAL) further enhances the tweeter's performance.

Low-end Extension

Main monitors require a low-end performance that can maintain its precision, even at the highest levels of sound pressure. For that, the Utopia Main range features 13" long-excursion subwoofers, housed in a massive enclosure, paired with impressive bass-reflex ports (one driver for the UM 112 model and two drivers for the UM 212 one). Combining very light mobile parts and soft suspension, these drivers deliver excellent articulation and definition. The cabinet is the result of an in-depth study that led to the use of 30mm-thick MDF panels, reinforced with a bracing network designed to remove any warping. Quarter-wavelength resonance reduction systems were also implemented. Simulations were carried out to figure out how to deliver precise bass while mitigating port noise.

A Unique Amplification System

Since main monitors are frequently soffit-mounted, these require external electronics. The patented amplifiers of the UM 112 and UM 212 use a combination of a Class H design with a current-mode amplification, offering the most natural and transparent amplification possible for a driver. Force submitted to a membrane is determined by the equation: F=B*l*i, where ‘B’ is the magnetic field within the voice coil, ‘l’ the length of the coil, and ‘i’ the current. 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 artifacts. Combined with analog filtering, these amplifiers achieve the lowest THD level ever measured in Focal’s anechoic chamber.
Monitors Approved by Professionals

Behind the Utopia Main project is not only a team of skilled and passionate engineers, from fields such as acoustics, electronics, and other technical specialties, but also some of the most renowned audio engineers in the industry – Focal wanted to ensure the Utopia Main went from concept to completion with genuine feedback from real users in the field. This project went through complex testing phases, in legendary studios in Europe and in the USA, with producers, mixers, and mastering engineers – collectively boasting over 70 Grammy-award nominations – that tested the speakers, provided feedback collectively, and contributed to fine-tuning the final sound and features of these monitors. Thanks to them, the Utopia Main 112 and 212 will stand as industry benchmarks in professional audio.

Utopia Main Studio Monitors Specification Overview:

• Utopia Main 212 features two 13” ‘W’ cone woofers; two 5” M-shaped ‘W’ cone mid-range drivers, and a 1.5” M-shaped Beryllium tweeter.• Utopia Main 112 features a single 13” ‘W’ cone woofer; a 5” M-shaped ‘W’ cone mid-range driver, and a 1.5” M-shaped Beryllium tweeter.

Each speaker has its own power amplifier (externally), housed in a 4U-high rack unit:

• Utopia Main 212 amplification features two 500W RMS class-D for the Bass amplifier stage, two 180W RMS class-H for the Midrange amplifier stage, and 140W RMS class-H for the Treble amplifier stage.
• Utopia Main 112 amplification features 500W RMS class-D for the Bass amplifier stage, 180W RMS class-H for the Midrange amplifier stage, and 90W RMS class-H for the Treble amplifier stage.
• Both models’ frequency response range (@ -3db) is 28Hz to 40kHz, with Max SPL for the UM212 at 123dB, and the UM112 at 120dB

• Utopia Main 112 weighs 171 lbs. each, while Utopia Main 212 weighs 263 lbs. each.

Find out more about Focal Utopia Main studio monitors: https://www.focal.com/catalog/pro-audio/monitoring-speakers/utopia-main

Browse the Focal Naim America 'Focal Pro Experience' website: https://www.thefocalproexperience.com/