Focal Chorus 716 Speakers overview

Sound has always been one of my loves, and the Focal Chorus 716 Speakers promise to deliver sweet, sweet noise to this audiophile’s ears. But, I am not that easy to please, let me tell you.

I misspent much of my adult youth – some 15 years in fact – working in record stores, pretty much living and breathing music. I eventually became a buyer for a huge mega store, where my love for music and sound came in quite handy when trying to figure out what was going to hit with consumers, and how much we needed to keep on hand. So, when it comes to my own personal listening pleasure, I sort of demand high fidelity so I can hear every squeaky finger slide on a guitar, or sustained breathy note from some sultry jazz chanteuse.

However, from my own research, I have to admit the Focal Chorus 716 Speakers seem like they would be very welcome in my home and listening space. Let me tell you why.

Focal is a Hi-Fi Specialist

In France, Focal is the leading manufacturer of high-end speakers, and is fast becoming the hottest name for audiophiles world-wide, as well. Previously, Focal was the name of the drivers the company sold to other hifi speaker manufacturers, however Focal decided to remarket their own JMLab speakers under the company name, creating the wide-ranging brand that’s won awards and is getting rave reviews. And that includes the Chorus line of speakers.

Singing the Praises of the Focal Chorus 716

Okay. It’s true. Chorus is known as Focal’s budget-range of speakers, however don’t let that deter you from going to the store and giving them a listen. After 30 years of crafting hifi speakers, and being known for constantly innovating, Focal appears to have thrown quite a lot of its heritage into the Chorus line. Sure it is a bit more budget-friendly, but the Chorus 700 series is still a sophisticated and world-class, high-end speaker that promises to deliver the kind of performance a sound snob like me needs.

2.5-way Floorstanding Speaker

The Chorus 716 tower speaker is built using 2.5-way technology in a premium hifi configuration. The two 6.5″ (16.5cm) woofers cover the bass together (only the upper speaker is used for the mid-range), for double bass power – which is pretty ideal for filling medium-to-large size listening rooms and home theaters with awesome hi-fidelity and clear musical reproduction.

Chorus Speakers Boast Advanced Design

The Focal Chorus 716 series speakers feature the company’s latest 1″ aluminum/magnesium inverted dome tweeter. Inverting the dome optimizes the connection between the voice coil and the dome, maximizing efficiency and precision. Inverted tweeters are a hallmark – and one of the many innovations of which the company is known – of Focal. In addition, the tweeter’s new lightweight polyurethane micro-cellular foam suspension allows the dome to move more freely for lower distortion, more precise and smoother sound.

The speaker’s low-and mid-ranges also benefit from Focal innovation. Using Polyglass technology that is also exclusive to Focal, the company applies molten glass microballs to a cellulose pulp cone. This process combines an excellent paper damping with glass rigidity. The mass/rigidity/damping ratio adjustment results in a combination of the warm sound of cellulose fiber with the incredible strength of glass, for a stiff-yet-lightweight cone that responds rapidly with extremely low resonance. In other words, the woofer units have the rigidity of glass with the damping qualities of paper. And using two smaller woofers gives the Chorus 716 a punchy, tuneful and much more responsive bass.

The Chorus 716 Vibration-Resistant Cabinet

You’ve heard of French elegance, right? There’s just something…je ne sais quoi about the French. They produce the best fashion designers, and some of the most influential artists have been from France. Architects, writers, and all sorts of innovative artists have all been French. Heck, even their bread is more trendy and aesthetically (not to mention palette) pleasing than a plain old loaf.

So, is it any wonder that Focal’s lines of high-end speakers share that inimitable French flair for exquisite design? After all, Focal’s hifi speakers have been completely manufactured in France for the past three decades. Why would that be important? Because it gives Focal absolute and complete control over every aspect of their products’ design, manufacture, and – more importantly – quality control. This translates to a consistently superior, high-value range of products. That meticulous design aesthetic is certainly evident in the floorstanding Chorus speaker’s style and appeal.

The Focal Chorus floorstanding speaker’s cabinet is available in Walnut, Black Lacquer, and White Lacquer. The speakers are constructed to help disperse sound waves, and resist vibrations which could affect sound reproduction performance. The front of the speakers also feature smoother, more fluid curves instead of hard edges, lending the Chorus 716 a classic, yet modern appeal. It also has a much narrower width than other speakers I’ve seen, adding to the Focal Chorus 716’s ability to look stylish practically anywhere.

The Final Word

Sure, I may be a music snob and picky when it comes to how my sound is reproduced, but even I can see the Focal Chorus 716 floorstanding speaker is worth a serious listen if you are looking to upgrade to a more high-end speaker set-up that won’t break the bank. It’s got the hifi heritage, the French style aesthetic, and a meticulous attention to detail, construction and sound reproduction. What more could you ask for.

Have you tried out the Focal Chorus 716? I’d like to know your thoughts on its clear and precise sound. Let me know in the comment section below.