Hmmmm, beauty is in the eye of the beholder I suppose
The green and grey don't excite me, but I don't think the blue looks like 'ass'
The white could be nice in the right setting too
If I get these, it would likely be in black. I do agree the new tweeter cover is not as nice as the old -- I wonder if it is removable.
More important, I think, is how they sound. I did find this:
Quote:
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The Evo versions of both the Scala and Maestro receive redesigned midrange drivers, incorporating the Tuned Mass Damping (TMD) suspension system and Neutral Inductance Circuit (NIC) that helped the Sopras sound so natural and expressive. The measurements show a significant 5dB drop in distortion and far better time-delay performance, evidence that certainly backs up the sonic impressions. Every component in the crossovers has also been replaced with superior parts, selected after exhaustive auditioning, with the slopes trimmed to accommodate the new drivers. In the case of the Maestro III Evo, the bass has benefited from a Magnetic Damping Circuit on the motor and new internal damping materials within its enclosure, improving linearity and integration -- and making the speaker far easier to position in room.
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the audio beat
Also this:
Quote:
The most recent acoustic innovations developed by Focal further enhance the Utopia III line. It was not just a simple update, however, the project was also the perfect opportunity to enhance every detail we could in order to improve the clarity and finesse of the sound even further. It was natural for us to capitalize on the research carried out in 2008, which resulted in new and exclusive innovations, particularly in the mid-range register - TMD suspension and NIC (Neutral Inductance Circuit). TMD suspension provides a linear frequency response curve between 1 and 4 kHz, while significantly reducing distortion in this range. The mid-range register benefits from remarkable neutrality, and it contributes to the excellent precision of the overall stereo image. Stabilizing the magnetic field was a challenge to overcome, in order to avoid harmonic distortion and intermodulation. The research carried out enabled Focal's engineers to come up with an extremely stable magnetic circuit - NIC technology (Neutral Inductance Circuit).
The 2017 edition integrates a major new feature - Scala Utopia Evo and Maestro Utopia Evo now offer bi-amplification. Bi-amping is now possible by separating the bass and mid-range/treble registers, just like the line's two top-of-the-range loudspeakers. The most discerning music lovers will be able to fine-tune their sound by personalizing the registers depending on the sound architecture they want. For this reason, the loudspeakers are equipped with a double terminal board. What's more, in order to avoid magnetic disturbance in the components reproducing high frequencies, from vibrations of bass section, the two crossovers have been separated within the enclosure. A loudspeaker distinguishes itself through its overall coherence, and the level of perfection depends on many other components besides the speaker driver. As a result, improving every aspect of the Utopia III's performance was at the top of our list. We integrated new components which are essential to improving audio quality.
Since 2008, manufacturers have significantly improved the performance of their components. So, our engineers selected the very best components on the market, choosing them from among the finest brands around after testing them in real conditions. All the internal wiring within the units is crafted in France. While looking at the wiring aspects of these new loudspeakers, we decided to increase the wire gauge of the cabling by 20%. The results can be heard immediately - the sound is even clearer and even more natural. Finally, for the bass register, the acoustic wadding lining we included inside the enclosure has been thickened for even tighter bass with more control and increased precision.
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stereolifemagazine
I imagine would be a huge step up from my scalas, I may find out soon...
