Focal Vestia No.3 Floor-Standing Speaker Measurements & Conclusion

The Focal Vestia
No.3 audio system have been measured in free-air at a peak of 4 ft at a 2-meter
distance from the microphone, with the microphone raised to an 8’ elevation
that was stage with and aimed on the tweeter heart. The measurements have been
gated at 8 milliseconds. On this time window, some decision is misplaced under 400
Hz and accuracy is totally misplaced under 200 Hz. Measurements have been
smoothed at a 1/24 octave decision.

gentle toe-in ought to yield probably the most tonally balanced sound.

The above graphs
depict Vestia No.3’s direct-axis and horizontal dispersion out to a 90-degree
angle in five-degree increments. Info on the way to interpret these graphs
will be learn in our article: Understanding Loudspeaker Measurements Half II. The measured response is usually good, however there are some
peculiarities, though nothing severely incorrect. On-axis, we’ve a properly flat
response out to 5kHz, however then we run right into a slight dip from that time as much as
10kHz. That ought to make this speaker a bit comfortable on sibilants or any phrase that
has a hissing sound similar to widespread pronunciations of ‘s,’ ‘t,’ ‘ch,’ and ‘sh.’
I don’t thoughts that this vary is a tad recessed personally, and it’s a lot
higher to be comfortable right here than elevated the place the speaker over-emphasizes
sibilants. The off-axis responses don’t exhibit this recession, so if you’d like
extra enunciation in that vary, simply use a gentle toe-in or no toe-in when
angling the speaker. Probably the most impartial response happens at round 10 to fifteen
levels, so a gentle toe-in ought to yield probably the most tonally balanced sound. One other
element to notice is that the response above 15kHz plunges, particularly at off-axis
angles. Those that need very excessive treble will wish to be listening lifeless on-axis
with the Vestia No.3s. I don’t regard lessened treble on this area as a giant
deal, since many listeners have very insensitive listening to on this vary, and never
a lot content material has any important power on this vary anyway.

The Focal Vestia No.3 are designed to sound good in any regular
room.

The above polar
map exhibits the identical info within the previous graphs however depicts it in a manner
that may supply new perception concerning these audio system’ conduct. As a substitute of utilizing
particular person raised strains as an example amplitude, polar maps use shade to
painting amplitude, and this permits using a purely angle/frequency axis
perspective. The benefit of those graphs is they’ll allow us to see broader
tendencies of the speaker’s dispersion conduct extra simply. Extra details about
deciphering this graph will be learn in our article: Understanding Loudspeaker Measurements Half II.

Whereas the Vestia
No.3’s dispersion sample just isn’t excellent, it’s usually fairly good. There may be
some slight waist-banding at round 1.5kHz and 4kHz, however not sufficient to make any
audible distinction for anybody listening at any cheap angle. Any listeners
with a 50-degree angle of the on-axis response might be met with a fairly
full sound.  The directivity matching
between the mid-woofer and tweeter just isn’t completely seamless however it is vitally
good. We are able to see the tweeter begin to beam above 10kHz, and, as we noticed within the above
graphs, its dispersion collapses above 15kHz. The Vestia No.3 has a reasonably
broad and even dispersion total, so it received’t want any particular acoustic
circumstances to sound good. They’re designed to sound good in any regular
room.

The above graph
is a sampling of among the vertical angle responses at and across the on-axis
angle. Unfavorable levels point out angles under the tweeter, constructive angles
point out angles above the tweeter, and nil levels is stage with the tweeter.
The Vestia No.3 loses linearity at angles above the tweeter peak, however few
individuals might be listening above the tweeter which sits at a 42” peak. The -5
diploma angle appears to be like to have probably the most total linear response, and that’s for
the very best since that’s the peak that almost all customers are prone to have their ears
at. That might be in regards to the peak of the midwoofer or simply under it for a lot of
listening distances. Whereas the vertical off-axis angles get into some rocky
responses, it stays well-controlled the place it issues probably the most.

The above graph
exhibits the Vestia No.3’s low-frequency response captured utilizing groundplane
measurements (the place the speaker and microphone are on the bottom at a 2-meter
distance in a wide-open space). I made a decision to incorporate two curves on this graph
as a result of a single measurement from the entrance of the speaker cannot totally
seize the low-frequency output of the response. The purple curve within the above
graph exhibits the response of the Vestia when measured from the entrance, however that
isn’t exhibiting what the rear port is doing. The inexperienced curve is output as
measured from the rear of the speaker, and it’s principally acoustic power coming
from the rear port. The response as measured from the entrance is properly flat down
to 70Hz, and it does decline a bit to 50Hz the place it takes the customary
24dB/octave slide downward. Nevertheless, that wouldn’t account for the rear output
which rolls off at a extra gradual slope. The Vestia No.3 doesn’t have a number of
deep bass output however it does have some, sufficient to cowl the spectrum of most
acoustic music, particularly if room acquire turns into a big issue. Whereas
they’ll ship a fairly full sound, house theater fanatics and connoisseurs
of digital bass music will wish to add subwoofers.

The above graph
exhibits {the electrical} conduct of the Vestia No.3. Focal specifies it to be
nominal 8 ohms, and that will appear to be a stretch. There’s a 3-ohm minima at
round 100Hz, and the entire mid-bass band hangs underneath 5 ohms. Nevertheless, this
isn’t a very robust load so far as floor-standing audio system go, and
most receivers will be capable to drive them with out issues. We are able to inform from
the dip within the low-frequency saddle that port tuning is about 40Hz, and we will
additionally see from the taller peak of the left saddle peak that the resonant
frequency of the drivers is way decrease than that of the enclosure. There may be not
a lot else to notice right here, and the underside line is that these audio system might be OK
with all however the least expensive amps, not that anybody who can afford these audio system
will drive them with actually low cost amps.

I measured the
Vestia’s sensitivity to be 91.1dB for two.83v at 1 meterand that’s near
Focal’s spec of 92dB. It is a bit larger than most tower audio system, so most
amps will be capable to drive them to very wholesome loudness ranges. They don’t want
a monster amp to get loud, though, with a most advisable energy dealing with
of 300 watts, they’ll get very loud with a giant amp when you occur to have one
helpful.

Conclusion

Earlier than bringing
this overview to an in depth, let’s briefly go over the strengths and weaknesses of
the product underneath analysis, and, as typical, let’s begin with the weaknesses.
The Vestia No.3s don’t give me a lot to complain about. The one nit that I
would choose is that the bass extension just isn’t terribly low for a floor-standing
speaker of its pricing. Whereas there’s some deep bass output, it isn’t doing a
entire lot within the lowest octave, so it isn’t really a full-range loudspeaker,
though it will definitely get shut sufficient for many patrons. Nonetheless,
anybody who needs bass at and under 40Hz ought to add a subwoofer. As we stated
earlier than, since good subs will be had with out an excessive amount of drawback lately, this
isn’t actually a giant hurdle.

With out something
else value lodging a severe grievance about, let’s get on with the Vestia
No.3’s strengths, the chief of which is its sound high quality. It’s a pretty
impartial loudspeaker though not solely so, and its departures from full
neutrality are small ones. Whereas the measurements present some small deviations
from full neutrality, I didn’t hear them in my very own listening, and every thing
sounded even and balanced. The on and off-axis responses, whereas not excellent,
are nonetheless superb, and there isn’t a nasty seat in the home for any cheap
listening place. One facet I actually respect about them is that the
optimum listening peak happens at a stage that most individuals would realistically
be at, and that isn’t all the way in which up on the tweeter peak.

Its imaging
talents are, like all the opposite Focal audio system I’ve heard, superb. They
had no issues imaging sound sources wherever across the width of their
positioning. The dynamic vary is excellent, particularly for loudspeakers of
their dimension. They aren’t small audio system however will not be massive ones both, however they
certain pack a punch. This was the trade-off made for the considerably shallow bass
extension, and I might say it’s a worthwhile trade-off.

Exterior of the
sound high quality, the looks of the Vestia No.3 makes it one of many
nicer-looking loudspeakers that may be had in its worth vary. I like the cream
leather-based on the entrance baffle and high panel, and the fake white wooden aspect panels
look good too. These audio system would complement good inside decor, and the
white wooden end that I obtained would go nice with white-painted rooms. No
one would object to the looks of those besides individuals who is not going to tolerate
the presence of any loudspeakers in any respect. The construct high quality is sweet, and whereas
they aren’t unusually heavy, they’ve sufficient stiffness to type an inert
enclosure. As I discussed earlier than, I appreciated the dearth of dual-binding posts;
bi-amping and bi-wiring don’t often do any good besides underneath some very slender
circumstances.

Competing Audio system to the Focal Vestia No.3

After we have a look at
competing audio system, some equally priced towers that we’ve reviewed on this
section are the Philharmonic BMR Tower and the Arendal 1723 S Towereach well-engineered loudspeakers. Right here we will see the trade-off that
every producer selected. The BMR Tower digs the deepest in bass and
doesn’t want a subwoofer to catch these lowest notes, however it’s a considerably
bigger speaker, and it is usually considerably much less environment friendly. The 1723 S Tower
additionally sacrifices some effectivity versus the Vestia towers, however it does have a
bit extra low-frequency extension. We may count on to see related trade-offs
made by different competing producers similar to KEF with their R5 Meta, Bowers
& Wilkins with their 704 S3, and Polk with their Legend L600. Potential
patrons should weigh what elements are most necessary to them.

The Focal Vestia
No.3s are a strong set of floor-standing audio system for the value. They produce a
stage, pleasing sound and might achieve this at surprisingly excessive loudness ranges. They
look fairly good, they don’t seem to be enormous, and they’re simple to deal with. They’re doing
quite a bit proper, and whereas they aren’t the most affordable audio system round, they don’t seem to be
over-priced in any respect, particularly seeing as how they’re manufactured in France
quite than China. I may simply stay with a pair, and I’m certain they are going to
make many patrons blissful since every thing sounds good with them. Focal simply retains
on making good audio system, and the Vestias add to that checklist.