Focal CMS40 Reviews 5.0/5.0 based on 9 customer reviews
Sweetwater Advice
Charlie Davis
These are, without a doubt, the most detailed-sounding monitors in this price range. Very impressive low-frequency range as well. For a budget set of nearfields, these are unbeatable.
Joe Milne
When the time came to upgrade the monitors in my personal studio, the Focal CMS40s were a very clear choice. They had just enough bottom end to check mixes, but the clarity to mix midrange and top end. Any time someone hears them in my studio, they are shocked at the clarity in the low end, so much that they go hunting for a sub! By far the most impressive small speaker I have auditioned in my studio.
Nick Schenkel
When I got a chance to listen to the Focal CMS-40 monitors, I could not believe my ears. I've heard many impressive monitors before, but have never been so completely blown away as I was by these little wonders. I don't know how Focal manages to coax such balanced levels, and such low frequencies, out of a 4" driver powered by a scant 25W RMS, but I'm a believer. I just ordered a pair for myself.
Josh Estock
Want a monitor with a small footprint that sounds huge? If so, the Focal CMS40 is the monitor for you. Not only do they sound much bigger than they are, but they translate like no other. With pristinly accurate high end and a full precise low end, these monitors make a perfect addition to any mobile recording setup or full-blown studo. Don't let their size fool you. These are the best monitors you can buy for under $1000 a pair!
Bart Good
I was blown away when I heard these in person. This is the first monitor at this price point or size for that matter that I could actually hear into the mix. The sound stage and depth of these monitors is unbelievable. The CMS 40s are a great example of why the name Focal is now synonymous with quality.
Customer Reviews
Christian Thomasfrom NYC May 7, 2013Music Background: Recording Engineer, Live Sound Engineer, Musician Save Yourself Some Time and Therefore, $Everyone pretty much has it covered in the reviews below. I'd just like to emphasize how much less time I spend trying to get my mixes to translate. What you do in the studio with these (assuming a decent room) will translate quite well on other systems. I used to spend hours of running back and forth from system to system when I was using my M-Audio Bx5a. These are a huge improvement and worth the money. They're perfect for small desk setups like mine.
Eric Wfrom Pittsburgh, PA February 15, 2013Music Background: Drummer, Recording Engineer Was Skeptical. Now a believer!This has changed not only improved my time-to-completion 10 fold, but also, my whole mixing process. I never thought that better speakers could make THAT much of a difference. How wrong I was... Believe the phrase "You can't mix what you can't hear". It's 100% true. I was skeptical, especially because these are a serious investment. But now, I'm a believer. These things rock.
Eric "E.I. Islesfrom New York November 30, 2012Music Background: Music Producer Focal CMS-40's Are Awsome!Well I finally got these Focal studio monitors to complete the my reference set in my studio. They needed to be burned in so they still haven't reached their full clarity yet. Out the box, for their size, they sound amazing! The bottom frequencies coming out of these are surprising. Focal wasn't lying when they stated that these monitors sound bigger than they are. I purchased some nice 12 inch table top speaker stands for them. The build quality is excellent and the ability to adjust the sound to your room with the switches on the back is a plus.The perfect small footprint studio monitor if you have the budget. You can't go wrong with these puppies! Thanks Sweetwater for your help and customer service.
La Forest Grayfrom Orlando, FL July 8, 2012Music Background: Music Producer/(Recording Academy) Engineer/Arranger & Composer Great Flat reference monitors...these are my primary monitorsThe CMS 40's are amazingly great, I run them strictly flat and they give a true & acculturate mix every time. I suggest a 100hr. burn-in period, before actually using these for mixing, but after that, you're good to go. There's NO-FASLE highs/mid's or lows, what you hear from these, is what others will hear...you can trust your final mixes. I use these in conduction w/ my DynAudio BM-5A's...routed through Dangerous Music-ST.I highly recommend these...
Blairfrom Chicago, IL February 6, 2012Music Background: Musician/Video Producer CMS 450What a terrific little speaker! I own a pair of it's bigger brother, The CMS-65 and love those too. I must say that the 40s are just amazing on the low end for as box this size. They image really well and I feel the best word to describe them is "silky"!
Eric Deanfrom Medical Lake, WA, USA November 13, 2011Music Background: Hobbyist An audiophile-grade professional studio monitorThese studio monitors have exceeded my expectations. They are replacing a high end consumer power amplifier and midrange audiophile speakers combo, and have surpassed the quality of my prior speaker/amp combo by a large degree. The sound is very detailed, neutral, three-dimensional and the CMS 40 has this wonderful capability (when used with good source music) of presenting the sound as if the speakers were not the source, but as if the music was live in the room right before you. However, cabling quality is very important with these monitors, and I would urge whomever purchases these speakers to budget for a high quality, teflon-insulated, balanced interconnect to feed the XLR inputs on the speakers from your converter/preamp, or recording interface, etc., as lower quality cabling will impede the three-dimensional sound attributes and reduce the level of detail as well. Also, a vibration isolation product also benefits this pair, and tightens up the already well-defined bass even further. Highly Recommended!
from Daytona Beach, FL October 7, 2011Music Background: Audio Engineer. Not the size of the dog in the fight.....These monitors are extremely natural sounding and have a huge openness in the high end that other monitors do not have. These monitors don't "hype" certain frequencies like others in the price range do (the bm5a's hype lows) Some may say they don't good but little do they know these monitors play back what you put in accurately. If they don't sound good its not the speaker. Don't hesitate on the size or the price these monitors are worth their weight in gold. My suggestion is get the sub to match as they lack some of the "moving" frequencies other than that they are amazing!!!
Alberto F. Esperonfrom Merritt Island, USA June 25, 2011Music Background: Record Label/Everything lol The best little Monitor Speaker that I ever heardI received these Monitor speakers about two weeks ago and I'm blown away by the quality and the definition that it has. Everything that I mix here in comes out the same in the radio and other devices. Is incredible what the speaker do. Great entry level speaker and you will just need a Subwoofer if you want bass. Will recommend for anyone looking for a good speaker to your ears (When you don't have a lot of ears to find the right frequencies lol) Great job Focal
Jim Lytlefrom San Jose, CA January 22, 2011Music Background: Old bar band pro. Very nice!How great it is to hear sounds and samples as they really are- each frequency represented equally. The volume knobs on front bottom right are notched so it is easy to get left and right speakers identical. I think I am going to get hooked on quality with these Focals.
Focal CMS40Active Studio Monitor with 4" Polyglass Cone Woofer, 1" Aluminum/Magnesium Inverted-dome Tweeter, and 60Hz-28kHz Frequency Response (ea) 
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