Big sound

A great recommendation from my Sweetwater rep. Everything he said they would be and more! Thanks Richard

Focal is the finest.

Over 100 magazines rated these speakers at the "best" studio monitor..
Thats right.
No kidding.
I just got mine yesterday, hooked them up, and after some positioning and repositioning ive discovered they dont care that much about it.....You can stand them upright, or turn them upside down, or lay them on their side and it all sounds good.
The info guide recommends that you do whatever you want, regarding postioning, and just remember not to play them too loud as such clarity will allow you to not realize that you are playing them too loud..
This is not a myth.
They sound so good, you'll find that you keep wanting to turn them up more and more, so you have to control your enthusiasm:).
I was so impressed to discover that right out of the box they had nice full warm mids ready to go, instead of the typical bright edgy brittle break in sound...
And that you can use 4 pegs or 2 pegs and 2 screws for adjustment "front-tilt" control ..is just beyond cool.
How do they sound?
They sound like music...
They sound musical.
I would describe their sound as sweet in the mids, detailed in the treble, and decently full yet unhyped in the bottom.
They are not harsh in the treble, they do not have a midrange bump, and they are not boomy or dialed in for bass thump.
They have a standby switch, front volume controls that feel substantial, and quite a few EQ tweeks on the back, but i dont think you'll use them..
Turn them on, tune in, smile.
You will love these..
Mine sounded great right out of the box, and it'll only get better as they break in the next 2 weeks or so..
Now THAT is satisfaction......= when excellent becomes even better..!!
Get a set, you'll see.

Audiophile Monitors

I'm really enjoying the difference here. These are something exceptional. Stereo imaging is the BEST, very clear mids, and NO boomy low end "cabinet" sound. The high end is very pleasing, I have discovered some new nuances in music I've been hearing for years (such as reverbs, hi-hat accents and background singers individual voices....). I will be getting a sub at some point as well. Very pleased with these, no reservations that I could have chosen anything better. They are just the right size for my desktop system. Solid bi-amplified sound all the way to the top, no shortages here. The EQ shelving controls are a nice option too. Also had considered purchasing the M-Audio CX5. Obviously Sweetwater.

Tremendous value

A really nice set of monitors with a surprising amount of range to them. I purchased mine in early May and have taken to using them as my primary mixing/editing monitors. I've been extremely pleased with the consistent response I get on a variety of musical styles. In fact, my beloved JBL LSR 4328s have become my B pair. Highly recommended. (The Focals.) (Well, the JBLs too.)

On an off-subject note, I got the typical great Sweetwater customer service on this purchase. The demo set I bought had one non-functioning monitor, and after a quick phone call to my sales engineer, I had a new-in-the-box pair of Focals within 2 days. I've had very few issues with anything I've ever bought from Sweetwater, but when problems have come up, they've been resolved quickly and painlessly. If only other companies had the same philosophy…

Incredible!

Imagine yourself mixing, then you finish the mix, you take it to the car, the stereo, the mp3 player, and it sounds great on all of them. In fact, it sounds better than it ever has. Many struggle to get to this point...not anymore. With these monitors, what you hear is what you get (granted your room is treated and they are decoupled from your console or desk).

These speakers are INCREDIBLE. Really considered buying some Adam A7s, which do sound great, but you really need a sub for those, their low end is pretty reserved. These speakers are stunning in the entire spectrum. They're beautifully made, well assembled, sturdy, loud, accurate, clear, and a deal at this price. They beat out any 5" monitor I've ever heard in the $200-$1000/each range NO QUESTION. Did a mix on them when they first got here and when it played out of my other systems I realized how poorly my other speakers translated. I could finally just MIX and TRUST my monitors to tell me what is going on!

SO out of their league. They beat out Mackies, Yamahas, JBL, anything in this range. Out of this world. Could not be happier!

These Monitors Spoiled Me

I've had these for about 8 months, and they have spoiled me. I can't listen to anything else without thinking "damn, I bet this would sound better on my Focals." I listened to a lot of monitors in the same price range, including the ADAMs, KRKs, and Dynaudios, before I finally decided on these. Absolutely no regrets or second thoughts though. if you can afford Focals, get them. If you can't, wait until you can, and then get them!

amazingg

I am completely blown away by the sound quality and soundstage on these speakers. I plugged them in and listened to one of my songs on it and said ok they sound alright...then i listened to professional songs from deadmau5, tiesto, armin and was completely blown away at the clarity and soundstage of these speakers. It just goes to show how much improvement is needed on my songs! These things truly show you the exact sound that you are dealing with! Definitely the best speakers for the price. Better than the comparable Genelec models that I have heard! Pick these up asap!

Incredible

What an immediate difference upgrading to Focal CMS 50. Amazing sound for the size. Quality of the sound is a incredible. They are worth every penny when compared to other brands at lower prices. My mixing will now be much more accurate with little to no guess work. My salesman suggested these for my control room and , as always, he was right on target. Thanks TJ and Sweetwater!!!! My only suggestion would be for Focal to include a roll of toilet paper with each set of speakers. Chances are, you'll need it as soon as you hear them.

Quality tells

I've never been one to compromise on my audio. My studio has been digital since the 80's. When I worked at CBS, I brought in my own hardware because I just couldn't develop the results I needed with the in-house toys. And I REALLY like German microphones.

Well, recently,. my studio has been busy, and I've begun recording my narrative vocals in the studio, but editing them in my office so as not to tie up the studio for other projects. And, for that, I need a decent set of nearfields. I looked at, and auditioned, KRK, JBL, Mackie, and several others. And, quite frankly, with money as tight as it is, these days, I needed to stay within a budget. Matt, my sales engineer, recommended two makes, one was Focal. So, I went out locally, found a pair of each of his recommendations, and with my own materials, auditioned them in a room setting similar to my office. (Fairly neutral acoustics, and quiet.) Side by side with other models, I could hear subtle differences, but I couldn't justify the expense. But after many hours of listening, I found that the Focals produced less fatique, and more consistent results in real work projects. So, I bit the bullet and bought a pair of CMS 50's. Once installed, I began burning them in, but I did work with them right away. First project, I got a call from the client asking what I had done differently. The detail was so much more ear pleasing, and when the project hit Radio, the result was not only easier to listen to than my previous work, but the mix was fuller, more balanced, and overall, even a bit louder (eeewwww).

Subsequent feedback on videos have been equally as rewarding, with accolades like, "smooth," "compelling audio," and "ear candy." One client said I even sounded more relaxed in the read. Well, I don't know about THAT, but I do know that once I reset my audio chain to the sound of the Focal's, I do work faster, and with far less fatigue after a long session. And I smile a lot more when playing the finished result.

Sonically, CMS 50's clean, and detailed. A sweet, but surprisingly neutral sound. Not Solo or Twin neutral, but so close that it's easy to work around. They're easy to stage, but a bit more complex than some to install and correctly dial in with the existing system. Oh, well....the price of doing it right.... And of all the monitors I've used, auditioned, listened to, or carried up three flights of stairs to a new room, these Focals are the only ones that consistently live up to high expectations every time their turned on. To the degree that I've begun budgeting for a set of Twins in the main studio.

Quality tells. And, in the no compromise world of audio, today, Focal is quality. Producing quality results.

Oh, and my bride is a fiddle player...she want's a pair in her music room, now, too.

CMS 50 is definitely a compromise between performance and price, but if THIS is compromise....I'll take THAT deal all day.

Amazing Stereo Image

Add Mo Pads for both and you will hear the band playing next to you! The construction offers a incredible Stereo Image in the most outstanding clarity and for less than $1,500 for a demanding ear.