Focal Em Drivers...WTF!

[todd.brust 29]

Well we had our Focal rep come into the shop today, and he was telling me an another co worker about all the new Focal stuff. I happened to ask him about the Focal Grande Utopia Em and he told me that they are the best sounding speakers he has ever heard. With the 180K pricetag for a pair, I would hope they sound that good.

But here's my question, the subwoofer uses some new technology where it doesn't use a permanent magnet at all, but instead uses a huge winding of wire as a magnet. What advantages does this yield? I though I heard someone say something about controlling the force of the motor also. I just want someone to simplify the function of this.

[johnecon2001 82]

Electromagnet? More details, pics?

[todd.brust 29]

Heres a link to the Grande Utopia Em Site.

IT gives a very general non descriptive explaination of how it works.

http://www.grande-utopia-em.com/

[scottxgtr 9]

Heres a link to the Grande Utopia Em Site.

IT gives a very general non descriptive explaination of how it works.

http://www.grande-utopia-em.com/

basically instead of using a ferrite magnet like in a traditional sub, it uses an electromagnet.

we made electromagnets in 3rd grade. wrap some wire around a nail, hook it to a 9v battery and picked up paperclips. same principle here. steel slug with a copper coil wrapped around it. power it with DC and you get a magnetic field. the strength of the magnet is adjustable with the voltage applied.

its the same principle as a voice coil. so a normal subwoofer has a large ferrite magnet and a small electromagnet(voice coil), whereas the new focal driver has a large electromagnet and a small electromagnet(voice coil).

im sure there is a lot of technology in there. but for 180k, that is one sexy looking refrigerator.

Edited March 27, 2009 by ScottXGTR

[Mark LaFountain 1,054]

that video was a great watch. Still think thats too much money for any speaker though, but wow they look great.

[todd.brust 29]

thanks Scott. I got an answer a little bit ago and it made complete sense. I wasn't sure if they were using reverse polarity AC or something weird like that.

I hope I can get a chance to hear a pair someday.