Focal 1000 Utopia IWLCR & IWSUB Speaker System Review

1000-Series Speaker Models Used for this Installation

I spent a considerable amount of time consulting with Focal’s Product Specialist, Chris Shaw about my objectives and installed the following 16 speakers to achieve my reference home theater and two-channel music demands.

• Front LCR speakers: 3x Focal 1000 IWLCR Utopia 
• Subwoofer Modules: 6x Focal 1000 IWSUB Utopia. Two IWSUB modules were mated to each left, center, and right channels
• Double Side Surround and Rear Speakers: 6xFocal 1000 IWLCR6. Four for side surrounds to cover two theater rows and two to serve as rear surrounds.
• In-ceiling speakers: 4x Focal 1000 ICW6.
• AVR: Focal Astral 16, based on Storm Audio’s platform (200 WPC x 12 ALL CHANNELS DRIVEN!).

I incorporated the following RBH Subwoofer review units and a Stewart Filmscreen StudioTek 130 G4:

• Subwoofers: 1x RBH Unrivaled 21-inch infrasonic subwoofer and 2x RBH 1212SW on-wall subwoofers
• Projection Screen: Retractable, 125-inch, 2.4 Stewart Filmscreen Luxus StudioTek 130 G4 acoustically transparent screen with Ultraperf.  

Here’s an overview of the four 1000 series models installed. You can watch a tour of the theater here or at the video above. If you want a deeper dive into the 1000 series, I’ll point you to Jacob Green’s excellent preview coverage: Focal 1000 Series Preview.

The Focal IWSUB Utopias are visible below the Stewart Filmscreen StudioTek 130 G4 creating a stunning aesthetic.

Focal 1000 IWLCR Utopia

Focal's 1000 IWLCR Utopia is an 8 Ohm, 92dB, three-way, closed back speaker. It features 1-inch inverted dome Beryllium Tweeter housed in an acoustic waveguide. The IWLCR Utopia tweeter is unique. Focal says it’s an optimized, higher-end version of the tweeter found in the other 1000 series speakers with improved damping and other enhancements.  

The Beryllium tweeter is flanked by two 3.12-inch “W” Cone “M”-shaped midrange drivers. The MTM tweeter-midrange assembly pivots ±15-degrees side to side to adjust the tweeter-midrange to the listening position like a freestanding speaker. The combination of the MTM configuration, waveguide, and pivoting midrange-treble plate are all intended to optimize dispersion and directivity. If you’ve been bothered by the inability to fine tune speaker imaging with an in-wall speaker, Focal has you covered.

There are no markings on the Focal's tweeter-midrange assembly, therefore there's no way to tell the amount of "toe in" other than using your ears.  I wish Focal would provide markings on the assembly for more precise angling of a stereo pair.

The speaker has four 6 1/2 inch “W” Cone Drivers flanked in pairs at the top and bottom handling the bass frequencies. The IWLCR Utopia weights in at a beefy 42.7-pounds and towers at an imposing 45 3/4-inches tall. This is a reference speaker in an in-wall design.

The drivers are housed in an aluminum frame and voiced to an MDF back box for consistent performance regardless of the wall environment.  The 1000 IWLCR Utopia needs a 3.87-inch mount depth, allowing it to fit in a standard 2x4 wall or 2x6 studs.

The IWLCR Utopia can bi-amped, horizontally installed for center channel duties, or surface mounted with Focal's optional on-wall frame.  If you are considering the IWLCR Utopia as a center channel installed horizontally, you may recall that here at Audioholics we advocate for W(M/T)W center channel designs. The IWLCR Utopia is an exception to the rule. It’s just a monster speaker—far larger than most center channels. Its off-axis performance out about 20-30 degrees solid. We therefore have no issues recommending its MTM design for horizontal center channel duty for most installs but you'd ideally want to orient all 3 LCR speakers vertically for the most consistent sound across ALL of your seats.

Pictured here is the front left speaker. Notice that the tweeter-midrange drivers is angled towards the RSP. 

As a testament to the IWLCR Utopia’s performance and build quality, you can send LFE signals to the IWLCR Utopia when used in conjunction with the IWSUB-Utopia. You can cross the IWLCR Utopia to the IWSUB Utopia at 120Hz, 100Hz, or 80Hz via the jumpers.  Focal says that the 80Hz setting is best for sound quality and 120Hz for maximum SPL.  I did prefer the 80Hz crossover as it sounded more natural. In case you’re wondering, the speaker connectors are hefty and can accept 12-gauge speaker cabling with little issue.

Focal 1000 IWSUB Utopia

The $2,999 1000 IWSUB Utopia can be installed vertically or horizontally. The IWSUB Utopia is housed in an aluminum frame and MDF back box and weighs in at a meaty 21-pounds. Each IWSUB Utopia module is designed to function as a stand-alone subwoofer or connect to the IWLCR Utopia via an included SpeakON cable to enhance the low frequency extension of the IWLCR Utopia (as I did in my setup).  Should you daisy-chain multiple IWSUB Utopias together to function as a single sub, there are impedance jumpers on each IWSUB to accommodate your configuration.

The three 6 1/2-inch “W” Cone drivers have a rated frequency response of 40Hz to 2.5kHz ±3dB.  That’s nothing special for a sub. However, daisy chaining additional IWSUB Utopia models together or adding IWSUB Utopia to an IWLCR Utopia further improves the low frequency response of the composite speaker.

Ideal installation scenarios for the IWSUB Utopia include: No space for a free-standing speaker system but want to play down to the low 30Hz or high 20Hz range authoritatively; add directional bass without taking up additional processing or amplification channels; more even distribution of bass frequencies to address room modes; a high performance speaker support groups for Dirac ART.  Focal designed the IWSUB Utopia to accept LFE signals when configured as sub modules or paired with the IWCLR Utopia. 

So there's no misimpression, with only 6 1/2-inch drivers, Focal positions the IWSUB as a complement to, not a replacement for, infrasonic or high output subwoofers. I should also note that the IWSUB installs directly into the sheetrock as opposed to an anti-vibration framing assembly, therefore be very careful about the integrity and damping qualities of your wall's structure when integrating IWSUB modules into your setup.

Focal provides the above table outlining the performance of the IWLCR Utopia when paired with 1, 2, 4, or 6 IWSUB Utopia modules. 

Focal 1000 IWLCR6

The Focal IWLCR6 is the “little” cousin of the IWLCR Utopia. While the IWLCR6 lacks the “Utopia” designation and Utopia performance, there are some clear similarities. Weighing in at 24-pounds and 29 3/4 inches tall the IWLCR6 is no tiny speaker.  The IWLCR6 features a 1-inch, pure Beryllium, inverted dome tweeter and a 3 1/8 “W” Cone midrange. 

The midrange and tweeter drivers sit in a waveguide and the entire midrange assembly pivots 15-degrees left and right. If you remove the locking screws, you can rotate the midrange-treble plate 90-degrees for horizontal applications so that you have an MMTM configuration for center channel duties.  The midrange-tweeter plate is flanked by a 6 1/2-inch “W” Cone driver and a 7 1/8-inch passive radiator.  Using a passive radiator is a reasonable design choice when you have a non-ported, high output system in a smaller enclosure. 

This is an 8 Ohm nominal rated speaker with 91dB sensitivity and a frequency response of 48Hz to 40kHz ±3dB. The minimal impedance does dip down to 2.9 Ohms so in reality, it's really a 4 ohm speaker and you should plan for that when pairing amplification. The mounting depth is 3 7/8 so the 1000 IWLCR6 fits in a standard 2x4 bay, 2x6 studs, or can surface mounted using Focal's on-wall frames.

Detail of the Focal 1000 IWLCR6's tweeter-midrange plate rotated 90 degrees for horizontal installation as a center channel speaker to yield an MMTM configuration.

Focal ICW-6 In-Ceiling Speaker

Like its siblings, the ICW-6 in-ceiling speaker features a 1-inch, inverted dome, Beryllium tweeter and 6 1/2-inch “W” cone midrange/bass driver.  The tweeter can be positioned ±20-degrees off-axis to optimize response. It comes with both round and square paintable magnetic grilles to fit any decor. 

The ICW-6 weigh in at a modest 5.29-pounds and requires a mounting diameter of 8 1/2-inches. It has a rated frequency response of 55Hz to 40kHz ±3dB. The speaker is an open back design so you’ll need to factor that into your installation.  The ICW-6 adopts the EQI (Easy Quick Install) System Focal introduced with the 300 series speakers.  There are no dog ears. Installation is super-fast and tool-less.  You simply pop in the Easy Quick Install frame, activate the spring-loaded clamps, and then insert and turn to lock the speaker itself. It’s literally that simple and that fast. This installation system is also found on the 1000 IWLCR-5 and 1000 ICA-6 models.

On-Wall Surface Mounting Option: A Huge Advantage

Unique to the 1000 series is an on-wall framing option, which is a huge boon for challenging installations. In my theater setup, I faced a conundrum since my left wall is solid concrete, making in-wall installation impossible. To avoid the expense and footprint of building another wall, I opted for Focal's on-wall, slimline frames. 

Focal's on-wall frames provide you with all the flexibility without cutting into your walls. The Utopia frames are stackable for a clean look.

These frames are tailored to each 1000 model, made from MDF, and have anti-vibration wall studs and protective felt to ensure a secure and vibration-free installation. The frames come in gloss-white or raw white primer finishes, allowing you to match them to your room’s décor.

I anchored the frames for the 1000 IWLCR6 to my concrete wall for the left surrounds.  

Customizable Frequency Response with Jumpers

All 1000 series models feature driver and tweeter attenuation options. The IWLCR Utopia jumpers fine-tune the frequency response across the tweeter, midrange, woofers. The jumpers on the IWSUB Utopia set the impedance depending on how many IWSUB Utopias you have daisy chained together, if you’re designating the IWSUB as a subwoofer. The IWLCR6 and ICW6 speakers each have HF and midrange compensation switches. 

Remember that a speaker cannot create more power or output. Therefore, Focal recommends opening up all jumpers to their maximum position if you are using room correction software with any model in the 1000 series. Since I would imagine the overwhelming majority of customers would be using the IWLCR Utopia with a processor, the jumpers are in some ways a superfluous feature.

 The IWLCR Utopia adds high quality jumpers that can attenuate the frequency of the tweeter, midrange, and low frequency response of the speaker as well as set the crossover to any connected IWSUB Utopia modules.

Power Handling

Focal provides detailed performance specifications, including frequency response curves, level calculations, and dispersion patterns. The IWLCR Utopia can handle up to 750W into 8 Ohms and 1500W into 4 Ohms, delivering impressive output levels. For example, feeding 750W into the IWLCR Utopia results in 106dB at 16.4 feet. 

Take note that the system's impedance varies depending on the modular configuration. A single IWLCR Utopia has a nominal impedance of 8 Ohms and 4.2 Ohm minimal impedance. Adding IWSUB Utopia modules to the IWLCR Utopia drops the nominal impedance to 4 Ohms and the minimal impedance to 2.6 Ohms! Even with the speaker’s sensitivity at 94dB,  you need amplifiers beefy enough to handle loads that dip into the 2 Ohm range.  

The Focal Astral 16 is one of the few AVRs on the planet that didn’t break a sweat driving the three IWCLRs and six IWSUB Utopia pairings. Driven with the Astral 16, the 1000 Series Utopia and RBH system was never short on SPL. I hit 107dB peaks from the system measured from the second row of my theater playing the spice harvester scene in Dune Part 1 and the desert run scene from Tom Gun Maverick. 

Installation, Configuration, and System Design

Unboxing and Expandable Magnetic Grilles

Appreciating the build quality of these speakers is best done first-hand. Each speaker’s aluminum enclosure and MDF back box let you know that you’re dealing with a whole different level of speaker. In the box, you’ll find a paintable, magnetic grille, plastic paint cover, cutout template, white and black grille cloths (for optimizing color matching), custom installer catalog, and QuickStart guide with QR scan codes for a full user manual and installation video tutorials. 

The Utopia models include brushed silver end caps and joining plates. The end caps come with both plain and Focal-branded versions to optionally showcase your Focal fandom. 

Detail of the brushed aluminum end-cap with Focal logo.

They adhere to the grilles with some robust 3M tape. I found the tape’s backing challenging to remove at times. The drawback of this modular design is that the end caps and joint straps do require some massaging to sit “flat” and you may not get a perfectly flat result in all instances.  

Here, I have daisy-chained three grilles for the IWSUB Utopia models with the two brushed silver endplates and two joining plates to show the slick expandability of the paintable grilles.  

As of this writing, I’ve spray-painted the majority of my in-ceiling and surround speaker grilles with a Wagner spray gun. When viewed from an angle, the grilles are almost invisible, rarely calling attention to themselves. The 1000 ICW6 are the easiest speakers to install. I inserted the Quick Install frame into my ceiling, activated the tensioned locking spring, and then simply inserted and twist-locked the speaker.  Done. 

Angled view of the Focal 1000 IWLCR6 side surround with painted grille flanked by Vicoustic acoustic panels. 

The 1000 IWLCR Utopia, IWSUB Utopia, and IWLCR6 all have dog ears, which are finicky.  The manual says to hand tighten the dog ears with a hex key.  Good luck. You can’t get enough speed to keep the dog ears elevated without a drill.  Even with the drill, there were some occasions where I had to back out the dog ear and then redo the process. 

I used CL2-rated, 4-conductor, 12-gauge speaker cabling from Monoprice to each speaker. While using two conductors for each positive and negative speaker terminal was a bit of a challenge, I was pleasantly surprised to see the 1000 Series accept such heavy gauge cabling.

If you’re installing a Focal 1000 series yourself, be warned that the cut out template shows the center of the template not the location of the tweeter. I cannot emphasize how important it is to install the speakers with tweeters at ear hight and get this right.  For my installation, we used a self-balancing laser level across the front wall to eliminate any variation from the floor to ensure that all three LCR speaker tweeters were perfectly aligned to each other and to ear height. Getting speakers installed at ear level is especially true for any speaker model that has narrow vertical directivity. Measure twice and cut once.

Modular Flexibility for Room Challenges

My room’s ceiling height about 7-feet tall, making it impossible to stack an ISWUB above and below the IWCLR Utopias. Focal’s Chris Shaw suggested that I install the IWSUB Utopia modules along the bottom of the front wall instead.  I could then mate two IWSUB Utopia modules to an IWLCR Utopia in an inverted “T” design whose net effect would be an additional 3dB to 6dB boost from floor bounce in the bass region.  

Each pair of IWSUB Utopias was connected via SpeakON cable to the IWLCR Utopia to create a logical, full range speaker.   

This setup not only enhanced bass response (I measured close to 24Hz in-room!) but also created an eye-catching driver array underneath the Stewart Filmscreen StudioTek 130 G4 that everyone who comes into my space raves about. I learned to really appreciate the installation flexibility afforded by the Utopia’s modular design. If you're looking for a music-only in-wall solution without subs, the Focal 1000 Utopia delivers.

The Focal 1000 IWLCR Utopia paired with 2x IWSUB Utopia modules produced an in-room response close to 24Hz when set to "Large" and run full range with no EQ applied. Single point measurement at the RSP.

SIDE NOTE: if you go to a Focal Powered by Naim brick and mortar store (see: https://www.focalpoweredbynaim.com/) or a trade show where the Focal IWLCR and IWSUB Utopias are featured, you’ll see them configured to run full range and be completely taken aback by the bass output from this configuration!

The Astral 16 Advantage

To realize the full potential of the 1000 Series, I paired the speakers with Focal’s Astral 16 AVR, based on the Storm Audio platform. The Astral 16 supports Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, and Auro-3D. 

Focal Astral 16 AVR in my rack

The processor's stability into low-impedance loads and ability to power complex speaker configurations made it a perfect complement to the Focal 1000 Series. This 16-channel processor delivers 200W into 8 Ohms, 400W into 4 Ohms, and 650W into 2.7 Ohms with three channels driven. It will deliver 200W into 8 Ohms and 300W into 4 Ohms with all channels driven. 

Now step back and think about these numbers: This raw power is from an 7.5-inch tall, 44-pound AVR.  Gene DellaSala did an extensive review of the Storm Audio ISP MK2 AV Processor (a sister processor to the Astral 16 AVR). I’ll refer you to click here for Gene’s in-depth review for technical details and measurements.  

The flexibility and performance I had available through the Astral 16 was lightyears ahead of any other AVR or pre-pro I’ve reviewed. I also unlocked and upgraded the Astral 16, which added Dirac ART to my arsenal. More info here.

There were some specific configuration settings Chris Shaw had me perform in the Astral 16 to optimize the 1000 Utopia's performance:

First, Chris had me configure the Utopia left, center, and right channels to full range ("Large") in the Astral 16. 

Focal's Chris Shaw had me run the IWLCR Utopias full range by setting them to "Large" and run LFE to the mains.  

Secondly, Chris had me send LFE to those LCR channels.  That Focal advocates sending LFE to the mains is a testament to the Utopia’s design and performance.  It is not recommended to send LFE to any other 1000 series model.  With this configuration, you get steerable bass throughout the space. Obviously the optimal configuration would be an all 1000 Utopia bed layer.

Third, Chris had me apply a 48db/Octave Linkwitz-Riley high pass filter at 30Hz on the main LCR channels to implement driver protection on the 6 1/2-inch drivers running the LFE channel.  

The Astral 16 has powerful, granular, manual EQ filters that allow you to fine-tune your speaker installation with real-time effects on-screen. You have nearly infinite control over your speaker environment. 

Fourth, the Astral 16 has three independent power supplies. I reconfigured the LCR channels to run each channel on its own power supply. I staggered the remaining channels across the three power supplies to optimize power delivery. I then ran Dirac Live on this configuration without any subwoofers and saved as a profile. 

I subsequently performed an additional Dirac calibration and added the RBH Unrivaled 21-inch infrasonic sub and RBH 1212SW Subs to round out the configuration and saved to a different profile.  Suffice to say, I was exceedingly pleased—no, dumbfounded—by the bass articulation from an all-in-wall configuration running full range! 

The Astral 16 features three independent power supplies across its 12 amplification channels allowing you to stagger the LCR channels across each power supply channel group 1-4, 5-8, and  9-12. Hence Left = Channel 1, Center = Channel 5, and Right = Channel 9.

Unexpected Challenges: Tear Down the Wall!

I ran into an unexpected issue with the Focal IWLCR Utopia and IWSUB Utopia speakers in the front wall. Despite the baffle wall being 2x6 studs and 5/8-inch Sheetrock Type-X, the wall exhibited physical and audible vibrations when listening to certain tracks. 

I ran several frequency sweeps through the Astral 16’s built-in capabilities (another advantage of the processor) to isolate either a damaged driver or resonant frequencies exciting the Sheetrock. It was frequency-specific.

I consulted with both Matt Poes and Don Dunn on the conundrum. I didn't want to EQ those frequencies or perform band aids. I chose to bite the bullet and rebuild the baffle wall. (Please share your baffle wall or theater build stories in the forum!) The rebuilding process derailed this review for months. 

Both Matt and Don gave me some invaluable guidance on the rebuild. Needless to say, the new baffle wall did the trick. Don simply calls it “The Bunker.” 

The new baffle wall with Green Glue Joint Gasket damping tape and bays being filled with R23 mineral wool.  I also ran conduit, extra CL2 12-gauge speaker cable, and shielded CAT6 cabling for future expansion.

In case you're interested, the new wall consists of double 2x6-inch studs; Green Glue Joint Gasket Damping Tape on all studs (front and back); a new facing of 1/2-inch plywood sheets and 5/8 Sheetrock Type-X sandwiched with Green Glue vibration damping compound; R23 mineral wool in each bay with R15 behind the Utopia speakers sub modules. I further anchored the stud rears to the concrete foundation with GenieClip L brackets for additional rigidity and dampening. Finally, I added 3/4-inch plywood to the back of the baffle wall. Now you know why Don calls it "The Bunker."

Installation of the 1/2-inch plywood on top of the doubled 2x6 studs. On top of the 1/2-inch plywood, we installed 5/8 sheetrock with Green Glue damping compound in between and sealed seams with acoustical caulking.

Introducing Dirac ART Active Room Treatment

I had the opportunity to test Dirac ART (Active Room Treatment) with the Focal Astral 16 and Focal 1000 setup. You can add Dirac ART to the Focal Astral 16 here.  ART does away with crossovers and leverages the capabilities of all speakers in the system to optimize bass frequencies below 150Hz. The objective and subjective performance of Dirac ART is very, very impressive. 

When Dirac ART starts to hit platforms outside Storm Audio, enthusiasts will quickly find out (some unfortunately the hard way) about ART's demands to have high performance speakers on all channels to optimize ART.  The Focal's 1000 series and the 1000 Utopia in particular fit that bill nicely. 

I want to give a special nod to Storm Audio's Matt Trinklein and Dirac's Nilo Ericsson for their assistance. Matt Trinklein and I spent time analyzing the Focal 1000 speakers' capabilities to optimize Dirac ART. I used all speakers as support groups within their calculated ranges with the exception of the center channel. We also made sure to provide ample headroom to each speaker support group. In its current iteration, Dirac ART's default settings need fine tuning.

ART's results at the RSP are ridiculously good. Not only that, but ART delivered tighter, improved bass performance across the entire theater versus DLBC. Resonances and room modes either disappeared or were neutered to a significant degree. In case you're wondering, I used the Storm Audio target curve. For room correction measurement best practices, check out our tutorial.

Here are some measurements of the Focal 1000 IWLCR Utopia and IWSUB Utopia run full range and high passed at 30Hz.  This measurement is a ruler flat response at 1/24 smoothing in room!

Impressive! Even at 1/24 smoothing Dirac ART yields a nearly "ruler flat" response from the Focal 1000 IWLCR Utopia and 2x IWSUB run full range as "Large" speakers and high passed at 30Hz.

Integration between the RBH Unrivaled infrasonic sub, RBH 1212SW, and the Focal 1000 Utopia L&R channels as speaker support groups for the LFE channel is completely seamless. With the RBH Unrivaled added, the overall system response was measurable down to 6Hz! Check out the ruler flat frequency response at 1/24 smoothing and extension way down below 10Hz  

Editorial Note: Don't be too concerned about that 18Hz null. That's from a known bug caused by Dirac ART because it high-passes all non-infrasonic subs and speakers at 20Hz. The high pass filter cannot be defeated. The null is not present with the native or summed response of the subs. Dirac is working on a fix to address it which Gene plans on testing in his system which utilizes fullrange RBH Sound SVTRS Active system with powered subs and LFE routing.

Even at 1/24 smoothing Dirac ART with the RBH Unrivaled 21-inch infrasonic sub, dual RBH 1212SW subs, and Focal IWLCR Utopia and 2x IWSUB Utopia yielded a ruler-flat LFE measurement from almost 20 Hz out to 120Hz.

Phase and time coherence is another critical aspect of getting bass perfected in your room.  Here at Audioholics, we like to use wavelets to show that in-room performance. Ideally we should be seeing a straight line with minimal flair at the lowest bass frequencies. What you typically get is a jagged line like a road going up a mountain slope with the most glaring issues at the crossover frequency. 

To illustrate the point, the following measurements are: 

1. Without any room correction applied to the Utopia center channel speaker.
2. With and without the 3x RBH subs. 
3. With the IWLCR Utopia tweeter and midrange is jumpered at -3dB and the 2x IWSUB Utopia is jumpered at 80Hz with 30Hz HPF applied (configured for LFE to the mains)
4. With StudioTek 130 G4 retracted. 

These measurements are typical of what happens when you drop a speaker and subs into a room in the real world. Wavelets give you a visual representation of the challenges we enthusiasts and pro installers faces when integrating subs. Each LCR speaker exhibits the severity of these issues to varying degrees based on its in-room location.

Now let's look at the magic Dirac ART performs. I'm getting incredible phase linearity and time coherence from the Focal 1000 Utopias measured at the RSP played with or without the StudioTek 130 G4. As you saw in the measurements above, using wavelets in REW lays bear the severity of your integration issues. 

Now look at the performance that an advanced processor like the Astral 16 and Dirac ART can deliver. This wavelet below of the center channel with the RBH subs measured at the RSP is almost textbook! Compare it to the above measurements. In fact, notice that at 50Hz there is only a 1.1ms delay and a 10ms delay doesn't hit until a ridiculously low 30Hz. This is outstanding, seamless performance of the Focal 1000 IWLCR Utopia in-room with IWSUB Utopia modules plus the RBH Unrivaled Infrasonic sub and 2x RBH 1212SW subs.

The peak delay in these measurements is inaudible.  In reference systems you can see delays 2.5x greater versus what I'm seeing in these bass frequencies. Here's a look at the left speaker measured at the RSP. The minor spikes above 200Hz on the left speaker are likely caused by in-room reflections.

Here is how the center Utopia speaker measured at the RSP with the StudioTek 130 G4 screen fully down with a separate calibration profile.  In all these measurements, Dirac ART delivered almost textbook in-room performance akin to the phase linearity and time coherence Gene DellaSala is getting from his RBH Sound SVTRS active speakers.

Wavelet of the Center Channel Focal IWLCR Utopia measured at the RSP with Dirac ART and AT screen down

Measurement Comparison with Stewart Filmscreen StudioTek 130 G4

Let's look at the impact of an acoustically transparent screen on the 1000 Utopia's performance. All acoustically transparent screens start to show attenuation impact above 2kHz. The degree of attenuation varies on the quality of the screen.

I happen to be finishing my measurements of the Stewart Filmscreen StudioTek 130 G4 with the company's new Ultraperf acoustically transparent perforation for a forthcoming review on the StudioTek 130 G4, so you get a sneak peek. Ultraperf is a new perforation option with smaller holes that reduces minimum viewing distance to the screen to as close as 9 feet! 

Zoomed and detailed view of the Ultraperf acoustically transparent perforation. I wanted perforation through the masking area of the StudioTek 130 G4 for optimal sound transfer.

I spoke with Don Stewart who touted the capabilities of the screen and the Ultraperf.  Here are my preliminary measurements with the screen 6 7/8-inches from the speakers at the front wall. Note that you want at least 6-inches to 12-inches of space between the speakers and screen to give the sound enough area to pass through the AT screen without significant impact. 

These measurements are without Dirac engaged to simplify visualizing the impact of an acoustically transparent screen on the Focal's performance. The results are impressive and there's nothing dramatic in these measurements that you can't address with some minor EQ.

Focal IWLCR Utopia left, center, and right speakers with jumpers set to the "0" position. 

These measurements are a testament to the performance of the 1000 Utopia and the Stewart Filmscreen StudioTek 130 G4, which I should note is a vinyl—not woven—screen. The measurements point to the fact that the Focal 1000 Utopia are minimally impacted when placed behind a high quality acoustically transparent screen like the StudioTek 130 G4 with Ultraperf. The bottom line: Yes, you can get exceptional sound with reference in-wall speakers placed behind an AT screen.

Listening Impressions

I conducted listening in my  25-feet x 16-feet x 7-feet theater, treated with Vicousic acoustical panels. The Reference Seating Position (RSP) is approximately 10-feet 8-inches from the center channel and 11-feet 5-inches away from the left and right speakers. I auditioned the Focal 1000 series calibrated with Dirac full range (no subs) and Dirac ART with the RBH Unrivaled 21-inch infrasonic sub and dual 1212SW subs.

Music source material was my Roon Nucleus server with a mix of purchased hi-res music, Qobuz, and AppleTV Dolby Atmos tracks.  Movie source material was UHD 4K discs played on my Oppo UDP-203 and AppleTV.  

Two-Channel Music

When evaluating any system, I always start with two-channel music to give me a feel for the system's imaging, soundstage, timbre, and dynamics. 

The first thing that struck me about the Focal 1000 IWLCR Utopia speakers was their stable, pinpoint stereo imaging. I'd say they hit for par versus a birdie or eagle with similarly priced floor standers. Vocals were locked dead center, with solid dimensionality and presence. Friends and family always assumed the center channel was on during stereo content. Watching their facial expression change to incredulity as they moved closer to the dead-silent center channel is always a fun moment.

Whether it was Florence Welch’s soaring vocals on King, Brandi Carlile's emotive delivery on Turpentine from Live at Street Records, or Alicia Keys' soulful Fallin’, the 1000 IWLCR Utopia brought these voices to life every time. Midrange and top-end details were effortlessly clear, and instrument textures shone through with a luscious, high-fidelity sound. Playing any of Dominique Fils-Aimé's classic tracks like "Rise" or "Birds" reinforced my impression of the system's performance. Music was never two dimensional or dull. Timbral accuracy was excellent.

Rendering the piano is always a good test for a speaker's performance. The IWLCR Utopia? Nailed it! Take Sade's Morning Bird, for example: The Utopias captured every delicate nuance of the piano's broad, rich notes, from the depth of each chord to the notes' decay. The result was a deep emotional connection to the music. This is exactly what a high-end speaker delivers.

If a life-size, three-dimensional image is something you cherish, you’ll fall in love with the 1000 IWLCR Utopia. These speakers cast a tall and wide image that filled the room, reminiscent of the sensation I felt with the Focal Scala Utopia experience. I have the Revel Ultima2 Salons with quad Perlisten D212s with an Anthem AVM 90 and Benchmark AHB2 amps in another room. Comparatively speaking, the IWLCR Utopias delivered the sense of larger images and a larger soundstage versus the Salon2. The Salon2's soundstage was deeper, more pinpoint, and transparent compared to the IWLCR Utopia. It's about compromises.

That being said, imagine the grand experience with orchestral music through the IWLCR Utopia. And when moving to immersive audio, especially with content mixed to the center channel, the front soundstage with the LCR alignment on the Utopias was a seamless musical canvas. That level of immersion is truly captivating.

The Focal's dynamics deliver, giving music a punchy, live feel. Bass notes—whether drums or synthesizers hit me in the chest with some weight or pressurized the room. Even when listening to the Focals as background music, I found myself pausing time and again and saying, "You know, that just sounds good."

The IWLCR Utopias easily create the sensation that fools you into thinking you're listening to freestanding speakers.

The 1000 IWLCR and IWSUB Utopia punch above their weight class with bass. If you're looking for an all in-wall solution without any subs, you'll do a double take. I did. I found that aspect of the Focal Utopia's configuration smart and applicable to certain use cases.  My demands were for something beyond. 

Therefore, when you add subs—especially high performance subs and an infrasonic to mate with the Utopia IWLCR and IWSUB you're really able to take the system to another level. As good as the RBH 1212SW on-wall subs are, I have a distinct feeling that had I added the Perlisten D212s, the system would have reached another level.

Ultimately, for speakers that disappear in your room's footprint, the Focal 1000 Utopia's performance is incredibly satisfying with music. Whether played full range or paired with reference subs, music is engaging, nuanced, and so enjoyable at every turn. 

Movies

Let's see how the 7.3.4 Focal 1000 series system fared with Dolby Atmos 4K UHD editions played through my Oppo UDP-203.

The two-part Dune series is one of the best sci-fi epics in recent memory. The Focal 1000 series, paired with the RBH subs and the Astral 16, turned my theater space in to the desert of Arrakis. Chapter 8 of Dune Part 1—the spice harvester and worm scene—became an immersive demo reel, propelled by Hans Zimmer’s electrifying score. The Dolby Atmos track was pristine, with deep, thundering drums that reverberated through the room as the Ornithopters glided over the desert. There was zero muddiness or compression, just clean, precise, pulsating sound.

One standout moment occurs when the Atreides’ Ornithopter hovers into the screen. The physical, visceral impact of the Ornithopter blades pulsating made my body feel like the impact of a helicopter taking off in my space. As the Ornithopter dives toward the desert floor, the Focal 1000 series with the visuals of the 125-inch StudioTek 130 G4 made me feel like I was on a Star Wars "Rise of the Resistance" simulator. I literally felt my body react to the sensation as though I was diving with the Ornithopters. That’s engagement at a whole different level. 

The scene when Paul Atreides steps onto desert sands of Arrakis during this chaotic, sonic storm, the Focal 1000, RBH subs, and Astral 16 combo conjured up the chaos. The system blew away out any sense of physical space, and yet controlled every nuance with remarkable finesse. Every detail—whispering wind, sand grain, footsteps—was distinct, while the Bene Gesserit Reverend Mother's voice swirled with heightened resolution. As the giant sand-worm engulfs the spice harvester, I felt the physical sense of pressure in my theater space change. It's uncanny. It was like the sense of shifting pressures we New Englanders feel when riding out a Nor'easter. And yet there was no loss of fine sonic details inherent in the scene! I replayed this scene at least dozen times—including 107dB peaks measured from the second row. Every time, my reaction and that of my friends was, "Now THAT is how the scene is supposed to be experienced."

The desert run scene in Top Gun: Maverick (Chapter 10) is another demo-worthy scene that tests a system’s dynamic range and spatial rendering. As the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet cuts through the desert terrain, the Focal 1000 series, coupled with the Astral 16, nailed the dimensionality and sense of space in the scene. The sense of space between cockpit and exterior shots was impeccable, and even at 106dB, the speakers kept everything tight and detailed.

Both Dune and Top Gun Maverick didn't just sound great—they created an unconscious, physical impact. Perhaps that's the best compliment I can pay: Everyone commented on the intense physical and emotional engagement these scenes delivered in this setup—including sweaty palms. That’s the kind of immersion the Focal system delivered.