ISE sees the launch of two new built-in speaker ranges from Focal, with the introduction of the new entry-level 100 Series and additional products added to the mid-priced 300 Series. These new solutions integrate into the home with discretion, just like the in-ceiling loudspeakers of the 100 Series.  Featuring an impressively compact design, the speaker driver’s basket and chassis has been designed as a single unit. The 100 Series is equipped with Focal’s proven technologies inherited from 35 years of expertise, such as the Polyglass mid/bass driver cone and the aluminium inverted dome tweeter. All models are suitable for a wide-range of applications, including humid environments such as bathrooms.

The 300 Series range is made in France and features exclusive Focal technologies, such as the famous Flax cone and the aluminium-magnesium inverted dome tweeter, providing sound quality that will impress even the most ardent audiophile. They also provide a major advantage when it comes to installation, which has been greatly simplified with the EQI system (Easy Quick Install). Whether they’re used as in-ceiling or in-wall loudspeakers, they require no tools to install, for an unrivalled ease and speed of installation. These new products also meet the most essential criteria regarding use and installation: frameless, adjustable tweeters, magnetic grilles etc.

Besides the launch of the entry-level 100 Series and the mid-range 300 Series, Electra is keeping its flagship range position. Other additional products (outdoor, subwoofer and amplifier) will be added to this line in the coming months. Note that the accessories required for installation (pre-mounting kit and fire barrier box) are already available.

100 Series: Discreet and compact

The 100 Series range covers the entry-level to Focal’s Integration line, which is mainly dedicated to the home audio market. The 100 Series loudspeakers set themselves apart from the competition thanks to high quality performance and compact size considering their SPL.

In this perspective, the 100 Series range is composed of three coaxial loudspeakers, all of which can be used as either in-wall or in ceiling loudspeakers (100 ICW5, 100 ICW6 and 100 ICW8), one coaxial in ceiling stereo loudspeaker (100 IC6ST), one in-ceiling loudspeaker (IC LCR5) and two products specifically intended for in wall use (100 IW6, 100 IWLCR5).

This new range of products is faithful to the three quality criteria created for the mid-priced 300 Series launched three years ago, and which are absolutely necessary in order to meet the expectations of today’s consumer when it comes to sound quality, design and installation.

To meet Focal’s strict requirement of performance, the 100 Series range needed to be innovative: as regards the acoustics, the products are equipped with a new, more compact and less directive aluminium inverted dome tweeter and a new Polyglass cone speaker driver. The “in ceiling” loudspeakers are equipped with a new crossover with an innovative architecture which improves off axis listening while also significantly reducing the undesired “bathroom effect” often encountered with this type of product.

Easy to install and perfect integration

By offering very compact products, thanks in particular to the unibody chassis, and to the round and square frameless grilles (only for the ICW5, ICW6, ICW8, IC6ST), the models of the 100 Series (ICW5, ICW6, ICW8, IC6ST, ICLCR5, IW6 and IWLCR5) will perfectly integrate interiors with utmost discretion. All products in this series are compatible with all types of use, even in humid environments, such as bathrooms.

Another key feature is their ease of installation. Thanks to the very robust mounting brackets and the magnetic grilles, installation time is reduced to a minimum. The products in the 100 Series range also have a shallow mounting depth, which greatly facilitates installation. The 100 ICW5, 100 ICW6, 100 ICW8 and 100 IC6ST loudspeakers are all equipped with a three-position high-frequency switch (-3dB, 0dB, + 3dB), for equalising the treble according to the room’s acoustics. In addition to this feature, the 100 IW6 and the 100 IWLCR5 are equipped with an additional switch for equalising the mid range register (-2 dB, 0 dB, + 2 dB). The 100 ICLCR5 loudspeaker represents Focal’s will to offer the best performance for different kinds of use. A three-position switch is used to determine the function of the product (left, centre or right loudspeaker) to ensure an identical tonal balance at the listening point for the optimal Home Cinema set-up.

In a broader approach, all the products in the 100 Series can be used for enhancing classic Hi-Fi systems, particularly the loudspeakers in the Chorus 700 line, for those looking for a discreet, high quality Home Cinema system. Installation accessories (pre-mounting kit and fire rated back box) are also available and are sold separately.

300 Series: choose performance

In the middle of the range, the 300 Series (ICW4, ICW6, ICW8) has been joined by three new models (IW6, IWLCR6, ICLCR5). This makes it the ideal range for meeting all the expectations of home audio systems, especially for complete audio-video systems. Users and installers will now find a dedicated product offering suitable for every room of the house (even for residential Home Cinemas measuring 160-320ft2/ 15 to 30m2), for complete A/V systems and entirely built-in systems or even for combining traditional loudspeakers with in-wall/in-ceiling loudspeakers. The 300 Series is entirely made in France and is extremely consistent, by covering all the needs and uses for installers; for in wall or in ceiling loudspeakers (ICW4, ICW6, ICW8 and IWLCR6) and complete audio / video systems (IWLCR6 and ICLCR5).

The new models all feature Flax cone woofers to deliver perfect acoustics, and a fully adjustable tweeter with an Aluminium/Magnesium inverted dome.

Great attention was also paid to the optimisation of the phase in order to achieve perfect sound reproduction regardless of the listening point in the room. This makes it possible to install a system which respects the interior decor by preserving the surfaces (ceilings and walls). Note that for the products already available (ICW4, ICW6, ICW8), the tweeter has been designed to avoid having any “bathroom” effect.

The 300 ICLCR5 is equipped with a left / centre / right channel selector to mechanically direct the sound towards the listening point, making it perfect for Home Cinemas. For in-ceiling loudspeakers, the dedicated 300 ICLCR5 is equipped with an adjustable tweeter housing for directing sound towards the listening point with precision. The tweeter level is also adjustable so that it can be set according to the room’s acoustics, and the upper mid-range can also be adjusted.

The flagship product of the range is the IWLCR6, which is ideal for building an exceptional Home Cinema set-up. The mid-range/tweeter section which can be rotated by 90° for use as a left, centre or right loudspeaker. This guarantees exceptional sound quality, a very high SPL and really deep bass.

Ease of installation, something which made the first products in the line so successful, is still a key quality of these three new loudspeakers, with the patented EQI system (Easy Quick Install). They can be installed without tools thanks to the mounting bracket system, which automatically attaches the loudspeaker to the support, ensuring the system’s ridged mounting and total reliability.

All the specs are here: https://www.focal.com/us