Customer Reviews and Ratings

The volume output on these is so low I have no idea what the sound quality is like.
I was replacing a pair of blown out speakers that cost 1/3 of these and they sounded better even after they had blown out.

2 of 18 people found this useful

These speakers sounds fantastic - detailed, depth, great imaging, but they are very susceptible to noise both through the USB bus and power. While I think they have their driver design down, their power circuitry could use some redesign.

8 of 8 people found this useful

Have had these speakers for over a year and they still are very impressive

5 of 6 people found this useful

I've own many 5.1 systems including Logitech z5500, Focal professional cms50, Bose Companion 5, Bang & Olufsen BeoLab 4, Bose CineMate GS Series II and this one. They're all superior when listening to music in flac, apple lossless and aiff anything other than lossless format you're just wasting money. I dislike when people say something is overpriced just because they don't like it and I often hear these a lot. The reviewer from Calgary is expecting too much from a 5.1 system, it's there for you to listen to music on your itunes not your iphone. What is the point to listen to music from your iphone when all your songs is from itunes anyway. Who said you can't sync your iphone and listen to music at the same time? use a usb cable to sync and charge duh what a closed minded person. Anyways this speaker are really great in my audiophile collections, I would recommend this product to anyone who is a moderate or extreme audiophile like myself.

16 of 20 people found this useful

I bought these speakers a couple of months back, they have been simply amazing. The quality of sound is nothing like i have ever heard before.

The remote felt a little cheap as compared to the Zeppelin, but other than that- absolutely no complaints.

5 of 6 people found this useful

I initially got the B&W MM-1s. They were very disappointing and I returned them after a few weeks. Here's my bottom line on them. If you like superior and lifelike bass response these are definitely not for you. And I'm not talking booming bass. I'm taking solid bass response - like hearing McCartney or John McVie in Fleetwood Mac just to name some old school music - clearly and distinctly. But, it's the same regardless of musical genre. I really think a major part of the problem is the MM-1s are 2.0 speakers thus no separate sub-woofer (a 2.1 system) to adequately handle the bass. They just don't cut it. I also gave these speakers a long burn-in time. Auditioned them with a wide variety of music in both compressed and non-compressed formats through my Apple MacBook Pro 15" with an i7 processor. To be honest, I have pretty good ears for music and can pretty easily discern the differences between speakers. My existing 2.1 system back then - which was a Klipsch Pro Media 2.1 - did a much better job overall for about 1/4 of the cost. Believe me, I had high expectations and really wanted to make them work. They look great and have a small footprint on the desk. Back they went......I can only think how amazing these B&W's would have been as a 2.1 system.

I then got the Focal XS Satellite Speakers. THESE SPEAKERS ARE OUTSTANDING!! They are everything the MM-1 weren't. In fact, IMHO, they blow them out of the water. The Focal's are a 2.1 system - unlike the MM-1's which are a 2.0 system with no separate sub-woofer. And the separate sub-woofer for bass response make all the difference in the world. Even before burn-in I knew these were keepers. Finally, my search for great computer speakers was over! Yes, they cost about $100 more than the MM-1s. Let me tell you, they are worth every penny and more. The sound is incredible. Even for compressed MP3s. I also like that the two, smaller satellite speakers that sit on your desk are elevated. This makes a HUGE difference vs. any speaker sitting on the surface - like the MM-1s. The sub-woofer (which is well-designed and it very attractive BTW) has a separate bass level control. The fit, finish and look of these speakers is 1st class all the way! Do yourself a favor. If you are considering a high end set like the MM-1s, Bose or some other brand you owe it to yourself to give these a listen. But, not in a store. Get them delivered and try them during the 30-day trial period using your equipment and music in your listening location. If you don't like them all you have to do is return them - and all you're out is the return postage. In fact, if you time it right the charges won't even appear on your cc bill if you buy and return during a single billing period. One more thing, you can plug your Apple iPod/iPod Touch right into the unit (right-hand speaker) which has a built in dock - and adapters for all models are included. They even included a separate package with adapters for the newest versions. I imagine this component will be upgraded/modified as new models are brought to market and will be made available to owners of this system. So, no worry about obsolescence. You can play directly from it as well as charge it and sync to your computer. All controlled via the included remote control which also controls speaker volume. EZ set-up. You do need to change a setting in your Mac (System Preferences) or PC (Configuration Panel) after you plug it into your USB port and turn it in. Takes about 1 second. The included manual explains it very well.

Yes, it's a major expenditure. But, like many of you my computer has for all intents and purposes replaced my traditional stereo equipment. I listen to most of my music there. And it really deserves the best possible speakers to maximize enjoyment.

31 of 34 people found this useful

pro: sweet sounding speakers. even before burn-in, they sound wonderful. very accurate stereo image (depends on source, of course). there's a trick to adjusting the subwoofer to taste. the balance between the satellites & the subwoofer changes depending on volume; that's true of any speaker system.

con: brand new, they stink - something cooking in the power supply. the supplied docs are terse: what's the difference between the power button on the right satellite (& the remote) & the toggle switch on the subwoofer? unknown. some reviews claim the system uses only 2w in standby mode but how do you put it in standby mode? unknown.

19 of 23 people found this useful

I have tried many computer speakers, Bose, Harmon Kardon, M-Audio ect. The Focals are the most musical.

19 of 26 people found this useful

This is my second review of the Focal XS multimedia speaker system. Some of you may appreciate a follow-up. I have been critically listening this little system for 4 months. The price of admission is not cheap, but I must say, at $700 Canadian, the Focal XS is a bargain! I suppose some would call me an audio snob because I simply cannot tolerate most of what is available. The majority of producers and studio engineers intend for music to be experienced the way it sounded in the recording/mixdown process. Most speakers "color" audio to the point of being nearly unrecognizable when compared to the original. The Focal XS is an abrupt departure from the norm. The XS system is very true to the original…if the audio has been recorded well, it sounds excellent…if the music has been equalized, compressed and limited, it sounds that way. The Focal XS compares very favourably to most better home/professional speaker systems costing 3 to 4 times its price. I won't tell you the XS system sounds as good my $8,500 Martin-Logans or the $269,000 Focal Grand Utopia EM system (which, incidentally sets the worldwide standard for premium systems…yes the same company that makes the Focal XS). The Focal XS stands on it own, outranking 99% of ALL small multimedia speaker systems, at any price. The system is unique in that it employs its own custom digital to analog converter; which feeds a custom designed and built crossover and amplification system; which drives the speakers, which are designed and manufactured specifically for the application…all designed to function collectively as a unit. The Focal XS is intended to be a near-field monitor, therefore it is not as "loud" as some other speakers…but the sound that emerges from the system is as nearly perfect, pure and true as $700 can possibly buy anywhere.

As a side note: I have found iVolume to be the ideal companion to iTunes and the Focal XS, because without any compression or limiting, it sets all levels based on the loudest passages of each selection of music. I listen to everything from Jazz to Rock and Country to Classical…with iVolume, I rarely have any need to adjust levels.

32 of 32 people found this useful

I had a problem syncing my iPhone 3G with my iMac 27" i7. I got a message saying that "iTunes cannot read the content of the iPhone". After unsuccessfully testing all kind of possible solutions, including trying other USB ports, restoring the iPhone or disconnecting other USB devices, I managed to sync the iPhone by connecting the Focal XS through a powered USB Hub to the iMac. Strange but it works! The Hub is a Sitecom CN-052, not sold in the US, but it might work with other Hubs. For the ones who have the same problem, try it.

For the rest: stunning sound and beautiful design!

10 of 13 people found this useful