Focal Vestia No 1： Betta than Meta？
United States of Analog | July 8, 2023
🎙️ Early Video Analysis
What is this video about?
- This is a review comparing the Focal Vestia No. 1 bookshelf speakers ($1,200) against the KEF LS50 Meta speakers ($1,500)
- The host frames it as “France vs England” in the “World Cup of bookshelf speakers”
- The host is establishing the KEF LS50 Metas as a baseline before diving into the Focal review
What gear, products, or brands are discussed?
- KEF LS50 Meta speakers: $1,500, released fall 2022, features Meta material and concentric drivers
- Focal Vestia No. 1 bookshelf speakers: $1,200, features 6.5-inch slate fiber woofer (carbon fiber and polymer) with inverted dome
- Klipsch Fortes: Host’s current reference speakers for about 1.5 years
- B&W 600M Generation 1: Alternative speakers the host rotates in
- ELAC speakers: 6.2s and 5.2s models mentioned as alternatives
- JM Labs Chorus 706: 1990s speakers (JM Labs became Focal)
- Vintage brands mentioned: Marantz, Kenwood, Pioneer (from host’s 1970s experience)
What are the host’s main opinions or takes so far?
- KEF LS50 Metas were overhyped when released in fall 2022, with reviewers “tripping over themselves” with praise [00:01:41]
- The Metas have “fallen out of favor” with him and he’s been switching them out more often [00:02:25]
- At $1,500, the KEF Metas now seem “a little overpriced” to him [00:03:17]
- Still appreciates the Metas’ form factor, concentric drivers, and detail [00:02:42]
Were there any notable comparisons between products?
- Primary comparison: Focal Vestia No. 1 ($1,200) vs KEF LS50 Meta ($1,500)
- Host mentions rotating between multiple speakers including B&W 600M Gen 1, ELAC 6.2s/5.2s, and vintage JM Labs Chorus 706
- Klipsch Fortes established as his current reference point that other speakers are compared against
Were there any funny moments, strong opinions, or memorable quotes?
- “I feel like a real newsman” [00:00:30] – self-deprecating humor about his presentation style
- “I’m a youngster on YouTube, but not on planet Earth” [00:00:53] – humorous way to describe being new to content creation but experienced in life
- Framing the speaker comparison as “France against England” in the “World Cup of bookshelf speakers” [00:00:19, 00:03:34]
3-Paragraph Summary:
The host Bob opens this video by establishing a comparison between two popular bookshelf speakers, framing it playfully as “France vs England in the World Cup of bookshelf speakers.” He’s reviewing the Focal Vestia No. 1 speakers (priced at $1,200) against the KEF LS50 Meta speakers ($1,500), with the latter serving as his baseline reference. The video is sponsored by Origin HiFi Systems in Austin, Texas, who loaned him the Focal speakers for review.
Bob provides context about his audio background, mentioning he’s been collecting gear since the early 1970s and even sold stereo equipment in the mid-70s. He discusses how the KEF LS50 Metas were widely praised when released in fall 2022, earning numerous awards and becoming the “darling of the audiophile world.” He admits he initially bought into the hype and used them as his reference bookshelf speakers until acquiring Klipsch Fortes about 1.5 years ago.
However, Bob’s enthusiasm for the KEF Metas has waned over time. He finds himself rotating them out more frequently in favor of other speakers in his collection, including B&W 600M Generation 1, various ELAC models, and even vintage JM Labs Chorus 706 speakers from the 1990s. He now considers the $1,500 KEF Metas overpriced, which sparked his interest in the $1,200 Focal Vestia No. 1 speakers with their slate fiber woofers made of carbon fiber and polymer. The stage is set for determining whether the French Focals can outperform the English KEFs.
⏱️ Mid-Video Analysis
Gear, products, or brands discussed:
- [00:04:14] Focal Vestia No 1 speakers (light wood finish)
- [00:04:14] Origin Hi-Fi (retailer/distributor)
- [00:05:50] KEF Meta speakers (referenced as comparison)
- [00:06:32] Technics SU-G700 70-watt digital integrated amp
- [00:06:39] McIntosh MA252 hybrid 100-watt integrated amp
- [00:06:51] Naim Unity Atom (on loan)
- [00:06:53] Kanto 21-inch speaker stands
Host’s key findings, verdicts, or opinions:
- [00:05:22] Prefers black speakers over white/light wood finish for his home theater setup
- [00:05:40] The white finish “grew on me”
- [00:05:45] Indifferent about rounded edges design (“could take or leave that”)
- [00:05:55] Finds rectangular metal grills don’t match the rounded speaker corners
- [00:06:02] Prefers speakers without grills (“shower, not a grower”)
- [00:07:14] Considers the Technics his “favorite go-to amp”
Listening tests or sound quality observations described:
- [00:07:11] Started listening tests with Technics pairing
- [00:07:18] Found the Vestias “clear as a bell” with good detail
- [00:07:19] Notes all expected detail “was coming through the Vestias”
- [00:07:25] Describes sound as “maybe just on the inside edge of bright” for his taste
Comparisons to other gear mentioned:
- [00:05:48] Compares design to traditional bookshelf speakers
- [00:05:50] Notes that “the Metas are pretty shapely themselves” when discussing rounded edges
Summary:
In this portion, the host provides detailed specifications and design observations of the Focal Vestia No 1 speakers. He describes the technical features including the 1-inch M-shaped TAM alloy tweeter with its 56Hz to 30kHz frequency response, the front-firing port, and the speakers’ French manufacturing. He also discusses the aesthetic elements, noting the light wood finish with pronounced grain, the leather wrapping, and his personal preference for black speakers over the white finish he received for review.
The host then details his setup process and equipment matching, explaining how the speakers’ 89.5dB sensitivity and 8-ohm impedance work well with his reference amplifiers. He describes his physical placement using Kanto stands and positioning 18 inches from the front wall. His approach shows careful attention to proper speaker positioning and system matching.
Initial listening impressions with the Technics SU-G700 reveal positive results, with the host praising the clarity and detail retrieval of the Vestias. However, he notes that the sound signature leans toward the bright side of neutral, which may not align perfectly with his personal preferences. This sets up what appears to be the beginning of more detailed listening evaluations with different amplifier pairings.
🏁 Final Thoughts & Verdict
What gear, products, or brands are discussed in this final portion?
- Focal Vestia No. 1 speakers (main focus)
- KEF LS50 Meta speakers (for comparison)
- McIntosh amplifier (“Mac”) [00:08:09-00:08:41]
- Unity Atom amplifier (40 watts AB, British-made) [00:08:43-00:09:12]
- Klipsch Forte speakers (host’s reference speakers) [00:09:25]
- ELAC 3010 app-controlled subwoofer [00:09:29]
- Naim and Technics amplifiers (mentioned briefly) [00:09:41]
What is the host’s final verdict or conclusion?
The host concludes that the Focal Vestia No. 1 speakers could be a “KEF LS50 Meta killer” [00:11:15], calling them extraordinary sounding despite their ordinary looks [00:10:55-00:10:59]. He gives “France the point” in this comparison, suggesting the Focals may take “three points” while the Metas get one point [00:11:17-00:11:26].
Were there any final recommendations — buy, skip, or consider?
- The Vestias “could be a suitable replacement for the Metas” [00:09:30-00:09:34]
- Strong recommendation to “keep the grills in the box” as the speakers don’t need them and look fine without them [00:10:49-00:10:55]
- For their size and price point, they represent excellent value [00:11:15]
Any final tips, caveats, or advice for viewers?
- Optimal positioning: 15-degree toe-in (between 10-15 degrees) works best [00:07:47-00:07:53]
- The KEF’s form factor advantage is “tough to part with” [00:09:34-00:09:41]
- Amplifier pairing matters significantly – avoid overly warm amplifiers like the Mac [00:08:15-00:08:41]
- Adding a subwoofer (like the ELAC 3010) enhances the “live feel” [00:09:29-00:09:30]
How did the video wrap up?
The video ended with the host asking viewers about their favorite bookshelf speakers and which country they think produces the best audio gear overall, encouraging comments before signing off “United States of Analog” [00:11:26-00:11:31].
Any memorable closing quotes or strong final opinions?
- “They have an ordinary look, but they produce an extraordinary sound” [00:10:55-00:10:59]
- “I think for their size and their price, they could be a KEF LS50 Meta killer, and we’ll give France the point” [00:11:15-00:11:17]
- Reference to them as “numero unos, as they’re known, south of the border” [00:11:04-00:11:07]
Summary
In this final portion, the host details his setup optimization process with the Focal Vestia No. 1 speakers, finding that a 15-degree toe-in angle provided the best performance, allowing the speakers to “disappear” into the room with excellent center imaging. He tested multiple amplifier pairings, finding that while a McIntosh amplifier was too warm and lacked excitement for these speakers, the Unity Atom (a British 40-watt Class AB amplifier) provided the ideal combination of warmth, detail, and punch that made the Focals shine.
The host’s enthusiasm peaks when discussing the speakers’ exceptional soundstaging capabilities, particularly their ability to create depth and spatial imaging that extends behind the speakers themselves – a quality he specifically seeks but doesn’t always find in audio equipment. He praises their center imaging, width, and slight height presentation, noting they were completely non-fatiguing while staying just shy of being overly bright, crediting much of this performance to Focal’s unique M-shaped driver design.
His final verdict positions the Focal Vestia No. 1 as a serious competitor to the popular KEF LS50 Meta, potentially even a “Meta killer” that gives France a decisive win in this comparison. Despite acknowledging that KEF’s compact form factor remains appealing, he concludes that the Focals’ extraordinary sound quality, especially their remarkable spatial depth and imaging capabilities, combined with their competitive pricing, makes them an outstanding choice for listeners seeking high-performance bookshelf speakers.
Analysis generated from archived transcripts. Channel: United States of Analog — hi-fi gear reviews, vinyl, and audiophile culture.
