Focal Diva Utopiachat_bubble_outlineFrom real comments

Several commenters worried that a failed amp, DAC or unsupported software could effectively brick the expensive speaker, with repair requiring shipping heavy units back to the manufacturer and no guarantee of long-term parts support.

@thomasc1753

At the cost of some of these active speakers you have every right for them to be heirloom or lifetime products.... There is NO CHANCE these amps in any of these things are going to be supported long term or available very far into the future. Foolish thing to buy.launch

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February 2, 2026

@Harry-Giles

I really enjoyed this review. It got me thinking. I would be inclined to get powered speakers if I replace my Cornwall IVs at some point. It would reduce clutter and presumably the amps would be of high quality from a good brand. My one hesitation would be to risk an amp/electronic failure in something on the high end. Sure, you can get it fixed but what a pain. These speakers are 140 pounds each. If my integrated amp died today I could swap that out easily. For something more modest like Klipsch Sevens then this would be less of an issue. Interested in your thoughts on this issue for more expensive/heavy speakers.launch

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February 2, 2025

@EricRhodes1

Throw just one piston and your whole system is down until you can get it repaired and shipped back by FedEx. Have fun with that. 😂\nLet alone when Gen 2 of active/all-in-one speakers arrive, they'll certainly start cheaping out on parts like the amp, the dac, the dsp, the warranty... People need to resist this awful trend. These are the RV's of audio.launch

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February 2, 2025

@KS-mt1lb

I personally would not get this even if it is more affordable is the support for security patches etc. Will the software be useless in 5 years? \nIt would be an absolute waste for the amp and speaker to be bricked just because it lost software support!launch

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February 2, 2025

Numerous commenters were frustrated that a roughly $40,000 product shipped with a buggy app and software crashes, calling it unacceptable at this price point and inconsistent with a luxury experience.

@andrewrobinsonreviews

UPDATE 02/06/2025: I just received word from a representative of Focal/NAIM that an update has been released (7.3.0) to the Focal/NAIM App, specifically for use with the Diva Utopia we reviewed last week. This update addresses the software bugs and crashes I pointed out in our review, which, according to Focal/NAIM, have now been fixed. I no longer have the Diva Utopias in my possession, so I cannot test this update further to confirm these claims. Nevertheless, Focal/NAIM were able to recreate my findings and have addressed and fixed them as of today. I sincerely appreciate the team at Focal/NAIM taking my notes and concerns seriously and working diligently to provide their customers with a fix. This is the type of customer experience and commitment to excellence I would expect if I were a Diva Utopia customer, and it would appear the brand has responded and delivered in kind.launch

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February 6, 2025

@twrex-13

I don't want to come across as a jerk here, but $40,000 speakers with broken software seems like a pretty big miss to melaunch

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February 3, 2025

@sakio327

It seems like Focal/NAIM had a good idea and went somewhat half-ass on the execution. Of course the sound is going to be fantastic. It's a Focal with 800 watts of NAIM power. It's just too bad the app (or the software controlling the speakers) are so buggy. Missing a fully automatic sound optimization or subwoofer output is unforgivable. They could do much better than this for the price..........not that I could ever afford it.launch

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February 2, 2025

@alfredoltinocol

Great review as always. Perhaps you can cover in the unplug the fact that somehow $40000 price tag and having to deal with bugs doesn't feel like a luxury experience to me. Also, on the future of hi-fi I agree that powered speakers seem to be the way of the future, but I think their weakness is future proofing them. It seems that speakers and amplification can have a better long term viability, but he same cannot be said for connectivity and support for apps/protocols. Perhaps leaving the speakers with just speaker, amplification and wireless connection to a separate main box handling connectivity and support for newer apps/connection protocols might allow for better future proofing, i.e. just replacing the main box instead of the whole speaker system.launch

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February 2, 2025

Many potential buyers cited the lack of a subwoofer output as a major omission at this price, especially for real living-room setups where added bass control matters.

@dawn-moon

The target market and the lack of subwoofer outs seems like a big miss to me. Then, as if they knew it needed more bass themselves, they have come up with the Mezza Utopia, delivering more bass... Depending on your room, if used in a real living room f.e. , setting them up next to your TV, makes for a clean setup, but your living room layout may have non optimal speaker positioning. Being able to add a sub, just to even out the bass, would have been nice. Even on popular Kanta / Sopra lines, Focal are having a lack in matching subwoofers, both audio wise and visually... I'm a huge Focal fan, but they need some proper bass addict in the team badly :) I think they only listen to Édith Piaf etc while testing :)launch

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February 1, 2026

@sakio327

It seems like Focal/NAIM had a good idea and went somewhat half-ass on the execution. Of course the sound is going to be fantastic. It's a Focal with 800 watts of NAIM power. It's just too bad the app (or the software controlling the speakers) are so buggy. Missing a fully automatic sound optimization or subwoofer output is unforgivable. They could do much better than this for the price..........not that I could ever afford it.launch

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February 2, 2025

@sammy10001

Im all for futute-fi products.\n\nAfterall, future-fi products are suppose to be the companys hail mary, no budget held back of a product.\n\nBut no subwoofer out, no dirac seems very non future fi at all.\n\nLook at dynaudio active speakers, they have dirac.\n\nI think this focal speaker is a passlaunch

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February 2, 2025

@danil34

I've been waiting for this to drop and maybe in the market for this. But at $40k without subwoofer out, im a cold turkey. Anyone spending this kind of $$ must be a big hifi enthusiast and subwoofers are most likely a necessity \n\nI guess the hdmi issue can be fixed with an updatelaunch

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February 2, 2025

Several experienced hi-fi listeners argued that comparable or better sound could be achieved for less with passive speakers and separates, or with professional active monitors like Genelec, ATC, or Neumann.

@vtkz

Heard them a few months ago, yea there were okey but never ever worth the price. Genelec 8361, Neumann KH420, ATC 100A are an league above in every category (fine details, imaging etc) and still cheaper. In general i would never buy passive again but i would always put the sources externaly and the competition already brings out the finest actives. And no XLR and only 250w for the Lowend... underpowered imo - also a reason i wouldnt buy them.\n\nBut for the people who just want to plug and play its propably a good product. But as an person who uses actives over 10 yrs there are brands who deliver more for far less moneylaunch

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September 17, 2025

@systematic-u4x

I auditioned these. They are so mediocre for the price I can't believe all the positive reception. They were quite compressed and lacked the sense of scale and slam that I came to expect from Focal floorstanders.\nYou can build a much better-sounding system including DAC, pre, power amp and speakers for under $20000.launch

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April 16, 2025

@vtkz

Active all the way yes, but with sourced out Streaming Supplies. I heard them, theyre not bad but the price is way too high for this tech. I rather spend money on proven professional Actives like a Neumann KH420, Genelec 8361, ATC SCM50 or GGNTKT Model M3 than this Focal (just my preference). The future will be more towards active (because this is modern loudspeaker building), but please not with this streaming & wireless stuff on board. Better some integrated solid Room Correction that would helps way more for good sound.launch

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February 18, 2025

@whitecrowuk575

DOA. I don’t think people who can afford these are fans of powered speakers that don’t do or sound better than comparable passives. Let’s be honest you can get passives in that budget with amps that will sound comparably if not better. In luxury passive world you need something like Beolab 90 that do stuff that passives in comparable price can’t. \nUnsurprisingly ls60 wins. Especially with latest discounts on them - kind of no brainer speaker unless you have massive space - but still can be mitigated with addition of two subwoofers.launch

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February 2, 2025

Commenters noted the room correction/automatic sound optimization felt unfinished or missing entirely, unlike competing active systems (e.g., Dirac-equipped Dynaudio), which was seen as a serious shortfall for the price.

@rogersaudiocorner

So, an high-end loudspeaker with one of the worst room correction software available today, and internal amplification that hisses (another \"high-end* trait of Naim)?\n\nI would rather buy the passive version and a good amp (which doesn't need to cost anywhere close to Anime prices) with solid Room EQ software. 😉\n\nThese days, both DSP and great class D amplification is able to negate the need for huge amplifiers, meaning that they're easier to get out of sight.\n\nFrom my experience on integrating HiFi (and often surround sound) systems with interior arquitects, I'm not sure that there's any real advantage on having several cables behind a loudspeaker (power, HDMI, and often others), when we can have only one, with a hidden amp that receives all input cables.\n\nActive loudspeakers can definetly be great on several levels, but this one seems like a premium pair of loudspeakers with below average electronics.\n\nIOW, I don't have a problem with any product costing whatever it needs to cost.\n\nBut above a certain price point, if there's a price premium, I expect it to come with a performance premium.\n\nI couldn't care less about SINAD and other \"trendy\" measurements, but I certainly care about an audio system being quiet when music is not being played.\n\nAre we talking about HiFi amplifiers, or cheaper Crown Pro amplifiers?\n\nOne has a justification, but the other one doesn't. 😉launch

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April 17, 2026

@sammy10001

Im all for futute-fi products.\n\nAfterall, future-fi products are suppose to be the companys hail mary, no budget held back of a product.\n\nBut no subwoofer out, no dirac seems very non future fi at all.\n\nLook at dynaudio active speakers, they have dirac.\n\nI think this focal speaker is a passlaunch

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February 2, 2025

@CButti-x1s

Good Sunday morning A&K. Another excellent review as always. The lack of a subwoofer output and the not quite fully fleshed out room correction seem to me major misses for a product at this price point. The fact that the KEF's can come that close except in the extremes is a real testament to the outstanding value and engineering they offer. It's clear that as more and more speaker manufacturers offer powered versions of their speakers, things can only continue to improve in terms of performance and choice. Relax and enjoy the end of the weekend.launch

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February 2, 2025

@gavriushka

It’s such a gorgeous speaker! I’m so glad to see more companies going full powered speakers way. Your move B&W! The only thing about this speaker is that I feel like for the price it’s a bit of a rough product. Not enough refinement, some features missing, some features aren’t as good as they really should be like the room correction. It reminds me of Apples first gen product dilemma, where it’s basically made to gauge the consumer interest and it’s always expensive and half baked. But the second gen is awesome after that. This seems to be exactly that, and you’re probably better off waiting for a second generation or looking elsewhere for the time being. But that’s just me. Maybe, since they’re fully powered, through software updates they could change some of the things as well? Either way, it’s genuinely amazing to see more and more high end speakers going this route and it’s clear it is indeed the future and I can’t wait to shop almost all speakers and at all price points with zero thoughts about amplifiers, DACs and so on. \nGreat review and I have to mention the coloring on this specific video is amazing. I don’t know if you did anything, or what you did, but it looks amazing. \nAlso, how’s the Sonic 3 and what are the best movies you’ve enjoyed the most this year so far? Best wishes to all and happy Sunday!launch

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February 2, 2025

Buyers were concerned the electronics can't be upgraded as streaming and DAC technology evolves, unlike modular systems from brands like Linn, making the speaker feel like a dead end as tech moves on.

@alfredoltinocol

Great review as always. Perhaps you can cover in the unplug the fact that somehow $40000 price tag and having to deal with bugs doesn't feel like a luxury experience to me. Also, on the future of hi-fi I agree that powered speakers seem to be the way of the future, but I think their weakness is future proofing them. It seems that speakers and amplification can have a better long term viability, but he same cannot be said for connectivity and support for apps/protocols. Perhaps leaving the speakers with just speaker, amplification and wireless connection to a separate main box handling connectivity and support for newer apps/connection protocols might allow for better future proofing, i.e. just replacing the main box instead of the whole speaker system.launch

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February 2, 2025

@serloinoflamm1119

Love the idea behind these, but worry the dac and streaming platform will quickly become outdated. I would not spend this kind of money unless these could easily be upgraded. Linn has a modular system which allows components to be easily upgraded. Shame Naim/Focal has not taken a similar approach. I think I will wait for the v2 which hopefully will be more modular for easy upgrades.launch

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October 11, 2024

@fletchermunson6225

Beautiful but if they are not modular, what do you do with your $40k speakers when streamer or digital converter technology moves on? Anything you can not upgrade the electronics on is an incubating dinosaur . I like the fabric finish but I fear so would my wife's cat. Yikes!launch

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October 11, 2024

The felt-covered cabinet finish drew criticism from some commenters who compared it to cheap carpet or street-vendor material, and joked it would be destroyed by a household cat.

@fletchermunson6225

Good grief, doesn't anyone at Focal have a cat? Those things will look like giant fuzzy cactus when someone's cat has their way with that felt.launch

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February 2, 2025

@audiojunior174

FOCALs have a wonderful sound, being one of the best in the HI-FI and HI-END world, however this detail is totally proportional to its lack of good aesthetic taste, the factory manages to sin grotesquely in this regard, as for example this UTOPIA, it looks like it is covered in carpet sold by street vendors.launch

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October 11, 2024

@fletchermunson6225

Beautiful but if they are not modular, what do you do with your $40k speakers when streamer or digital converter technology moves on? Anything you can not upgrade the electronics on is an incubating dinosaur . I like the fabric finish but I fear so would my wife's cat. Yikes!launch

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October 11, 2024

At least one commenter noted audible hiss from the internal amplification, and another felt the 250W low-end power was underpowered compared to rival professional active monitors, with no XLR input offered.

@rogersaudiocorner

So, an high-end loudspeaker with one of the worst room correction software available today, and internal amplification that hisses (another \"high-end* trait of Naim)?\n\nI would rather buy the passive version and a good amp (which doesn't need to cost anywhere close to Anime prices) with solid Room EQ software. 😉\n\nThese days, both DSP and great class D amplification is able to negate the need for huge amplifiers, meaning that they're easier to get out of sight.\n\nFrom my experience on integrating HiFi (and often surround sound) systems with interior arquitects, I'm not sure that there's any real advantage on having several cables behind a loudspeaker (power, HDMI, and often others), when we can have only one, with a hidden amp that receives all input cables.\n\nActive loudspeakers can definetly be great on several levels, but this one seems like a premium pair of loudspeakers with below average electronics.\n\nIOW, I don't have a problem with any product costing whatever it needs to cost.\n\nBut above a certain price point, if there's a price premium, I expect it to come with a performance premium.\n\nI couldn't care less about SINAD and other \"trendy\" measurements, but I certainly care about an audio system being quiet when music is not being played.\n\nAre we talking about HiFi amplifiers, or cheaper Crown Pro amplifiers?\n\nOne has a justification, but the other one doesn't. 😉launch

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April 17, 2026

@vtkz

Heard them a few months ago, yea there were okey but never ever worth the price. Genelec 8361, Neumann KH420, ATC 100A are an league above in every category (fine details, imaging etc) and still cheaper. In general i would never buy passive again but i would always put the sources externaly and the competition already brings out the finest actives. And no XLR and only 250w for the Lowend... underpowered imo - also a reason i wouldnt buy them.\n\nBut for the people who just want to plug and play its propably a good product. But as an person who uses actives over 10 yrs there are brands who deliver more for far less moneylaunch

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September 17, 2025