Focal Mezzo Utopia Floorstanding Speakers

Focal Mezzo Utopia Floorstanding Speakers 

USER REVIEWS

Showing 1-10 of 16  
[Aug 20, 2017]
henry
Casual Listener

All these people posted these reviews when i was like 6 months old lol

OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING
4
[Mar 20, 2011]
Bryan Hunt
AudioPhile

My search for a stereo speaker system is over. These speakers are as good as they get, IMO. Maybe a little better bass slam would be nice, but overall, I've not heard a better speaker anywhere. Wonderful deep and wide soundstage, great balance of tone, absolute clarity, For instance, I listened to Led Zeppelin II for about the 100th time,, and it was like the first time I ever heard it. The detail is astounding. I run these with an AudioPrism Mantissa pre, McCormack DNA1 rev. A amp, and Rotel RCD 975 CD player, all coupled with highend Belden cables. At full new price of $12,000, I'm not sure I'd buy them (I can't afford that sort of cash). But I got them preowned for $4200, and they are awesome. My former speakers were Kef Reference 4 and B&W cdm9nt. and B&W cdm7nt. Those are all nice in their own way, but can't compare with these Mezzo Utopias. Highly recommended..

OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING
5
[Dec 19, 2002]
john Sham
Audio Enthusiast

Strength:

too many

Weakness:

none

Some people reviewed this speaker was so harsh and that's not real. I bought mezzo about 6 months and this speaker is so amazing. I got a lot of hi-end speaker before, like Watt5.1 & puppy, ProAc response four,etc...but no one can better than or close to this speaker's performance. It is very easy to drive and with very great sound in many ways, especially in high level sounding that still very smooth and extended without bright and sharp to your ears.

Similar Products Used:

Audio physic, wilson benesch act one etc....

OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING
5
[Sep 28, 2002]
er doc
Audio Enthusiast

Strength:

strong, tight, fast bass riffs; alluring midrange; airy highs; prefer this speaker over B&W 800 Signature or Dynaudio Evidence Temptationi

Weakness:

lacking perhaps the last bit of detail and nuance on human voice compared to the von Schweikert VR-7; but perhaps that's limited by the electronics

The fantastic guys at Paradise Audio in San Jose set up the speakers with YBA front end and integrated amp. Wiring by audioquest. These speakers are stunning to gaze upon. They disappear replaced by a transparent soundstage. Ever slightly on the warm side of neutral. Extremely musical. allows me to relax and just listen to the music

Similar Products Used:

von Schweikert audio VR-7

OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING
5
[Jun 21, 2002]
James
AudioPhile

Strength:

Bass, clarity, realism.

Weakness:

Price!! Also...price!!

Please!!! People who cannot afford these speakers and therefore develop some kind of jealous hatred for them...STOP WRITING REVIEWS!! It is of no use to any of us to have to sift through your ramblings from your 3 minute audition while the shop was setting them up for a real customer! I auditioned this speaker years ago while I was selling my Thiel CS 6's and completely fell in love with every aspect of it...except price. Thank the strong Canadian market, for now I am set to purchase a pair! They simply do everything better than any other speaker I have heard or owned.

Similar Products Used:

Too many to list.

OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING
4
[Feb 17, 2002]
Barry Johnson
Audio Enthusiast

Strength:

Midrange, bass and the drivers blended in perfectly.

Weakness:

none that i heard

Hi, i heard these JM Lab Mezzo Utopia speakers in NYC. I heard them on an impressive system. The system was Krell KAS Amps, Pass 01 Preamp, Jadis JS-1 Tube Dac, which has a 60 pound tubed power supply and the Jadis JS 1 Tube transport. This transport looked gorgeous and weighed 66 pounds. The speaker cables were Mit 850 with the matching Mit interconnects. The system was also using that PS Audio Power Plant. Let me sum it up like this. This system sounded unbelievable. The speakers sounded fast airy sweet and the bass was tight and upbeat. It was definitely one of the best sounding systems i ever heard. But they also had some amazing components on them. The Krell amps list for 32,000 dollars. That Jadis Dac and Transport list for 28,000. I would like to hear the JM Lab Mezzo speakers, on equipment like Mcintosh MC 352 Amp or the Mccormack DNA 2 amp, or a good high end amp thats like 5000 dollars.

OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING
4
[Mar 15, 2000]
ak aknes
Audio Enthusiast

Music: Classical, new age instrumental, world music, light pop and synth.
* For: Excellent dynamics and musicality. Sweet, detailed midband and nice soundstaging. Lets the music flow. Engaging with low-end power.
* Against: The bass could be more controlled, needs be positioned away from walls (at least 30cm to rear wall) to give the tight and controlled bass it's capable of. Needs spies or soft feets (from Sonic Design) to lift up the otherwise low soundstage (I use mine slightly tilted upwards). With the right cables (solid core seems to give a drier, tighter bass) and right positioning, they truly delivers. Suits most types of music very well.
Good all-rounders, but not the last word in exact detailing and positioning. They're more about feet-moving music than analytical listening.

OVERALL
RATING
2
VALUE
RATING
2
[Mar 31, 2000]
R H
Audiophile

Strength:

Best Looking speaker available, beautiful finish

Weakness:

Better value for money available

Auditioned these in the shop against Wilson Benesch ACT 1 both great speakers, fantastically good-looking unlike my super ugly Alon v's. Agree treble is very fine, detailed without being harsh, this is a transparent speaker and my Krell KAV 250 CD and 300i amp probably not adequate to drive these optimally. But ultimately my Alon V's have a much better ability to create a natural soundstage with air and depth, and a much more organic and musical bass (if not quite as punchy), in sum just more musical with far superior natural timbre especially on voices and guitar. And they cost less than half. I think I'll keep the Alon's and spend the dough on amplification

I suspect that the Alon Circes (which cost 50% more than the JM's here in UK but are actually cheaper in the US) are better value, even if they are a lot uglier !

Similar Products Used:

Alon open-baffles

OVERALL
RATING
3
VALUE
RATING
2
[Mar 12, 2000]
Randy
Audio Enthusiast

Strength:

Acurate; Produces life-like sounds and images; Good range; the most all around muscial speaker I've heard in this range.

Weakness:

Maybe a bit big for some rooms.

I've listened to a lot of speakers in the the Mezzo's class (as well as some above and below in terms of price and sound). The Eggy Rosas came close. The Hales were pretty good too. But not even the mighty Watt/Puppy 6's (even assuming 1/2 their retail price)were as all around fun to listen to and as involving as the Mezzos.

I auditioned the Mezzos with an all Sonic Frontiers set-up through AudioQuest Clear cables. I'm designing my system around a Wadia 850 and CJ's Prem. 11A or 12's (or maybe Cary's 805C). And I want the ability to add a pair of high-end solid state mono blocks at some point too.

The Mezzos sounded as great with tubes as they did with solid state (I've previously listened to them through a Krell set-up). In short, they handle all kinds of music well--with clarity, crisp highs life-like mids and well rounded lows, acurate placing and good layering. Most importantly, they're very involving and really fun to listen to.

The downsides are that they aren't exactly compact, so be preapred to move some furniture. Also they compete in an expensive price class (that's neither a cut on them nor a cut on their competition, just a fact). Listen to them, and think it over for a day or two; you'll find a way to convince any guilt away.

Similar Products Used:

Audio Physic Virgo, Meadowlark Heron (Hot Rod), Eggy Rosa, Wilson Watt/Puppy 5.1 and 6, JM Labs Electra 920, Silverline Sonata, ML SL3, JM Labs Mini Utopia, Revel Ultima Gem & Revel Studio and Hales T-5 and T-8.

OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING
5
[Feb 14, 2000]
Martin Taylor
Audiophile

Strength:

Coherence, transparency, vocal quality, powerful bass

Weakness:

Highly revealing of source components and media

I compared the Mezzos with speakers from Lumley, Wilson Benesch, Zingali and B&W. None of them approached the Mezzo for natural vocal quality, especially choral and female soloist. The treble is exceptionally extended and natural, making cymbal brushwork in jazz recordings particularly pleasurable. More surprising is the solidity and depth of the bass, at once tight and extended beyond any expectations of an 11" woofer.
Rather than pick through individual performance details, the Mezzo is best described as the most coherent, insightful and musical speaker I've ever heard bar none. It needs good partnering electronics (I use a Pass Labs X2 preamp and Chord SPM1200C power amp) but will reward you with spine-tingling music whatever your tastes. The £7000 they cost me represents the best expenditure I've yet made on hi-fi. A thrilling product.

OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING
5
Showing 1-10 of 16  

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