Focal Professional Releases the CMS Range Of Compact Powered Monitors at IBC

Focal Professional launched the CMS professional monitoring speaker series (Compact Monitoring System) at this years IBC. These working tools were developed to answer a recurrent problem, for professionals as well as for demanding home studios: find a compact system that combines irreproachable sound quality and easy installation. The CMS series consists of two products, the CMS 50 and CMS 65 speakers, with a subwoofer to complete the series late in 2008.

Both the CMS 50 and CMS 65 are equipped with a Focal aluminum/magnesium inverted dome tweeter. The CMS 50 integrates a Focal 5" woofer, whereas the CMS 65 is composed of a Focal 6.5" woofer that provides an extended response in the low audio spectrum for total versatility. As powered units the CMS 50 features 80W LF and 50W HF amplifiers, whilst the CMS 60 contains a 100W LF and 60W HF. The CMS 50 and CMS 65 are supplied with a decoupling rubber sole, four rubber spikes, two height-adjustable spikes for installation at the front or rear, and two removable grilles to protect the woofer and tweeter.

The CMS speakers have been designed to combine performance and compactness. The drivers are housed in an acoustically treated die cast aluminum box, to give maximum rigidity and damping. By combining the correct thickness of aluminum, internal reinforcements and acoustic treatment Focal have succeeded in the removing the "ringing" effect, frequently encountered on this type of cabinet.

All Focal technologies are made in France.

Focal Aluminum/Magnesium inverted dome tweeter

The now famous inverted dome tweeter has been a Focal signature for more than 20 years. That construction principle, peculiar to the brand, is the only one to offer a homogeneous movement of the complete dome thanks to optimum mechanical coupling between the cone and voice coil.

This technical choice makes all the difference when listening. It is a unique solution that permits the combination of a large and detailed soundstage, with control during long recording, mixing or mastering sessions. This affords the user much greater extended listening comfort.

The aluminum/magnesium alloy combines excellent damping and high rigidity that are re-transcribed by an outstanding impulse response (extended frequency response at more than 28kHz at -3dB!). The signal can then be reproduced down to the slightest details and allows CMS loudspeakers the capacity to reveal all micro-information, which may otherwise be missed.

The manufacture of the tweeter by Focal also offers a significant advantage: the ability to control each component of the speaker. From the voice coil, to the surround support, to the magnet, everything is entirely adjustable to finally get an ultra linear frequency response curve, and this at the conception of the tweeter. This neutrality guarantee is also completed by sharp and dynamic treble frequencies thanks to filtering reduced to its simplest form, thus avoiding the phenomenon of energy loss and signal degradation.

Focal Polyglass cone woofer

The Polyglass technology, exclusive to Focal, consists in applying thin glass micro-balls on a cellulose pulp cone. This process consolidates the excellent damping of paper with glass rigidity. The rigidity rating even exceeds that of single skin Kevlar and is almost 10 times superior to that of polypropylene. The effect of this puts away the inherent distortion of the cone at its highest limits, which guarantees a resolutely accurate sound, even at high sound level. The damping also participates in achieving linearity and neutrality in the midrange, while it raises important definition in this register.

Bi-amplification: power, quality and simplicity

The Focal R&D laboratory clearly defined criteria for amplification: choose a quality, clear and simple circuit that favours the shortest signal path to ensure a total electronic transparency and benefits from optimum reliability. The CMS loudspeakers integrate two high-end amplification units, usually used for products at higher prices. The TDA 7293 unit, dedicated to the woofer, uses MOS technology that combines total sound transparency and important dynamics. The high nominal power (100W for CMS 65) as well as the extremely reduced distortion rate (0,005%) permits a performance of quality and quantity, whilst fulfilling the high power demands inherent to bass frequency reproduction. The LM 3886 power unit, dedicated to the tweeter, is able to convey all micro-information to the treble transducer, while saving the energy peculiar to each sound detail thanks to a slew rate of 19V/us!

Adjustable setting: for tailoring to different installations.

The CMS speakers offer very high precision. But, soundstage coherence also depends on preferential positioning. Focal solves the problem by supplying height-adjustable spikes to perfectly orientate each loudspeaker according to its position relative to the listener. The CMS speakers also integrate controls to allow the correct response settings dependant on placement. The "HF SHELVING" and "LF SHELVING" functions help solve the main acoustic problems of the room. The "DESKTOP NOTCH" correction suppresses the interference reflections generated by consoles and desktops. Each correction circuit is equipped with the famous NE 5532 pre-amplifier and CMS resistances with 1% tolerance to combine precision and homogeneity of the settings. A small detail that makes a big difference is that each rotary potentiometer is notched to enable quick and identical setting of each CMS speaker.

Proud of the SM11, SM8 and SM6 heritage, the new CMS 50 and CMS 65 speakers guarantee unbeatable qualities in their class, as far as precision and neutrality are concerned. These products are definitely inescapable benchmarks at their price point.

Availability and Pricing:

The CMS 50 and CMS 65 are available from Oct 1st throughout SCV's network of dealers.

CMS 50 (each) RRP £320.00ex VAT

CMS 65 (each)RRP £470.00ex VAT