Focal Vestia Released - New High-End Speakers for Home Theater

Brian Sowden | Updated: January 2, 2024

Last updated on April 28, 2023

Introducing Vestia

Focal Audio is known for their hand-crafted loudspeakers and dedication to producing not only high-end floorstanding and bookshelf speakers that are manufactured in France but also reference quality hi-fi headphones and high-end car audio equipment.

Focal has introduced their latest speaker series, the Vestia, which falls between their Chora and Aria series. I have been waiting for the official release of the Focal Vestia speakers ever since I experienced them at CEDIA 2022 in Dallas last year.

I was one of the first people to get to hear the Vestia No.2s before the good seat was crowded throughout the show. A lot of people visited their booth to get an eye (or should we say ear) on these floorstanding speakers.

If you stood there long enough, you would have heard a lot of people go “Wow!” after they heard them and that surprise continued when they learned the price of the series. The No.2s (priced at $1,399.00 each) were paired with a Naim Uniti Atom (priced at $3,799.00), a 40 watts per channel integrated amplifier and high-resolution music streamer.

What's the difference between Focal Chora and Vestia?

Many people at CEDIA started comparing the Vestia to the Chora line, which is a natural comparison since they share the same Slatefiber woofers and midbass. The difference starts with an ultra-rigid MDF cabinet (to control resonance), premium finishes (High Gloss Black, Dark Wood, and Light Wood) with leather effect front panel, and the introduction of the TAM tweeter.

The TAM tweeter is a Magnesium / Aluminum M-shaped profile inverted dome that is designed for wide dispersion, precise treble, and stereo imaging (assisted by a Urethane tweeter waveguide). This style tweeter originated in Focal’s high-end car audio lineup and is now making its way to home audio speakers.

Focal first and foremost focuses on the quality of the sound by adding multi-tuned vents to their cabinets. The Vestia floorstanding speakers will have them tuned at different frequencies to focus on hard-hitting midbass impact and low-end frequencies. The goal there being twofold: first to allow for a better-tuned bass response, and second to have it not muddy the mid-range response. Another bonus to the multi-tuned vents is that the speakers will be able to be easily positioned by a wall to avoid wall effects.

Part of that focus is also on the angle of the Vestia speakers. They are in a slight tilt which means the Vestias are creating a passive time alignment. Placing the tweeter slightly further back than the woofer ensures that all frequencies during playback arrive at the same time. This is important because high-frequency sound travels at a different pace than low-frequency sound. This minute adjustment showcases the care Focal puts in the smallest details.

Where did the name "Vestia" come from?

As always with Focal, there is an interesting reason for their loudspeaker line naming convention. Focal told us that the Vestia line’s name is inspired by the goddesses of hearth and home, Vesta and Hestia.

Focal made an easy naming convention to know how to step through the models. The bookshelf speakers start at Vestia No.1, the floorstanding speakers go from Vestia No.2 to Vestia No.4, and the center speaker is just Vestia Center.

Focal Vestia Lineup

Focal Vestia No.1 2-Way Bass-Reflex Bookshelf Loudspeaker

$1,198.00

The No.1 is Focal’s traditional 2-way bookshelf speaker and measures 8 5/8” x 10 1/4" x 15 1/4." Both bookshelf speakers are packed in the same box and when you take them out you’ll notice the sleek leather front panel. You’ll have a tough choice of going grill-less to keep this exposed or covering it up with the grill. The choice is yours.

The No.1s will have an optional stand available for purchase separately. The stands will be 21 5/8” tall and places the speakers at the perfect height to match your seated listening position.

The aerodynamic front port is an ideal design to be able to place the bookshelf speaker in a more enclosed space without overly affecting the audio reproduction. Other manufacturers will have rear ports for their entry level bookshelf speakers but will include plugs to help reduce wall effects. You often will not see front ported speakers until you reach much higher in the lineup. I appreciate that Focal has included this feature in the No.1s.

The No.1 is designed for rooms up to 322 square feet (about the area of a parking space), which makes them great for a small listening room or personal office and will handle smaller amplifiers from 25-120 watts. I found that when I tested it I didn’t need to have a big beefy amp for it to play well so it would work with a lot of amplifiers. However, I would lean towards higher wattage amplifiers because you will be able to enjoy clarity at lower volumes.

The No.1s will be great for music lovers who may not have the space for larger floorstanding speakers, but still want stylish bookshelf speakers. If you want to fill out the sound, you will want to add a subwoofer to match up with the No.1s.

Vestia No.1 2-Way Bass-Reflex Bookshelf Loudspeaker - Pair

Type: 2-way bass-reflex bookshelf loudspeaker
Speaker driver: 6 ½” Slatefiber Midbass, and 1” TNF Aluminum / Magnesium inverted dome tweeter
Sensitivity: 89.5dB
Frequency response: 56Hz – 30kHz
Low frequency: 48Hz
Crossover Frequency: 2,800Hz
Net weight: 15.4lbs

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Focal Vestia No.2 3-Way Bass-Reflex Floorstanding Loudspeaker with 2 Woofers

$1,399.00

The No.2 is Focal’s 3-way floorstanding speaker in the Vestia line and is sized at 10 1/8” x 14 5/8" x 39 7/8." The larger size will add two 6 1/2" woofers to accompany the 6 1/2" midbass driver and the 1” TAM tweeter. The new tweeters have a good and wide dispersion which helps out with creating stereo imaging. The two woofers will make a significant difference in low end output, so much so that you might feel like you don't need to add a subwoofer (for 2-channel listening at least).

That is also helped by the No.2 being the first speaker in the Vestia line that will have the Focal PowerFlow multi-port technology. This feature allows for better bass response by using a front and rear port, where both ports are tuned to different frequencies allowing better distribution.

When positioning these speakers, Focal is recommending that the No.2 floorstanding speakers be at least 10 feet away from the listening position and will play nicely in rooms starting at 215 square feet (about twice the area of an apartment bedroom) and above. You will want to give these speakers room to shine and breathe.

The best setup for these speakers is to toe them in to point towards the listening position AND make them the same distance between the speakers as it is from the listening position. Imagine an equilateral triangle and treat your seat as the point and the speakers as the base (it’ll help with bass, too).

The No.2s will also have an aluminum base with optional spikes to control ground vibration transmission, and the speakers will be cambered back to act as a passive time alignment.

Vestia No.2 3-Way Bass-Reflex Floorstanding Loudspeaker with 2 Woofers - Each

Type: 3-way bass-reflex floorstanding loudspeaker
Speaker driver: 2 x 6 ½” Slatefiber Woofer, 6 ½” Slatefiber Midbass, and 1” TNF Aluminum / Magnesium inverted dome tweeter
Sensitivity: 91.5dB
Frequency response: 47Hz – 30kHz
Low frequency: 37Hz
Crossover Frequency: 280Hz / 2,800Hz
Net weight: 48.5lbs

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Focal Vestia No.3 3-Way Bass-Reflex Floorstanding Loudspeaker with 3 Woofers

$1,799.00

The No.3 is a floorstanding speaker and is a natural progression from the No.2 by using the same PowerFlow multi-port technology, the same 1” TAM tweeter, 6 1/2" midbass driver, and an additional 6 1/2” woofer. The No.3s are taller than the No.2s but have the same width and depth at 10 1/8” x 14 5/8" x 44 1/8." If you go home with a pair, you might as well write an apology note to your neighbor ahead of time, because the walls are going to be shaking.

The No.3s will be $1,799.00 each, meaning they’re only $800 more than a pair of the No.2s, so if you have no good placement for a subwoofer in your room, upgrade to the No.3 and be justified in your decision. Just make sure your room is also big enough. Focal is recommending a room starting at 270 square feet (the size of a cozy NYC studio apartment) to match the size of the sound that is going to envelop you with these loudspeakers.

The No.3s are the ones I auditioned the most while playing with the Vestia lineup, because I feel they could fill my listening area nicely, and I’m conflicted about having a dedicated subwoofer for my listening space. The low end output is definitely enough to not need the sub (but that doesn’t replace the want).

I can see the No.3s creating a substantial 2-channel system for a dedicated music space or the backbone of a phenomenal home theater system as the Front Left and Front Right speaker. And luckily, they make a matching center.

Vestia No.3 3-Way Bass-Reflex Floorstanding Loudspeaker with 3 Woofers - Each

Type: 3-way bass-reflex floorstanding loudspeaker
Speaker driver: 3 x 6 ½” Slatefiber Woofer, 6 ½” Slatefiber Midbass, and 1” TNF Aluminum / Magnesium inverted dome tweeter
Sensitivity: 92dB
Frequency response: 42Hz – 30kHz
Low frequency: 35Hz
Crossover Frequency: 280Hz / 3,100Hz
Net weight: 58.4lbs

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No.4 3-way Bass-Reflex Floorstanding Loudspeaker with 2 8" Woofersrs

Focal Vestia No.4 3-way Bass-Reflex Floorstanding Loudspeaker with 2 8" Woofers

$2,199.00

I did get to see some pre-production models of the No.4s at CEDIA, and I was happy we brought them into our store to evaluate without the hustle and bustle of a trade show floor. I like the idea of taking the No.3s up a notch by changing the Slatefiber Woofers from 6 1/2" to 8,” but they will have the same 1” TAM tweeter, and 6 1/2” midbass driver. The larger woofer will make the largest speaker in the line up at 12” x 16 7/8” x 49 1/4". The No.4s are priced at $2,199.00 each and are the top-tier of the Vestia lineup.

With the addition of the 8” woofers, Focal says that they will have effortless bass output, and they would be perfect for music enthusiasts seeking high performance. Be careful not to have these sit too close to the wall. They have a lot of bass impact and the closer to the corners of your room and to your back wall the more unwanted bass response and room resonance you will get.

The No.4s will fill up that same 270 square feet space that the No.3s will, but I would say they will shake, rattle, and roll you with their low end output. The No.4s should please any audiophile that craves high-end output in a floorstanding speaker.

Vestia No.4 Bass-Reflex 3-Way Floorstanding Loudspeaker with 2 8 inch Woofers - Each

Type: 3-way bass-reflex floorstanding loudspeaker
Speaker driver: 2 x 8” Slatefiber Woofer, 6 ½” Slatefiber Midbass, and 1” TNF Aluminum / Magnesium inverted dome tweeter
Sensitivity: 92dB
Frequency response: 40Hz - 30Hz
Low frequency: 34Hz
Crossover Frequency: 280Hz / 2,800 Hz
Net weight: 69.45lbs

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Focal Vestia Center 2-Way Bass-Reflex Center Loudspeaker

$699.00

The center speaker is simply known as the Vesita Center and measures 21 1/8” x 10 1/4" x 8 1/2." It shares the same TAM tweeter, which will give you the same wide dispersion, and will come with two 6 1/2" midbass drivers. Focal is also releasing a center stand for the Vestia Center that is 17 3/4” tall.

I think there was a missed opportunity to call it the "No. Zero" (although, it would look like No0 and I'm sure marketing wouldn’t be into that). The Vestia Center uses the same TAM tweeter and 6 1/2" midbass as every other speaker in the Vestia series, so it will be a perfect accompaniment in a home theater setup because it will timbre match any of the other Vestia speakers to create the ideal soundstage.

Make sure to match up the tweeter height of the center speaker as best you can with your accompanying left and right speaker. This will balance out your front stage and give you a more even sound between the three speakers. Unlike the other Vestia speakers, it is the only one with a double rear port, but it still comes with the base for tilting the speaker.

I really appreciate that Focal has released a center speaker in the Vestia lineup so everyone has the option of making an exceptional home theater with this series.

Vestia 2-Way Bass-Reflex Center Loudspeaker

Type: 2-way bass-reflex center loudspeaker
Speaker driver: 2 x 6 ½” Slatefiber Midbass, and 1” TNF Aluminum / Magnesium inverted dome tweeter
Sensitivity: 91.5dB
Frequency response: 58Hz – 30kHz
Crossover Frequency: 2,700Hz
Net weight: 22lbs

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Conclusion

After listening to them earlier this year at CEDIA, I have been wanting to see them in action, and I am glad to finally see they have a release date. I look forward to putting them through their paces in a proper room and not just listening to them on the floor at a trade show.

I would love to see a replication of the 2-channel system that was on display at CEDIA 2022 with the Naim Uniti Atom, but I would prefer to jump up to the No.3 loudspeakers to see how the (3) 6 1/4" woofers would reproduce low frequencies. I love adding subwoofers to systems (imagine the impact of a sub attached to each No.3), but I like it even better when I can reduce the system’s footprint in the room.

Since the Vestia series shares the same tweeter, midbass, and woofer materials among them, the tonality and timbre will match throughout the series, which makes using them in home theater environments a breeze.

I would love to see a 5.1.4 Dolby Atmos setup of Vestia No.4s as Front Left and Front Right floorstanding speakers and the Vestia Center to be the front speaker array with a pair of No.2s for both the side and rear speakers, their 300ICW6 in-ceiling speakers for Dolby Atmos speakers (because the 300ICW6s will have an Aluminum/Magnesium tweeter like the Vestia series), and then finally a Sub 1000 to round out the low-end. I can only imagine what the impact of watching a scene from Ready Player One would be with the Vestia line on full display and matching it with a stellar power amplifier or even the Focal Astral 16 Audio-video processor and amplifier.

I could go on and on about layouts and specs, and I’m excited to think of the different solutions the Focal Vestia line will provide. I can already see a spot in my house that has needed an audio upgrade for a pair of the No.2s.

We will have them on demo at our showrooms soon, so you'll be able to hear them for yourself.

Focal Frequently Asked Questions

Where are Focal speakers made?

Focal designs and manufacturers their hi-fi loudspeakers in Saint-Étienne, France.

What are Focal speakers known for?

Focal, pronounced “foe-cale,” designs and manufactures loudspeakers and architectural speakers for the home, speaker drivers for automobiles, and headphones for both music lovers and some of the world’s finest recording studios. The company was established in 1983 in Saint-Etienne, France, four years after we opened our own doors. Today, Focal is a major player on the world stage and highly respected for innovation, superior craftsmanship, and in our opinion, some truly amazing audio gear. Check out our private tour of the factory in France to see how these handmade speakers are brought to life. World Wide Stereo is proud to include Focal on our shelves for fans everywhere.

What's the difference between Focal Chora and Vestia line?

Focal has created the Vesita line to utilize the Slatefiber drivers from their Chora line and introduced their M shaped inverted dome tweeters used in their car profiles to the home market.

The Focal Vestia line will also include an ultra-rigid MDF cabinet, premium finishes, and leather effect front panels.

What is the price range of Focal Vestia Speakers?

Vestia Center - $699.00 MSRP/each
Vestia Center Stand - $129.00 MSRP/each
Vestia Nº1 - $1,198.00 MSRP/pair
Vestia Stands - $249.00 MSRP/pair
Vestia Nº2 - $1,399.00 MSRP/each
Vestia Nº3 - $1,799.00 MASRP/each
Vestia Nº4 - $2,199.00 each

What are the benefits of Focal Vestia speakers?

The Focal Vestia speakers have Slatefiber woofers and midbass, an ultra-rigid MDF cabinet (to control resonance), premium finishes (High Gloss Black, Dark Wood, and Light Wood) with leather effect front panel, and the introduction of the TAM tweeter.

The TAM tweeter is a Magnesium / Aluminum M shaped profile inverted dome that is designed for wide dispersion, precise treble and stereo imaging (assisted by a Urethane tweeter waveguide).