Legacy Audio Focus HD vs SE

Phasewolf

Has anyone had a chance to hear both these speaker back to back and can tell me about the differences in your words between the two. I know there not everyone's cup of tea and there are some who simply hate them but I was looking for more info on them before I drive 600 miles one way to get my ears on them.

I love the Polk SDA 2.3's that I have now and they are modded with new SDA inductors, caps and boards. But to be honest my room is not the right room for them to work or sound there best by a long shot. They are only 2' from the side walls and maybe 7' apart and that is the best I can do unless someday I can get the basement setup correctly and that maybe years down the road.

Now I have read that the Focus line of speakers can work fine in a space like I have one that is deep but not really wide and I have read about other people's rooms like mine and they have been happy.

Any comments on the speakers in general would be helpful. They seem to be fairly hard to find used with a price range between 4 to 5k is this about right? Also I know they will buy back ones when you upgrade if I go to there headquarters do they sell used the buybacks or not?

Thanks for the time.

tonyb

Haven't heard either but own the 20/20's. The SE version is supposed to be a step up from the HD's and the HD's are suppose to be a step up from mine. Don't know why Bill is coming out with so many versions of the Focus. I think he has even a special SE version too. WTF ? Probably because it's his best seller I would assume. The AERIS is suppose to beat out the top Focus speaker by no small margin but you'll pay for that jump.

You have a great amp for them too. If you like the sound of the SDA's, you'll like the Legacy's. Find a demo and just buy them. You will not be disappointed and they will take you off the speaker merry-go round for a long, long time. Bought mine as a demo from HI-FI Heaven in Wisconsin. Call them up and see what they have. Used Bax Global to ship, excellent job. 4-5k is about right so your good there. Seriously man, just frickin' buy them, and change your shorts on a regular basis.

Thorton

Well when you decide which model to purchase, I'll bring the beer and steaks for a listening competition between the Legacy's and the SDA's. Just kidding. Someday, I would be very interested to hear both of these speakers in the same environment though. Good luck with your selection and please post your conclusions between the different speakers. If you ever decide to sell your SDA's, please PM me I'm in the metro Detroit area too.

Phasewolf

Yea not a issue I could hull both sets of speakers into my basement and they could both be in a huge open area free from things like oh walls and good treatments.

If I get them I will PM you and we can play with them and see how they do against each other it would be a lot of fun.

wattmeworry

I own the HD's,picked them up used from a rep in california for 3200 with free shipping.When I first saw them I was told by the factory that they do not sell used speakers that cheap that I was better off going thru a rep as they are allowed to make their own deals.I have my HD's in a similar room that you described and have had no issues.The sound of the HD's are both incredibel and emotional you will not want to stop listening to music.If you buy the HD or SE you will not regret it.

tonyb

That's a smoking deal for the HD'S bro. Who's your rep, I want that deal. I'd buy them in a heart beat for that price.

wattmeworry

tonyb,I wasnt looking to buy speakers as I already had a pair of original Focus that I was happy with.I saw the ad pop up on audiogon and bought them as soon as I saw the ad knowing what a great deal it was.I live in california and the speakers were shipped from connecticut.I got them from a rep known as getech on audiogon a very nice guy to deal with if you want his number pm me.

Phasewolf

Well I went and found a used Legacy Audio Silverscreen HD center channel and tossed it into my system and I really love how it sounds the highs and upper mids are like nothing I have had before in my system. My wife liked this t and said if I want I can get a pair of the Focus We so now I have something to think about.

tonyb

What that center does for you, The Focus HD's will do over the SDA's. Clear and crisp....exactly how my wife describes them. That hca3500 will be a nice match-up too. If you have the wifes approval, go grab 'em before she changes her mind. Those will definitely take you off the speaker merry-go round for a long, long time.

AsSiMiLaTeD

I didn't particularly like the Legacys, but can't imagine anyone hating them either. They're one of those speakers that I didn't really find anything wrong with and weren't offensive in any way, they just didn't reach out and grab me. Compare that with the Maggies where I was in love instantly the first time I heard them.

I sure am glad we live in a time and in a region where we have access to such a great variety of audio gear, the search is what makes this hobby so much fun.

tonyb

Which ones did you hear ? Associated gear ? The Legacy's respond very noticeably to even slight cable changes.

AsSiMiLaTeD

I listened to several pair. Legacy has set up a demo room at the last couple audio shows here in Texas that definitely spared no expense, impressive setup just not my cup of tea...

Phasewolf

If I get up in time I am going to give them a call and see what I can do. I will not hurt to take a drive and hear for myself what they sound like and if I really like them simply come home with them in my friends truck. If not it will be a waste of gas but I will of learned something so not a total loss plus it will get me away from work and the 7 days a week I have been putting in to save up money.

There is a lot of things I can spend money on and get a LOT of bang for the buck like more room treatments that we all know you really should have. Wile I do have some installed more would be even better and 6 GIK monster traps for my rear wall would make a nice differences for sure. But with all things it will come with time.

When I decide what to do and if they end up home with me I will post what I think about them.

tonyb

If you ever come around this side of the pond, your more than welcome to hear mine.

EndersShadow

DSkip wrote: »

I agree with this. Every year, they sound good, but I'm never engaged.

You better not be. Ain't you married already skip? You know you live in Tx NOT utah....

tonyb

DSkip wrote: »

I agree with this. Every year, they sound good, but I'm never engaged.

Shame....wondering what these guys are using in those setups. Anyone using tubes at all ? Like everything, a system is a sum total of everything in the chain, not just a speaker. That synergy thing and all.

Sometimes these audio shows throw together systems to showcase each piece, and mostly never done before the show to see if they synergize well. That's why one year a certain brand sounds kick butt and the next year it may not. I remember one show I went to long ago, they had B&W 802's paired with classe gear. Absolute worse sound you can imagine but everyone in the room raved. You would think 2 top flight brands together would be a no brainer, and it was, a no brainer to never match those 2 brands. That was my opinion, others liked it though.

Speaker brands are obviously not going to please everyone, that's why we have so many choices. Get some in your home, in your room, paired with your gear and your ears to make those solid judgments. That to me is the only way to truly evaluate what speaker floats your boat.

Btw- Yeah, I'm a Legacy fanboy, but I'm also a Polk fanboy too. Just different playing fields is all.

marvda1

they partner with coda amps at the lsaf.

erniejade

I have had maggies and carver amazing original, the maggies are a bit more open and not as in your face as the legacy's are in my opinion but, to me the legacys were more accurate. 2 totally different sounds that is for sure. It all depends on what you like and your taste. I had a friend that loved my sda 1.2 when I had them and another that loved the carver amazing over the 1.2.

I have heard Legacy had a processor for the focus but,i have never seen one for sale or heard one called steradian or later on i think called step1?

Correct on the Coda. I havent tried coda but, it was rumored that Bill was a big McIntosh fan so I did wind up picking up a McIntosh MC402 recently. So far I am digging that combo!

tonyb

Legacy did have a processor called the Sheridan, also used it on early Whispers. Gave a better bass contour to fit different tastes/rooms. Some swore by them, others not so much. You still see one once in a while pop up on Audiogon.

Again, it comes down to tastes. I will say this, the Focus does nothing wrong, and a lot right, is applicable to any genre of music or HT, and can satisfy the most bass heads out there. Of course there is better out there, just like Polk isn't the be all end all, but in their price class, tough...tough to beat. Easily to flip if you don't like it too as they are in high demand. Are they for everyone ? Obviously not, what speaker is ? Still, you'd be hard pressed to find one professional reviewer that didn't like them, in any model year.

The signature SE's it appears are the ones to grab these days. I would like those damn Aeris speaks Legacy puts out. Might have to wait a few years for the price to come down under a used Toyota.

tonyb

DSkip wrote: »

Tony, what are you running yours with? MF?

Ha...I wish. Right now, I have it hooked up to a Butler TB2250, a hybrid tube/ss amp. Then a cheap Pioneer receiver which has to go. I'm thinking of just separating the one system into 2 so I can use the Focus for just music as I really don't watch too many movies anymore with surround sound. Wife says it's too loud with all the dynamics....I love it though. Separating the 2 would allow me to position the speaks better and add a good pre for music. Right now I have my Pioneer avi59 for cd's which still sounds awesome, but with the Sonos I hardly use it anymore. I have a Cullen modded Sonos going to the Pioneer receiver by digital coax, not too enamored with that, as the Pioneer is for sure the week link. Used a Audio-gd nfb3 dac for awhile, and while good, the pioneer cdp was better.

The only way to up my game is to separate the 2 as music has taken priority over movies anyway. Thinking the Focus with the Butler amp, a Cary xciter dac, and a tubed pre. That way the Sonos will sound better and the cdp. Not that the Sonos sounds bad as is, when switching between the cdp and the Sonos of the same song, you'd be hard pressed to tell the difference. The cdp has a slight tonal preference however which I think the Cary dac would take care of easily.....judging by reviews anyway.

I was also thinking of killing many birds with one stone in the MF a1008 integrated, which I wish Troy would elaborate more on his. I could sell my Butler for about 1700-1800 and almost be at the used price of the MF integrated. Amp....pre...dac for a used price of around 2300, the 10008 sounds like a bargain.

That said, I'm still pondering and the wallet needs to have some priorities as of late....such is life. I'm dead set though on getting everything I can out of the Legacy Focus 20/20's. Hard speaker to part with for the 4 g's I have in 'em.

erniejade

The Aeris to me is an amazing looking speaker!

I have tried mine on a few ss pre and I like the tube / ss combo better. For now I am still using the arc sp16 / McIntosh combo. For my small room its way overkill.

Tony that butler has gotten some great reviews! Nice!!!

Phasewolf

Well Feb 23 I will be picking up the speakers and then the real work starts with cables placement and all the other fun. My wife wants a trip now because of them so my money is so spent now.

SCompRacer

Phasewolf wrote: »

Well Feb 23 I will be picking up the speakers and then the real work starts with cables placement and all the other fun. My wife wants a trip now because of them so my money is so spent now.

Congrats! Been married over 38 years and find it's better that I give to get something. My recent speaker/amp upgrade cost me....lol

Phasewolf

I bet it did lol.

tonyb

erniejade wrote: »

The Aeris to me is an amazing looking speaker!

I have tried mine on a few ss pre and I like the tube / ss combo better. For now I am still using the arc sp16 / McIntosh combo. For my small room its way overkill.

Tony that butler has gotten some great reviews! Nice!!!

Thanks Earn, tubes sound soo good on the Focus, really opens that top end. SS pre's don't do that top end justice imho. These speakers respond so well to gear/cable changes, it's easy to hear. I knew I wanted some form of tubes in the system but in retrospect I think I should have divided that 3g's on the amp into a lessor SS amp and a tubed pre. But back when I bought the speakers and amp, the idea was for a combined HT/2 channel system. Which it obviously excels at, but I know I'm not getting everything I can musically out of these speakers.

Right now, my room they are in is about 26 by 24 ft. I listen at about 10-12 ft. away which is too close in my opinion. ideally I'd like to be 15 ft. back. Problem is, the HT would have to be in the same room which sucks because I'd then have to create 2 different listening positions. Just too much other stuff in the way in that room, fireplace, windows, patio doors, a support pole in the middle of the room. If I move them upstairs I won't get the 15 ft back I want to listen plus too much open walls for reflections. Originally I had these set up on a long wall opposite the wall of the fireplace and they sounded fantastic, sat 15 ft back too, speakers 9 ft apart and 1.5 off the back wall and a good 4 ft from any side wall. Wife didn't like her back to the fireplace though so that had to change.

Then...like some others...there's the wife factor. Need I say more in that department ?

Or....I can just leave as is, wife likes it as is, and just add the dac and tubed pre with a HT pass thru. Not my optimal choice as where the speaks are positioned for HT works ok for HT, but not the best for music. Bottom line is, these monsters need some room to breath to sound their best. Eh....we do what we can under these circumstances.

Phasewolf

Has anyone used the parasound HCA-3500 with a pair of Legacy audio focus and knows how it will sound by chance? The amp is so heavy but I may drag it along just to see how it works.

I know some amps work better with some speaker combinations then others. This amp has the current to surely drive them with out a issue but how will the mids and highs sound with it?

I also can't wait to try them against the Polk SRS 2.3 that are modified. They are so different in designs that it should make it very fun to compare but who knows the Polks may just blow them out of the water but if the center channel is a indication of what I am going to hear then the 16 hours of driving will be well worth it.

I love my Polks but I just can't get them placed in this room to should there best and these can work a bit closer to the side walls. Spending the kind of money I will be for them makes me a bit nervous but there are people that have already asked to buy them if they don't work out so the risk is very low for sure.

tonyb

If your amp has the Parasound house sound the lessor brothers have, I would think it would be fine. Shoot Legacy an email and ask them if that will satisfy you. Bought my speakers and amp without hearing either.

If the Polks are too big for your space, the Legacy's aren't going to be a better fit. They need room to breath, and you need to be a good 12 + feet back to listen. Just go grab them. I was a tad nervous myself selling off the SRT's for a speaker I never heard with an amp I never heard but it was a good move.

Phasewolf

I can get the 12+ feet away the side walls are the issue. The Polk want 3+ feet for the SDA effect to really work right where I have talked to people about the focus and 2 feet will work but may need to dial down the bass a bit and that is not a issue.

I have a fairly good amount of room treatments going and may buy some GIK monster traps for the rear wall and the 2 corners I can trap in and move place 2 of the GIK 244 traps I have behind the new speakers to help out with the boundary effect.

Phasewolf

Double post.

Thorton

Wolf, Congratulations! It definitely will be interesting to put them up against the 2.3's. Technology and age so different. Sometimes it's hard when you get used to and like the sound of a certain set of speakers and compare something new.

My wife works out of Springfield, 6.5 - 7 hours one way depending on how many times you or your wife goes to the bathroom, snow or construction. Please keep us informed on your progress and review. And keep me on the list of candidates for the ones you eventually sell. Good Luck!

Mike

Phasewolf

Thanks. I am so worked up I so can't wait for them if I could I would be on the road now but all good things for those that suffer with the wait.

And yes they should really rock the center is so clear and detailed I lack the words to describe how great it sounds to my ears not bright just sweat sweat music. I am hearing things that I never knew where there before in songs and it is just a baby compared to the Focus SE.

The best step will be building sonotubes for the subs I have now and tune them down to 18hz

The room I want to use for music and home theater looks like it will work out that will gave me a room that is 23x20 and that will allow everything to really open up.