JM Lab / Focal Mezzo Utopia Loudspeaker with custom external crossovers
VR3
Posts: 28,643
This is a really hard for sale ad to write. When I purchased these speakers I never thought I would sell them.
I started my audio journey in my early teens and have always admired the big brand such as JM Lab/Focal, Wilson, Avalon, etc. A mere pipe dream as a teenager no less! Back in 2015 (year, 6 years ago!) I stumbled upon a set of Mezzo Utopia about 15 hours away. My wife and I actually slept in a Walmart parking lot, having arrived at 3am and our pick up time being scheduled for 8am. We made it work. It was pretty incredible to own such a set of speakers!
Now, that set is not this set. I liked that set so much, when a near mint in the box pair popped up from a one owner in Maryland, I could not resist to replace the first set with a complete set.
Fast forwards to today, I have moved further up the original JM Lab Utopia line and as much as I would like to keep these speakers, it is just not in my nature to stuff the closet with unused gear. I feel if I am not using it and will not be for the foreseeable future, it is meant to make beautiful sound somewhere else.
The great news for the future owner, is that you are investing in a pair of speakers that was thought to be a lifelong friendship in music. With these speakers you will receive the following –
Included -
1) Santa Cecilia granite slabs, CNC cut and polished
2) Double quilted covers made by Digital Deck Covers to exact specifications from Focals own schematics
3) A laser cut anti-diffraction pad
4) Custom hand built crossovers
a. Clarity Cap CMR capacitors thru out except for shunt bass network Clarity Cap ESA
b. Duelund JDM bypass capacitors on main series components
c. Path Audio 10 watt resistors
d. Jantzen/Mundorf inductors.
e. Supra Rondo internal and lead wiring
f. Custom aluminum, powder coated black chassis with anigre side panels
g. WBT Binding Post with optional Neutrik NL4 input connection
h. Custom laser cut Delrin substrates
i. Custom aluminum bracket to suspend the crossover from the chassis
j. A $5,000 + upgrade
5) Original box and packaging
6) Original floor spikes + floor savers (currently attached to the granite)
7) A spare 11” woofer
8) Stock crossovers
9) A great set of later generation Mezzo Utopia loudspeaker pair.
Condition they are not “mint”. They are approximately 20 years old so there are some cleaning marks, a few light scratches here and there… maybe a ding or two but they are in phenomenal vintage condition.
Sound - they are just musical. If you are after the analytical, over analyzing sound that most speakers today have… you may be on the wrong path here. If you want a speaker that can throw out an expansive soundstage that is very three dimensional while being capable of playing all times of music of varying quality… this may be your loudspeaker.
They do not technically need a subwoofer with approximately 30hz low frequency extension, but some folks may find the need for a subwoofer. I ran them for 6 years without a subwoofer!
Specs –
Description: Three-way, floorstanding, reflex-loaded dynamic loudspeaker. Drive-units: 1" (26mm) inverted Tioxid dome tweeter with 0.75" (20mm) voice-coil, 2" (51mm) neodymium magnet, and Telar 57 pole-piece; 6..5" (165mm) W-sandwich midrange cone with 1.5" (40mm) voice-coil and 4" (100mm) magnet, phase plug. 11" (270mm) W-sandwich woofer with 1.5" (40mm) voice-coil and 5.25" (135mm) magnet. Frequency response: 30Hz-25kHz, +/-3dB. Sensitivity: 92.5dB/2.83V/1m. Nominal impedance: 4 ohms (EN 60065). Minimum impedance: 3.8 ohms. Crossovers: third-order at 350Hz and 2.8kHz. Maximum power handling with music: 250W. Recommended amplification: 50-200W.
Dimensions: 46" (1170mm) H by 14" (350mm) W by 18" (465mm) D. Weight: 139 lbs (63kg) net each.
Finishes: high-gloss black lacquer (center), veneered natural Anigré (sides), solid Tauari (baffle covers).
Price: $13,000/pair (1999); no longer available (2003). Approximate number of dealers: 35.
Manufacturer: Focal JMlab, 15 rue Jean Claude Verpilleux, B.P. 201-42013 Saint-Etienne, Cedex 2, France. Tel: (33) 04 77 43 16 16. Fax: (33) 04 77 37 65 87. US Distributor: Audio Plus Services, P.O. Box 3047, Plattsburgh, NY 12901. Tel: (800) 663-9352. Fax: (514) 493-4547. Web: www.focal.tm.fr.
Review –
https://www.stereophile.com/floorloudspeakers/953/index.html
Price - $6,000 A Pair + any shipping/fees/delivery
Shipping -I will ship via freight at buyers expense.
I started my audio journey in my early teens and have always admired the big brand such as JM Lab/Focal, Wilson, Avalon, etc. A mere pipe dream as a teenager no less! Back in 2015 (year, 6 years ago!) I stumbled upon a set of Mezzo Utopia about 15 hours away. My wife and I actually slept in a Walmart parking lot, having arrived at 3am and our pick up time being scheduled for 8am. We made it work. It was pretty incredible to own such a set of speakers!
Now, that set is not this set. I liked that set so much, when a near mint in the box pair popped up from a one owner in Maryland, I could not resist to replace the first set with a complete set.
Fast forwards to today, I have moved further up the original JM Lab Utopia line and as much as I would like to keep these speakers, it is just not in my nature to stuff the closet with unused gear. I feel if I am not using it and will not be for the foreseeable future, it is meant to make beautiful sound somewhere else.
The great news for the future owner, is that you are investing in a pair of speakers that was thought to be a lifelong friendship in music. With these speakers you will receive the following –
Included -
1) Santa Cecilia granite slabs, CNC cut and polished
2) Double quilted covers made by Digital Deck Covers to exact specifications from Focals own schematics
3) A laser cut anti-diffraction pad
4) Custom hand built crossovers
a. Clarity Cap CMR capacitors thru out except for shunt bass network Clarity Cap ESA
b. Duelund JDM bypass capacitors on main series components
c. Path Audio 10 watt resistors
d. Jantzen/Mundorf inductors.
e. Supra Rondo internal and lead wiring
f. Custom aluminum, powder coated black chassis with anigre side panels
g. WBT Binding Post with optional Neutrik NL4 input connection
h. Custom laser cut Delrin substrates
i. Custom aluminum bracket to suspend the crossover from the chassis
j. A $5,000 + upgrade
5) Original box and packaging
6) Original floor spikes + floor savers (currently attached to the granite)
7) A spare 11” woofer
8) Stock crossovers
9) A great set of later generation Mezzo Utopia loudspeaker pair.
Condition they are not “mint”. They are approximately 20 years old so there are some cleaning marks, a few light scratches here and there… maybe a ding or two but they are in phenomenal vintage condition.
Sound - they are just musical. If you are after the analytical, over analyzing sound that most speakers today have… you may be on the wrong path here. If you want a speaker that can throw out an expansive soundstage that is very three dimensional while being capable of playing all times of music of varying quality… this may be your loudspeaker.
They do not technically need a subwoofer with approximately 30hz low frequency extension, but some folks may find the need for a subwoofer. I ran them for 6 years without a subwoofer!
Specs –
Description: Three-way, floorstanding, reflex-loaded dynamic loudspeaker. Drive-units: 1" (26mm) inverted Tioxid dome tweeter with 0.75" (20mm) voice-coil, 2" (51mm) neodymium magnet, and Telar 57 pole-piece; 6..5" (165mm) W-sandwich midrange cone with 1.5" (40mm) voice-coil and 4" (100mm) magnet, phase plug. 11" (270mm) W-sandwich woofer with 1.5" (40mm) voice-coil and 5.25" (135mm) magnet. Frequency response: 30Hz-25kHz, +/-3dB. Sensitivity: 92.5dB/2.83V/1m. Nominal impedance: 4 ohms (EN 60065). Minimum impedance: 3.8 ohms. Crossovers: third-order at 350Hz and 2.8kHz. Maximum power handling with music: 250W. Recommended amplification: 50-200W.
Dimensions: 46" (1170mm) H by 14" (350mm) W by 18" (465mm) D. Weight: 139 lbs (63kg) net each.
Finishes: high-gloss black lacquer (center), veneered natural Anigré (sides), solid Tauari (baffle covers).
Price: $13,000/pair (1999); no longer available (2003). Approximate number of dealers: 35.
Manufacturer: Focal JMlab, 15 rue Jean Claude Verpilleux, B.P. 201-42013 Saint-Etienne, Cedex 2, France. Tel: (33) 04 77 43 16 16. Fax: (33) 04 77 37 65 87. US Distributor: Audio Plus Services, P.O. Box 3047, Plattsburgh, NY 12901. Tel: (800) 663-9352. Fax: (514) 493-4547. Web: www.focal.tm.fr.
Review –
https://www.stereophile.com/floorloudspeakers/953/index.html
Price - $6,000 A Pair + any shipping/fees/delivery
Shipping -I will ship via freight at buyers expense.
- Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit.
Comments
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Beautiful GLWS
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Wow. Just effin' Wow.
I'm sitting here trying to imagine what these would sound like with the Tri Vista....I plan for the future. - F1Nut -
Thanks guys!
They sound awesome with the tri Vista... Incredible pairing!- Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit. -
Those are works of art!
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Trey eluded to having two pair of these loudspeakers. I was the recipient of one pair (part of an equipment plus boot\cash trade), and I am eternally grateful to him for accepting our deal.
As his mad scientist mind thought about upgrades for these (already) incredible speakers, I got sucked into his upgrade vortex of pushing these speakers to their limit...and I never looked back. As we collaborated on external crossover component upgrades, I followed his lead on incorporating the highest-grade components (capacitors, resistors, inductors) available (from Europe). In the end, I basically got free engineering and labor as he developed external crossovers for our speakers. It is documented here: https://forum.polkaudio.com/discussion/192643/recent-external-build/p1
Bottom line is: many people will pay more, but get less today, for the listed price on these very special pair of speakers. These are end-game speakers (especially as modified) for 99% of audiophiles out there. Personally, I don't think I have pushed my pair to their limits yet, as far as amplification...but that is another discussion."This may not matter to you, but it does to me for various reasons, many of them illogical or irrational, but the vinyl hobby is not really logical or rational..." - member on Vinyl Engine
"Sometimes I do what I want to do. The rest of the time, I do what I have to." - Cicero, in Gladiator
Regarding collectibles: "It's not who gets it. It's who gets stuck with it." - Jimmy Fallon -
Great price! These would be mine already if I had a house to put them in.
GLWS. -
I think I’m in love. I’ve already been told “no!”
Doh!
GLWTSCD Players: Sony CDP-211; Sony DVP-S9000ES; Sony UDP-X800M2 (x2); Cambridge Audio CXC
DACs: Jolida Glass FX Tube DAC III (x2); Denafrips Ares II (x2)
Streamers: ROKU (x3); Bluesound Node 2i and Node N130 w/LHY LPS // Receivers: Yamaha RX-V775BT; Yamaha RX-V777
Preamps: B&K Ref 50; B&K Ref 5 S2; Classe CP-800 MkII; Audio Research SP16L (soon)
Amps: Niles SI-275; B&K ST125.7; B&K ST125.2; Classe CA-2300; Butler Audio TDB-5150
Speakers: Boston Acoustics CR55; Focal Chorus 705v; Wharfedale Diamond 10.2; Monitor Audio Silver-1; Def Tech Mythos One (x4)/Mythos Three Center (x2)/Mythos Two pr.; Martin Logan Electromotion ESL; Legacy Audio Victoria/Silverscreen Center; Gallo Acoustics Reference 3.1; SVS SB-1000 Pro; REL HT-1003; B&W ASW610; HifiMan HE400i
Turntable: Dual 721 Direct-Drive w/Audio Technica AT-VM95e cart
Cables: Tripp-lite 14ga. PCs, Blue Jeans Cable ICs, Philips PXT1000 ICs; Kimber Kable DV30 coaxial ICs; Canare L-4E6S XLR ICs; Kimber Kable 8PR & 8TC speaker cables. -
lol!
Thanks Jody and everybody!- Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit. -
These are ready to have a room designed around them @Clipdat !!Primary: Doshi V3.0 pre and phonostage, Vandersteen M5-HPA, Vandersteen Quatro CT, AMG viella, Goldfinger Statement, AQ Niagara 5000, AQ IC and power cords, Mapleshade Samson V.5
Secondary: Nakamichi PA7, Nak CA5, Polk LS90, Sota Sapphire, Sumiko MDC800, Van den hul Crimson -
Yeah I agree, I've actually considered just buying them now and putting them into storage in WI.
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Let's do it! Lol- Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit.
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Yeah I agree, I've actually considered just buying them now and putting them into storage in WI.
Wise. Very wise. This way I don't have to be tempted.Primary: Doshi V3.0 pre and phonostage, Vandersteen M5-HPA, Vandersteen Quatro CT, AMG viella, Goldfinger Statement, AQ Niagara 5000, AQ IC and power cords, Mapleshade Samson V.5
Secondary: Nakamichi PA7, Nak CA5, Polk LS90, Sota Sapphire, Sumiko MDC800, Van den hul Crimson -
@verb for his “garage” lol"....not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted." William Bruce Cameron, Informal Sociology: A Casual Introduction to Sociological Thinking (1963)
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Solid half bath rig- Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit.
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Yeah I agree, I've actually considered just buying them now and putting them into storage in WI.
I’m in Wisconsin, wouldn’t even charge you a storage fee
2 ChannelTurntable - VPI Classic 2/Ortofon 2M BlueAmplification - Rogue Audio Cronus Magnum II, Parks Audio Budgie PhonoSpeakers - GoldenEar Triton 17.2 Home TheaterDenon AVR-X3300W; Rotel RMB-1066; Klipsch RP-280F's, Klipsch RP-450C, Polk FXi3's, Polk RC60i; Dual SVS PB 2000's; BenQ HT2050; Elite Screens 120"Man CaveTurntable - Pro-Ject 2.9 Wood/Grado GoldAmplification - Dared SL2000a, McCormack DNA 0.5 DeluxeCD: Cambridge AudioSpeakers - Wharfedale Linton 85th Anniversary; LSiM 703; SDA 2A -
If I didn’t already have a pair of speakers equally as heavy and sculptured beautifully, these would be mine! GLWS"if it's not fun, it's not worth it & remember folks, "It's All About The Music"!!
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For what it is worth... I am always open to trades as well. I dont think I mentioned that...- Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit.
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are available for sale ? Thank you
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These are no longer available!
Thanks- Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit.
