Focal Electra 1007be

[sidvee]

Esteemed Members,
Have any of you auditioned the Electra 1007be? If so what was the pricing on these speakers?
I heard them a couple of years back and was quite impressed with what I had heard and would be good value (my friend paid $4k) provided they dont get the dreaded "India Special Pricing" :lol:.
Cheers,
Sid

 

[Dr.Bass]

No experience with 1007BE but have heard the 1027be paired with Chord electronics here at profx. Sounded way too bright for my ears. Could be the Chord amps.

 

[longshanks]

^ yeah, the combo is bad cause they don't match that well, if you have a good amplifier(not that chord is bad) then take it to pro-fx and audition the speakers.

I have heard them so many times and must say they are amazing speakers.They sound the very best with high current amps.
They are not the most neutral but are very musical and really fast with large sound stage than expected, I own the Electra bookshelf myself ,has been with me for many years and it is a keeper for life.

Don't ever buy them in India cause they are sold by pro-fx and the their pricing is epic fail.If you are buying from abroad then source it from Europe cause the pricing is very reasonable there.

My opinion might be biased since i like almost all of the JM lab speakers(Electra series and above) and their sound signature.To me they never sounded bright, the BE version are more forward sounding and accurate than the non BE version.

 

[sidvee]

^Don't ever buy them in India cause they are sold by pro-fx and the their pricing is epic fail.If you are buying from abroad then source it from Europe cause the pricing is very reasonable there.

I have a dealer in US who is selling these brand new at $3k. So assuming I can get them at $4k incl. customs and shipping that would be approx. 1.8lac. With this pricing would Europe be cheaper?
cheers
Sid

 

[longshanks]

^ that is a very good USA price cause $3k in USA is almost 1.5k less than what it was selling for 2 or 3 years ago. I guess they are letting these go for less since the new series has been released.

Looks like even music direct is selling them for the same price.
MUSICDIRECT - FOCAL - ELECTRA 1007 Be in CLASSIC FINISH (Pr)

Not sure if the Euro price will be lesser than the US price of 3k,1.8L incl customs and shipping is a very good deal(Indian pricing is some where around 2.75).

There are 2 versions of the 1000 series "S" and "BE", BE is more expensive since it has the beryllium tweeter and also available in special finishes.The 1007BE was quoted as the poor mans magico mini by one of the reviewers.

 

[sidvee]

^ that is a very good USA price cause $3k in USA is almost 1.5k less than what it was selling for 2 or 3 years ago. I guess they are letting these go for less since the new series has been released.

Looks like even music direct is selling them for the same price.
MUSICDIRECT - FOCAL - ELECTRA 1007 Be in CLASSIC FINISH (Pr)

Not sure if the Euro price will be lesser than the US price of 3k,1.8L incl customs and shipping is a very good deal(Indian pricing is some where around 2.75).

There are 2 versions of the 1000 series "S" and "BE", BE is more expensive since it has the beryllium tweeter and also available in special finishes.

Thanks rajapraveen80 - The 1.8l is just my estimate, because I know the dealer personally and can work the shipping and invoice, but it is still an estimate because who knows what customs will decide to do. Still I think it is lot better than 2.75lacs. You are right - I believe this model is changing.
Cheers
Sid

 

[gopi]

sid,
According to profx site, only the newer 1008be is listed and its 2.4L
Profx - Advanced Audio Solutions

That MRP would be less if you bargain and I am sure with that if there is any stock of 1007be they would sell it for an even cheaper price. So, sourcing it at 1.8L is not that good a choice I would say.

The profx shop in Hyderabad is quite decent and I know the folks a bit and so can help you if required.

 

[longshanks]

but it is still an estimate because who knows what customs will decide to do.

Find some agency which deals with customs and workout a fixed price cause that is what most of grey market sellers here in chennai do.If you speak proper numbers to the customs they will plunder you, but if you are ready to negotiate a good fixed amount through an agent then you will probably pay very less customs.

 

[longshanks]

sid,
According to profx site, only the newer 1008be is listed and its 2.4L
Profx - Advanced Audio Solutions

Interesting, cause the last time i inquired here in chennai was about 6 months ago and they quoted close to 2.75 inclusive of the taxes.

 

[sidvee]

sid,
According to profx site, only the newer 1008be is listed and its 2.4L
Profx - Advanced Audio Solutions

That MRP would be less if you bargain and I am sure with that if there is any stock of 1007be they would sell it for an even cheaper price. So, sourcing it at 1.8L is not that good a choice I would say.

The profx shop in Hyderabad is quite decent and I know the folks a bit and so can help you if required.

Thanks Gopi - Can you pm me the info. on a contact there. I would be definitely interested in the 1007be if they have stock and quote a good price.
BTW it has been a while since we had a Hyd audiophile get together:lol:. We should plan one soon.
Cheers
Sid

 

[gopi]

Sure man Actually I did try reaching a couple of times few weeks back. I think you were off to US. Neverthless will call you today.

 

[thevortex]

I have heard these speakers - although sadly driven only through the Denon 'flagship receiver' at the time, about a year and a half back. They were being sold for around Rs. 1.5 lakhs.

Profx actually are open to negotiations on price. And their prices for the most part are fair on speakers such as KEF, Polk etc. So rajapraveen, not sure why you say their pricing is an 'epic fail'.

 

[Decadent_Spectre]

I have heard the 1027 Be with a Mc Cairn tube and a DAC I can't remember, I also tried it with a "high end" Denon receiver, the exact model escapes me.

To be blunt I thought it was garbage. I like speakers that can pump out the bass/mid bass and do so without distortion or harshness in the entire FR. In short loud and clear. The Focal was clear upto a certain limit, much like most "Hi-Fi" speakers after which it descended into mediocrity, to put it kindly. It has extremely poor bass/mid bass. The treble was piercing/bright or whatever you prefer to describe it. The mid range is decent.

 

[longshanks]

They were being sold for around Rs. 1.5 lakhs.
So rajapraveen, not sure why you say their pricing is an 'epic fail'.

Are you sure it was 1.5 lakhs for the 1007 be?

Cause when i inquired they quoted around 2 lakhs for 1007S and 2.75 for 1007BE inclusive of taxes hence my comment that the pricing is "epic fail", i don't have anything personal against pro-fx.

Also when i asked them if they can get me the focal stands for the book shelf they said they don't deal with stands.

 

[longshanks]

To be blunt I thought it was garbage. In short loud and clear. The Focal was clear upto a certain limit, much like most "Hi-Fi" speakers after which it descended into mediocrity, to put it kindly. It has extremely poor bass/mid bass. The treble was piercing/bright or whatever you prefer to describe it. The mid range is decent.

On the contrary, ive heard those speakers with Accuphase gear at insane volume levels with absolutely no distortion and they made some of the sweetest sound.

 

[sidvee]

I have heard the 1027 Be with a Mc Cairn tube and a DAC I can't remember, I also tried it with a "high end" Denon receiver, the exact model escapes me.

To be blunt I thought it was garbage. I like speakers that can pump out the bass/mid bass and do so without distortion or harshness in the entire FR. In short loud and clear. The Focal was clear upto a certain limit, much like most "Hi-Fi" speakers after which it descended into mediocrity, to put it kindly. It has extremely poor bass/mid bass. The treble was piercing/bright or whatever you prefer to describe it. The mid range is decent.

I am not sure I would want to try out any speaker for music with any mass market receiver regardless of whether it is their flagship or mid range there is always a compromise - what with all the video circuitry, 7 or 9 or 10 channels of power etal. I am not familiar with McCairn but anyways - what you heard is what you heard so IMO one would have to keep this in mind while auditioning this model.
Cheers
Sid

 

[GeorgeO]

I use Focal drivers in one of my systems(AriaR), they are mids paired with Raven tweeters in an MTM config-I love the sound. I also use Focals in my car and find them good. I realize this is a general statement, but Focals are among the best drivers around.

George

 

[reignofchaos]

Paired with slightly warmish electronics, the 1007Be is a beautiful speaker. If you get it for 1.5lacs in India, it really is a steal.

 

[dinyaar]

Lovely looking speaker, easy to drive but can sound a bit forward at least to me.
Have heard it only once & frankly cant remember much more.

Sid a lot will depend on the amplifier and the room for sure. I know a person who has this speaker with an Arcam power amp (P35) and is happy. Cant remember his pre or cdp but I remember him looking for cables. He went for some used Cardas and is happy as far as I know.

No clue on Indian Pricing though.
Rgds

 

[suri]

Lovely looking speaker, easy to drive but can sound a bit forward at least to me.
Have heard it only once & frankly cant remember much more.

hehehe! dinyaar - you are very polite!! - to a fault!