It all started in 1979 in Saint-Etienne, when Focal's main talent, Jacques Maule, came to a small family workshop that specialized in precision mechanics. The future founder of the company and a devoted Pink Floyd fan made his drivers with just one assistant. But soon the work of the Hi-Fi enthusiast began to delight music lovers and audiophiles around the world.
Under the Focal brand, the production of speakers for speaker manufacturers was put on a commercial basis. The company allocated the second brand JM-lab for the production of its Hi-Fi acoustics. Under it came the flagship model DB 13 in the first series of speaker systems. These speakers, equipped with dual-coil drivers, revolutionized the world of small bookshelf speakers by covering the range of much larger speakers.
The success that soon came allowed the company to undertake the intensive development of classic speaker systems and High End sets.
1979
This year it all began with a small enterprise in Saint-Etienne... The precision mechanics company France Filières founded the first workshop for the production of loudspeakers, which over the next four decades had a significant impact on the global acoustics market.
1982/1985
The DB 13 revolutionized the world of bookshelf speakers. It has proven the benefits of innovation in the field of composite diffusers based on polymers, cellulose and Kevlar. This significantly pushed Focal speakers towards the High End market.
1990
First steps into the foreign market. After becoming a leader in the acoustics market in France, the company shifted its focus to international sales. The high reputation has been built up over the years by various awards, although often French products received them for the first time.
1995
The Grande Utopia model received top marks from the international press. Carrying a technological challenge and extravagant aesthetics, they asserted the leadership of the brand in the eyes of audiophiles around the world.
2001
Focal wins the final of the IASCA World Competition in the Expert category in the USA. After ten years of manufacturing car audio components, the company has finally earned its stripes in the field of Car Audio.
2002
The Focal Professional department is created, which begins producing the first studio monitors. Innovation and conquering new areas in acoustics becomes the company's slogan.
2016
Focal Utopia headphones are released. This is how the world's smallest reference dynamic driver “Made in France” for open stereo phones is born, which receives high praise from the international press.
2018
Utopia's advanced technologies are applied to car audio - Focal releases the Utopia M loudspeaker. The new line was immediately awarded the famous CES Innovation Award, which is awarded in Las Vegas, and soon became the standard for car speaker systems.
2019
The first Focal Powered by Naim stores opened in Seoul (South Korea) and Lyon (France). It was soon followed by the opening of showrooms, departments and corners around the world.
Focal celebrates 40 years since its founding. Special products with unique finishes were released for the anniversary: the Spectral 40th and Scala 40th loudspeakers, the Symphonie 40th headphone case, the F40th car audio system and the Solo6 Be 40th monitor.
2020
Focal begins producing marine acoustics. This year begins the history of Focal's superior acoustics for boats and yachts, which are suitable for installation in both the cabin and on deck, and are offered with personal service and bespoke installation.
2021
Utopia technologies are applied in Focal embedded systems - the 1000 Series line and seven premium products. The sensational hi-fi sound and home cinema system were highly praised by the international media.
Focal today
Focal's production and research activities have always been located in Saint-Etienne, where the company was founded. “Made in France” became Focal's ideology and provided the ideal opportunity to implement the concept of high-end development and production within one unique site.
Everything written in the Focal annals is a chapter about continuous scientific and engineering research in the field of acoustic drivers. They underpin everything the company does and are part of its outstanding systems. There will be many more lines to be added to this story, inspired by people's lifestyles today and tomorrow, their desire to listen to music and, of course, the passion that we share with all music lovers.
