Note that this is a discontinued product. You may want to visit the brand's page here to browse their newer products.
What reviewers think
Bloggers and YouTubers have tried this product—so we've summarized their strongest opinions below. Links to full reviews follow.
Product Strengths
- Side-mounted passive radiators make the speakers forgiving of low-end buildup when placed near walls and corners, offering positional flexibility
- Excellent transient response and detailed differentiation between midrange frequencies, making it easier to pick out conflicts between different instruments
- Inverted dome tweeter design provides accurate and smooth high frequencies that are less fatiguing than standard drivers and offer flexible listening position
- Wide and precise stereo image, making it easy to position mix elements around the stereo field
- Accurate and neutral overall sound presentation, revealing without sounding overly clinical, making them easy to work on over long periods
Product Considerations
- Some reviewers found the low-end lacking a tiny bit, and the sub-bass response is not as good as larger monitors—potentially requiring a subwoofer
- The power-saving mode can be annoying, as the speakers take a couple of seconds to activate, and the feature cannot be disabled
- Treble response can be sensitive, which may be fatiguing when working on recordings that require less than a sparkling top end
- Lacks wireless connectivity like Bluetooth
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- Compared to Yamaha HS80M, the Shape 65 sounds better in the mid and top frequencies
Takeaway: The Focal Shape 65 is a well-built monitor with a clear and detailed sound that's great for mixing and mastering. It's an accurate tool that will help with making better music decisions.
What are hifi reviews useful for? (1) Identifying products you should demo in person at a dealer. (2) Learning which products reviewers unanimously praise as the best they've heard (this means they probably are legitimately great). (3) Identifying a product's attributes that satisfy your idiosyncratic needs and tastes. Beyond that, we often discount what reviewers say because they heap praise on most products—and are often apprehensive about publishing strong criticism or comparisons between products. Further, they seldom have more than a few products on-hand, often relying on their memories to compare past products. Always listen for yourself.
All
Shape 65
reviews
[{"title":"FOCAL SHAPE REVIEW","link":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UPjrfyYJnNc","source":"Jon Sine","datePublished":"2019"},{"title":"Focal Professional: Shape 65 Active Monitor","link":"https://tapeop.com/reviews/gear/123/shape-65-active-monitor","source":"Tape Op","datePublished":""},{"title":"Focal Shape 65 review","link":"https://www.whathifi.com/reviews/focal-shape-65","source":"What Hi-Fi?","datePublished":"2021"},{"title":"Focal Shape 65 review","link":"https://www.musicradar.com/reviews/focal-shape-65","source":"MusicRadar","datePublished":"2021"},{"title":"Focal Shape 65","link":"https://www.soundonsound.com/reviews/focal-shape-65","source":"Sound on Sound","datePublished":""},{"title":"Focal Shape 65 Review - The Finest Monitors Of 2017?","link":"https://musictech.com/reviews/focal-shape-65-review","source":"MusicTech","datePublished":"2017"},{"title":"Focal Shape 65 - Test & Review - Studio","link":"https://www.studio-microphone.com/en/enceintes-monitoring/focal-shape-65","source":"Studio Microphone","datePublished":""},{"title":"Focal Shape 65 Review - Solar Heavy Studios","link":"https://solarheavystudios.com/focal-shape-65-review","source":"Solar Heavy Studios","datePublished":"2024"},{"title":"Focal Shape 65 Review 2025: Features & Benefits - Techapel","link":"https://www.techapel.com/focal-shape-65-review","source":"Techapel","datePublished":"2020"},{"title":"Focal Shape 65 Studio Monitor REVIEW - MacSources","link":"https://macsources.com/focal-shape-65-studio-monitor-review","source":"Mac Sources","datePublished":"2020"}]
An excellent review of a great product
/
Publisher
/
3/1/2022
An excellent review of a great product
Publisher
/
3/1/2022
Video Review
Manufacturer details
Features
Specifications
- Product type: 2-way monitor
- Woofer: 6.5" Flax membrane
- Tweeter: 1" Aluminium-Magnisium M shaped dome
- Frequency response (+/- 3dB): 40 Hz - 35 kHz
- Maximum SPL (peak@1m): 109 dB
- High frequency amplifier: 35 W, class AB
- Mid-range and low frequency amplifier: 80 W, class AB
- Inputs: XLR: symmetrical 10 kOhms, RCA: asymmetrical 10 kOhms with compensanted sensitivity
- Height: 35.5 cm (14 in)
- Width: 21.8 cm (8.6 in)
- Depth: 28.5 cm (11.2 in)
- Weight: 8.5 kg (28.2 lb)
Description
Shape 65 offers an unrivaled quality of control, from the lower on the highest frequencies. With a 6.5'' woofer with a flax membrane, an aluminum/magnesium "m" tweeter and AB class amplifiers, this monitoring speaker is essential for professionals looking for sound transparent perfectly defined. It expresses all its potential from a listening meter.
Like Shape 40 and Shape 50, Shape 65 is characterized by a stereo image that is both wide and extremely precise. Benefiting from the advantages of the Flax membrane, combined with the "M" profile tweeter, it delivers a very high-definition sound with redoubled clarity across the entire spectrum. Control is precise, right down to the extreme treble.
Designed to meet the needs of nearfield listening, Shape loudspeakers combine ingenious design with essential features and controls (XLR and RCA inputs, adjustable bass and treble levels, disengageable high-pass crossover, adjustable 160 Hz filter...).
Sobriety and style define Shape 65. The MDF cabinet body is covered with a real walnut veneer. Its compactness, ventless design and mounting inserts make for optimal, flexible integration, even close to a wall.
Designed to meet the needs of nearfield listening, Shape loudspeakers combine ingenious design with essential features and controls (XLR and RCA inputs, adjustable bass and treble levels, disengageable high-pass crossover, adjustable 160 Hz filter...).
Sobriety and style define Shape 65. The MDF cabinet body is covered with a real walnut veneer. Its compactness, ventless design and mounting inserts make for optimal, flexible integration, even close to a wall.
Release Timeline
Manufacturer Site
Brand highlights
Taking a step back to look at reviewers' thoughts of the brand's entire lineup—not just this product—what stands out most is the following:
- Focal monitors are noted for their "mid-forward" sound, guiding users toward balanced mixes, particularly in the midrange frequencies, which aids in crucial EQ and dynamics decisions.
- They integrate an inverted dome tweeter crafted from Aluminum/Magnesium or Beryllium, optimizing high-frequency dispersion and minimizing distortion through back wave absorption.
- Focal frequently employs flax or "W" composite sandwich cones in their mid-bass drivers, providing a lightweight yet rigid diaphragm construction that delivers exceptional definition and controlled bass.
Select products
Select product comparisons
Theva
- Positioning: The entry-level series in Focal's high-fidelity lineup.
- Description: Features Focal's signature technologies like the TNF tweeter for clear treble. Compared to the Aria Evo X, offers a more budget-friendly option with simpler cabinet designs. While it lacks the advanced materials found in the Kanta series, still provides a solid performance for its price range, suitable for basic home audio setups.
Aria Evo X
- Positioning: Sits in the mid-range of Focal's lineup, offering a balance between performance and affordability.
- Description: Features flax cone technology, providing natural sound and excellent dynamics. More refined than Theva, offering better build quality and soundstage.
Kanta
- Positioning: A premium series, offering advanced technology and design.
- Description: Known for their innovative design and use of materials like the Flax sandwich cone and Beryllium tweeter, delivering precise and detailed sound. They offer a more sophisticated sound profile than Aria Evo X, with enhanced clarity and warmth.
Sopra
- Positioning: A high-end series, just below the flagship Utopia line, focusing on compactness and performance.
- Description: Excels in sound transparency and precision, featuring technologies like the Infinite Horn Loading system for improved treble. They offer a richer harmonic experience than Kanta.
Utopia III Evo
- Positioning: Focal's flagship series, representing the pinnacle of their speaker technology.
- Description: Renowned for their exceptional sound quality and luxurious design, incorporating technologies like the Beryllium tweeter and W composite sandwich cone. They surpass Sopra in every aspect, offering groundbreaking soundstage and detail, ideal for large dedicated listening rooms and those with no budget constraints.
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Avg. Product Price
$501-$1,000
Used For Sale
239
Available (Scroll Down)
Brand Popularity
10
of 900+
Badges
Top 50 Brand
Top 250 Brand
Products Listed
79
Founding Year
1979
Our take on the brand
Focal is a French hifi brand that makes their own drivers in-house, including their highly-regarded beryllium tweeters and unique slatefiber mid/bass drivers made from recycled carbon fiber. Their speakers and headphones feature distinctive technologies like their "W" sandwich cone design for optimal driver performance and Mimi Sound Personalization that adapts audio to individual hearing profiles.
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Brand Page
Our interview with the brand
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Used
Focal
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What if you spend more?
ADAM Audio
A8H
1499
1499
/
6
Reviews
The A8H incorporates an 8-inch resonant Multi-Layer Mineral (MLM) fiber woofer, innovative midrange driver, and handmade precision X-ART tweeter, which together produce an ultra-wide frequency response. Like the other members of the A Series family, the A8H gives you tremendous flexibility for fine-tuning the sound through rotatable HPS waveguide technology and onboard DSP. At home across a full range of audio applications in mid- to full-sized spaces, the A8H is the right choice when you’re looking for the most detailed representation of your audio. The A8H is available in a left and right version.
ADAM Audio is renowned for its innovative ART tweeters, which enhance the Air Motion Transformer concept by moving air four times faster than their folds for high-definition sound. Their monitors, especially the S Series, are favored by sound engineers for their accurate and transparent sound, advanced engineering, and reduced distortion, while the T Series offers affordable, high-performance studio monitors.
Expand Details
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Our summary
Product Strengths
- Detailed and powerful low-end response
- Articulate midrange driver
- Crisp and airy high-end without harshness
- The built-in EQ and Sonarworks SoundID Reference integration allows users to tailor the sound to their specific room acoustics
- Wide, deep, highly detailed, and solidly centered soundfield
Product Considerations
- Self-noise/hiss can be noticeable up close
- To fully use the Sonarworks feature after the trial, users would need to purchase the software
- Some users experienced initial connection hiccups with the A Control app
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- The A8H offered a better value than the Dynaudio LYD 48 due to sound, build quality, and features like the built-in EQ
- The A8H offers more DSP capabilities, and is less expensive than the HEDD Audio Type 20 MK2 or Neumann KH310
- It is halfway between the less expensive but less sophisticated Dynaudio LYD 48 and ADAM Audio's own S2V—which, although a 2 way, offers step up in terms of sophistication
Takeaway: The A8H studio monitors deliver exceptional sound quality with user-friendly features—enhancing the overall audio production experience. These monitors, with versatile connectivity, DSP-driven room adaptation, and impressive audio performance, are a great choice for those serious about audio.
Video review
Our take on the brand
ADAM Audio is renowned for its innovative ART tweeters, which enhance the Air Motion Transformer concept by moving air four times faster than their folds for high-definition sound. Their monitors, especially the S Series, are favored by sound engineers for their accurate and transparent sound, advanced engineering, and reduced distortion, while the T Series offers affordable, high-performance studio monitors.
Product Page
Product Page
Dynaudio
Core 5
1699
1699
/
4
Reviews
Dynaudio is a hifi speaker brand known for its unique external voice-coil construction, which allows for larger voice coils that improve thermal power handling and reduce thermal compression. The brand has a heritage in professional sound production and uses advanced materials like the Esotar 40 tweeter and rare 240mm drivers to deliver superior dynamic realism and headroom.
Expand Details
Product Strengths
- Excellent balanced delivery with precise midrange
- Well-specified, easy-to-use EQ and room correction settings
- Good low-frequency extension given its compact size
- Produces a beautifully clean and well-defined sound, with no harshness in the highs and a real sense of spatial depth and stereo width
- As mixing tools, they tell it like it is, so good mixes sound 'right' and flaws are shown up clearly, just as they should
Product Considerations
- Expensive
- There's no straightforward way to hook up the Core 5s to the Core Sub Compact if all connections are to remain analogue
Takeaway: The Core 5 is a compact, accurate, and high-quality studio monitor that delivers a balanced and detailed sound perfect for smaller studios or immersive setups. It is comfortable to work with for extended periods, making it a great choice for professional use.
Video review
Our take on the brand
Dynaudio is a hifi speaker brand known for its unique external voice-coil construction, which allows for larger voice coils that improve thermal power handling and reduce thermal compression. The brand has a heritage in professional sound production and uses advanced materials like the Esotar 40 tweeter and rare 240mm drivers to deliver superior dynamic realism and headroom.
Product Page
Product Page
What competes at this price?
ADAM Audio
A7V
799
/
Released
2022
The A7V is a contemporary 2-way monitor that represents the evolution of ADAM Audio's award winning A7X. It features a 7" Multi-Layer Mineral woofer and rotatable X-ART tweeter, which is made by hand in Berlin. DSP-based voicing, equalization and room correction options can be controlled remotely and in real time via the free-to-download A Control software, and updatable firmware allows for new filters and tunings to be implemented over the lifetime of the monitor.
ADAM Audio is renowned for its innovative ART tweeters, which enhance the Air Motion Transformer concept by moving air four times faster than their folds for high-definition sound. Their monitors, especially the S Series, are favored by sound engineers for their accurate and transparent sound, advanced engineering, and reduced distortion, while the T Series offers affordable, high-performance studio monitors.
Expand Details
Our Summary
Product Strengths
- Delivers a powerful, smooth and detailed sound with flexible voicing options
- High frequency reproduction balances accuracy without being harsh
- Ability to resolve fine details
- Excellent build quality, back panel controls, and layout
- Room correction presets can be saved via the partnered Sonarworks Sound ID software
Product Considerations
- Non-stepped volume controls travel a little too easily
- On/off switch and input sensitivity controls are located on the cabinet rear panel
- Network router and ethernet cables required for computer control
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- The A7V has a more premium sound and can be tweaked further thanks to the free A-Control software, but the ADAM Audio T7V is hard to beat due to its price-to-performance ratio
- For users coming from a set of KRK Systems Rokit 8 speakers, the A7V will be a massive improvement
Takeaway: The ADAM Audio A7V is a great-sounding monitor with multiple voicings, software integration and excellent build quality. These monitors offer a detailed audio performance, allowing users to make well informed mixing decisions.
Video review
Our take on the brand
ADAM Audio is renowned for its innovative ART tweeters, which enhance the Air Motion Transformer concept by moving air four times faster than their folds for high-definition sound. Their monitors, especially the S Series, are favored by sound engineers for their accurate and transparent sound, advanced engineering, and reduced distortion, while the T Series offers affordable, high-performance studio monitors.
Product Page
Product Page
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