Focal subwoofers are very special. Incredibily high fidelity, quality of components and overall amazing pieces of engineering.
Then you see the price tag and think ‘hold on! are they really worth it?’
Let’s find out.
The Brand
A French-based boutique audio manufacturer, Focal has a 35 year reputation for building high quality car and home audio products that exceed the exacting standards of even the most selective audiophile.
When it come to subwoofers, focal is well recognized for their outstanding work in low-frequency audio reproduction, and their subs are considered premium products by custom car audio installers and enthusiasts all over the world..
These are subwoofers intended for the car audio elite, and they are built to reflect that high standard so that no subwoofer they ever build ever fails to live up to high consumer expectations.
Here’s the lowdown of Focal’s product line as well as few quick reviews of their best selling subwoofers.
Product Line
- Utopia Be
- K2 Power
- Expert
- Access
- Auditor
- Universal
- Plug and Play
These products make up Focal’s highest-grade offerings.
Each subwoofer is built to the most exacting standards in the industry and provides the highest level possible of low-frequency audio fidelity.
It’s unique multi-magnet design and powerful driver motor allow it to produce thunderous bass from a 13” speaker cone.
These subwoofers are sure to please even the most discriminating audiophile, though they carry a significantly higher price tag to match their high-end performance.
For those seeking a more compact subwoofer to augment their in car audio experience, Focal has their K2 Power line.
These products feature smaller cone sizes and a shallower mounting depth to allow for mounting where space is at a premium.
These subwoofers may be more diminutive than the Utopia Be product line, but they are no less powerful in terms of continuous wattage handling or bass performance.
When you want to give your car audio a significant upgrade in lower register performance spending your entire audio upgrade budget at once, Focal’s Expert line should get a first look.
These subs are built to Focal’s high standard of quality, but have a lower continuous power handling and are made using mid-grade construction materials.
They are by no means any less exceptional in their quality and fidelity, but they definitely are less punchy than the K2 Power and Utopia Be subs.
Bass kit for the masses is the purpose of the Access line.
These are consumer grade subwoofers that are made with more cost-effective materials so as to maintain Focal quality with more working-class value pricing.
These single-coil subwoofers can add punchiness to any car stereo with the right amplifier, and they have fairly decent power handling for their size.
They aren’t made of the same premium materials as other product lines, but they are still designed and constructed with Focal’s commitment to achieving the highest possible audio fidelity.
With a double voice coil and polypropylene cone, these subwoofers are designed to throw some serious bass at high power without distorting your sound.
They are a considered mid-tier in terms of overall quality, but they definitely kick like much more expensive subs. Definitely Focal’s best value proposition available.
Dedicated to upgrading factory car speakers with their superior audio fidelity products, the Universal line is designed to be easy to install in any vehicle regardless of make or model using existing speaker enclosures
. It gets its name from the fact that all tweeters and full range speakers are designed to replace any existing factory car speakers without the need for additional hardware.
A recent addition to the Focal lineup, this series of products are designed to upgrade the existing premium audio kits with Focal speakers.
The name of the series derives from the fact that they are designed from the ground up to fit speaker enclosures for specific major automotive brands like Toyota, BMW, Renault, Peugeot, and Volkswagen.
This product line was developed due to the high demand for self-installation kits that any car audio enthusiast could easily handle on their own.
All you have to do is literally pull factory speaker or tweeter out and plug the new Focal speaker in.
Focal Subs Reviews
Comparison Chart
1. FOCAL 33KX Double Coil Power 13″ SubWoofer
Want the best thunder Focal has to offer for the money? These 13” subwoofers are your best bet. Powerful and crystal clear, these subwoofers can definitely bring the noise.
Specifications:
- Sensitivity: 86.5 dB
- RMS: 800 Watts
- Peak Power: 1600 Watts
- Frequency Response: 25Hz-500Hz
- Impedance: 4-Ohms
The Good
These subs are ridiculously powerful for their size, and they can handle heavy-duty amplifiers while keeping bass reproduction crisp and punchy.
Unless you are willing to invest in the top of the line Utopia Be product line, this subwoofer is going to be one of the absolute best products you can install for car audio.
The Not-So-Good
As with many high end subwoofers, the impedance on this sub is 4-ohms, meaning that heat generation is an issue when installing these subs in an enclosure.
The subwoofer diameter is also a non-standard size at 13”, which may make it difficult to find enclosures that fit it unless you buy one direct from Focal.
Pros
- Heavy duty power handling
- Loud enough to satisfy even the most discriminating basshead
- Double voice coil for increased clarity and audio fidelity
Cons
- Higher impedance means higher heat generation to account for
- Non-standard subwoofer diameter
2. Focal 11″ 27KX – Single K2 Power Series Subwoofer
Compact power that adds boost to your bass for any car stereo system. It handles slightly less wattage than its larger 13” cousin, but Focal’s world-class clarity remains intact.
Specifications:
- Sensitivity: 84.5 dB
- RMS: 600 watts
- Peak Power: 1200 watts
- Frequency Response: 25Hz-500Hz
- Impedance: 4-ohms
The Good
This subwoofer is an excellent space saving solution for this looking to add some thump to their subwoofer box without having it take up the whole trunk.
It can handle over 500 watts of continuous power, and thanks to Focal’s innovative design and tech those bass frequencies stay distinctive and thunderous.
The Not-So-Good
Higher impedance at 4-Ohms is by no means terrible, but the additional heat generation still needs to be accounted for.
As with the 33KX, this is also a non-standard speaker diameter that will require a specialized enclosure in order to mount it properly.
Pros
- Plenty of power
- Excellent bass response and volume
- High quality audio fidelity with even the lowest frequencies
Cons
- High impedance means higher heat generation
- Non-standard subwoofer diameter
3. Focal 21V2 8″ Single Subwoofer
This subwoofer provides Focal audio fidelity in a subwoofer that can be easily mounted in the smallest bass enclosures for a more efficient use of space in your trunk or cargo area.
They also provide better value for the money thanks to innovative use of construction materials and overall design.
Specifications:
- Sensitivity: 81.2 dB
- RMS: 200 watts
- Peak Power: 500 watts
- Frequency Response: 40-500 Hz
- Impedance: 4-Ohms
The Good
If you want to feel the bass inside of your car without distortion, this subwoofer is almost purpose built for that experience.
It has superior power handling for its size, and it sacrifices nothing in audio clarity even with its smaller cone size.
The Not-So-Good
If you want the drivers in the car next to you at a stoplight to feel the bass coming from your car without distortion, this is probably not the ideal subwoofer choice for you.
These subs sound great in vehicle, but they are definitely not competition grade, nor do they really crank up loud enough to compete with larger comparable woofers.
Pros
- Small size means better use of space
- Excellent power handling for their size
- Excellent bass audio fidelity
Cons
- Definitely not for waking up the neighbors or rattling the windows in your neighborhood.
4. Focal P25 10″ 200W RMS 400W Max Single 4-Ohm
Looking for a performance subwoofer that can handle extended daily use?
This 10 inch subwoofer will please the true audiphiles with it’s super clear bass.
The P25 from Focal is an excellent choice for those who want superior bass performance in a subwoofer kit that won’t take up the whole trunk area of your car.
Specifications:
- Sensitivity:90.2 dB
- RMS: 200-watts
- Peak Power: 400-watts
- Frequency Response: 42-500 Hz
- Impedance: 4-Ohms
The Good
This sub is surprisingly loud for its size and power handling.
This could be attributed to its larger cone surface area and powerful dual voice coil, but what really stands out is how much “oomph” this sub adds to bass performance with a decent amplifier.
It also has a self-regulating heat dissipation system, so you don’t have to worry about unreliable performance even after hours of play.
The Not-So-Good
The power handling is not going to let you blow the doors off most other subwoofers in its class.
It is powerful and loud, but it really isn’t capable of the kind of bass performance you’d expect from a competition grade subwoofer even if it is exceptionally durable.
Pros
- Built to last with high endurance parts
- Loud and clear even at low volumes
- Self-regulated cooling system
Cons
- Plenty of bass, but not a high performance sub in terms of volume and power.
Read also: JBL Car Audio Subwoofers Review