My audio journey started about a year ago when I upgraded my TV. Ever since my brief time working…read morein the industry, I've always gotten my TVs ISF calibrated, so when I searched businesses that offer it, Nuts About Hi-Fi came up. When I stopped in. I was greeted by Matt, who was pretty surprised by the request, as it's been a dying service for years. He asked what kind of TV I had, and when I told him, he was intimately familiar with the model. He mentioned that my model was one of a few where the manufacturer hand picks the panels and calibrates the image out of the box, and that with a few tweaks I could do on my own, I could accomplish 95% of what a calibration would and save myself $400. Nice!
Since I was there, Matt asked if I wanted to check out the store. I had a little time, so I agreed, and he took me back in to their listening room. I immediately recognized Focal and JL Audio. I run both of those brands in my car and know their excellence. This was my wheelhouse. Matt had me sit and listen to a pair of the Focal Scala Utopia speakers, and they were epic. There was also no way I was going to afford them! He asked what I had for equipment currently, and I shared my system, that they probably wouldn't even use as a door stop at this place, but Matt did not belittle my equipment. He simply asked if I was happy with it or would have any interest in upgrading.
A few months later, I had some time, so I stopped in again. Matt showed me the Focal Aria Evo X line of speakers, explaining that they were a redesigned line that represented one of the best value points in the Focal lineup. Listening to them, they sounded great. Night and day difference from what I was used to at home. These both looked and sounded like they should for the price.
When I was ready to start my room project, I figured I'd check in and see if Nuts sold TV wall mounts. Sure enough, they carried the same one I was looking at and matched the sale price from a reputable online dealer. Matt then mentioned the Aria speakers were on sale. The sale was technically over, but he said if I was ready, he could get Focal to honor it for a couple more days. I liked that I had the opportunity to go home and discuss with my wife, and that ended up being the difference maker. I knew Focal rarely does sales, so I decided to pull the trigger.
Now, it was a race to get my room finished. I decided that I wanted to replace my existing bookshelf surrounds with in-wall. I was tearing out a fireplace and replacing carpet and baseboards, so it was an optimal time to take on the project. Matt gave me a good deal on some Focal 300 ICW6 in-ceiling/in-wall speakers that use the same cone and tweeter material as Aria lineup, so they pair perfectly with the front stage.
For subs, to fit my budget and space constraints, they recommended a pair of the JL Audio Dominion 10" subs. I wanted a symmetrical setup for aesthetic reasons, and I was stepping down from a bulky 15" sub. Even though I was a big JL fan already, they still let me demo the Dominions as much as I needed to feel good about the purchase.
I then ran into my first problem: The ICW6 speakers were too deep for interior walls. They are mainly used in ceiling applications, but they work in walls with 2x6 studs. Interior walls are usually 2x4. Jim told me to bring them back for a full refund, no questions, and he offered me a similar discount to upgrade to the 300 IW6 units that were in-wall only. Problem solved.
Michael, one of their install techs, was extremely helpful, talking me through placement of the speakers - how far from the ceiling, rear walls, and between which studs, since my walls were not mirror images of each other. Most places would probably leave you high and dry on a DIY project, so I appreciate that Michael was willing to walk me through this job.
Going on 12 weeks, my room was finished, but no Focal speakers. At this point, I'll admit I was a little frustrated, but I understood that we were all at the mercy of the manufacturer. Then this happened: Jim asked if I'd like to borrow some equipment until my order arrived. WHAT?! Who just lets a random customer borrow equipment?
Of course, my Aria towers showed up just a few days later. I then finally unboxed my subs to find another problem: One was covered in hairline cracks. The box looked perfect, so I'm guessing it was a manufacturing defect. I brought the sub back in, and the next day, I had a call saying they had a replacement. They also had my second in-wall speaker. Eric's follow up on everything was on-point. After another couple weeks, I had my center channel, and all was right in the world.
Yes, some components took a lot longer than expected, but the savings, communication, and loaner equipment made me feel like family, even though I was a first-time customer. Don't be afraid to stop in here. Don't let the $100k speakers in the showroom scare you off. They've got something for every budget.
