Shape 40

A passive radiator loudspeaker offers the advantages of a bass-reflex load in a very small footprint. It uses a bass loudspeaker with no motor (coil and magnet) instead of a port. This design extends the low-frequency response and delivers excellent power handling in a reduced loudspeaker volume.

While our engineers are experts in the development of exclusive diaphragms, they also innovate in all the components that make up the loudspeakers, such as the surround that connects the diaphragm to the frame, the performance of which must be mastered. Introduced in 2015, Tuned Mass Damper (TMD) technology with harmonic damping consists of the addition of finely positioned toroidal weights to stabilize the surround for even greater sonic neutrality. This technology enhances the midrange and the erratic behavior of the surround between 1 kHz and 2 kHz.

If the material of a membrane is essential, so is its shape. Focal engineers worked on an "M" profile for the glass fibre "W" membrane. This "M" profile is the fruit of many years of research and our expertise in membrane geometries. Produced in a single piece (without a core cover), it achieves, among other things, a significant reduction in harmonic distortion, better sound dispersion and optimal power handling. A major Focal innovation that can be found on many products.

For very high-definition sound, control of the magnetic flux circulating in the loudspeaker is essential. Our acousticians have created a magnetic circuit of incredible stability, guaranteeing perfectly controlled sound: Neutral Inductance Circuit (NIC) technology. This patented technology resides in a Faraday ring whose dimensions, material and positioning are optimized to make the magnetic flux stable and the sound highly precise.

As the key component of a loudspeaker, the membrane is at the heart of our acoustic engineers' research. After more than five years of research and development, in 2013 Focal unveiled an exclusive membrane made from flax. Patented, this Flax cone is a sandwich made of very high quality French flax fibre placed between two thin sheets of glass fibre. It satisfies all the criteria of a high-fidelity membrane: lightness to offer good dynamics, rigidity to hold the bass and damping to deliver a neutral, natural, uncolored sound. It is an emblematic Focal innovation in many hi-fi products.