Dynaudio Focus 10: The Marriage Between Wireless Speakers and High-Fidelity

Throughout their 45 years of experience in high-fidelity speakers, Dynaudio hasn’t delayed taking an interest in wireless audio technology. For several years now, Dynaudio has been developing models that are powered via a wired connection but can receive music wirelessly. After various ranges such as Music and Xeo, the Focus represents a kind of culmination of their efforts.

Contrary to previous models, nothing leads you to believe that the Focus are wired. They feature a design and finish that’s identical to that of Dynaudio speakers from other ranges. You have to look behind the speakers to discover the connectivity system that completely replaces the typical speaker terminal. For testing, we’ve selected the Focus 10 model, the smallest in the range. For larger rooms, Focus 30 and Focus 50 columns are also available.

Overview of the Focus 10

The Focus 10 are bookshelf speakers. They are small models, just 31.5 cm high. They represent a good compromise in terms of size and functionality when you discover all that’s inside. The finish of the walnut version we received is sublime in every respect. Focus 10 is also available in blond wood veneer, high-gloss white and high-gloss black.

From the front, we immediately recognize Dynaudio speakers that greatly resemble those of the Evoke series. The drivers are similar, featuring techniques and components similar to those used in their higher-end ranges. At first glance, the woofer is immediately recognizable with its vented cover, one of the brand’s signatures present here in a version measuring 14 cm in diameter. The 28 mm Cerotar tweeter sits atop the woofer for optimal acoustic synchronization between the two.

Beneath the drivers, at the base of the speaker, is a discreet Dynaudio logo. For once, the brand name isn’t engraved, and with good reason, the logo is backlit to indicate the speaker’s working status. The protective acoustic fabric grilles are held in place by invisible magnets. The front panel is noticeably wider than the rear. Viewed from above, this gives the speaker a tapered appearance that further reduces its visual footprint. On this subject, Dynaudio offers optional floor stands that are perfectly adapted to the speaker.L’amplification des enceintes est un sujet que Dynaudio maîtrise depuis longtemps. La marque fabrique des enceintes de monitoring réputées pour les studios professionnels depuis des dizaines d’années. Cette expérience a été appliquée aux enceintes Hi-Fi Focus. Deux canaux distincts prennent place dans chaque enceinte : 110 watts pour le tweeter, 280 watts pour le woofer. Ce sont des modules en classe D de marque Pascal.

Speaker amplification is a subject that Dynaudio has mastered for a long time now. For decades, the brand has manufactured highly reputable monitoring speakers for professional studios. This industry experience has been applied to the Hi-Fi Focus. Two distinct channels occupy each speaker: 110 watts for the tweeter, 280 watts for the woofer. Both are Pascal-brand class-D modules.

An internal DSP controls the operation of the amplifier and loudspeaker pairs to keep them working within an ideal range and avoid accidents at very high volumes. But that’s not all. Focus 10s feature Dirac technology. This is an audio calibration system that perfectly matches speaker output to room acoustics. It requires the purchase of a license on the Dirac website, and a microphone compatible with the free software to be installed on a computer. This operation can be entrusted to your dealer.

Using the Focus 10

Let’s move on to the back of the speakers to discover what they have to offer. In terms of wired connectivity, the Focus 10 has three inputs for as many different sources: a turntable, a CD player, a TV... Bluetooth is present for quick and easy connection, but it’s a shame that Hi-Res codecs aren’t present. But with this type of loudspeaker, we’ll be focusing on the network connection. Here, it’s twofold: RJ45 wired and wi-fi.

The two speakers are not identical: there is a main speaker and a secondary speaker. Both need to be plugged into a power outlet. However, the link between the two is wireless. A small button on the back of the speakers synchronizes them once and for all. However, it is possible to physically link the two speakers via an RCA cord (not supplied). This connection is carried out digitally, each speaker being well-equipped with its own DAC prior to the amplification stage.

You can also connect the speakers via the WiSA standard, which allows you to set up stereo or multichannel configurations. This requires a central hub, available from several different manufacturers, although this technology is still relatively uncommon. It’s a growing trend, however, and has already won over many brands, enabling the creation of multi-channel, multi-brand systems. WiSA will therefore be the preferred choice for the inclusion of Dynaudio Focus 10 in a wireless home cinema system.

As far as music is concerned, multiple audio protocols are available. Of course, there are the standards AirPlay 2 and Chromecast, for receiving input from any smartphone or tablet. UPnP offers multiple opportunities in the context of more specialized Hi-Fi systems and applications, whereas the Roon certification gives direct access to Qobuz. The Focus 10 are part of the select few high-fidelity wireless speakers directly compatible with Roon. We should also note the presence of a remote control that controls both the volume and a number of other essential functions.

The installation via the Dynaudio mobile app is standard. To this end, the speakers require internet access; you grant access to your home’s wi-fi network via the app, and the speakers are thus immediately available for use. It’s necessary to play with the settings a bit here, as there are quite a few, including power saving mode, left/right speaker inversion, installation placement (corner, wall-adjacent), start volume, the use of a subwoofer plugged into the corresponding jack, and the activation of Dirac calibration. Depending on one’s expectations, the range of the Focus 10′s customizable functions is therefore quite expansive.

Listening Experience

As you already know if you regularly follow our tests of high-fidelity audio devices, Dynaudio is the manufacturer of the speakers we usually use for testing. We therefore have a certain affinity for the brand, and it was only by force that we had to put aside our usual speakers. The Focus 10 took their place, and that’s all we needed to do; no other electronics were required. We used Qobuz via Roon in order to access our playlists.

Right away, the Focus 10′s appear much larger than they actually are. Upon listening to Kinga Głyk’s new album Real Life, the overall ambience is impressive. The music fills the room while the speakers fade into the background. The bass is round and precise, as expected. The percussion is rendered quite naturally. Even though these speakers do indeed go relatively low, offering a solid initial exploration of the bass layers, they don’t go overboard. The lack of bass reflex vent is an advantage here as well.

We moved on to the album Victoire de la Musique by Cotonete, which features a relatively large panorama of funky sounds. The Focus 10 take us along for the ride, deeply immersing us in the music. They master its score with unparalleled cohesion, which is truly their strong suit. Although the ensemble appears to work as a single unit, there is an enormous amount of detail that comes forward whenever you isolate single instruments. Whatever the instrument may be, the timbre is respected with elegant accuracy, including but not limited to the treble, which manages to rise to its highest levels without becoming too overpowering.

The electropop of Papooz’s album Resonate allows us to confirm that the Focus 10 are far from shy despite their small size. They solidly reproduce the bass, accompanied by layers of keyboard in the background. The sound is three-dimensional, establishing itself both in front of and behind the speakers.  The vocals, mixed very prominently on this album, stand out from the rest and we enjoy their warmth, which accentuates their presence while offering a rare realistic quality. You’ll find yourself turning up the volume quite easily without any settling or distortion.

We finished off with Mahler’s Symphony No. 9, performed by the Verbier Festival Orchestra. The timbre is superb, with excellent legibility and soaring treble. The dynamics of the more explosive portions of the score are reconstituted exceptionally well. Yet again, the Focus 10 do the work of much larger speakers. They demonstrate mastery over the entire sonic spectrum, no matter how complex the music becomes when all the instruments are playing simultaneously. The work of the tweeter within the treble range is impressive, with wind and string instruments standing out in particular for their precision and realism.