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Home News

Focal Unveils Scala Utopia Evo M

Bringing PRISM Tweeter Technology to Its Iconic Floorstanding Speaker

Marco Lisi by Marco Lisi
July 13, 2026
in News, Loudspeakers
Reading Time: 3 mins read
focal-unveils-scala-utopia-evo-m

Focal has introduced the Scala Utopia Evo M, a substantial evolution of one of its defining passive loudspeakers, marking what the French manufacturer calls a new chapter in the Utopia line’s history. Announced on July 2nd, 2026, the speaker retains the three-way, bass-reflex architecture that made the original Scala Utopia a success, while reworking nearly every component that shapes its sound: the drivers, crossover, cabinet tuning, and mechanical structure.

A New Midrange Driver Borrowed from Focal’s Professional Range

At the center of the update is a new 5-inch reinforced W-cone midrange driver featuring an M-profile diaphragm, adapted from Focal’s Utopia Main professional monitor range. The driver pairs the brand’s composite W sandwich construction with one-piece M-profile geometry, TMD (Tuned Mass Damper) suspension, a neodymium motor, and an 80mm voice coil, aimed at delivering a cleaner, more linear midrange with lower distortion and greater control at higher listening levels.

PRISM Tweeter Makes Its Debut on the Scala

The Scala Utopia Evo M also introduces Focal’s 27mm PRISM M-profile inverted-dome tweeter, first developed for the Diva Alta Utopia wireless flagship. PRISM combines a multi-material diaphragm with an advanced micro-structuring process that Focal says achieves greater rigidity than beryllium while preserving the low mass and damping needed for refined treble reproduction. The tweeter is loaded with Focal’s IAL2 (Infinite Acoustic Loading) system, which lowers its resonance frequency and allows for an extension up to 40kHz.

Redesigned Woofer and Bass Performance

The 11-inch W-cone woofer has been completely redesigned around a dual-ferrite motor, paired with a large laminar port engineered to move air cleanly without compression or chuffing under heavy demand. Focal rates the Scala Utopia Evo M’s bass extension down to 27Hz within ±3dB, with a -6dB point at 24Hz, giving the speaker real low-frequency authority while remaining more manageable in a domestic room than the larger models above it in the Utopia range.

focal-unveils-scala-utopia-evo-m-2

Refined Crossover and Tuning Technologies

The speaker’s OPC+ (Optimum Phase Crossover) uses high-grade components and large-section internal cabling, with four insulated WBT binding posts supporting bi-wiring or bi-amping. It offers user adjustment for bass, midrange, and treble, with bass and treble controls allowing ±1dB of fine-tuning to suit different listening environments. Focal’s Gamma structural technology and Focus Time system round out the design, ensuring mechanical stability and precise driver alignment toward the listening position.

French Craftsmanship and Design

Like the rest of the Utopia range, the Scala Utopia Evo M is designed and built entirely in France. Its wooden cabinet is handcrafted by cabinetmakers in Burgundy, while the drive units are developed and produced at Focal’s acoustic workshops in Saint-Étienne. The speaker measures roughly 124.7 x 39.3 x 67 cm and is built around Focal’s signature sculptural, multi-cabinet silhouette.

Naim Pairing and System Integration

Focal positions the Scala Utopia Evo M as the centerpiece of a complete hi-fi system, designed to pair naturally with electronics from sister company Naim, including its 200 and 300 Series components and the Uniti Nova PE streaming amplifier.

focal-unveils-scala-utopia-evo-m-3

Pricing and Availability

The Scala Utopia Evo M will be available starting August 2026 in five premium finishes. Black High Gloss, Off White High Gloss, and Warm Taupe High Gloss are priced at $50,000 USD ($58,000 CAD), while Light Walnut with an Off White front panel and Dark Walnut with a Sepia Brown front panel are priced at $56,000 USD ($64,000 CAD). European pricing has been set at €40,000, with UK pricing still to be confirmed.

Tags: Focal
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Marco Lisi

Marco Lisi

Publisher

Marco Lisi is the publisher of Best of High End, part of AV Concepts BV. His path into audio started early: as a teenager he was drawn into the world of free radio, presenting shows and living immersed in music every day. In his early twenties he ran his own production studio for five years, creating jingles and commercials — hands-on training in sound design, pro-audio workflows, and critical listening through studio monitors that still shapes how he evaluates gear today. He also spent years DJing in clubs before moving into publishing, first at two earlier online magazines before founding Best of High End. His hi-fi and home cinema passion was inherited from his father, an inveterate system-swapper. Marco's first setup — a confirmation gift — paired AKAI separates with entry-level Bowers & Wilkins speakers, a brand he stayed loyal to for years as his system grew from stereo into full surround and home cinema. Like many enthusiasts, he went through an extended "audiophile" phase chasing the next upgrade, before settling into a more grounded view: gear as a means to enjoy music and film, not an end in itself. Years of critical listening have given him a well-trained ear — the ability to characterize a system or pinpoint a change in the chain quickly and accurately. Just as important, his teaching background (a Belgian "regent" degree in Dutch language) gives him the tools to translate those listening impressions into clear, readable writing.

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