Legacy Focus XD: A Deep Dive into Sonic Performance
“Well, I’ve been an audiophile for about 12 years and through my journey I’ve experienced and encountered many number of speakers manufacturers, so I’ve learned a lot about speakers and these Legacy Focus XD at $12,600 a pair need to be heard in order to be understood. In this review I’m going to attempt to describe the sound and benefits as best as I can. Speaker tones are subjective and you might have a different perception on how to describe the sound that’s coming out of these beautiful speakers. The speakers have 3 different options on how you can set them up. I’m using the full range mode so the internal amp is driving the whole entire speaker, but you can also just use the internal amp to power the dual 12 inch drivers for the bass and use an external amp of your preference to run the mids and highs. Adding the Wavelet processor helps to balance the mixture of amplifiers with up to 4 outputs per speaker other than the DSP, DAC and Preamp functions onboard.
The Legacy Focus XD is a true full range reference loudspeaker that delivers a sonic and believable presentation, rated at +/−2dB from 18Hz to 30kHz. The speakers deliver a level of transparency that is crystal clear, naturally open, but yet non-fatiguing and never bright.”
Exceptional Tonal Balance and Mid-Range Clarity
“These speakers are quite convincingly one of the most tonally balanced speakers I have ever heard, that deliver a big sense of accuracy in my listening space. The mid-range is well anchored, with substantial body that’s not been heard at this price point.”
Controlled and Deep Bass Response
“The bass is something truly special and I’m not even using my Dual Rhythmic F12 subs. I don’t think I will ever miss them either. The bass is controlled, smooth, while having 2 x 12” at the bottom, never overpowering against the mids and highs and presents a level of balance and linearity that seems unique as a large speaker. I noticed, despite my seating distance from these rather large floor standers, the bass does not image where the woofers are, but at the height where the mid bass drivers and tweeters seem to appear. Other speakers I’ve heard that are much more expensive suffer from that issue. Not these Legacy speakers.”
Breathtaking Dynamics and Coherence
“These speakers are the epitome of coherence, and are a stellar example of multi-driver integration. The breathtaking dynamics combined with the tonal quality suggest that this pair of speakers can truly deliver live-like performances in my room, giving high resolution to the sound, impact dynamism of drums and the instantaneous hit to the snare.”
Expansive Soundstage and Precise Instrument Separation
“In my sweet spot, the separation of instruments is like having a live band in my presence, nothing more nothing less. They play every note with unprecedented clarity, detail and a real sense of spaciousness in the soundstage. I can even visualize in my mind the space between the musicians, more convincingly than ever before. All the instruments and vocals sound real and natural, these speakers don’t really add or take anything away from the music, they are extremely revealing with great delicacy and neutrality. They play virtually every genre of music exceedingly well from R&B, Pop, Rock, Classical, Big Band Jazz, or small jazz ensembles. The music can never be too complicated or messy with these speakers always keeping their composure, remaining free and effortless. Seemingly linear throughout volumes, soft to loud, the details from bass to highs never seem to wane… Even at very low listening levels I still can appreciate a huge soundstage and I can hear the smallest details with stunning clarity and pristine definition.”
Final Verdict: Unbeatable Value in High-End Audio
“BUILD QUALITY: The build quality and finish looks very clean and absolutely gorgeous. I chose white. A clean, and pure color, much like what the Focus XD is to me, clean and pure.
COMPARISON: Objectively, the Focus XD does everything right. Image height, sound staging, wide frequency response, great choice and implementation of drivers, composure in varying volumes, great dynamics… anything you can think of in the objective judgement of the speaker, it does it all, and in an exceptional manner…
VALUE: In my opinion these speakers are the true definition of what high end audio should sound like, yet without costing an arm and a leg, in comparison with countless manufacturers… these seem like the best value in the high end audio industry… It is my humble opinion that these speakers belong among the very very best regardless of price.
CONCLUSION: I’m glad I went with Legacy Audio… There’s much less compromise, and so much more to re-discover and re-connect with my music… The Legacy Focus is a magnificent masterpiece that delivers world class state of the art performance at a very reasonable price so they are most certainly keepers. With that being said; I’m looking forward to many years of listening enjoyment.”
Bravo Legacy Audio
Special thanks to Audio Doctor High End Audio Boutique