Dynaudio Focus 110 review

Great little speakers, fully capable of entertaining across a wide range of music Tested at £1160.00

What Hi-Fi? Verdict

The Focus 110s are great little speakers, fully capable of entertaining across a wide range of music

Pros

  • +

    Powerful sound

  • +

    surprising amount of bass authority for little boxes

  • +

    fine timing

  • +

    great build and finish

Cons

  • -

    Bass can be a touch heavy-handed if care isn’t taken with positioning and system-matching

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Massive Attack's Teardrop is as tough a test track as we can think of. It's got a seismic bassline that bludgeons most speakers into submission, and a complex production that interweaves a multitude of sounds to create a hard-hitting and dynamic soundscape.

Most small speakers just run and hide when asked to reproduce something like this, but not Dynaudio's Focus 110s.

These well-built standmounters barely top 30cm in height, but with the right kit and on stands, they produce a wall of sound that even the best rivals – take a bow ProAc's Studio 110s – struggle to match.

Enviable solidity
So why do we love these speakers? First, bass is weighty and powerful, something that pays dividends not only with the likes of Massive Attack, but also the gentler musings of Tracy Chapman's Let it Rain set, where there's an enviable amount of solidity to the earnest one's voice.

Second, these speakers love to play loud. When pushed hard they won't crack until well after the competition, which makes them ideal for when you're in the mood for cranking it up to eleven.

Yes, these Dynaudios have muscle when required, but there's also finesse in spades. The most gentle sections of Prokoviev's Romeo and Juliet are handled with the kid gloves they deserve, and the likes of Dvorak's New World shines due to the Dynaudios' combination of fine timing, dynamics and scale.

These 110s aren't flawless, though. That impressive bass can sound a touch heavy-handed at times – though you can minimise this by positioning the speakers and the rear-firing ports away from walls.

Some years ago, Dynaudio made some of our favourite standmount speakers in the sub-£1000 price category. With the Focus 110s, the company has done it again.

What Hi-Fi?

What Hi-Fi?, founded in 1976, is the world's leading independent guide to buying and owning hi-fi and home entertainment products. Our comprehensive tests help you buy the very best for your money, with our advice sections giving you step-by-step information on how to get even more from your music and movies. Everything is tested by our dedicated team of in-house reviewers in our custom-built test rooms in London, Reading and Bath. Our coveted five-star rating and Awards are recognised all over the world as the ultimate seal of approval, so you can buy with absolute confidence.

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