In this review, we will be comparing Scala Utopia Evo and Maestro Utopia Evo, two Passive Floor-standing speakers by Focal.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Focal Scala Utopia Evo and Focal Maestro Utopia Evo first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Focal Scala Utopia Evo | Focal Maestro Utopia Evo |
|---|
| Brand | Focal
France · founded 1979 | Focal
France · founded 1979 |
|---|
| Design | 3-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1.1" Inverted Dome | 1.1" Inverted Dome |
|---|
| Midrange | 6.5" | 6.5" |
|---|
| Woofer | 10.5" W sandwich | 2 x 10.5" W sandwich |
|---|
| Frequency response | 27-40k Hz | 25-40k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 92 dB | 93 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 50-500 watts | 25-600 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 85.00kg / 187lbs | 116.00kg / 255.2lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 49-1/8" x 26-3/8" x 15-1/2"
1247.0 x 670.0 x 393.0mm | 57-7/8" x 30-5/16" x 17-15/16"
1470.0 x 770.0 x 455.0mm |
|---|
Scala Utopia Evo and Maestro Utopia Evo are members of Focal's Utopia III Evo series of speakers. Below you can find the loudspeakers from this series.
Focal Utopia III Evo Series
History
What size room are the Focal Scala Utopia Evo and Focal Maestro Utopia Evo speakers good for?
The size of the room in which you are planning to use these loudspeakers is an important decision
factor. Here we have compared their suitability to various sizes of environments considering their size
and max power parameters:
| Listening Environment* |
Focal Scala Utopia Evo |
Focal Maestro Utopia Evo |
| Near-field |
Bad |
Are you nuts? |
| Small Room |
Poor |
Poor |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Average |
| Large Room |
Good |
Good |
| Very Large Room |
Average |
Good |
(* Approximate Room sizes: Small < 100sq. ft / 9 m2,
Mid-size: 100-220 sq. ft / 9-20 m2, Large 220-400 sq. ft / 20-36 m2, Very Large: >
400 sq. ft / 36 m2.
Average Floor Height: 9" / 2.7m. Typical room sizes differ from country to country, and the actual
listening experience changes depending on floor height, room shape, surface materials, listening
position, speaker locations, etc.)
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
Both Scala Utopia Evo and Maestro Utopia Evo are 3-way speakers.
Focal Scala Utopia EvoFocal Maestro Utopia Evo
TweeterMidrangeWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
Focal Scala Utopia Evo |
Focal Maestro Utopia Evo |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1.1-inch
|
1.1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 6.5-inch |
1 x 6.5-inch |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 10.5-inch
|
2 x 10.5-inch
|
Scala Utopia Evo features a 1.1" Beryllium Inverted Dome Tweeter, a 6.5" Midrange and 1 x 10.5" W sandwich Woofer. On the other hand, the Maestro Utopia Evo features a 1.1" Beryllium Inverted Dome Tweeter, a 6.5" Midrange and 2 x 10.5" W sandwich Woofer.
Frequency Response
Scala Utopia Evo has a frequency range of 27-40k Hz whereas Maestro Utopia Evo has a frequency range of 25-40k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 25Hz, the Maestro Utopia Evo can go slightly deeper then the Scala Utopia Evo's min frequency of 27Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Floor-standing class in our database.
Low Frequency
Floor-standing Speakers
Neither pair reaches down to 20Hz, the usual definition of full-range, which is normal for speakers of this size. If you want the bottom octave for movies or bass-heavy music, add a subwoofer to whichever you choose. Visit our Powered Subwoofers section to find out more about the available options.
Impedance and Sensitivity
Scala Utopia Evo and Maestro Utopia Evo have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Scala Utopia Evo sensitivity is rated at 92 dB and the Maestro Utopia Evo's is at 93 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the Focal Maestro Utopia Evo a more sensitive speaker compared to Focal Scala Utopia Evo, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Floor-standing Speakers
Power Range
Power
range is the range of input power in watts RMS that a loudspeaker is designed to handle. Staying
within that range gives nominal performance; driving the speaker beyond its maximum wattage can damage it.
Maestro Utopia Evo can handle a max power of 600 watts RMS, whereas Scala Utopia Evo has a max power handling value of 500 watts RMS, 100 watts less than the Maestro Utopia Evo.
Note that higher power handling does not make a speaker louder: that depends mainly on
sensitivity and impedance. The calculator below shows how loud each of these actually plays
on a real amplifier.
Which plays louder on your amplifier?
Starting with a popular amplifier - change it to the one you own, or any you are
considering, and watch both numbers move.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
Both Scala Utopia Evo and Maestro Utopia Evo features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.
Physical Specs
The size of a speaker can sometimes be an important decision factor due to space constraints or in some cases purely for esthetic reasons. In this section, we are going to compare Focal Scala Utopia Evo's and Focal Maestro Utopia Evo's external dimensions. Focal Scala Utopia Evo has external dimensions of 1247.0 x 670.0 x 393.0mm (49-1/8 x 26-3/8 x 15-1/2inch) whereas Focal Maestro Utopia Evo has external dimensions of 1470.0 x 770.0 x 455.0mm (57-7/8 x 30-5/16 x 17-15/16inch).
Focal Maestro Utopia Evo is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 100mm wider, 223mm taller and 62mm deeper than Focal Scala Utopia Evo.
Size, drawn to scale
Both speakers and both views share one scale, so everything here is directly comparable. Hover a box for its dimensions.
One scale for both, standing on the same surface and pushed back to the same wall, so the deeper one visibly sticks out further.
Focal Maestro Utopia Evo needs about 33% more floor or shelf area. Focal Maestro Utopia Evo is 62mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. Focal Maestro Utopia Evo is 223mm taller.
Base Surface Area Comparison
Base surface area of a loudspeaker may become a determining factor when the space in your room or desk is limited.
The base surface area of the Focal Scala Utopia Evo is approximately 2633.1cm2 / 408.1inch2 and base area of the Focal Maestro Utopia Evo is approximately 3503.5cm2 / 543.0inch2. The Scala Utopia Evo requires 25% less surface area than the Maestro Utopia Evo which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.
Weight Comparison The weight of a loudspeaker can become an important factor if you need to move and reposition the unit often. Weight of a speaker can also "sometimes" be an indicator of the rigidity of the enclosure and the quality of the internal components used. The Focal Scala Utopia Evo weighs 85.00kg / 187lbs and the Focal Maestro Utopia Evo weighs 116.00kg / 255.2lbs. This makes the Maestro Utopia Evo 36% heavier than the Scala Utopia Evo.
Here is a comparison of how Scala Utopia Evo and Maestro Utopia Evo's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Floor-standing class.
Weight
All Floor-standing Speakers
 Height |
1247mm
vs
1470mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
2633cm2
vs
3503cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
49999USD
vs
79998USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Max Input Power |
600 watts
vs
500 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Sensitivity |
93 dB
vs
92 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Number of Woofers |
2
vs
1
|
More woofers |
|
Low Frequency Response |
25 Hz
vs
27 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
| General |
Focal Scala Utopia Evo |
Focal Maestro Utopia Evo |
| Brand |
Focal |
Focal |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
50-500 watts |
25-600 watts |
| Sensitivity |
92 dB |
93 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
27-40k Hz |
25-40k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
10.5" |
10.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
W sandwich |
W sandwich |
| Tweeter Size |
1.1" |
1.1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Inverted Dome |
Inverted Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
6.5" |
6.5" |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
1247.0mm (49.1") |
1470.0mm (57.9") |
| Width |
670.0mm (26.4") |
770.0mm (30.3") |
| Depth |
393.0mm (15.5") |
455.0mm (17.9") |
| Weight |
85.00kg (187lbs) |
116.00kg (255.2lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
|
|
| Labor Warranty |
|
|
Siblings in Focal's Utopia III Evo series, so they share a family sound. It comes down to size, output and price.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | evenly matched | Much the same reach (27Hz vs 25Hz). |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (92dB vs 93dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Headroom | evenly matched | Similar power handling (500W vs 600W). |
| Size | depends | Focal Scala Utopia Evo is easier to place; Focal Maestro Utopia Evo is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | depends | Focal Scala Utopia Evo: bi-amping; Focal Maestro Utopia Evo: bi-amping. |
| Price | A | Focal Scala Utopia Evo is cheaper - $49,999 against $79,998, about 37% less. |
A Focal Scala Utopia Evo B Focal Maestro Utopia Evo
depends neither is better in the abstract - it turns on your room, your system or how you will use them. Only specs published for both speakers are judged; anything missing on either side is left out rather than guessed.
Which should you choose?
Neither runs away with it - they trade advantages. Let the "depends" rows and your own room settle it. Match it to your room: we rate Focal Maestro Utopia Evo the better fit for a very large room; elsewhere the two are rated the same. In a large or open-plan room, Focal Maestro Utopia Evo has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, Focal Scala Utopia Evo is the easier speaker to get right.
And remember what a spec sheet cannot show: how each looks in your room and whether the finish suits it, what dealer support and warranty are like where you live, and how they actually sound to you. If you can hear them first - ideally with your own music - that will tell you more than any number above.