The first
drive units developed in this workshop quickly won international acclaim thanks
of the originality of their design. At the same time as it was producing drive
units under the Focal brand (specially designed for the most famous brands of
speakers and for top-of-the-range kit enthusiasts), the company also launched
its own range of loudspeakers under the JMlab brand.
An active
development policy aimed at constantly adapting the company’s products to
market requirements, coupled with an audio “style” skilfully combining
musicality and dynamic performance has enabled JMlab to achieve leadership
within the French loudspeakers market from the middle of the 90's.
Focal to
the international
Vega and
Grande Utopia
At the same
time, exports have gradually grown within Europe, North America and Southeast Asia, with these areas experiencing strong
growth in recent years thanks to an increasing awareness of the Focal brand
firstly, followed by JMlab, and supported by a number of awards. As a result,
the JMlab Vega model was voted “speaker of the year 1992” in Japan,
something of a scoop for a French product. In 1996, the Grande Utopia model was
extensively praised by the international press and is considered as one of the
best systems currently on the market.
From Home
to Car
Whereas the
first products meant for cars were created in 1989, as soon as 1997, a vehicle
integrally equipped with Focal drive units won the world final of the IASCA
competition in the expert category. Our skills in the field of onboard sound
have helped us to take the top prize each year since then. In 2001, a French
car won the final in the Pro category… a real “first” on American soil! 2002,
Focal strengthens its leading position by winning first place in the expert
category at the IASCA world finals.
Focal
becomes a standard
In 2002,
the home audio line, now divided into four series, brought a reference solution
from entry level to hi-end. In the space of four years, with an annual growth
of 25%, the company doubled its turnover; its future clearly moved from the
national market to the global market. In 2003, the new Grande Utopia Beryllium
set a new standard. The “Golden Sound” obtained in Japan conferred upon it the status
of world reference. In 2004, the Home Audio line launched an additional
"lifestyle" series, called Sib & Co, which was intended for
consumers in search of integration solutions. The iCub, designed for new
digital sources, was an "amplifiersubwoofer". Nova Utopia was chosen
as product of the year by the American magazine Stereophile. Also in 2004, the
Car Audio line grew to include the Utopia Beryllium series, with three kits of
two and three way designs, all equipped with the famous Beryllium tweeter and
innovative crossovers.

In 2005,
the goal of gathering our two brands, that began in 2002, was totally reached.
Thus, the acoustic loudspeakers were engraved Focal-JMlab during 3 years, now
only Focal is used for all the products. In 2007, the Pro Audio range extended
its offer by proposing invisible high-range integrated solutions, In-Wall and
In-Ceiling, for sound systems in public or private places. As for Car Audio,
the Focal Power line was created to accompany the audiomobile offer. In 2008,
the Grande Utopia EM launching set a new decisive step. A world reference in
terms of technology, design and ultimate performance. Dôme and XS opened new
horizons for the brand in the miniature acoustics and multimedia domain. In
2009, the arrival of the CMS in the professional monitor sector establishes the
brand as a major actor in the Professional speakers field.