Back in 2015, Focal’s Trio6 Be (alongside the Twin6 Be and Solo6 Be) wowed the industry with its reference-quality sound, impeccable design, and innovative beryllium tweeter, quickly becoming the company’s best-selling studio monitor. 

Last year, the French company updated the Twin6 and Solo6, dropping the “Be” from the name but keeping the signature beryllium tweeters while making select improvements and design tweaks. Along with the Sub12 subwoofer, these new models form Focal’s new flagship ST6 line of active monitors for professional studios. 

Today, Focal adds the new Trio6 to that lineup, updating the popular three-way monitor with refined design, enhanced performance, and improved sonic accuracy. So what has changed, what has stayed the same, and why are the new models better than ever? Let’s get right into the details.

Upgraded Drivers

Outwardly, the Trio6 looks much like its predecessor, with a few small but sonically impactful changes. Notably, the 1.5-inch beryllium inverted dome tweeter has been upgraded with Infinite Acoustic Loading (IAL) design, which further reduces resonance at high output levels. The baffle has been optimized to provide lower directionality, providing accurate sound over a broad sweet spot.

The 5.5-inch midrange driver features Tuned Mass Damper (TMD) construction, reducing distortion by 50% in the crucial 1-3 kHz range for enhanced midrange transparency. Just like on previous models, the midrange driver and tweeter are housed in an integrated rotating baffle which is sealed and ported so that the acoustical properties remain consistent in vertical and horizontal configurations.

The 8-inch woofer once again features Focal’s “W” cone construction, sandwiching a lightweight foam core between two layers of fine woven glass fiber to give it the perfect combination of strength and sensitivity. The dustcap has been enlarged to fine-tune the damping and dispersion characteristics and make the speaker stand out from previous models. 

Even the cabinet design has been improved, with a slightly enlarged laminar port that extends the low-end to 35 Hz while virtually eliminating low-frequency distortion. Strengthened construction provides better overall damping and less resonance than ever, and the red ash veneer side panels give the Trio6 the unmistakable elegance Focal monitors are famous for.

Under the Hood

The new Trio6 brings back Focal’s innovative Focus Mode, this time with two different settings. The original Focus Mode essentially turns off the woofer, turning the Trio6 into a 2-way monitor with a limited frequency range of 80 Hz - 40 kHz. An added second mode takes the tweeter out of the equation as well, further limiting the frequency range to 100 Hz-15 kHz for an approximation of popular small-format reference monitors like the Auratone 5C Super Sound Cube. A universal footswitch input and throughput makes it possible to switch modes with most standard footswitches.

Like the Twin6 and Solo6, the Trio6 features a variable high-pass crossover with 45, 60, and 90 Hz options for flexible integration with the Focal Sub12 subwoofer. A parametric 160 Hz EQ circuit mitigates reflections from desk and console surfaces, while low- and high-frequency shelf EQs at 250 Hz and 4.5 kHz allow you to further tailor the frequency response to your environment.

All in all, the new Trio6 is a fantastic addition to Focal’s new flagship ST6 line, retaining all the characteristics that made the original a top seller while enhancing performance for even more accurate sound and practical flexibility than ever. If you’re in the market for uncompromising three-way monitors that look as good as they sound, Focal’s got you covered.

Brett FlahertyIf you have any questions about the Focal Trio6, or would like to purchase a pair of monitors for your studio, contact a Vintage King Audio Consultant via email or by phone at 866.644.0160.