{"id":2310,"date":"2026-03-13T19:16:20","date_gmt":"2026-03-13T19:16:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pdbmusic.com\/?p=2310"},"modified":"2026-03-13T19:17:25","modified_gmt":"2026-03-13T19:17:25","slug":"focal-utopia-main-212-monitors-installed-at-studio-dmi","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pdbmusic.com\/index.php\/2026\/03\/focal-utopia-main-212-monitors-installed-at-studio-dmi\/","title":{"rendered":"Focal \u2018Utopia Main 212\u2019 Monitors Installed at Studio DMI"},"content":{"rendered":"

Installation of Focal top-of-the-line Utopia Main 212 model monitors with acoustical design by Haverstick Designs; <\/strong>\u201cThey sound amazing,\u201d says Studio DMI chief engineer Luca Pretolesi<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Luca<\/a>Since 2019, Focal has proudly partnered with Studio DMI, a state-of-the-art audio production hub in Las Vegas designed for artists, producers, and engineers to create without limits. Spanning more than 3,000 sq. ft., the studio complex houses four cutting-edge Focal-equipped studios, including a Dolby Atmos\u00ae certified all-Focal mixing studio, and now also a room featuring the Focal Utopia Main 212 soffit-mounted monitors. The Utopia Main are surrounded by premium acoustic treatment and top-tier pro audio hardware. Studio DMI is home to Grammy-nominated mix and mastering engineer Luca Pretolesi (Major Lazer, Drake, Skrillex, Diplo), whose stereo mix room features Focal Trio11 monitors.<\/p>\n

After the install, Luca Pretolesi said, \u201cThe Utopia Main 212 feel like part of the room, it\u2019s really nice to have speakers in the wall because\u00a0now you feel it\u2019s one piece: the sweet spot is literally the entire studio, it feels so big.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adding a comment on the sound of the Utopia Main, Pretolesi offers, \u201cThe Focal Utopia Main sound has an expensive, shiny top end, a very detailed midrange, and a\u00a0very warm \u2014 and not fatiguing \u2014 bottom end. The Utopia Main 212 and 112 are very loud speakers made for engineers, and they sound\u00a0amazing. The learning curve usually on any pair of speakers, it takes like weeks, but I was mixing the same\u00a0day on the Utopia Main 212.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe coolest thing is to be able to listen to something that has a lot of power, a lot of space, but\u00a0listen at 65 dB and feel extremely comfortable, \u201d noted Pretolesi.<\/p>\n

The studio upgrade where the Utopia Main 212 were installed was designed by Haverstick Designs, who have placed Focal monitors in various studio designs previously, while this was their first Utopia Main soffit install. \u201cWhen we are working on a design to soffit mount a set of speakers, the information provided by the manufacturer is crucial to make sure we get every detail correct. Focal’s documentation for the UM212 speakers gave us everything we needed to ensure that we obtained the best performance out of the speakers in this redesign,\u201d said Gavin Haverstick, Owner, Haverstick Designs.<\/p>\n

\u201cI heard the UM212s and UM112s on the NAMM show floor in 2025 and I was blown away by the level of detail and the power that they provided,\u201d added Haverstick. \u201cI had also spoken to numerous trusted colleagues and mix engineers that have heard them in more controlled environments, and the reviews have been nothing but positive.\u201d<\/p>\n

Haverstick Designs had worked with Studio DMI previously and upgrading an existing studio room needed careful planning. \u201cAnytime we are upgrading an existing room with soffit mounted speakers, there are a lot of things that need to be considered. First off, there are the construction details that need to be developed. A soffit wall needs to be extremely massive with multiple layers of dense materials so that the wall doesn’t act as a baffle and interfere with the direct sound from the speakers,\u201d stated Haverstick.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe also need to get the angles to be as accurate as possible to optimize the equilateral triangle between the speakers and the listening position,\u201d Haverstick added. \u201cWe have worked with Built By Rosetone, (the contractor), on numerous projects, so that gave us an extra level of confidence that the design would be carried out accurately and efficiently. At the same time, we were renovating the interior acoustical treatment of the space to be more accurate and address low frequency issues. We had renovated Studio D and Studio M years ago, but we left Luca Pretolesi\u2019s room, Studio I, alone due to how busy he is. This was a great opportunity to address the acoustics with the speaker upgrade.\u201d<\/p>\n

Studio DMI recently offered mixing and mastering workshops, sharing its expertise, and nurturing the next generation of electronic music creators. Studio DMI embodies the perfect union of sonic precision and creative freedom. It\u2019s a space that combines innovation, experience, and performance \u2014 for both established artists and emerging talent. \u201cWorking with Studio DMI over the years has been such a joy,\u201d said Haverstick. \u201cThat place feels like a home away from home and it is because of the people that work there. I am so excited for this next season with the upgrades that we did in Luca\u2019s space. I’m excited to hear all of the amazing music that will come out of that studio in the coming years!\u201d<\/p>\n

Focal Utopia Main \u2013 The Apex of Studio Monitoring
\nWith these new models, Focal makes a notable entry into the field of main monitoring systems designed for soffit-mounting. The Utopia Main monitor range features the dual 13\u201d driver, 3.5 way, UM212 ($49,999 USD per pair), and the single 13\u201d driver, 3-way UM112 ($29,999 USD per pair). The monitors include external amplifiers with a patented Class H design with current-mode amplification. Both models feature newly designed 5-inch \u201cM-shaped\u201d midrange drivers and 1.5\u201d Beryllium tweeters. The UM212 includes dual midrange drivers. Focal\u2019s Tuned Mass Damper\u00ae patented technology deeply reduces intermodulation created by the driver\u2019s suspension. The Utopia Main range features 13″ long-excursion subwoofers, housed in a massive enclosure, paired with impressive bass-reflex ports. Both models\u2019 frequency response range (@ -3db) is 28Hz to 40kHz, with Max SPL for the UM212 at 123dB, and the UM112 at 120dB. The massive Utopia Main 212 monitor weighs in at 263 lbs. each, while the UM112 weighs in at 171 lbs. each.<\/p>\n

With development beginning in 2017, the Utopia Main range marks the most significant milestone for the Company\u2019s Professional Audio division since its inception in 2002, and represents over 40 years of Focal\u2019s research in driver design and 20 years of innovation in studio monitor development. Each component has been meticulously designed to ensure that Utopia Main range revolutionize the landscape of main monitors. These monitors are a technological triumph dedicated to maintaining precision even at the highest SPL in the studio environment, ensuring an unparalleled monitoring experience for reference recording, mixing, and mastering.<\/p>\n

Find out more about Studio DMI at: https:\/\/www.studiodmi.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Check out Focal Professional products including Utopia Main at: https:\/\/www.focal.com\/catalog\/pro-audio\/monitoring-speakers<\/a><\/p>\n

Connect with Haverstick Designs at: https:\/\/www.haverstickdesigns.com<\/a><\/p>\n

About Focal Naim America
\nBorn from the merger of Focal, a world leader in acoustic sound made in France, and Naim Audio, a world leader in British-made Hi-Fi electronics, VerVent Audio Group\u2019s brand subsidiaries signal a new investment phase and direction for VerVent in the US and Canada. By creating its own distribution entity, the group is striving to turn the North American territory into the market leader for Focal and Naim. Focal Naim America also distributes BDI in Canada only. For more information about Focal Naim America visit their website at http:\/\/www.focalnaimamerica.com<\/a> or call (800)-663-9352.<\/p>\n

All trademarks are the property of their respective holders.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Installation of Focal top-of-the-line Utopia Main 212 model monitors with acoustical design by Haverstick Designs; \u201cThey sound amazing,\u201d says Studio…
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