Focal Shape 50
Active Nearfield Monitor
- Designed without a rear bass port, for better bass response when used closer to walls
- Output: 85 W Class AB
- Woofer: 5" flax cone
- Tweeter: 1" aluminium-magnesium alloy
- 5" double passive membranes
- Frequency range (+/- 3 dB): 50 - 35,000 Hz
- Max SPL peak @ 1 m (musical signal): 106 dB
- Input impedance: 10 kOhm
- Settings: High pass filter, bass, middle, high
- Power switch
- Automatic standby function
- Connections: XLR and RCA
- Thread for ceiling and wall brackets (mounting accessories not included)
- Dimensions (W x D x H): 191 x 242 x 312 mm
- Weight: 6.5 kg
- Housing: 15 mm MDF with a black vinyl finish and real walnut veneer
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Available since June 2017
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Item number 411781
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Sales Unit 1 piece(s)
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Speaker size 1x 5", 1x 1"
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Amplifier power per unit (RMS) 85 W
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Magnetic Shielding No
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Analogue XLR Input Yes
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Analogue Input (Jack) No
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Analogue Input (Mini Jack) No
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Analogue Input (RCA) Yes
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Digital input No
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Manual frequency correction Yes
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Frequency range min. 50 Hz
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Frequency range max. 35000 Hz
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Dimensions in mm 191 x 242 x 312
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Speaker Housing - Woofer System Passive Men
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Passive diaphragms instead of bass ports
The Focal Shape 50 is an active two-way nearfield monitor built around Class AB amplification and Focal's proprietary driver technologies, designed for accurate monitoring in compact home, project, and post-production studio environments. Its 5" flax sandwich cone woofer – a glass-fibre/flax/glass-fibre composite combining low mass with excellent damping – is paired with a 1" M-profile aluminium-magnesium inverted dome tweeter mounted in a Poron urethane suspension. Two Class AB amplifiers deliver 60W to the woofer and 25W to the tweeter, achieving 85W combined and a maximum SPL of 106dB. The frequency response extends from 50Hz to 35kHz at ±3dB. Two 5" side-mounted passive radiators handle low-frequency extension in place of a bass reflex port – avoiding turbulence and resonance for a tighter, more controlled bass character, and allowing the monitor to be placed closer to walls than ported designs. The cabinet is 15mm MDF finished in real walnut veneer and matte black, with height-adjustable rubber feet for precise vertical driver alignment.
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A wide range of settings
The Focal Shape 50 is equipped with both balanced XLR and unbalanced RCA connectors, allowing it to meet professional studio standards while remaining fully compatible with hi-fi and consumer audio systems. Its low-frequency range, up to 250Hz, can be adjusted using a notch filter with up to ±6dB of cut or boost, while the lower midrange (up to 4.5kHz) and the treble can each be fine-tuned by ±3dB for more precise tonal shaping. The treble is managed via a shelf filter, whereas the midrange is controlled through a bell filter with a wide Q factor of Q=1, supporting broad yet natural adjustments. A selectable high-pass filter offers three cut-off options at 45Hz, 60Hz, and 90Hz, providing further flexibility depending on room setup and the specific sources. Alongside these extensive tuning options, an automatic standby function reduces power consumption to under 0.5W during inactivity, rounding off a feature set that is both practical and highly adaptable.
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Compact home and project studios
The Shape 50 is aimed at producers, engineers, and advanced home studio users working in smaller rooms – Focal specify it for spaces up to approximately 12m², with an optimum listening distance of 80cm. The Flax cone's controlled, articulate bass and natural midrange character suit detailed mixing work in compact environments where nearfield accuracy matters most. The passive radiator design and near-wall tolerance give additional flexibility in tight spaces. The honest trade-offs are the same as the Shape 65: no TRS input, no digital connectivity, and no magnetic shielding. For users stepping up from the Alpha Evo range, the Shape 50's Class AB amplification and flax cone give it a distinctly different sonic character – warmer and more organic than the Class D Alpha Evos, at a slightly higher price point.
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About Focal
A French manufacturer based in Saint-Étienne, Focal has been active in the hi-fi sector since 1979. Alongside a core focus on speaker drivers and high-fidelity loudspeakers, the company's portfolio has also expanded since 2002 to include soundbars, car audio solutions, headphones, and monitor speakers that are specifically aimed at studios in terms of materials, design, and features. The company's research and development centres and the majority of its manufacturing facilities are located in France, and Focal's speakers are designed according to the philosophy of uniting functionality and unique aesthetics. To achieve this goal, Focal also works closely with renowned design agencies.
Placement and practicalities
The Shape 50 performs best at its specified 80cm listening distance, where the M-profile tweeter's wide, even dispersion delivers a stable sweet spot and accurate stereo imaging even in less-than-ideal acoustic environments. The height-adjustable rubber feet allow the drivers to be angled to match the listening position. At 6.5kg and 312×191×242mm, it fits on most desktop surfaces and monitor stands; threaded inserts on the rear and base allow wall or ceiling mounting with compatible brackets. Focal recommend a running-in period of approximately 10 hours before critical listening.
In the spotlight
Passive diaphragm
Passive diaphragms are essentially woofer-like elements without a driver unit, used as an alternative to bass-reflex technology in speaker housings. In a bass-reflex system, the air mass inside the reflex port acts as a mass-spring system, whereas passive diaphragms resonate in phase with the active front-firing woofers, effectively supporting their output and extending low-frequency response. In a technical sense, they still function as bass-reflex resonators, although without an actual port opening. Unlike ported designs, they avoid issues such as airflow noise and port-related resonances, resulting in a cleaner low-end character. They also allow more precise tuning of the frequency response, while reducing the influence of cabinet resonances – and make the Shape monitors more tolerant of near-wall placement than typical ported designs.
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Accessories & matching items
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Focal Active Nearfield Monitors at a glance
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Display Active Nearfield Monitors from £ 400 - £ 500
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