Focal Astral 16 16-Channel Home Cinema Processor & Amplifier

The Focal Astral 16 is the brains, processing, and amplification behind a serious Focal home theater.

Rather than requiring a separate surround processor and a rack full of power amplifiers, Astral 16 combines 16 channels of audio processing with 12 channels of built-in Class D amplification and four balanced XLR preamp outputs in a single high-performance component.

Developed through a partnership between Focal and StormAudio, Astral 16 is designed specifically for high-end home cinema and custom integration.

It supports Dolby Atmos, DTS, and Auro-3D, incorporates Dirac Live room calibration, and gives us the processing, bass management, equalization, amplification, and system control required to properly bring a Focal theater together.

16 Channels of Processing

Astral 16 provides 16 channels of audio processing.

Twelve channels are powered directly by the unit's internal Pascal Audio Class D amplification.

The remaining four channels are available through balanced XLR preamplifier outputs for use with external amplification.

That gives us considerable flexibility when designing a theater.

We can power most of the system directly from the Astral 16 while using dedicated external amplifiers for channels that require additional power.

The exact configuration depends on the speakers, room size, seating layout, listening distance, and performance goals of the theater.

12 Channels of Built-In Amplification

Having 12 amplified channels inside the processor can dramatically simplify a high-performance theater.

Instead of filling the equipment rack with multiple amplifiers, Astral 16 can directly power many of the speakers in the system.

That can mean fewer components, less rack space, less heat, less cabling, and a cleaner overall installation.

For architectural Focal systems using multiple surround and Atmos channels, that makes Astral 16 particularly interesting.

Developed with StormAudio

Astral 16 is the result of a partnership between Focal and StormAudio, one of the specialists in high-end immersive home cinema processing.

That gives Astral 16 a serious home-theater foundation rather than treating surround processing as an extension of a conventional HiFi product.

The processor is designed around the needs of modern immersive cinema, including advanced channel configuration, filtering, equalization, bass management, and room optimization.

Dolby Atmos, DTS and Auro-3D

Astral 16 supports the major immersive audio formats, including:

• Dolby Atmos
• DTS
• Auro-3D

That allows us to design a true three-dimensional sound field around the seating area.

Traditional surround speakers create the horizontal sound field around the listener.

Additional overhead channels add the vertical dimension.

When everything is positioned and calibrated correctly, sound can move around and above the audience rather than simply coming from the front and sides of the room.

Dirac Live Room Calibration

The room has an enormous influence on what you ultimately hear.

That's why Astral 16 incorporates Dirac Live room calibration.

Using a measurement microphone, we can measure how the speakers and subwoofers actually interact with the room and seating positions.

From there, Dirac Live allows us to optimize the system's response.

That can improve tonal balance, integration between speakers, bass performance, imaging, and consistency across the listening area.

Buying great speakers is only the beginning.

Getting them properly calibrated to the room is what allows the system to perform the way it should.

Advanced Bass Management

Bass is one of the hardest parts of a theater to get right.

Astral 16 gives us the processing tools required for proper filtering, equalization, and bass management.

That becomes especially important when we're designing systems with multiple subwoofers.

Subwoofer locations, crossover points, delays, levels, room modes, and seating positions all influence the final result.

At The Grid, we measure and calibrate the bass system as part of the theater rather than simply placing a subwoofer in the room and turning it up until it sounds impressive.

Designed for Focal Architectural Systems

Astral 16 is an excellent foundation for Focal's architectural speaker systems.

We can build a theater around Focal 300 Series or 1000 Series in-wall and in-ceiling speakers, then use Astral 16 to handle the processing, amplification, bass management, and room calibration.

For more ambitious systems, we can combine its internal amplification with dedicated external power amplifiers for the primary channels.

That gives us the ability to scale the electronics around the system rather than forcing every theater into the same configuration.

Perfect Partner for Focal 1000 Series

The Astral 16 becomes particularly interesting with Focal's 1000 Series.

A system might use:

1000 IWLCR6 speakers for the front left, center, and right channels.

1000 Series in-wall speakers for surrounds and rear surrounds.

1000 ICW6, ICA6, or ICLCR5 speakers for Dolby Atmos.

1000 IWSUB Utopia or dedicated subwoofer systems for bass.

Astral 16 can then become the central processor and amplifier coordinating the entire theater.

Control4 Integration

Astral 16 is directly compatible with Control4, making it a natural fit for the custom theaters we design at The Grid.

Instead of operating the processor, projector, source components, lighting, shades, and other equipment independently, we can integrate everything into one control system.

Press Watch Movie and the theater can come alive automatically.

The projector turns on.

The processor selects the correct source.

The lighting dims.

Motorized shades close.

The system selects the correct audio and video settings.

And when the movie is over, one command can shut everything down and return the room to normal.

That's what proper integration should feel like.

Multiroom Capability

Astral 16 also offers multiroom configuration capabilities.

Using the available control interface, different system configurations can be managed according to the requirements of the installation.

For larger custom projects, remote monitoring and diagnostic capabilities can also help with system support after installation.

That's important because our involvement with a theater doesn't end the day the equipment is installed.

Build the Entire Focal Theater

Astral 16 gives us something especially valuable when designing a Focal theater: a complete ecosystem.

We can specify the Focal speakers.

We can design the surround and Atmos layout.

We can select and position the subwoofers.

We can configure the processing.

We can determine which channels use internal or external amplification.

We can calibrate the room with Dirac Live.

And we can integrate the entire theater into Control4.

Everything is designed as one system.

Key Features

• 16 Channels of Audio Processing
• 12 Channels of Built-In Amplification
• 4 Balanced XLR Preamp Outputs
• Pascal Audio Class D Amplification
• Dolby Atmos
• DTS
• Auro-3D
• Dirac Live Room Calibration
• Advanced Filtering and Equalization
• Advanced Bass Management
• Measurement Microphone Support
• Multiroom Configuration
• iPad Configuration and Control
• Remote Monitoring and Diagnostics
• Control4 Compatible
• Crestron Compatible
• Savant Compatible
• Elan Compatible
• RTI Compatible
• Developed in Partnership with StormAudio
• Made in France

Focal Home Theater at The Grid HiFi

The Grid HiFi is a Focal Powered by Naim store and private cinema design and integration specialist in Houston, Texas.

Astral 16 is exactly the kind of product that shows why designing the theater as a complete system matters.

We don't simply choose a processor based on how many channels are printed on the box.

We'll determine the correct speaker configuration, listening distances, seating layout, Atmos locations, subwoofer layout, amplifier requirements, crossover points, processing, room correction, acoustic treatment, projection system, lighting, networking, and automation around the actual room.

Then we'll install and calibrate it.

Whether you're building a Focal 1000 Series architectural theater or a dedicated private cinema, The Grid can handle the complete system from the initial design through final calibration.

Let The Grid HiFi design, install, and calibrate your complete Focal home theater in Houston, Texas.