Focal Sub One – Dual 8-Inch Active Studio Subwoofer

Product Description

The Focal Sub One is a professional active studio subwoofer engineered for precise low-frequency monitoring in recording studios, mixing suites and music production environments. Featuring two French-made 8-inch Slatefiber woofers, 200 watts of Class D amplification and comprehensive bass-management controls, it extends the low-frequency performance of studio monitors while maintaining the accuracy required for critical listening.

Designed to complement Focal's Alpha Evo and Shape studio monitors, the Sub One combines a space-efficient enclosure with front-facing bass-reflex ports and flexible balanced XLR connectivity. Its adjustable crossover, phase and polarity controls allow engineers and producers to tailor bass reproduction to their monitors, room acoustics and listening position.

Dual 8-Inch Slatefiber Woofers

The Sub One incorporates two long-excursion 8-inch (20cm) Slatefiber woofers, manufactured in France by Focal.

Slatefiber cones combine recycled carbon fibers with a thermoplastic polymer, creating a lightweight, rigid and well-damped diaphragm. This construction is designed to reproduce low-frequency detail while controlling unwanted resonance and distortion.

The dual-driver configuration provides substantial low-frequency output in a relatively narrow enclosure, making the Sub One suitable for professional workspaces where accurate bass monitoring is essential but available floor space may be limited.

200 Watts of Class D Amplification

Each woofer is driven by its own 100-watt Class D amplifier, providing a combined 200 watts RMS of amplification.

The Sub One delivers a specified frequency response of 32Hz to 120Hz (±3dB) and a maximum peak sound pressure level of 114dB at one meter. This combination allows it to reproduce low-frequency content that smaller studio monitors may struggle to reproduce independently.

For music production, mixing and mastering, the additional bass extension helps reveal low-frequency information in kick drums, bass instruments, synthesizers and other demanding recordings.

Professional 2.1 Bass Management

The Sub One incorporates a two-channel bass-management system that simplifies integration with compatible studio monitors.

Balanced left and right XLR inputs receive the stereo signal from an audio interface, monitor controller or mixing console. Corresponding XLR outputs connect to the main studio monitors, with selectable 60Hz or 90Hz high-pass filtering.

An adjustable 24dB/octave low-pass crossover controls the frequencies reproduced by the subwoofer. Together, these controls allow the Sub One and main monitors to divide low-frequency reproduction according to the requirements of the listening environment.

A dedicated LFE connection provides additional flexibility for compatible multichannel setups.

Adjustable Phase, Polarity and Level

Accurate subwoofer integration requires more than simply adding bass. The Sub One provides several adjustments to help align its output with the main monitors and the acoustics of the room.

The variable phase control allows the subwoofer's response to be adjusted relative to the main speakers, while a polarity switch provides additional setup flexibility. Independent subwoofer-level adjustment makes it possible to establish the appropriate bass balance for critical listening.

These controls are particularly useful when positioning the subwoofer along a wall, beneath a studio desk or elsewhere in a room where placement constraints affect low-frequency reproduction.

Footswitch-Controlled Bypass for Critical Listening

The Sub One includes an external footswitch connection that allows its bass-management system to be bypassed.

This enables engineers and producers to compare their mixes with and without the subwoofer, making it easier to evaluate how low-frequency content translates between full-range monitoring and smaller speaker systems.

The bypass function is especially useful during mixing and mastering sessions when frequent comparisons are necessary.

Space-Efficient Design with Front Bass-Reflex Ports

Unlike conventional subwoofers with a large forward-facing driver, the Sub One uses two side-mounted woofers and front-facing bass-reflex ports.

This configuration creates a relatively narrow enclosure that can be positioned along a wall or beneath a desk. The front ports help accommodate placement in professional studio environments where rear-port clearance may be difficult to achieve.

Its internally braced 22mm MDF cabinet and dark gray finish provide a durable, understated appearance that complements Focal's professional monitor ranges.