Focal 100 OD8 black

Designed for outdoor use, the Focal 100 OD8 incorporates technologies developed by Focal over its forty years of experience in acoustics. It combines these technologies with a design suited to harsh weather conditions to provide a durable audio solution without compromising sound quality.

An acoustic design rooted in Focal expertise

The 100 OD8 is built around a particularly refined two-way design. At its heart is a 210 mm woofer equipped with a polypropylene cone featuring Focal’s exclusive Polyglass treatment. This technology, developed in the Saint-Étienne workshops, involves applying fine glass microbeads to the cellulose pulp cone. The process combines the excellent natural damping of paper with the exceptional rigidity of glass, creating a stiffness rating almost ten times greater than that of standard polypropylene.

This waterproof cone not only guarantees faithful reproduction of deep bass extending down to 45 Hz (-6 dB), but also ensures remarkable midrange clarity. The Polyglass treatment gives the cone remarkably linear frequency response from the design stage, virtually eliminating the unwanted coloration that often affects conventional outdoor speakers.

The aluminum inverted-dome tweeter is the other key component of this speaker. A Focal hallmark since 1981, this inverted geometry has a much less pronounced curvature than traditional positive domes. This design feature provides superior spatial dispersion and particularly low directivity, allowing even sound coverage over a wide listening area. The small-diameter voice coil, attached directly to the rigid dome, ensures optimal acceleration and exceptional transient response, extending up to 23 kHz.

The high-density, vibration-damping polypropylene cabinet does more than house these exceptional drivers. Its specific design minimizes unwanted resonances while providing an internal volume optimized for the desired tonal balance. The corrosion-resistant aluminum grille, which is non-removable for protection, also contributes to acoustic dispersion without creating harmful obstacles to sound waves.

Resistance to extreme conditions: the assurance of IP66 certification

The 100 OD8’s IP66 certification represents far more than a simple marketing claim. This international standard, established by the International Electrotechnical Commission, certifies complete protection against dust (rating 6) and resistance to powerful water jets from all directions (rating 6). In practical terms, the speaker can withstand water jets equivalent to 100 liters per minute at a pressure of 100 kPa, from a distance of 3 meters.

Beyond this certification, Focal has incorporated several additional protective technologies. The UV-resistant treatment applied to the entire cabinet and grille prevents degradation caused by prolonged sun exposure, maintaining the speaker’s structural and aesthetic integrity year after year. The spring terminals are protected by a rubber cover that provides a watertight seal while allowing speaker cables up to 12 AWG to pass through. This protection can remain in place when connecting bare wires, but must be removed when using banana plugs.

The woofer cone, specially designed to withstand moisture, retains its acoustic properties even after repeated exposure to rain or sea spray. This waterproofing does not come at the expense of performance: the cone retains its optimal lightness and rigidity, ensuring a dynamic response identical to that of an indoor speaker in the same range.

Versatile installation and architectural integration

The reinforced, notched aluminum mounting bracket is one of the 100 OD8’s key strengths when it comes to installation. Treated to resist corrosion, this robust component allows 180-degree rotation, offering remarkable flexibility in sound direction. Whether the speaker is mounted vertically beneath a roof overhang or horizontally on a side wall, the mounting system ensures perfect stability while allowing precise adjustment of the sound dispersion angle.

The Focal logo on the grille can be rotated, a detail that reflects the attention paid to aesthetics. This feature keeps the logo correctly oriented regardless of the chosen mounting position, preserving the visual elegance of the installation. The speaker’s dimensions (390 x 258 x 280 mm) have been carefully considered to provide optimal acoustic volume while remaining compact enough for discreet integration into a variety of architectural settings.

The option to paint the grille and cabinet opens up virtually unlimited integration possibilities. The original finishes, available in black or white, provide a neutral base that blends with most surroundings. For installations requiring more seamless integration, the paint-ready surface accepts most exterior paints, allowing the speakers to disappear visually into their surroundings or, conversely, become deliberate decorative features.

Black and white self-adhesive felt pads are supplied to protect mounting surfaces and reduce potential vibrations. This detail, often overlooked by manufacturers, demonstrates Focal’s philosophy: every aspect of the user experience deserves attention and care.

Electrical performance and system configuration

With a nominal impedance of 8 ohms and a minimum impedance of 7 ohms, the 100 OD8 presents a particularly stable load for the amplifier. This characteristic not only optimizes power transfer, but also allows two speakers to be connected in parallel to the same amplifier output, resulting in a 4-ohm impedance that is perfectly manageable for most modern amplifiers.

The sensitivity of 88 dB (2.83V/1m) places the 100 OD8 in the upper midrange of outdoor speakers, ensuring comfortable sound levels even with moderately powered amplifiers. The recommended power range, extending from 20 to 150 watts, offers considerable flexibility in the choice of amplification. A 50-watt-per-channel amplifier is more than sufficient for a medium-sized patio, while more ambitious installations can fully exploit the speaker’s dynamic potential with more powerful amplification.

The passive crossover frequency, set at 2,800 Hz, has been carefully optimized to ensure a seamless transition between the bass/midrange driver and the tweeter. This value, the result of many hours of listening and measurement in Focal’s laboratories, guarantees exemplary tonal consistency across the entire reproduced spectrum.

Technical Specifications

Transducers

• 210 mm waterproof Polyglass woofer
  • Waterproof design for outdoor use
  • Deep bass and clear midrange
• Inverted aluminum dome tweeter
  • Wide sound dispersion
  • High-fidelity reproduction of high frequencies

Acoustic Performance

• Frequency response: 60 Hz – 23 kHz (+/- 3 dB)
• Low cutoff frequency: 45 Hz (-6 dB)
• Sensitivity: 88 dB
• Sound quality comparable to an indoor hi-fi speaker

Electrical Specifications

• Nominal impedance: 8 Ω
• Minimum impedance: 7 Ω
• Recommended power: 20 – 150 W
• Possibility to connect two speakers per channel

Construction and Durability

• IP66 protection rating
  • Resistant to rain and dust
  • UV protection
• Aluminum grille with rotating logo
• Available finishes: painted black or white
• Paint-ready finish
• Design resistant to extreme weather conditions

Installation and Mounting

• 180° adjustable mounting bracket
• Rotating arm for easy installation
• Can be positioned vertically or horizontally
• Black and white felt pads included (self-adhesive)
• Dimensions: 390 x 258 x 280 mm (H x W x D)
• Weight: 5.8 kg