Quite suprised by a suggestion that they are very different in presentation. From my limited experience, they share lots of common ground...the Arts may be a touch leaner, but the focals won me over with tighter dynamics and a slighter more even balance, making them a touch more neutral IMO, but I thought we were talking sets of speakers who both value neutrality, openness, dynamics and tonal accuracy. If you wanted contrast, surely Spendors, Wilson, PMC, B&W, Quad, etc would be further apart? Of the two small speakers which I listened too extensively, the Art monitors were more forward, had leaner bass and a touch more forward mid IMO, the Focals 'winning' for me, with better bass, a better balance overall, and that amazing beryllium tweeter...Still, if Focal didn't exist, and someone had given me Arts as a predsent, I'd still have a big smile...I just might need another amp!