I think it's hilarious that the audiophile gods the absolute "experts" will say that JBL is terrible because horns are not audiophile. But then these self-proclaimed experts will turn around and purchase Avantgarde spkrs for $100,000 which are horns! Hideous looking boxes with horns!
The JBL is more of a studio sound. The FOCAL is colored. Not sure why everyone thinks that these FOCAL are pure because they aren't. Most people don't realize that FOCAL make great studio monitors and if you compare a FOCAL studio monitor to the Sopra you'll know right away that the Sopra actually sucks.
They both have their own special qualities. However, if I had to choose one over the other, and it be my end-game speakers, it would definitely be the Focal speakers. The JBL horn sound is, IMHO, an acquired taste. The Focal speaker's sound presentation, I believe, has more of an universal appeal.
For the difference in price, the B&W aren't that much better than the Persona B. If you had to walk into a different room to hear them play, the differences would diminish even more. Overall, both sound great.
This is the best comparison I've ever heard excellent sound quality excellent song soulnote and marklevnson clear winners even Steven great solid state amps if there is a edge it would go to soulnote for midrange it's very accurate without being forward