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Focal Sopra 2/3 vs Harbeth SHL5 Plus

Has anybody compared the Sopra 2 or 3 to the Harbeth SHL5 Plus? Which is a more involving speaker, not only being detailed, fast and dynamic but having the capability to portray voices and instruments in their truest timbre and tonality. The Harbeth is one of the most natural sounding speakers I have heard by far. Voices and sound of instruments sound just like the real thing through them. Once I switched to other speakers music didn’t sound as real. I was wondering if the Focal Sopras could match the Harbeth in the areas of tonality and timbre.

I presume the Focals do not sound as warm or lush as the Harbeth with their leaner presentation.
ryder
ejr1953
918 posts
 
I spent much of 2015 auditioning a number of speakers, eventually purchasing a pair of Sopra No2's.

Though Harbeth's are "not my cup of tea", I understand why people love them, as said earlier, for that "British sound".  I would characterize the Monitor 40.2 as a more direct competitor to the Sopra No2, not so much the HL5 Plus.

I'd characterize the Harbeth as being "warmer" and the Sopra's as being more "dynamic" with the "artists in the room" sort of soundstage, unlike any other speaker I've auditioned.

I also suspect that the Sopra would need a "smoother" sounding amp behind it, more so than the Harbeth's.
mountainsong's avatar
mountainsong
422 posts
 
Hi guys I will introduce the KEF reference 1. How similar or different is to the models mentioned?
Regards 
passet02's avatar
passet02
267 posts
 
Try the JBL 4319 speakers well worth it lot cheaper in price made on the West Coast
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cuoicaicoi
1 posts
 
Just my two cents,
I have been through KEF LS50, Magnepan mg12, Magnepan 1.7 and now Harbeth SHL5 plus. I can say that my speaker hunt ends here with the Harbeth. I find it the most natural and rich sound, although The Maggies beats it with huge soundstage, the Harbeth still won my heart. I can listen to it for hours without fatigue. Hook it up with a tube amp and you wont regret.

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