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Would you Upgrade?

Hi everyone, i'd like to get everyone's opinion on upgrading my set of loudspeakers.

I would be going from a pair of B&W 802D (the first of the diamond models, around 2010) to a pair of Focal Sopra 3's.

Is there much of an upgrade making this change?

I heard the Sopra's at an upscale dealer with a close to perfect setup: speakers about 15 feet from the front wall and about 10 feet from the side walls. Electronics were all Esoteric, including their $44,000 Grandiosa M1 monoblocks, preamp, cd player, power regenerator and $3,800 Cardas clear stereo speaker cables.

I'm not sure if these speakers would sound much different from my current 802D and my humble Classe CAM 100 monoblocks.

Also, how many years do speakers last before they degrade (speaker, crossovers, etc...)

thanks to everyone in advance.
onehorsepony
onehorsepony OP
30 posts
 
I agree, that a home demo would be the best approach. Unfortunately, the dealer is about 100 miles from my home, and the speakers weigh about 150 lbs a piece. They would have to be delivered and returned. Also, they only have their floor models.

As far as my equipment being a good match, the dealer on one hand says that my equipment (CAM-200) would sound similar. Then on the other hand, he is telling me that i could start upgrading my electronics afterwards.
mijostyn's avatar
mijostyn
8,570 posts
 
@onehorsepony, trying the speakers at home is not a bad idea. We use to bring the speakers to the person's home, set them up and picked them up a few days later.
Personally, I think you are going sideways. Put the money into a cookie jar and save a bit longer to make a bigger jump. Your amplifiers are not bad at all and will drive just about anything. Improving your speakers will make a more noticeable improvement in sound quality. Also it is always important to know what loudspeaker you are driving before you buy an amp as this is the most significant synergistic decision in the entire system next being cartridge for tonearm. 
oldhvymec
5,101 posts
 
Also, how many years do speakers last before they degrade (speaker, crossovers, etc...)

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Round drivers 15+ years. With BR surrounds 25-50 years.

Ribbons, forever

Planar, until they delaminate, maybe forever.

Crossover from B&W. Everyone I've seen uses long lasting polys, not the best sounding (but good) last forever. They use good inductors, resistors and coils, again, not the best but good. 25 + years.

50 year old speakers are everywhere.. I have one pair 75 years old. They will last another 75.  As long as the paper and fabric surrounds last.

Regards
onehorsepony OP
30 posts
 
Overall, I thought after 11 years with the same speakers it be nice to change things up a bit.

Trouble is, about 15 years ago I changed things up by purchasing a pair of Thiel 3.7’s and they never worked out for me.

If I were to ask myself what I don’t like about my current 802D’s I would say issues with the soundstage and imaging. Vocals tend to wander from center to left to right within the same recording. Soundstage does not seem spacious and as open as I’d like.
jasonbourne52's avatar
jasonbourne52
2,863 posts
 
Soundstage is entirely dependent upon the recording! Most recordings are flawed. The better the system the more obvious the flaws!
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