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Focal Kanta No.2 speakers - any thoughts? Also in comparison with Sonus Faber Olympica 3s?

Hi,

I am very excited about these new speakers and am looking for some help with a decision I am trying to make. I have an opportunity to buy a used (mint) pair of Sonus Fabre Olympica iii speakers for around $7000 but unfortunately can’t audition them for too long due to travelling schedule and as the seller is moving out soon. The Focal Kantas sounded very good to me (driven by a Devialet 130 pro) at the dealers but the Olympica IIIs  also sounded good albeit possibly a bit more laid back (they were driven by an Audio Research tube preamp and a pass labs power amp). Also, the listening room at the seller's place was not at all ideal/treated so is difficult to do a fair comparison. 

Compared to almost all other speakers I have seen so far the Olympicas are the most beautiful and almost high-end furniture like but the new Kantas don't give the Sonus any advantage in this regard as they are also really lovely looking speakers with many different finishes!  I am planning to run wither of these speakers with a Prima Luna Dialogue HP integrated amp so any feedback in that regard will also be much appreciated. 

If anyone here has heard both these speakers, any suggestions on whether the new Kantas are possibly worth giving up on the Olympicas at $7,000?  The Kanta's are retailing at a bit under $10,000.  If I decide on the Kantas then I will push out the purchase until I can find a better discount at some stage but if with the Sonus then will have to buy right away.

Thanks!
rsure
tablejockey
3,950 posts
 
rsure-
This looks like a deal worth checking out.
https://www.audiogon.com/listings/full-range-focal-sopra-n2-2017-11-20-speaker

Based on value- maybe a better deal than the SF's you're considering. Technically, a step  above the Kanta, subjectively as nice looking as Olympica.

Having heard both thru the PL HP, I thought either one would keep me happy. Since they were separate occasions, I can't recall hearing one more convincing than the other. Markmendenhall 's closing statement regarding sonics between the two, I think is spot on.

Regardless, those speakers deserve to be placed well into the room, away from the walls and gear rack. The sellers setup looks compromised. I would have those in a room 3ft from the side and 4-5 from back to start. 

rsure OP
29 posts
 
Thank you all very much for your responses and help with this.

@markmendenhall - my experience is almost exactly what your dealer describes.  When I heard the Focal Kantas for the first time I was just blown away with the clarity and how "clean" they sounded especially  compared to the other speakers I had heard earlier on the same day (Focal Electras 1028be/1038be and the Aria 936).  This is what got me excited about them because I was not in the market looking for speakers in that price range.  The only reason I did was to compare them with the Olympicas IIIs which I now have an option to buy pre-owned.

My initial thoughts on the Kantas were that while they sounded great would they be a bit too bright or forward over longer listening sessions.  I think the Beryllium tweeters definitely have some magic about them though.  Also don't know how much the Devialet 130 Pro has influencing the clear/forward sound.    

The Olympica IIIs on the other hand sounded much more relaxed to me and I thought they needed to be played louder to sound good which I'm not sure is a good thing with any speaker. 

I'm also now a bit concerned that all the amps you'll have recommended for the Olympicas (Pass Labs 150.8, 250.8 and Hegel H30) are more expensive and much more powerful than the Primaluna HPs and wondering if the PL HPs would not be enough to push the Olympica IIIs well enough?

@tablejockey- the speakers will be in a reasonably largeish room 18" * 17" (it's the living room hence the requirement for reasonably nice looking speakers) but unfortunately this room opens out a bit on one side (to the side of one of the speakers)  to a long corridor (33" * 4.5") and on the opposite side to a dining area (about 17" * 9").  To add to this I don't have much room to place the speakers too far apart from the walls.  I can keep them about 1.5" away from the back walls and about 2" away from the side wall (this applies only to the speaker on the left while facing me as the one of the right has the long corridor on it's side).  Sorry about the description, really hope that made some sense!   
Do you think the Olympicas IIIs would work well in such a space?

The pressing matter for me now is to decide whether the Olympicas IIIs at the price ($7000) are not worth losing out on or if I should hold out and wait for something better at a similar price (what?) later on or save the purchase for later and stretch a bit more for something like the Kantas or even Sopras if I can find a good price.  Unfortunately though I don't have access to AG and all the great deals on pre-owned gear as I don't live in the US. 

Thanks again for all the responses, really do appreciate it!  
markmendenhall
226 posts
 

fwiw, part of the reason my Olympica's need more power is because of the large room they are in; my living room is 24' wide (where the speakers sit) and 36' long, with 13' ceilings - certainly not ideal

I position them approx. 15" from the back wall; the left speaker is 3' from a side wall, the right speaker about 5' from it's side wall - sounds like our room configurations are similar as my living room opens up on the right side to a corridor to the front door

I actually had my dealer to my house, 3 states away from his dealership, so he could set up my new TT and cartridge.  While visiting, he said the several pair of Olympica III's he sold to other customers sounded plenty impactful in rooms smaller than mine, with amplifiers less powerful than mine.  He was especially impressed with their bass response.

All that said, all I can suggest is in a larger room, to get the best from the SF's, try not to under power them - at one point I powered mine with a pair of Bel Canto M1000 class D 500 watt mono amps and they sounded excellent.  I wish you the best, these are difficult decisions to make!

tablejockey
3,950 posts
 
rsure-any room short of a "listening room" is always a compromise,especially in a living space.
We have significant others we answer to,and other "real" factors.

I use the Cardas placement, with great results.
http://www.cardas.com/room_setup_calculators.php
Not for everyone, since speakers take a good deal of room space.
Certainly not wife approved!

I would get the straight talk from Upscale regarding just how competent the HP is, driving the Olmpica's. 

djfst
169 posts
 
rsure,

I have owned the Primaluna HP and used it with the Sonus Faber Olympica IIIs for about a year or so.  I am also looking at the Focal Kantas for my next speaker as well but haven't had the chance to listen to them yet - hopefully soon.  Feel free to message me if you'd like and we would be happy to go over my experience with the Olympicas and HP Primaluna.  
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