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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
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.  
nnnnny's avatar
nnnnny
1 posts
 
Hey rsure,

I have the Olympica 3 and using Primaluna

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8OLR1fA5txw

You can message me if you want to know my thoughts of the speaker. I have tried the Kanta as well.
rsure OP
29 posts
 
Thanks guys for all the feedback, really do appreciate it.

@tablejockey  I tried the Cardas room placement calculator and it suggested I keep the speakers 7' away from the rear walls!  In my room that would be like 2 "guests" with me all the time in the living room :-) . I agree though that in our regular world nothing is going to be ideal.

I have done a lot of research on the Primaluna HPs and all the feedback seems to be really good.  I've also seen Kevin Deal's (Upscale Audio) reviews and videos but not sure if he's the right person for an unbiased opinion since he is their main distributor (although the way he campaigns for the Prima Lunas it feels like he's a part owner)!  I don't mean that in a bad way, I do appreciate his passion for the product and the facts that he points out do seem to make sense to me.  But you're right given his experience with all the 3 brands in question he would have useful insights on how the PL HPs match up with the Olympicas vs. the Focals and I do intend to reach out to him on that.  

@djfst and @nnnnny - thanks for writing in, I will be messaging you'll.

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