Goldenear Reference Vs. Focal Sopra #2.....pocket the $5k difference and don't look back?

Gdhal: apparently you don’t understand.  The Sopras can go lower than you are suggesting, but it’s not any reasonable output.  Just like the output at 12hz isn’t reasonable output on the GE.  

You seem to fail to understand basic speaker measurement concepts.  The funny part is, the page you linked me to as “evidence” to my ignorance doesn’t even show what you say.  Apparently you’re going by the 12hz-35k frequency response listed on the web site.  Again, thanks for the laughs.  Learn a little bit of speaker basics before you post and embarrass yourself again.

...Real music digs that deep so rarely I don't much care what a speaker does below 30...

You'd care if you listened to live Grateful Dead recordings.

I've heard the GE reference.  I think it's a lot of speaker for the money.
Though I personally find them tonally boring.

Spend the $5k more and don't look back.  You know they sound "incredible".  Why settle for less wishing every day you got the Sopras?

By the way, if you like the Sopras you should listen to the Personas.  I brought both home for a side by side audition.  They are very similar in timbre, but I liked the detail of the Personas.

I agree with the previous poster, at 8500$ there are certainly as good or  at least slightly better speakers that the GE Reference.  OTOH, the Reference model is considerably better than any of the Tritons.  I found the Tritons more beamy than many electrostatics.  I do like the Focals more; but if you like rock, why not look at a comparable (or used!) Vandersteen?  I forget the model in that range. there are the CTs orTrios that might be had used in your range, or new less than 5K over the list of the GE Ref.  They do a great job of bass response w/o the Ref's slight overemphasis.