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Need Center and Surrounds to Match Focal Sopra 3

I have a dilemma. I overspent on Focal Sopra 3s which are awesome.  I was using them for 2 channel music and now I’m going to use them for my home theater (music and movies) and cannot afford the Sopra 3 center and surrounds. I regret spending so much now, but I’ll lose a ton selling them used, so I need to figure out an affordable alternative for a center and surrounds.  I don’t believe that I MUST buy a Sopra 3 center and Atmos set up for it to sound good, but still want to get something high quality. Can anyone please help? I’ve looked for used Sopra 2s and 3s and have found nothing. Thinking about high end paradigm center? Other than that not sure. Please help. Sopras have a berrilym dome tweeter, but a match is not a must as they sounded fine with my monitor audio silver center, which I’m now going to use in my living room. Thanks much!! 
jjsoll
ghdprentice
6,961 posts
 
@adsell Good thought.
jjsoll OP
5 posts
 
Well, good question. I have a Marantz 8002 which I was going to use in my family room set up with my 5.1 monitor audio silvers and then use my older (but still excellent B&K AVR507 v.2 in my home theater. It’s a 7 channel 150w into 8Ohms. It has a huge toroidal amp which can sustain high watts of called for without straining. Rebel speakers use Berrilym tweeters also as do the lower end Focal centers at $2,100 new or something of the Monitor Audio centers with CCAM (ceramic coated aluminum magnesium) drivers which I believe have a similar timber.  I’m thinking any with dual 6” drivers would match well - in the $1,500 range rather than $4k for the Focal Sopra. Just thinking out loud. I really don’t want don’t want to go with a phantom center bc I’ll always find another use for money! 
adsell's avatar
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adsell
72 posts
 
Sounds like you need some self control, keep the money that is burning a hole in your pocket. Phantom center on a good processor is actually pretty good, I can turn my center off and go phantom and you would hard pressed to know I did. Its just using stereo imaging to give dialog the appearance of coming from the screen. :)
hubbman's avatar
hubbman
25 posts
 
Go with the Aria center channel until you can afford the Sopra.  Fake it til you make it.
macct
55 posts
 
Funny, in an odd way, you mentioned Paradigm.  My main speakers are Sopra 2s.  I use a Paradigm Prestige 55c as a center channel.  I don't see any need to change it.  It works perfectly for my needs and the lack of matching (which I doubt I would ever perceive if I tried) just isn't material for me.  TV and movie viewing just isn't a high priority compared to music.  

I tried phantom in the past and I found I was constantly changing the volume to hear the dialogue better.  I now run a Marantz SR7013 for HT, and have an integrated with HT bypass for music listening.  The Sopra's are a beautiful speaker and I assume you have an integrated for 2-channel.  IMO, they are overkill for just HT use.   
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