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I had a few drinks and bought some speakers, I've now sobered up

Ok, so I purchased some Sopra 2's two weeks back and was throughly excited to own them. They came in a few days ago and look just beautiful. The problem is, I don't feel like sonically they are that much "better" than my 1028's. Visually I'd take the Sopra's any day. Sonically they sound good but:

 Sopra 2's sound (too) laid back compared to the 1028. I'm honestly perfering the 1028's as they have snap and feel a little more in your face. The higher mid bass frequencies feel better blended with the upper frequencies. 

The upper frequencies did feel harsh at first but settle down and some placement helped satisfy that. But it still it doesn't feel blended. The top frequencies are more clear and the mid bass is more pronounced and clear, but not as blended. 

I'm listening to punk, classic rock and experiential music and feel the 1028 is the better performer. I feel wrong for saying it, but it's true. Any help or advice or are these to be put up for sale as I'm expecting?

(Gear: PL Dialogue Premium pre/power, Clearaudio Concept Wood, Hana EH, Musical Surroundings Nova III, nice cables. 13x9 small bedroom with first reflection treatment)
128x128j-wall
jahatl513
119 posts
 
I hope you are still reading these responses. So,.. the $3,000 speakers sound almost as good as the $10,000 speakers (replace speakers with amps or turn table...etc,) so then I always feel as if I want my money back in my pocket and I'll be happy with the lesser costs. Truth is that often the new stuff is better but everything down stream is the same so No, it's not gonna reflect the differences which are subtle ones and subjective. Ughhhhh!  Been here and then sold but later learned just how good things get down stream after years go by and then, "wow I wish I had that product now,.. or I bet it'd sound really great if only I still had that THING now that I've upgraded frigging everything else.  We are all in the same boat at times. Advice- keep the Sopra and work to find the right cables, pre, DAC,.... and give yourself time. You'll be happy you did in the long haul. They're fantastic speakers. Good luck n good listening. It's not an overnight thing. The journey is longer than we think it should be. 
thosb's avatar
thosb
204 posts
 
j-wall, if/when you can get MBV's Loveless to not sound shouty at reasonable (90-95 dB) levels, please let me know how you did it!  This is on my audio bucket list.  And I agree with recommendation to let them settle in for hundreds of hours before obsessing over the A/B better/worse comparison with your old speakers. 

I've always thought my speakers (Thiel CS2.3) were a bit shouty at higher frequencies esp w poorer recordings, and ever improving room treatments have made a big difference, but a change in DAC (from PS Audio PW to bel canto 3.7) made a surprisingly significant difference, lending credence to the idea that a tweak or change upstream could make a difference. 

Finally, your experience has reinforced something that will be a huge pain, when I buy the next pair of serious keep for year speakers, I audition them at home first, hopefully for several days.  This kinda sucks from a logistics and cost perspective but will help avoid the risk of buyer's remorse.  So thanks for sharing!
karl_desch's avatar
karl_desch
426 posts
 
Loveless might be a great way to break in those speakers!  Not hifi (I believe Kevin Shields had the band perform inside a Hoover to get the right sound) but what a great record. If you are still on the fence after 500 hours, consider really working on speaker placement.  The Sumiko Masters method is one way to do it that can be relevatory and importantly is based on your own ears. 
Good luck and let us know if you make an amplifier change.
marburger
5 posts
 
If there's an in-home trial period, play your favorite, most familiar cuts, and if it's not working for you, send them back.
jreiter
12 posts
 
Vin Schweikert once told me to break them in by placing them side by side, turning them toward each other very close, reversing the connections to be out of phase, covering them with a quilt or blanket, and blasting a loud CD (or radio) for a few days. I did (was going out of town for I think a long weekend) and damn if it didn't work great. I wasn't in an apartment so it was easier and I'm sure just playing them normally would have worked as well, but it worked. Either way the others are correct: put away the old ones, put the new ones in the same place for comparison (don't mess with the room yet, right now break in is key), turn them on at whatever volume you can for a few days or more, and then come back. Break in is real and your old ones are broken in so give the new ones the same chance. 
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