Focal Sopra 2 or Sopra 3?
This isn't going to be happening soon as I need to save more for them. (I will have to find a good used set)I have a VAC Renaissance 70/70 amp that I am getting updated by VAC in January to MK IIIS. I love this amp and i am not looking to change it. I may be interested in working toward a different speaker for it some day and these Focals may work. 91 db sensitivity which should work with my amp's 65 pure class A WPC. My current speakers really match well with it, they are Goldenear Triton 1.r's and to me they sound very good. But someday I may want even better resolution, not sure. What issues may I find mating these to my amp in the future? My Preamp is a VAC CLA1 Mk III, it was just serviced by VAC and completely updated to Mk III with new parts. So my pre/ Amp combo is tubes. I've read in reviews different opinions on how these sound, some say rather bright and forward and others do not, say they are really smooth in the midrange so it's confusing. I may just take my amp to a dealer about 1.5 hours away and make an appointment to audition them. Are these a reasonable option? My room is a dedicated listening room with a great deal of treatments, especially with bass absorbers, diffusion etc. The room is 14 x 18 x 6.5 ceilings. The Tritons have a lot of bass so it seems to handle it well after a lot of experimentation in placements of speakers. They are 7 feet out from the front wall and over 3 feet from side walls and about 7.5 feet apart.
I owned the Legacy Focus speakers (albeit an earlier version) about 6-7 speaker changes ago. Each progression through my speaker evolution improved greatly in sound quality. Too bad you can’t hear both the Sopra and the Legacy in the same room. Added: I see that the Focus XD version is amplified, it seems you like that feature in a speaker. So enjoy! ozzy |
@ozzy Well I have settled on my amp, it would be far too expensive to replace it with something that would make me happier. So I need to find something that works with it. My previous Genesis V’s (speakers) had a powered bass amplifier. This allows the VAC amp to sing IMHO. So I am sticking with what works. (for me) The Goldenear Triton 1.r have very, very good bass, it became addictive to me. I think the Focus XD’s will continue down that path, yet be an upgrade to my GE’s at 2X their price. 3X or 4 X the price for the Focals just isn’t in the cards for me, and I am not sure they will really work exceptionally well with my amp. I have researched that they like current and power to be their best. I know I was looking into the Focals but after giving myself a reality check I have realized it would be financially unattainable. I've been retired since 2018. |
The focal’s are way over priced since the price hikes. At their original price of $14k they were good. Now they are what over $20,000. if you want a cheaper option that sound very similar the Revel 228be (these need subs too imo) are about 1/2 the price and maybe a better speaker. Even the 328be is cheaper and I would say a better speaker to me (cleaner highs, more bass output). I would still run subs with the 328be… actually I would run subs with every speaker on the market that was not powered…
but honestly if you like what you have just keep them. Bass is super important and you seem to like what you have. It will be hard to move away from the powered subs in your speakers without throwing cash at a sub/crossover system. |
@james633 The Focus XD's are also ave powered bass drivers with a 750 watt icepower amp inside. So they can be bi amped with my VAC amp.
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I agree Focal is overpriced but everything is IMO. There is no reason on the planet a speaker should cost as much as a car. I do like me some Focal though. I like them better than Revel but have not heard the new Revel stuff. I should have bought me them Utopias a few years ago cause even the used ones are super high! Just somethin about Focal I find really appealing. Makes most speaks sound boring but they still have meat on the bones and are fast as hell. Just IMHO of course.
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