Welcome to the AudioShark Forums.
Results 1 to 17 of 17
  1. #1
    Audioshark
    Join Date
    Apr 2013
    Location
    Sarasota, FL
    Posts
    30,044

    Focal Sopra No. 2 Review

    Just read the September HiFi News this morning. Andrew Everard does a great review of these brilliant new speakers from Focal.

    The verdict: "Big - though not as huge its Utopia stablemates - the Sopra No. 2 is one of Focal's best designs to date. It offers an explicit, involving sound with stereo imaging and soundstaging bordering on the magical when you manage to get the speakers set up and 'dialed in' to suit the room. All that work has paid off and the bonus is a speaker with an arresting visual style - especially in bright red or orange!"

    88/100 rating (Note: the highest I've ever seen for ANY speaker, regardless of price, is 90/100).

    ------------

    At the back of the magazine, Paul Miller does wrote an opinion piece on the Focal Sopra's.

    He writes: "On a very rare trip away from the coalface that is Hi-Fi News, I was given a preview of Focal's new Sopra range of loudspeakers at the company headquarters. Joined by a few European colleagues, we were treated to some truly sublime sounds from the standmount No.1 and floorstanding No. 2 models. I was struck by the astonishingly tactile imagine of vocalists and accompanying performers alike, all played out in what only be described as magnificently spacious soundstaging. This was one of the most uplifiting and communicative systems I'd ever heard..."

    He continues, "....I was exposed to another Sopra No. 2 at the EISA Convention in Brussels, accompanied by many of the same editors. Here the Sopra delivered much the same experience, driven by far more modest amplification. And it did it again...when the Sopra No.2 finally made it to Blightly and my listening room. Fed via a Melco-USB-Devialet 800 combination, this was now one of the most involving, informative and 'real' reproductions of music I'd enjoyed in my own space."

    -----------

    As I told the Focal executives when I was invited to Montreal in April to hear the Sopra line for the first time, "you've priced them way way too low." At $13,999/pair, these are an absolute home run. I've already sold several pairs.



    My Systems: http://www.audioshark.org/showthread...481#post158481

    "We can hear everything we measure, but we can't measure everything we hear. Let your ears be your guide."

    Dealer for: Aqua Hi-Fi, Aurender, AudioQuest Cables & Power Products, Berkeley Audio, Block Audio (distributor), Boulder Amplifiers, Bowers & Wilkins (B&W), Bryston, Clarisys Audio Loudspeakers (distributor), Classe’ Audio, Degritter Record Cleaning Machines, Esoteric, Finite Elemente, FirstWatt, Focal Loudspeakers and Headphones, GigaFoil, Harbeth Loudspeakers, Hegel, HiFi Man, Innuos, ISO Acoustics, Keces Power Supplies, Kharma Loudspeakers and Electronics, Kuzma Turntables, Lumin, Luxman, Magico Loudspeakers, MBL Speakers & Electronics, MSB Technologies, MySonicLabs Phono Cartridges, Nordost Cables, Ortofon, Pass Labs, Quadraspire, Rega Turntables and Electronics, Shunyata Research, STAX, Stein Music Products, Stillpoints, Soulution, VAC, Vicoustics, Viva Audio, VPI Industries, WireWorld Cables.

    https://suncoastaudio.com/
    Phone: 941-932-0282
    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Suncoast-Au...1105178279194/

  2. #2
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Apr 2013
    Location
    Oregon Coast
    Posts
    3,424

    Re: Focal Sopra No. 2 Review

    Great review!
    Jock

    If you have integrity, nothing else matters. If you don't have integrity, nothing else matters.

    ---------

    House: Naim ND555/2PS, Naim 552, Naim 500, Studer A80/Doshi V3, Magico M2s, 2 Magico Q-Sub 15s, Lumina IC/SC, Shunyata Everest and Omega PCs.

    Workshop: Naim ND555/2 PS, VAC Master Pre, VAC Sig 200iQ, Border Patrol pre/power, Avant Garde Duo Mezzo XD, 2 Magico Q-Sub 15s, Shunyata IC/SC, Shunyata Typhon QR/Triton V3/Sigma PCs.

  3. #3
    Behavior Moderator (be nice police!)
    Join Date
    Apr 2013
    Location
    Lake Country, Georgia
    Posts
    4,347

    Re: Focal Sopra No. 2 Review

    Very nice Mike!
    Mark


    Kharma DB9 Signature
    Pass Labs XP32......incoming
    Pass Labs X350.8
    Esoteric N-05XD
    VPI Avenger with Magnetic Drive
    Manley Chinook Phono Pre
    Ortofon Cadenza Black cartridge
    Kharma Elegance speaker cables
    Kharma Elegance interconnects
    REL Subs

  4. #4
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Oct 2014
    Location
    beverly hills florida
    Posts
    113

    Re: Focal Sopra No. 2 Review

    Thanks mike

  5. #5

    Re: Focal Sopra No. 2 Review

    Seems like No. 3 will be priced around $20K? Any guess?

  6. #6

    Re: Focal Sopra No. 2 Review

    Quote Originally Posted by Mike View Post
    Just read the September HiFi News this morning. Andrew Everard does a great review of these brilliant new speakers from Focal.

    The verdict: "Big - though not as huge its Utopia stablemates - the Sopra No. 2 is one of Focal's best designs to date. It offers an explicit, involving sound with stereo imaging and soundstaging bordering on the magical when you manage to get the speakers set up and 'dialed in' to suit the room. All that work has paid off and the bonus is a speaker with an arresting visual style - especially in bright red or orange!"

    88/100 rating (Note: the highest I've ever seen for ANY speaker, regardless of price, is 90/100).

    ------------

    At the back of the magazine, Paul Miller does wrote an opinion piece on the Focal Sopra's.

    He writes: "On a very rare trip away from the coalface that is Hi-Fi News, I was given a preview of Focal's new Sopra range of loudspeakers at the company headquarters. Joined by a few European colleagues, we were treated to some truly sublime sounds from the standmount No.1 and floorstanding No. 2 models. I was struck by the astonishingly tactile imagine of vocalists and accompanying performers alike, all played out in what only be described as magnificently spacious soundstaging. This was one of the most uplifiting and communicative systems I'd ever heard..."

    He continues, "....I was exposed to another Sopra No. 2 at the EISA Convention in Brussels, accompanied by many of the same editors. Here the Sopra delivered much the same experience, driven by far more modest amplification. And it did it again...when the Sopra No.2 finally made it to Blightly and my listening room. Fed via a Melco-USB-Devialet 800 combination, this was now one of the most involving, informative and 'real' reproductions of music I'd enjoyed in my own space."

    -----------

    As I told the Focal executives when I was invited to Montreal in April to hear the Sopra line for the first time, "you've priced them way way too low." At $13,999/pair, these are an absolute home run. I've already sold several pairs.



    Mike,

    Mine are breaking in nicely and thanks for all the support!!

    I've had lots of speakers in my listening room and these are by far my favorite. Strengths are amazing detail and imaging without any harshness. I was concerned about the lower range but no need for a sub and very tight non flabby bass. Highly recommend a listen !!

    Attached Images Attached Images
    Industry Disclosure: Owner Epiphanic Audio. Bespoke 2 channel resource in Virginia Beach VA. Dealer for darTZeel and other great brands.

  7. #7
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Jul 2013
    Location
    Texas
    Posts
    644

    Re: Focal Sopra No. 2 Review

    Gotta say I absolutely love the looks of those No2s! Would love a pair in white!!!!

    Mike are these gonna be at RMAF?
    System 1: Matrix Element M -> Sugden A21se -> Klipsch Cornwall 3.

    System 2: Matrix Element X -> Exposure 3510 -> Heco Direkt.

  8. #8
    Audioshark
    Join Date
    Apr 2013
    Location
    Sarasota, FL
    Posts
    30,044

    Re: Focal Sopra No. 2 Review

    Quote Originally Posted by jaxwired View Post
    Gotta say I absolutely love the looks of those No2s! Would love a pair in white!!!!

    Mike are these gonna be at RMAF?
    I sent a note to my rep, but he's on vacation the next two weeks. I have a pair of Black Sopra No. 1's I would be happy to send to anyone who is serious and wants to give them a listen.
    My Systems: http://www.audioshark.org/showthread...481#post158481

    "We can hear everything we measure, but we can't measure everything we hear. Let your ears be your guide."

    Dealer for: Aqua Hi-Fi, Aurender, AudioQuest Cables & Power Products, Berkeley Audio, Block Audio (distributor), Boulder Amplifiers, Bowers & Wilkins (B&W), Bryston, Clarisys Audio Loudspeakers (distributor), Classe’ Audio, Degritter Record Cleaning Machines, Esoteric, Finite Elemente, FirstWatt, Focal Loudspeakers and Headphones, GigaFoil, Harbeth Loudspeakers, Hegel, HiFi Man, Innuos, ISO Acoustics, Keces Power Supplies, Kharma Loudspeakers and Electronics, Kuzma Turntables, Lumin, Luxman, Magico Loudspeakers, MBL Speakers & Electronics, MSB Technologies, MySonicLabs Phono Cartridges, Nordost Cables, Ortofon, Pass Labs, Quadraspire, Rega Turntables and Electronics, Shunyata Research, STAX, Stein Music Products, Stillpoints, Soulution, VAC, Vicoustics, Viva Audio, VPI Industries, WireWorld Cables.

    https://suncoastaudio.com/
    Phone: 941-932-0282
    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Suncoast-Au...1105178279194/

  9. #9

    Re: Focal Sopra No. 2 Review

    I have had my Sopra No2's for about six weeks now and I am smitten. The speakers were not difficult to "dial in" to the room, fills my 26'x26' "man cave" with very rich, detailed sound (especially the midrange and hi frequencies), great soundstage, excellent timbre and incredible "musicality".
    If you select these speakers, the only caution I would have is to make sure your electronics are smooth sounding, as the tweeters in the Sopra's is so accurate and detailed, an "edgy" sounding amp might cause fatigue.

    PS Audio P10 Power Plant, PS Audio DirectStream DAC, Autonomic MMS-5A Media Server, McIntosh C50 Pre-Amp, McIntosh MC452 Power Amp, Focal Sopra No2s, JL Audio F113V2 Sub Woofers (2), Wireworld Cabling

  10. #10
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Oct 2013
    Location
    Sacramento
    Posts
    1,122

    Re: Focal Sopra No. 2 Review

    You guys are killing me. I found pics of the 2 in my batch from Newport Beach but I don't remember hearing them. I can't believe I drove down there and missed hearing them. I think they were in a ball room and I assumed, like other Focal speakers, they were out of my price range. Or maybe they were playing sucky music (or none at all) when I peeked in.

    I am also limping now from hurting my knee while kicking myself in the butt. I think the white is classy.

  11. #11

    Re: Focal Sopra No. 2 Review

    Dizzie,
    My search started at the beginning of 2015, having the hots to replace my excellent Totem Fire monitors in the system in the living room. I listened to a number of other monitors, all sounding "good" but "different" than the Totems, but not "better". I was not a fan of the beryllium tweeters in the Wilson Sasha W/P's (which are sourced from Focal), but just for grins decided to audition the 1038BE's and was just blown away by them...all I could do from pulling my credit card out...needed to check with "the boss" about putting large, floor standing speakers in the living room. On the way home, called one of my audio buddies who just found out that Focal was about to release the Sopra's to the market. In the mean time, "the boss" thought I should move my audio stuff down to the family room, and make a "man cave"...gave me freedom to get any old sized speakers.

    My neighbor wasn't around to help me "hoof" those 150 pound boxes down to the "man cave", I was sore for a few days after getting them setup. When the sub woofers arrived, I did have help with those beasts.

    My dealer tells me there's a six month wait for the Sopra No2's in black (the color I got), might not be a wait for white.

  12. #12

    Focal Sopra No. 2 Review

    I'm contemplating to play around from my current raidho x1 into sopra# 1 or 2, what would be the the more and less sound char. across this 2 brands ? I'm driving them with d400.

    I have yet engaged the local vendor, probably soon.
    Jesse

    Thales Slim II ( EMT 75G) , Audio Technica ART-9
    Lumin X1 - Melco N1A/2
    Accuphase 2420, A48, C37
    Tannoy Kenn. GR

    Cables: Ansuz Mainz (Dtc,diamond) PC - Shunyata Alpha Digital PC - Western Electric IC - Western Electric 1960 SC - Audioquest Vodka Ethernet
    Power Cond: Sound Application SA-240TZ

  13. #13

    Re: Focal Sopra No. 2 Review

    Quote Originally Posted by ejr1953 View Post
    Dizzie,
    My search started at the beginning of 2015, having the hots to replace my excellent Totem Fire monitors in the system in the living room. I listened to a number of other monitors, all sounding "good" but "different" than the Totems, but not "better". I was not a fan of the beryllium tweeters in the Wilson Sasha W/P's (which are sourced from Focal), but just for grins decided to audition the 1038BE's and was just blown away by them...all I could do from pulling my credit card out...needed to check with "the boss" about putting large, floor standing speakers in the living room. On the way home, called one of my audio buddies who just found out that Focal was about to release the Sopra's to the market. In the mean time, "the boss" thought I should move my audio stuff down to the family room, and make a "man cave"...gave me freedom to get any old sized speakers.

    My neighbor wasn't around to help me "hoof" those 150 pound boxes down to the "man cave", I was sore for a few days after getting them setup. When the sub woofers arrived, I did have help with those beasts.

    My dealer tells me there's a six month wait for the Sopra No2's in black (the color I got), might not be a wait for white.
    How would you describe the improvement from 1038Be's and the Sopra's? I currently have 1038's and waiting for the No. 3 release.

  14. #14

    Re: Focal Sopra No. 2 Review

    Quote Originally Posted by kzhtoo View Post
    How would you describe the improvement from 1038Be's and the Sopra's? I currently have 1038's and waiting for the No. 3 release.
    I was just floored at the sound the 1038BE's had when I auditioned them, now having the Sopra No2's for a while, I think I'd say that they have a little better detail in the high end & midrange, maybe more of an improvement in the midrange than the highs. I'd also say that the soundstage might have more depth with the Sopra's. Both speakers have a "large", room filling "presence". Your 1038BE's might have deeper, more forceful bass, but in my case I'm using sub woofers, so I didn't concentrate on that during my auditions. The bass that the Sopra's have is excellent and very well integrated with the other drivers, but with that last octave in the bass range, they don't seem to go that low.

  15. #15

    Re: Focal Sopra No. 2 Review

    Quote Originally Posted by Milk_vanilla View Post
    I'm contemplating to play around from my current raidho x1 into sopra# 1 or 2, what would be the the more and less sound char. across this 2 brands ? I'm driving them with d400.

    I have yet engaged the local vendor, probably soon.
    I did audition a set of floor standing Raidho's (maybe the C3.1's, not sure though) and the Dynaudio C2 Platinums and found both to be very "easy on the ears". Though the Raidho's have ribbon tweeters (I'm not particularly a fan of most ribbons), I did not find them to be "harsh" or "fatiguing" at all. I was truly surprised at the "size" of the Dynaudio's sound stage and how low in the bass range they went, might have been the differences in the room acoustics and the electronics, but I thought the Dynaudio's were a better buy (the Raidho's were significantly more expensive).

    Having said that, the Focal's just floored me! They seemed to have a very large "presence", excellent sound stage, excellent detail in the midrange and highs. My only caution about the Focal's, with their beryllium tweeters is that if the electronics driving them have any harshness, they may be "fatiguing" to listen to for long stretches. I have found the last version of the Wilson Sasha W/P's (with an older version of the Focal beryllium tweeter) to be really "harsh" sounding, even with tube amps driving them.

    I was just floored by the McIntosh C50/MC452 driving the Focal 1038BE's, snagged that pair of electronics before my Sopra's arrived, and they match up very well.

    If the D400 you mention is an Audio Research amplifier, I did hear a solid state amp from that company driving the Dynaudio's and it seemed like a really smooth sound as well.

  16. #16

    Re: Focal Sopra No. 2 Review

    Thanks Ej,

    Just wondering how significant dampened difference on their beryllium between 1038 and Sopra with the same amp (Mcintosh) according to your listening experience?

    Sorry for being not clear enough, D400 mentioned was devialet.


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
    Jesse

    Thales Slim II ( EMT 75G) , Audio Technica ART-9
    Lumin X1 - Melco N1A/2
    Accuphase 2420, A48, C37
    Tannoy Kenn. GR

    Cables: Ansuz Mainz (Dtc,diamond) PC - Shunyata Alpha Digital PC - Western Electric IC - Western Electric 1960 SC - Audioquest Vodka Ethernet
    Power Cond: Sound Application SA-240TZ

  17. #17

    Re: Focal Sopra No. 2 Review

    Milk Vanilla,
    To be honest, my auditions of the 1038BE & Sopra No2's were at different dealers with really different rooms & acoustics. The 1038BE's were in a room I'd say was about 24'x24' with lots of other speakers in the room, carpet and other sound absorbing treatments. The Sopra's were on the short wall of a room that was about 12'x18'. One of my audio buddies from Ohio has compared them side by side in the same room, I'll check with him, but I called him on the way home from auditioning the 1038BE's and he was the one raving about the additional detail from the Sopra's, he told me he thought the tweeter was just a little better. I think the biggest difference you'll find is in the detail from the midrange, which I thought was excellent on the 1038BE's, but after I've put over 100 hours on the Sopra's, they are just outstanding. It's really spooky, when a vocal track is really well recorded, with the Sopra's, the singer appears to be standing right in front of me!

AudioShark - The Best High End Audio Discussion forum.

AudioShark forum is a leading forum site for High End Audio Discussion, Stereo System Discussion, Home Theater System Discussion, Best Home Stereo System Discussion, Home Theater Installation Discussion etc.

The AudioShark forum was created for sharing the passion of high-end Audio. We have Audiophiles from all over the world participating and sharing their knowledge. From novice to experts, you will find a friendly environment for discussing about High End Audio, Stereo System, Home Theater System, Home Stereo System, Home Theater Installation, Amplifiers, Speakers, Subwoofers, Integrated System, Acoustic treatments & Digital Room Corrections and many more.

At AudioShark, we also have incorporated an exciting Marketplace where members can peruse terrific buys on used gear, as well as meet dealers and discuss the purchase of new gear.

We are as crazy about this hobby as you are! So come on in and join us! Audioshark.org the Friendliest Audio Forum!

Industry Participation Disclosure : The owner and administrator of Audioshark is the owner of Suncoast Audio LLC in Sarasota Florida. Suncoast Audio has a full brick and mortar presence in Sarasota with several great show rooms with many world class brands. More information can be found at http://www.suncoastaudio.com

Audioshark is a community of like minded individuals. Audioshark welcomes participation from all manufacturers and owners of all brands and products. It is our belief that online forums provide a community of like minded audiophiles and music lovers to encourage the growth of this wonderful hobby.

Sincerely,
The Audioshark.org Team

Focal Sopra No. 2 Review

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •