Today I compared the NDX/SN2, 272/250DR and NDX/282/HcapDR/snapsc/250DR

After all the recent positive comments I just had to listen to them....(Sopra 2's)

the SL2's followed Allaes and N-sats (both of which I still have and use).

They are damn good speakers....all of them

having listened to many well recommended speakers over recent times....the SL2's could be with me for a long time...

enjoy

It sounds as if the Sopras are all fur coat and no knickers. It's very good to read others' experiences of the fur coats against the good old SL2. 

ameden posted:

Listened to the Sopra 2's a couple of days back at the local dealers...

HDX into NDS - 555PS, into 552 - 500..

the sound was initially very impressive..very detailed, dynamic, open sound, good bass, good mid...however, after around 15-20 mins the HF got the better of my lugs.....too much for me...fatiguing to listen to..

and they looked soooo good...in white I could have been tempted...

for me, not to be....the SL2's stay..

 

enjoy

 

Maybe Focal's Beryllium tweeter is not for you, ameden.  These things are a matter of taste.

Mike 

Hungryhalibut posted:

It sounds as if the Sopras are all fur coat and no knickers. It's very good to read others' experiences of the fur coats against the good old SL2. 

Listen to the Sopra 2s before you judge them, Nigel. Not suggesting they would be suitable for you as they need to be well away from the rear wall, and they are big, but their performance is worth hearing.

Mike 

I listened to a pair of Sopra 2's (and 1's) recently and enjoyed them.  I heard them on a Macintosh kit.  These were on my short "must listen" to list for my next speaker selection.  Try them out, you may like them.

MDS posted:

ameden posted:

Listened to the Sopra 2's a couple of days back at the local dealers...

HDX into NDS - 555PS, into 552 - 500..

the sound was initially very impressive..very detailed, dynamic, open sound, good bass, good mid...however, after around 15-20 mins the HF got the better of my lugs.....too much for me...fatiguing to listen to..

and they looked soooo good...in white I could have been tempted...

for me, not to be....the SL2's stay..

 

enjoy

 

Maybe Focal's Beryllium tweeter is not for you, ameden.  These things are a matter of taste.

Mike 

Agreed, I just didn't get on with it..

thats why I stated 'for me' ......the comments are based on my opinion, which is only important to me.....however, happy to share it FWIW....

enjoy

Agree with the big fish - XPS DR should be first.  

I hate to say it, because I can't afford them and don't have a good enough system to use them, but the Sopras are brilliant.  Don't listen to them HH, especially with the 250dr which is just crap with them!

There's little point in listening to something that costs five times what I paid for my speakers, won't fit, and very likely isn't as good. Even if it is the latest 'must have'. The orange ones do look nice though. 

White looks lovely too and they sound great.  They are the latest must have for a reason I suspect

HH, you aren't missing anything compared to what you already own, not that you were interested in them for a moment. I'd wager the majority of people who like the Sopra have never heard SL2's. Even if i thought they sounded any good, on looks alone they'd never get through my door unless i wanted a Star Wars theme room.

Your lack of faith is disturbing Gary 

Would have liked to have enjoyed them, but having heard Naim and dealers demonstrate them 3 or 4 times they leave me cold. Faith is overrated..

I've only heard them once, with 250 and 300 Dr and non Dr and liked them but I guess it all comes down to preference.  At that price I'd want to listen to a lot of speakers before I shelled out though

Indeed, at that price i'd have to love them. 

gary yeowell posted:

I must be one of the few people on here that doesn't like the Sopras, both in looks and sound.

I don't like their looks, and that is enough to disqualify them for me  

I would encourage those about to fork out some 12,000 GBP and more on  speakers to try Ovators, Neats, Kudos, PMC, Dynaudios and even Revel before making the final decision. Although a few days ago I went and heard the new B&W 802D, there is simply no way, no way (even if I won the lottery) that I would pay 16,500 GBP for a speaker when good enough speakers are available for much less.

Hungryhalibut posted:

I still find the idea of spending so much on speakers, to use with a midrange system, a bit weird. My local dealer doesn't deal with stuff that high up the range, so I'm unlikely to encounter them. Anyway, I need speakers that need to go against the wall as my room is too small. 

HH, What spearkers are you on currently ?

KAYDEE6,

Thanks for sharing. I wanted to do the same comparison but I am not ready to pull the trigger. Let me know how the S400 goes as it was recommended to me previously but I hesitated as I wasn't ready to commit.

I do tend to believe the XPS would be an interesting addition to the NDX/SN2 setup we both share without risk of selling or trading in the current boxes. Have you considered this option or discussed that with the dealer ?

engjoo posted:

KAYDEE6,

Thanks for sharing. I wanted to do the same comparison but I am not ready to pull the trigger. Let me know how the S400 goes as it was recommended to me previously but I hesitated as I wasn't ready to commit.

I do tend to believe the XPS would be an interesting addition to the NDX/SN2 setup we both share without risk of selling or trading in the current boxes. Have you considered this option or discussed that with the dealer ?

Hi engjoo,

XPS has always been discussed with the dealer.

But not ready for the outlay for a power supply. I guess that will take some time for me to get used to a fact that the power supply is dearer than the NDX.

As we share the same dealer, you should compare the 3 . You will hear that SN2/NDX sounds different to the pre/power setup.

gary yeowell posted:

HH, you aren't missing anything compared to what you already own, not that you were interested in them for a moment. I'd wager the majority of people who like the Sopra have never heard SL2's. Even if i thought they sounded any good, on looks alone they'd never get through my door unless i wanted a Star Wars theme room.

Entirely agree with Gary. The Sopras don't compare with the SL2s for bass clarity, articulacy and speed, nor is the treble as lifelike on timbre. They are another Focal triumph of technology over music making....

engjoo posted:

Hungryhalibut posted:

I still find the idea of spending so much on speakers, to use with a midrange system, a bit weird. My local dealer doesn't deal with stuff that high up the range, so I'm unlikely to encounter them. Anyway, I need speakers that need to go against the wall as my room is too small. 

HH, What spearkers are you on currently ?

All in my profile....