Dear Marge,

Well you asked for it so here goes. I don't like S20 or Sopras, but love S400. I'd have thought a 5x4mtr room was ample for them, was in my case, but shame not for you.

Can of worms Noogle :-)

I am going through a Sopra No2 love-in based on reviews and online research only so far, having also previously owned S400. Have Aria 926s at the moment and hope to privately demo Sopra No2 very soon. Not sure how many sets of Sopra are in the field purchased to get owner feedback on, good to see what those who have think too.

You aren't alone Noogle.

I am similarly lusting after the Sopra 2's for an even smaller listening space of about 4 x 4 meters. Resistance in this case may indeed be futile, as I fear I know how this will end.

I thought you were doing Lowthers.

Just get some more Ovulator S400s. You don't look at the mantlepiece when you're stoking the fire. 

or audition some Dynaudios 

My suggestion is another pair of S400s because you know you want to. If this is going to get you into serious trouble then take a look at the NVA cube range. A big soundstage from a small speaker. They sell direct with a money back guarantee and also have a loan system. It is an "alternative" speaker but one which deserves to be heard. Once you get used to the presentation you realise that the cubes are something special.

Hi Noogle

The Sopra 1 will work a treat on the end of your electronics.  However, they do need a bit of space around & behind them, so I would expect them to take up more floor space in your room than S400s.  Hence, they may look less visually imposing but claim more of your floor.  Is that a viable solution?

Best regards, FT

I should also mention that the cubes can work close to a wall and are surprisingly unfussy about speaker stands. I have heard them sing nicely on wooden kitchen stools !

Noogle posted:

I'm not in love with my Kudos Super 20s.  Until a year ago I owned a voluptuous pair of Ovator S400s which fulfilled my heart's every desire, but the big black beasts were deemed too overweight for a 5x4m living room and so were summarily binned off.  I had been whiling away the loveless days sitting by my inbox waiting for news of the inexplicably unannounced Ovator S200s, when my fickle gaze was drawn to the young, upmarket and - frankly hot - Focal Sopra 1s.

I know this is probably a mad fantasy, but what do you think are the chances of this relationship working out?  I'm not interested in hearing any "you should go and audition a potential new partner" nonsense, or talk of "trust your matchmaking dealer".  If I do either of these things I'll end up in bed with the Sopras.  What I'm looking for are your passionately held opinions, beliefs and insights, however embarrassing they may look the morning after.

Yours,

Noogle

nDAC/XPS-DR/252/Supercap-DR/NAP300

I never heard the Sopra 1s. If you liked the S400s you might be interested in the Manger range of speakers. I have heard the p1 (no real demo although, just casual listening) and I liked it. It is as tall as the S400 but not so deep. The z1 is about as big as the unannounced S200 (or perhaps S300): 534 x 270 x 364 mm. I have not heard it. Just google Manger audio. Best, nbpf

I heard the Sopra 2s recently and can  confirm that they are indeed sexy, curvy and dangerously alluring but clearly far too up market for the likes of me.  If the Sopra 1s are half as hot I suspect you could die a happy man  

Dear Noogle,

I am sure that all our readers will sympathise with your predicament, a relationship that has gone to the bad followed by a rebound lover.

Revisiting your past seems doomed to failure. The past abandonment will haunt the relationship and will undermine any trust that you try to build. You must decide what you value most and seek a new partner who embodies that. I feel that your obsession with your partner's size does not speak well of your approach to your relationships, but perhaps fits the modern zeitgeist.

My thoughts and empathy is with your oversized and passed over partner. I hope she is able to recover in the arms of someone who truly understands and accepts her for what she is.

Yours,

Marge

gary yeowell posted:

Well you asked for it so here goes. I don't like S20 or Sopras, but love S400. I'd have thought a 5x4mtr room was ample for them, was in my case, but shame not for you.

The visual impact of the S400 is certainly not negligible but I have found that in white they tend to be a little bit less conspicuous. It very much depends on what else is in the room, of course. I very much like the S400 in my living room

but I would prefer if they were a little bit less intrusive (it would be enough if they were a little bit less deep and if the plinth was not so prominent) and I can very well understand the concerns of the OP. Best, nbpf

Dear Agony Aunts and Uncles (well, only uncles actually) -

Many thanks for all your messages of support in my time of emotional turmoil..  They have been of great comfort and given me hope that there is a perfect relationship waiting out there for me.  I've decided that I won't go back to the Ovators, despite fond memories of giving them a terrific shafting (Bohemian Rhapsody played at 3pm on the volume control at the end of a party).

I'm going to make some big changes.  I've always had my playmates against the long wall and enjoyed firing across the room.  To spice things up I'm going to try having them each side of the chimney breast which should give them more space to really do their thing.  I like Gary's idea of having them in white (as long as they don't get too dirty).

I'm going to stick to good-looking types (I've met some real Mangers in my time) and the 'alternative' brand scene is not really for me - I want to offload them easily if things don't work out, without losing 50% of my equity in a messy separation.

Anyway, the good news is that things are finally looking up as I've arranged to meet up with two lovely French models.  To maintain their privacy I shall refer to them only as "1" and "2".  I hope to come back from Verlamchester tired but happy.

Yours,

Noogle

I shall hold you in my prayers, Noogle, and trust that a wholesome, reverend and loving relationship develops with your chosen partner.

ps - I trust you have no marital ties that might bear on your situation?

I love my Super 20s - deeply, joyously, unreservedly. More so today than before and I suspect more deeply still tomorrow. 

Good luck on the dating scene here, models 1 and 2 could be a match made in heaven, or hell, as they say the thrill is as much in the chase as the capture, enjoy both hopefully....

Noogle

I was surprised to see your post as you have posted favorably before about the S20's

As a C20 owner I'd be interested in learning what it is about the S20's that has triggered this as on paper your system seems very well suited to them.  I feel the same about my C20's as Chris does about his S20's!

Richard

nbpf posted:

gary yeowell posted:

Well you asked for it so here goes. I don't like S20 or Sopras, but love S400. I'd have thought a 5x4mtr room was ample for them, was in my case, but shame not for you.

The visual impact of the S400 is certainly not negligible but I have found that in white they tend to be a little bit less conspicuous. It very much depends on what else is in the room, of course. I very much like the S400 in my living room

but I would prefer if they were a little bit less intrusive (it would be enough if they were a little bit less deep and if the plinth was not so prominent) and I can very well understand the concerns of the OP. Best, nbpf

I can totally see that -- in white they are far less 'domineering' of the room.  My current speakers are cherry wood, but if I were ever to replace them, I can see that cabinets that blend in, rather than contrast, have something to offer.

trickydickie posted:

Noogle

I was surprised to see your post as you have posted favorably before about the S20's

As a C20 owner I'd be interested in learning what it is about the S20's that has triggered this as on paper your system seems very well suited to them.  I feel the same about my C20's as Chris does about his S20's!

Richard

Marry in haste, repent at leisure.

I should really only write gushing praise about the Super 20s if I want to offload them (assuming I end up pushing the button on the Sopras).   :-)

But here goes.  They are too bright for me.  First sign was that I started listening to nothing but Blue Note jazz CDs recorded between 1956 and 1964.  In particular Grant Green's "Idle Moments", which cannot be praised enough.  In fact I'd be happy if that was my only Desert Island Disc.

Secondly, I suffer from acute OCD but was considering tweaking the equalizer settings in JRiver.

Thirdly, Ovator 400s do a much better job at the first 10 seconds of "Tremor Christ" by Pearl Jam.  I challenge you to set your volume control between 12:00 and 14:00 with your current speakers, swap to Ovator 400s and see which you prefer.

I rest my case.

Those Sopras look a bit like too much fur coat and no knickers to me, with all those funny metal bits and curvy corners - rather like a Brabantia pedal bin. After a few years struggling to form a long term relationship I happened upon my new partners by chance, following an inadvertent tip off on the forum that they were looking for a new lease of life. There are a few of them around though they are very rare, but might be worth looking out. They are quite shy and like to stick to the walls, which in a modest room can only be a good thing. I have a feeling that they will be better at communication than the Sopras, which is always the basis of a lasting partnership. 

I think you are secretly lusting for those curvy, dangerous Sopras Nigel, whilst telling the world that you are in a long term faithful relationship.  You forget, we all knew you when you were proclaiming your lust for a younger partner, not so very long ago.  A leopard doesn't change its spots, you hussy! 

My partners are quite curvy enough, thank you very much!

A couple of Sopra links for those who wish to peruse :

http://www.the-ear.net/review-...standing-loudspeaker

http://hifilounge.co.uk/image/...HiFi-News_Sept15.pdf

Until I do a thorough work through on these beasts all indicators so far are very good, and I can certainly say the bass is extremely well balanced and driven, but thats only part of the story of course.

Hungryhalibut posted:

Those Sopras look a bit like too much fur coat and no knickers to me, with all those funny metal bits and curvy corners - rather like a Brabantia pedal bin. After a few years struggling to form a long term relationship I happened upon my new partners by chance, following an inadvertent tip off on the forum that they were looking for a new lease of life. There are a few of them around though they are very rare, but might be worth looking out. They are quite shy and like to stick to the walls, which in a modest room can only be a good thing. I have a feeling that they will be better at communication than the Sopras, which is always the basis of a lasting partnership. 

What's not to like about this iconic design?  I have a stereo pair (recycling and landfill):