High End Munich

According the naim twitter account there is going to be a new a Focal speaker demonstrated with the 500 series.

Ah yes  - the new Sopravator range 

Presumably this - the Sopra No. 3.

While I am not a B&W fan, the new 800 will also be presented.

Perhaps they can compete on weight. The Sopra 3 is a mere 70kg, while the 800D3 is a real porker at 96kg. 

Hungryhalibut posted:

Perhaps they can compete on weight. The Sopra 3 is a mere 70kg, while the 800D3 is a real porker at 96kg. 

I neither like the Focals.....

PMC announced the Twenty5 series. It looks like it will replace the original Twenty series launched some years back ?

Dynaudio has a new Contour line. 

engjoo posted:

PMC announced the Twenty5 series. It looks like it will replace the original Twenty series launched some years back ?

Look like an interesting proposition 

They definitely look 'meaner' than the predecessors. 

As suggested above, Focal No.3 on the end of NAC 552/NAP 500 DR with NDS as source, sounding not at all bad. Was expecting them to be much bigger, but only marginally taller than No.2 despite 35% bigger by volume, and a new internal layout to increase the internal space 'seen' by the bass drivers.

New B&Ws being shown, and again not that much bigger than 802 D3 despite bigger bass drivers (like the Focal) and enhanced bass driver tech. But not at the show: the company isn't exhibiting at the MOC, but has an offboard demo in Munich itself, but I think just for dealers/distributors/press.

spurrier sucks posted:

Dynaudio has a new Contour line. 

More info on New Contour:

Moderated Post: Links removed.  Please don't post unauthorised commercial links in the Hifi Corner.  Thanks. 

Bert Schurink posted:

While I am not a B&W fan, the new 800 will also be presented.

It will be interesting to see if they shed light on their new direction, since B&W this week was sold to a USA startup 'Eva Automation'

Hungryhalibut posted:

Perhaps they can compete on weight. The Sopra 3 is a mere 70kg, while the 800D3 is a real porker at 96kg. 

And the Sopra is playing catch up by offering matching centre, surround and sub woofer too, who said 5.1 is dead ? :-)

Is it catch-up or hide-out? 

Chag -

Andrew Everard posted:

As suggested above, Focal No.3 on the end of NAC 552/NAP 500 DR with NDS as source, sounding not at all bad. Was expecting them to be much bigger, but only marginally taller than No.2 despite 35% bigger by volume, and a new internal layout to increase the internal space 'seen' by the bass drivers.

New B&Ws being shown, and again not that much bigger than 802 D3 despite bigger bass drivers (like the Focal) and enhanced bass driver tech. But not at the show: the company isn't exhibiting at the MOC, but has an offboard demo in Munich itself, but I think just for dealers/distributors/press.

Hi guys,

According to the info. on Focal's website the volume of the Sopra No. 3's bass enclosure's are nearly 60% larger than that of the Sopra No. 2. The Sopra No. 3's bass woofers are only 1.25" larger(8.25") than those of the Sopra No. 2(7"). The Sopra No. 3's are also claimed to be 0.5db more sensitive - 91.5dB against 91dB(Although i'd take Focal's sensitivity figures with the proverbial pinch of salt, as the Sopra No. 2 was measured at closer to 88.5dB). And the difference in their low frequency points is only 2db - 26dB against 28dB(at -6dB).

How would one expect this extra cabinet volume, incremental increase in bass driver size, slightly augmented low frequency extension & (claimed)increase in sensitivity to affect their respective performance, particularly regarding their potential bass replay?

Regards.

Bobby.

Bobby72 posted:

According to the info. on Focal's website the volume of the Sopra No. 3's bass enclosure's are nearly 60% larger than that of the Sopra No. 2

External total volume +35%, internal 'bass-space' volume 60% bigger.

Thanks for the clarification Andrew.

Have been impressed during the short time i had to listen to the Sopra No. 2's.

With a relatively modest increase in bass-driver size, (claimed)sensitivity & size of its internal bass enclosure what do you expect these increased dimensions & refinements will potentially impart to the No. 3's bass performance compared to that of the Sopra No. 2's?

Regards & thanks.

Bobby.

A change of nomenclature for Focal here.  For a while now the Electra range has indicated the number of bass units  i.e. 1008, 1028, 1038 has none, two and three respectively.  The Sopra 3 looks very similar to the 2 and only a little bit bigger.   

Mayor West posted:

engjoo posted:

PMC announced the Twenty5 series. It looks like it will replace the original Twenty series launched some years back ?

Look like an interesting proposition 

They definitely look 'meaner' than the predecessors. 

New 25 series have only a pair of binding posts. That is a good decision. 

engjoo posted:

PMC announced the Twenty5 series. It looks like it will replace the original Twenty series launched some years back ?

Nope, twenty5 will sit above the existing twenty series, uses new Laminair flow-control on the exit of the ATL, developed by designer Oliver Thomas (son of founder Pete) based on experience he gained when working for Red Bull Racing.

Not yet clear whether this means the speakers suck themselves down harder to the floor the louder you play them.

Andrew Everard posted:

Nope, twenty5 will sit above the existing twenty series, uses new Laminair flow-control on the exit of the ATL, developed by designer Oliver Thomas (son of founder Pete) based on experience he gained when working for Red Bull Racing.

Not yet clear whether this means the speakers suck themselves down harder to the floor the louder you play them.

Perhaps the Laminair makes the air flow more smooooothly, making the music do the same.

Surely this is more than a textured transmission line exit cover...

Foot tapper posted:

Perhaps the Laminair makes the air flow more smooooothly, making the music do the same.

Surely this is more than a textured transmission line exit cover...

Looks far to being a "real" laminarisator for airstreams flows...

What exactly was learned from the circus of F1 it seems more clear now!

Marketing!

From the PMC site :

" With the launch of the twenty5 series, audio performance has been taken to the next level with the addition of the Laminair aerodynamic vent. Head of Design Oliver Thomas applied aerodynamic principles he had discovered in his previous employment in Formula One to ATL, creating an even smoother, laminar airflow at the exit from the transmission line. ATL designs involve air moving at high speeds and under pressure, and Oliver showed that reducing turbulence and drag at the ATL vent reduces resistance, increases efficiency, eliminates air noise and provides bass with supreme timing and the ultimate dynamic range.

The combination of ATL and Laminair takes audio quality to unparalleled new heights:

Faster, cleaner bass and higher-definition sound throughout
Turbulence is eliminated, increasing the efficiency of the ATL
Removes air noise – only the music remains
Higher maximum output and bass with supreme timing and dynamics "

So was there an issue with timing before? I also wonder how this range/approach compares with the dual bass driver arrangement in the Fact series?

Jude

Jude2012 posted:

From the PMC site :

" With the launch of the twenty5 series, audio performance has been taken to the next level with the addition of the Laminair aerodynamic vent. Head of Design Oliver Thomas applied aerodynamic principles he had discovered in his previous employment in Formula One to ATL, creating an even smoother, laminar airflow at the exit from the transmission line. ATL designs involve air moving at high speeds and under pressure, and Oliver showed that reducing turbulence and drag at the ATL vent reduces resistance, increases efficiency, eliminates air noise and provides bass with supreme timing and the ultimate dynamic range.

The combination of ATL and Laminair takes audio quality to unparalleled new heights:

Faster, cleaner bass and higher-definition sound throughout
Turbulence is eliminated, increasing the efficiency of the ATL
Removes air noise – only the music remains
Higher maximum output and bass with supreme timing and dynamics "

So was there an issue with timing before? I also wonder how this range/approach compares with the dual bass driver arrangement in the Fact series?

Jude

Interesting that they have completely dropped the bi-wire binding posts in favor of single inputs. Nice and sensible.