272/250DR- XPSDR or Focal Sopra 2

Wow tough choice. I really like what both do. The Focal Sopra 2 is a stunning speaker. The XPSDR is a brilliant bit of kit. I heard the setup you're thinking of at this years Bristol show. Obviously the choice is yours and ideally you'd want to demo both. They'll be arguments for and against each. For me though I'd take the Sopras. Yes they will set you back more cash, but they sound fantastic with or without the XPSDR on the front end! 

To my mind an XPS DR with a 272 is a no-brainer if you have the cash. I can't comment on your  speaker choices, as I haven't heard them, and even if I had, I'm not sure how useful my findings would be to you or anyone else, but I find it hard to imagine that anyone with a 272 wouldn't enjoy the substantial improvement an XPS brings.

Agree with Chris - I still subscribe to the 'source first' principle.

I would only go for the new speakers if you plan to get the XPSDR in the near future. The XPS effectively turns the 272 into something else altogether and raises it to a higher plane. Music becomes so much more real and involving. 

When I got my 272/250 I initially used it with PMC 20.23s. I hadn't intended to get new speakers, but after only two weeks I happened to spot the SL2s for sale. I then got the XPS two months later. The SL2 is a very revealing speaker and demonstrated clearly what the XPS adds. The Arias will not show the difference as much. 

So I guess my suggestion is to do both, or to do neither. 

I agree with HH. Speakers for Christmas, XPSDR for your birthday! 

I've had the Aria 926's , I upgraded to the electra 1028's, and subsequently upgraded again to the Sopra2's, also had the 250dr.

The only speakers that really got me excited were the Sopras,  absolutely magnificent in my humble opinion,  I smile everytime I go into my listening room.

I have only recently added an xpsdr, mainly because I have a dealer that is extremely accommodating regarding prices...and to good to miss deals....hence I've now just moved up to the 300dr.

If not for that I would have quite happily stayed with the 250dr and no xpsdr.

I completely get the source first thinking.... Which really makes sense but...

How does it sound with Sopra2's and no xpsdr?

Answer very very good.

if you add the xpsdr its a step up again as you would expect, which no doubt you may want to add at some point anyway.. 

So for me if it's a very good deal, go for the Sopras.... 

Easy decision: XPSDR + Sopra 1.  

All the musical joy that the XPSDR brings to proceedings, plus all the mid range emotional insight that Sopras bring to the party, without the installation concerns over bass boom that come with the Sopra 2.

272/XPSDR/250DR + Sopra 1 makes for an outstanding music player.

Hope this helps, FT

Wenger - the OP has a 272, which is a different situation to yours, where you are talking about adding an XPS to a CD player into a 282. Your advice is not therefore directly applicable. 

Hungryhalibut posted:

Wenger - the OP has a 272, which is a different situation to yours, where you are talking about adding an XPS to a CD player into a 282. Your advice is not therefore directly applicable. 

Just re-read the OP's question, yes your quite right. 

I must put new glasses on my Xmas list.

Hungryhalibut posted:

When I got my 272/250 I initially used it with PMC 20.23s. I hadn't intended to get new speakers, but after only two weeks I happened to spot the SL2s for sale. I then got the XPS two months later. The SL2 is a very revealing speaker and demonstrated clearly what the XPS adds. The Arias will not show the difference as much. 

I'm not entirely convinced by this argument, Nigel. When I listened to the 272, my 'humble' Kudos X2s were more than capable of showing up the benefits of adding an XPS. I'm not disputing that the better speakers would reveal more of those benefits, but if I had bought a 272, I would certainly have wanted that XPS.

Methinks if you get the speakers then you'll hanker after the XPS. However if you get the XPS it may improve your musical enjoyment enough with your current speakers (for now ).

I doubt you'll be disappointed whichever you go for, but you will want the other too. 

ChrisSU posted:

Hungryhalibut posted:

When I got my 272/250 I initially used it with PMC 20.23s. I hadn't intended to get new speakers, but after only two weeks I happened to spot the SL2s for sale. I then got the XPS two months later. The SL2 is a very revealing speaker and demonstrated clearly what the XPS adds. The Arias will not show the difference as much. 

I'm not entirely convinced by this argument, Nigel. When I listened to the 272, my 'humble' Kudos X2s were more than capable of showing up the benefits of adding an XPS. I'm not disputing that the better speakers would reveal more of those benefits, but if I had bought a 272, I would certainly have wanted that XPS.

You may be right, hence why I wrote 'as much' rather than 'at all'. The wider the window, the more important the source becomes. I stuck with 'get both, or get neither' but if it really is only one, the XPS makes more sense, though the speakers first brigade wouldn't agree. 

I don't think there is any doubt that either addition would bring about an improvement. IMHO I would say the choice that, makes more sense, would be entirely personal. 

Thanks all, you have touched into all my thoughts on the topic so far.

I have tried to downsize, find a setup fitting the Aria`s. Then a good s/h deal on almost new 272/250DR came up and I could not resist..... and was back on track again  

To be honest, I rejected the speakers some days ago, but obviously I had the need to rethink. I`m a source first fan and found the XPS to be prioritized, but during the years I have found system balance is also very important. That`s the reason for this topic actually.

I think "Reburner" have come closest to where I am right now, start with the no brainer XPSDR and see what comes out of that. When I have found what it brings, I can compare Aria to Sopra 2, or 1 for that sake. If I do it the other way, buy the Sopra`s first, the nagging thought on what XPS would bring would appear quite quickly I think.

Sopra 1, I also own the Aria 906 stand mount and I must say it`s a magical speaker, even if the lower end is not quite there. It does some things better than 926 imo. Still, if a floorstander can keep up with the clarity and insight from a good standmount and add some bass and sonority, I prefer that. That`s why 926 are used in my main system and Sopra 2 is on the list. They are both great.

S

That sounds very wise. If you subsequently audition alternative speakers, you'll get a better idea of how they will sound. 

Their really is a vast difference between Sopra2's and Aria, which you will clearly hear when the time comes .....but going source first is certainly a sensible way to move forward....  

There, my dear Wenger, there. 

Hungryhalibut posted:

There, my dear Wenger, there. 

I'm just off for a lie down, it's all to much.......

Went from 926 to Sopra 2 on my 272/250DR and still have no XPSDR as yet I will wait for that. I decided on speakers first, and no regrets.  

to make it a fair competition i would suggest a 555PSDR.

it changed 272/300DR added a clear and impact full bass for everything, with a detail that was not there before... every record every room you will hear a better music flowing...

 the music that you are into will have a the impact of sopra 2s , they have huge stage so if the recording has a stage then you fell the difference vs my old sonus cremona ms, but you dont feel the upgrade in a blue note recording...

also the space that you are using them it will impact on their effect....

my humble experience....  the symphonies are your choice of music sopra 2 is like a having a god seat in a concert...

Yes, there´s the other way around. I have no problems to understand that either, I`ll just have to find out. One may just spend the extra shipping cost and have a listen.

Since XPS power both streamer- and preamp, listening with headphones will benefit from it as well I guess?

i am not a great fun of 272 headphone amp..... creek, violectric, arcam headphone amps with a modest price tag are far better.... with hd800 even with Elear

Aren't the price tags of the two choices very different with the Sopra 2s being about three times the price of an XPS2DR? Even ex-dem the Sopra 2s aren't going come down that much.  

MDS posted:

Aren't the price tags of the two choices very different with the Sopra 2s being about three times the price of an XPS2DR? Even ex-dem the Sopra 2s aren't going come down that much.  

 

Sopra2's about £10k, XPSdr £3600 approx..... I'd definitely go for the Sopras