272/250DR- XPSDR or Focal Sopra 2

Posted by: Stover on 25 November 2016

I use 272/250DR with Focal Aria 926 and they are really spot on to me. I have some cash to spend and wonder if or where I should put them. In the end it`s me that have to decide if to spend the money, but interested in any experiences.

I could finish the electronics by adding an XPSDR or aim for a demo pair of Sopra 2. I don`t want to do both, at least not now. If I choose the Sopra way, will the lack of the XPSDR get through? If I go XPSDR, will the Aria justify the electronics? I assume XPSDR will benefit the use of the Focal Elear headphones I have ordered as well.

Aria 926 are great speakers and except from that there`s no Aria cabinetfinish that suit our Living room, I can live happily with them. Sopra 2 in Walnut suit us nicely. If so, I suspect I can live without the xps as well, Aria is not that expensive speaker, if you understand what I mean, (balance)?

So, XPSDR or Sopra 2 or keep as it is? I have the chance to demo the speakers, I`m quite sure they will fit the room at 45sqm + 16sqm.

I have tried a lot of speakers (Naim, Kudos, MA, AV, B&W, Spendor) and so far Focal`s make me smile. They are to me so fresh, open, insightsful and sparkling, without being fatiguing, even if our LR is quite lively. I have no intensions starting over with alternative speakers again. I really wonder if those Focal negatives have really heard them 

Thanks

S

Posted on: 25 November 2016 by AndrewG

But Sopra 2's are so big and ugly in my view (referred to as a 'behemoth' recently by one esteemed contributor here)! But beauty is in the eye of the beholder, so each to his own. Personally I favour source first, so would go with the XPS DR. I also believe in system balance and think that the power supply would deliver more enjoyment through your existing speakers, so perhaps no need to change the speakers until the itch becomes unbearable. 

Posted on: 25 November 2016 by hungryhalibut

'Behemoth'? Now who could have said such an unkind thing?

Posted on: 25 November 2016 by wenger2015

I think their is some confusion between Behemoth and Esteemed? ...

Posted on: 25 November 2016 by Mike-B
wenger2015 posted:

I think their is some confusion between Behemoth and Esteemed? ...

Posted on: 25 November 2016 by Adam Zielinski

Behemoth - a very good Polish black metal band. Not my genre by any means. Still - very good and imfluential musicians.

Posted on: 25 November 2016 by Adam Zielinski
wenger2015 posted:

I think their is some confusion between Behemoth and Esteemed? ...

An esteemed behemoth?

Posted on: 25 November 2016 by wenger2015
Adam Zielinski posted:
wenger2015 posted:

I think their is some confusion between Behemoth and Esteemed? ...

An esteemed behemoth?

Brilliant...