Focal 1008BE vs Sopra 1

FWIW - I've heard the 1008be's through my system (at the time Olive 52/SC/250) and they were enormous fun - they were quite musical and "boogied".  I've not heard the Sopra 1 but I have heard 250 level electronics trying to drive Focal Utopia Diablos and failing miserably.  I've no idea to what extent the Sopra shares the Diablo heritage but there's my ten cents for you.

Thanks Bluedog.

I have read about your 1008 experience on the forum and found that interesting. In fact, worth every ten cent  I have not seen any negative responses about them.

S

bluedog posted:

FWIW - I've heard the 1008be's through my system (at the time Olive 52/SC/250) and they were enormous fun - they were quite musical and "boogied".  I've not heard the Sopra 1 but I have heard 250 level electronics trying to drive Focal Utopia Diablos and failing miserably.  I've no idea to what extent the Sopra shares the Diablo heritage but there's my ten cents for you.

I've very recently heard Sopra 1s being driven by a 250 and it was an excellent match.  The Sopra 1s were very impressive - articulate, detailed, fast and airy, though ultimately lacking the bottom-end oomph that I'm used to.  I've heard 1007be's some years back and liked them but I'd say the Sopra 1s are a big step up, as they should be for the price.    

I agree, the Sopra 1 is very impressive indeed. But I don't want impressive, I want enjoyable music, not have my ears assaulted. 

Now, now, Nigel. We all know that speakers are very subjective and Focal's characteristics won't please everyone but the OP did ask about two Focal speakers.   

Hungryhalibut posted:

I agree, the Sopra 1 is very impressive indeed. But I don't want impressive, I want enjoyable music, not have my ears assaulted. 

Have you actually heard the Sopras ?

Of course - how could I possibly express an opinion on their sound unless I had? I've only heard the Sopra 1 though. 

Hello,

Best for you is to try both, but if u stop at sopra n1 just take a listening session with diablo, i've listened to 272/250dr with focal diablo and wasn't miserably like bluedog said, maybe something was wrong in his/that system but miserably for sure 250 dr won't sound with diablo. I can agre that 300 will make more light but that's other discussion. 

Adi

It's sad to see how this forum is slipping.

24 Hours gone by and not one poster has suggested second hand SBLs as the only sensible option.

Thanks for the input about Focal, includes Nigel also  glad to hear that I can expect a difference (with cost in mind)

My current room and coming room for that sake, will not give justice to floorstanders, at least not big ones. Aria 926 are almost to big. I will audition Sopra 1 in the room to see how they work.

No speakers are perfect. So far I have found Focal to cover my house sound. Some call them glossy and maybe a bit so, but in my view the open, insightsful, clear and fresh sound with no listening fatigue (at least so far) weighs up for that. They work very well at low volume as well.From the speakers I have owned, none have worked as well as Focal from the very beginning. They are also predictable about placement.

Nigel`s comment on "impressive vs assault", each to their own. I have a pair of Aria 906 also and I enjoy them very much, even in a bigger room, and despite their obvious lack of deep bass, they grab my attension every time I use them.

S

Camlan posted:

It's sad to see how this forum is slipping.

24 Hours gone by and not one poster has suggested second hand SBLs as the only sensible option.

In fact, I was close buying a nice pair from 95, with new foam and bass drivers. Price a bit stiff, old and almost like buying an old LP12, you`re not sure what you get or what cost`s they will bring in the near future.

S

Camlan posted:

It's sad to see how this forum is slipping.

24 Hours gone by and not one poster has suggested second hand SBLs as the only sensible option.

As Squeeze fans know, 'The past has been bottled and labelled with love'

Chris

Hungryhalibut posted:

Of course - how could I possibly express an opinion on their sound unless I had? I've only heard the Sopra 1 though. 

To suggest your ears have been assaulted, is actually quite amusing.... 

It's the way I tell 'em. 

Hungryhalibut posted:

It's the way I tell 'em. 

wenger2015 posted:

Hungryhalibut posted:

It's the way I tell 'em. 

On a serious note....i have a friend in the policeforce who I have been in contact with, apparently as your ears have been assaulted, that is classified as a criminal offence,  so as we speak their is a warrant out for the arrest of the focal sopra1's in question.

The program Crimewatch, may be in touch with you regarding a reconstruction of events that led up to this heinous crime....

Heres a review on the No2 and No3 Ive owned both but not the No1....

http://www.hifiplus.com/articl...pra-no3-loudspeaker/

I have never heard the 1008B, but have heard both the No.1 and No. 2.  I could easily live with either.  I look forward to hearing how you get along with the 1s.

MDS posted:

bluedog posted:

FWIW - I've heard the 1008be's through my system (at the time Olive 52/SC/250) and they were enormous fun - they were quite musical and "boogied".  I've not heard the Sopra 1 but I have heard 250 level electronics trying to drive Focal Utopia Diablos and failing miserably.  I've no idea to what extent the Sopra shares the Diablo heritage but there's my ten cents for you.

I've very recently heard Sopra 1s being driven by a 250 and it was an excellent match.  The Sopra 1s were very impressive - articulate, detailed, fast and airy, though ultimately lacking the bottom-end oomph that I'm used to.  I've heard 1007be's some years back and liked them but I'd say the Sopra 1s are a big step up, as they should be for the price.    

I went and listened to the same system, and thoroughly enjoyed it. A fast sub was used to inject some lower octaves. The room unsurprisingly wasn't as well loaded sans sub, but the system felt faster to me without; I always find using a sub an interesting step, and not altogether positive.

As much as I enjoyed the Sopras, and love the look in red, I did not return to my 1008be IIs and feel a lack. I won't attempt a compare and contrast as my main amps are EAR.

As always I think that you need to do a home demo. It could be that the lack of lower bass is a deal breaker for you. My 1008s replaced Living Voice speakers which are specified lower, and loaded my room more, but the Focals are fast, lithe and PLAY the bass in a far more tuneful and less one note way.

HH:

I have been doing experiments and changes over the last few months and could cheerfully have interfaced my Focals with the pavement a few weeks ago. They are VERY revealing of what is happening in front of them. When things are right they are just superb, otherwise they can be PAINFUL; especially IME if your poison of choice is Rock & Pop.

M

Adi Stefan posted:

Hello,

Best for you is to try both, but if u stop at sopra n1 just take a listening session with diablo, i've listened to 272/250dr with focal diablo and wasn't miserably like bluedog said, maybe something was wrong in his/that system but miserably for sure 250 dr won't sound with diablo. I can agre that 300 will make more light but that's other discussion. 

Adi

Adi

My demo was pre DR and was conducted by one of the most respected Naim dealers in this part of the UK; it was completely underwhelming. If your experience was  better then perhaps that says something about the 250DR.  FWiW the dealer was unsurprised at my impressions and said that even with their 500 (also pre DR) they were disappointed at the performance when it was partnered with the Diablo. All a little academic really because we now have DR and Sopras!

I recently briefly auditioned Sopra 1s on the end of NDAC/555 Non DR/552/300DR (not sure what was digitally feeding the NDAC) and it sounded superb. And so it should of course.

I have never heard the 1008BEs so have no idea how they compare to the Sopras.

Hungryhalibut posted:

I agree, the Sopra 1 is very impressive indeed. But I don't want impressive, I want enjoyable music, not have my ears assaulted. 

Yes to be the Sopra is an impressive speaker - but I have yet to hear it sound very natural and transparent - I am not sure I could live with it in the long term - but then I am more an ATC man - and they are very different to the Sopras - in my experience 

The Sopra 1s sounded exceptionally natural and transparent when I heard them but if it takes a top end Naim system to do this then they are unaffordable in a way due to the investment needed behind them. I would need to hear them being driven by a well-sorted mid-Classic system first to draw that conclusion however. I have heard the Sopra 2s sounding superb in such a system so I suspect the No.1s should work well too.

Jury is out as far as I am concerned.

nigelb posted:

The Sopra 1s sounded exceptionally natural and transparent when I heard them but if it takes a top end Naim system to do this then they are unaffordable in a way due to the investment needed behind them. I would need to hear them being driven by a well-sorted mid-Classic system first to draw that conclusion however.

My dealer loves them with N272 and NAP250DR. I fully realise this is not what the OP is asking for but it seems broadly relevant.

C.

nigelb posted:

The Sopra 1s sounded exceptionally natural and transparent when I heard them but if it takes a top end Naim system to do this then they are unaffordable in a way due to the investment needed behind them. I would need to hear them being driven by a well-sorted mid-Classic system first to draw that conclusion however. I have heard the Sopra 2s sounding superb in such a system so I suspect the No.1s should work well too.

Jury is out as far as I am concerned.

sorry I should have been clearer - it has been the Sopra 1 I have heard driven by various Naim and non Naim systems - they certainly have a distinctive presentation that remains with Naim and non Naim alike - but i can understand how one might like its character.