Focal 1008BE vs Sopra 1

This is an interesting thread for me as I have just placed an order for some Sopra 1's after having them on a home demo for a few days.
I obviously like them, although I have not heard them powered by Naim, (after about nine happy years with a 112x and nap150x I switched to Classe last Spring).
I am no expert in these things, but they sounded very natural to me; I mainly listen to classical music and things seem to be getting much closer to what I hear at Symphony Hall Birmingham, which can't be bad.
I also listen to jazz & rock & again very much liked what I heard.
They also seemed quite easy to drive, the minimum recommended power is only 25 watts, so just about any Naim amp will drive them.

Morton posted:

I am no expert in these things, but they sounded very natural to me; I mainly listen to classical music and things seem to be getting much closer to what I hear at Symphony Hall Birmingham, which can't be bad.
I also listen to jazz & rock & again very much liked what I heard.

And that sums it up nicely. We all like different things and you have made the right choice for you, your room and system. Enjoy them 

Christopher_M posted:

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.

I've heard them on the back of a 250DR and a 300DR and they were superb.  I was especially impressed with how well the 250DR worked with them.

I've had my sopra2's hooked up to both the 250dr and 300dr, the 250dr was more then up to the task, if it hadn't been for a dealer offer I couldn't refuse I would have happily stayed with the 250dr, absolutely superb ...

Sopra 1 Dogato Walnut received today (XPSDR on it`s way, so still only 272/250DR) I got to assemble them and just put them there, on the floor, no measuring at all, no leveling and such. A brief listen and my first though was, how can I possibly return them? I need some days of placement, run them in and a bit of ear adjustment.

First impression, they are transparent, they are dimensional, they do bass (in my room), they are natural, so far they are  wonderful. 

S

Wonderful. Let's hope they work out for you. 

So my comments may be a little (just a little) off topic. About a year ago, I had the occasion to listen to the Sopra 1 at my local distributor here in Singapore. I have to say that when I first listened to it, it was very underwhelming. Bass was not tight and it just sounded terrible. Given that it was not really run in at the time I heard it but even discounting that, I just didn't think much of it at the time. Eventually, I went with the Diablos to replace my aging S400s. So fast forward to Jan 2017, I happened to be at the shop again and this time, hearing the Sopra (driven by a  250/282), it was sublime. It was so much more refined and laid back, tight controlled base and the mids were amazing (guess after running in it really sang). I was so enthralled that I considered trading in my Diablos for the Sopra 1. The Diablos are quite forward and not as laid back as the Sopras. They are both good in the own right and I just wonder if I should get the Sopras.  

Seems like a confirmation on that this is not straight forward at all. 

It`s a pity I cannot audition 1008 at home and only time will tell if this is the impulsive muscle talking or if it`s really that good.

Thanks for your input everybody, I read them all

Simon-in-Suffolk posted:

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 

I guess I should qualify.. my latest audition of the Sopra 1 was at the Naim factory in one of their listening demo rooms.. now this is a treated room so the speaker might sound different here from the typical home environment... however it certainly sounded full bodies and dynamic, but to my tastes the top end was not quite as open as I like, and there was a hint  of congestion on certain vocals, especially upper registers of female vocals. Of course that could have been the electronics, but he better the electronics the more the top end opened out, and then this slight congestion became more apparent which to me gave it its character.. however this is nit picking and I am a bit OCD with speakers. All in all they are a fine sounding speaker that will probably work well in many mid size or even large domestic rooms.

Simon-in-Suffolk posted:

 but to my tastes the top end was not quite as open as I like, and there was a hint  of congestion on certain vocals, especially upper registers of female vocals. Of course that could have been the electronics,

Maybe your ears are sensitive to the crossover point? I often wonder at times if I'm not hearing the same phenomenon. As our hearing ages, might we become more keenly sensitive within the ranges we hear best? Congestion would be the same label I'd apply to many speakers I've heard for the range you identified.

Stover posted:

Sopra 1 Dogato Walnut received today (XPSDR on it`s way, so still only 272/250DR) I got to assemble them and just put them there, on the floor, no measuring at all, no leveling and such. A brief listen and my first though was, how can I possibly return them? I need some days of placement, run them in and a bit of ear adjustment.

First impression, they are transparent, they are dimensional, they do bass (in my room), they are natural, so far they are  wonderful. 

S

Good news, Stover. Keep us posted.

Joerand, indeed our ears, or I actually I suspect our brain, are most sensitive to the mid frequencies where most of the communication in our speech is contained - and this is where the crossovers in speakers usually lie within... so I think we are sensitive to crossover filters and the interaction between speakers around this point causing distortion. I wonder if slight congestion is something else though or related to this... certainly I know the loudspeaker is one of the hardest bits to get right for you in audio replay especially if you like immersive listens - it is a very personal thing... and I think you can also get used to or hooked on a certain type of loudspeaker performance as well.  

Edit: Stover - sounds like you are having fun - enjoy getting to love your new toys 

Simon-in-Suffolk posted:

I guess I should qualify.. my latest audition of the Sopra 1 was at the Naim factory in one of their listening demo rooms.. now this is a treated room so the speaker might sound different here from the typical home environment... however it certainly sounded full bodies and dynamic, but to my tastes the top end was not quite as open as I like, and there was a hint  of congestion on certain vocals, especially upper registers of female vocals. Of course that could have been the electronics, but he better the electronics the more the top end opened out, and then this slight congestion became more apparent which to me gave it its character.. however this is nit picking and I am a bit OCD with speakers. All in all they are a fine sounding speaker that will probably work well in many mid size or even large domestic rooms.

Heard the Sopra 2 speakers at the end of a Statement 500DR in that listening room on Tuesday. Using Tidal as a source the sound was quite abysmal; splashy, congested and just wrong wrong wrong. Using an HDX (I am told) as a source the sound was very detailed and open. Was Tidal the cause of your woes?

This reply, I know is totally unhelpful to the OP, but I am a bit of a fan of Focal speakers having run Micro Utopia Be speakers for many many years.

Nick from Suffolk posted:

Simon-in-Suffolk posted:

I guess I should qualify.. my latest audition of the Sopra 1 was at the Naim factory in one of their listening demo rooms.. now this is a treated room so the speaker might sound different here from the typical home environment... however it certainly sounded full bodies and dynamic, but to my tastes the top end was not quite as open as I like, and there was a hint  of congestion on certain vocals, especially upper registers of female vocals. Of course that could have been the electronics, but he better the electronics the more the top end opened out, and then this slight congestion became more apparent which to me gave it its character.. however this is nit picking and I am a bit OCD with speakers. All in all they are a fine sounding speaker that will probably work well in many mid size or even large domestic rooms.

Heard the Sopra 2 speakers at the end of a Statement 500DR in that listening room on Tuesday. Using Tidal as a source the sound was quite abysmal; splashy, congested and just wrong wrong wrong. Using an HDX (I am told) as a source the sound was very detailed and open. Was Tidal the cause of your woes?

This reply, I know is totally unhelpful to the OP, but I am a bit of a fan of Focal speakers having run Micro Utopia Be speakers for many many years.

Nick, I heard the same system in the same room (with the same source I think) as you and S-i-S and have to agree with your analysis. So I certainly wouldn't judge the Sopra 1s or 2s on auditioning in that environment and with that source.

If you put into consideration that more than a few people in here don`t like Focal speakers with Naim electronics, I`m not surprised on the inputs given. Very mixed and that`s no problem of course.

Earlier I had Kudos Titans, but in another and not so successful room/ environment. No 1 already play piano better than Titans ever did, very sweet and natural sounding. That says probably nothing or at least very little about the speakers, I don`t know, but a lot about environment, setup and all that stuff in my humble view.

No 1, if not placed optimally, they may sound as Simon say, been there already today. In my environment, they need some space and a bit more than I hoped for so far. I have a two week audition to come, I will judge then.

S

When I heard them they were only driven by a little Atom, yet managed to deliver a large and dynamic sound. But I found them very bright - much brighter than my own speakers. Maybe that is their shortcoming - simply that they are not my speakers, which I'm somewhat habituated to.

They were very good playing White Stripes, very exciting. But I found that they made 'non exciting' music a bit too exciting, if that makes sense, sort of adding an impressiveness that shouldn't be there. Very classically hi-fi if you like, the sort of thing that makes people say 'great treble' or 'great bass'. They might be very different in my room on my system, but that wouldn't be an option as they are really big: I thought the shiny black stands were absolutely massive, and as they need space around them they'd be almost on top of me. But in a large room with modern furnishings, where they can be positioned in free space, I can see their appeal, in a shiny sort of way. 

I must add that my listening experience is in progress, at the moment they work very well 55cm from back wall to front woofer. The ceiling in my room, the left part of it fall 45 degrees down to 50cm from the floor. It makes the room hard to handle and No 1 may not be suited/ justified.

I may start another thread when I have found my speakers. So far this is an audition only. Thanks again to those that gave insight to 1008 vs Supra 1.

S

During the last week, Supra No 1 have changed dramatically due to run in. They do wonderful music in my room now, with my setup, insight, clarity and articulation. Very natural as well, though they have it`s signature that might not please everyone. I wan`t to find if this is really my house sound and together with they`re price tag I want to listen to alternatives. They`re going back for now, but still highly recommended.

S

That's interesting - you seemed very happy with them initially. They are a lot of money though and you need to be completely convinced if you are to buy them. Are you thinking of trying the 1008s? Or maybe something completely different. As you had Kudos before, maybe the S10 would be worth trying. Choosing speakers is rarely easy. 

Not easy at all HH. 1008, I have to buy them so no audition. I need to compare to others that`s  interesting and "available", that said, it may be Sopra in the end. Audition generate shipping anyway so it takes time.

S

I heard the Sopra 1's at Naim just before Christmas and found much to like about them.  Unlike HH I didn't find them too bright, so maybe the treated room at Naim was helping.  They were pulled out a long way from the back wall, something most people would find difficult to accommodate.  I heard with an Atom, 272/250 and a 500 series system fronted by an NDX/XPS2.

Whilst I enjoyed them, upon returning to my system and playing the same music I wouldn't swap my speakers (Kudos s20's) based on what I had heard.  My system seemed to have so much more energy and drive.

So whilst enjoyable, my conclusion is that there are better speakers available for less money.

What other options do you have to audition at home?

Richard

Richard- How could a speaker give more energy and drive than Sopra?  Again, that`s what make speaker choice and evaluation so difficult, they act so different based on environment or occasions. I don`t find them bright, but very very open and "there" ...if that makes sense and with energy and drive I have never experienced before.

Kudos S20 coming in for audition. There`s exciting designs to come from Kudos and maybe I should hold the horses a bit. I hoped I could audition  Proac D20/ 30R also, but the distributor won`t send they`re demo pair. Disappointing I would say, can I buy Proac blind?

Stover posted:

Richard- How could a speaker give more energy and drive than Sopra?  Again, that`s what make speaker choice and evaluation so difficult, they act so different based on environment or occasions. I don`t find them bright, but very very open and "there" ...if that makes sense and with energy and drive I have never experienced before.

Kudos S20 coming in for audition. There`s exciting designs to come from Kudos and maybe I should hold the horses a bit. I hoped I could audition  Proac D20/ 30R also, but the distributor won`t send they`re demo pair. Disappointing I would say, can I buy Proac blind?

I love my ProAc D20s, but would never recommend buying any speaker without auditioning first!!

I tend to agree with Richard,  or at least I think I understand where he's coming from.  I was with him at Naim & my impression of the Sopra-1's was much the same,  but maybe from a different angle.   As Richard says,  they were located in a large room & far more distant from the rear wall than would be normal.    They were very nice & well balanced,  but a bit soft, maybe not the dynamics I'm used to.      At first they were very impressive on the Atom;  I was amazed how good on such a small amp, however I took that at the time as indicative of the amps ability with such a speaker rather than the ability of the speakers.   But as we went up through 250 & 500 amps, I was less impressed, same niceness & balance,  but hardly a huge improvement considering the amps.    Or maybe better said as I was expecting more.   When I got home I played one of the tracks we used - Diana Krall 'Live in Paris' - ahhh thanks, my ears did not deceive,  they probably lost the dynamics in the large room

I did not detect any brightness (per HH),  however I fully agree with him on ugly. the shape & colour(s) will not suit style & decor in my listening room.

Mike summarises it very well, we are thinking along the same lines.

I did feel that the music appeared when the 500 series system was used, but the differences were not as pronounced as I expected or hoped.  I could hear my wallet breathing a sigh of relief!

With preconceptions I was expecting an assault on the ears, as Focal speakers don't have universal favour on this forum but I found the Sopras sounded most pleasant but almost too nice and I wanted more.

I played the same Diana Krall track when I went home and went on to purchase the Charlie Haden and London Grammar albums and listening to these too I came to the same conclusion.

Richard