a Naim/Focal question for Richard Dane

Posted by: greekspec2 on 17 February 2017

I'm not sure if you can give me the most accurate answer but it's a shot.....I've been told that only the Sopra No3 was the only Focal speaker with 100% collaboration and design with Naim, and that the NAP-300DR was the amplifier used to voice them with and the Statement as a final listening is this 100% true or some what true?....I heard this from dealers to distributors here state side in the USA and if possible get some insight from Naim....please don't shoot the messenger best regards

Posted on: 17 February 2017 by Richard Dane

Greekspec, I'm afraid I 'm unable to answer that.  Probably a question best posed to Naim or Focal.  When I last discussed Focal speakers with some of the Naim sales guys last month I gathered that the latest Sopra range have been developed by Focal using Naim electronics. 

Posted on: 17 February 2017 by Emre

no it is sopra 2

 

Posted on: 17 February 2017 by Chag...

So do ProAc and quite a few other manufacturers. :]

Chag -

Posted on: 17 February 2017 by The Strat (Fender)

The Sopras were the first developed after the collaboration and therefore I guess we can assume were voiced at least in part for Naim. 

Posted on: 17 February 2017 by ken c

One of my pair of NAP500s that i bought used from Signals, apparently, had been at Focal being used, i guess, to develop their speakers -- though of course i don't know this for a fact.

enjoy

ken

Posted on: 17 February 2017 by greekspec2

understand I'm just going off from what I've been told from my Dist/dealer that only the Sopra 3 was fully voiced with Naim and I can't seem to get a straight answer on which amplifier was used except the Intel I previously posted....I will reach out to Focal and maybe Naim...thanks for the reply

Posted on: 17 February 2017 by The Strat (Fender)

Greekspec - although I wouldn't choose the Sopras for myself they are the first Focal speaker (1, 2 and 3) I've heard that to these ears really synergize with Naim.  

Posted on: 17 February 2017 by Stenberg

During the first presentation of Sopra in Paris, I personally talked with Gérard Chrétien, who told me that he had used NAP100 & NAP300 at home during the listening for Sopra No1 and No2 - he wanted the speakers to be able to work with both amplifiers - at that time the Sopra No3 was not in the loop yet, so do not know about them.

Posted on: 17 February 2017 by joerand

Do all of you really think a manufacturer is shortsighted enough to design a speaker based on a single brand of amplifier?

"My speakers were voiced with Naim" ergo they work in my room. Pfff!

Any chance there's a Devialet amp in the Focal development room?

Posted on: 17 February 2017 by Simon-in-Suffolk

And in my no doubt limited experience, I have found the Sopra 1 speaker far more sensitive to the room it's playing in as opposed to the amp driving it whether it be Naim or non Naim. Personally I find the Sopra 1 sound a little 'thick' and tonally dense. and I have even noted that in the Naim listening demonstration room at Salisbury. I'm sure many find that type of sound attractive, it's just not my cup of personal tea

Posted on: 19 February 2017 by greekspec2
Stenberg posted:

During the first presentation of Sopra in Paris, I personally talked with Gérard Chrétien, who told me that he had used NAP100 & NAP300 at home during the listening for Sopra No1 and No2 - he wanted the speakers to be able to work with both amplifiers - at that time the Sopra No3 was not in the loop yet, so do not know about them.

It would be informative to know which amplifier was used on each Sopra series