sopra or Wilson Audio

I've heard both (So2 and Sabrina), and both are very good speakers. 

You just have to look at them and you can imagine how different their sound would be!  The Focal reaches higher and lower and has a lot of grip! The Wilson may capture the listener's attention but i think in the long run the Sopra has wider appeal.  Though i believe one is better than the other, i think informed people should trust their ears. 

BTW I've heard So3 on NAP300 too and that was a killer combo!

Ah, now there's a conundrum.  

The largest influences will probably the a) personal preference and b) the room.

However, I do hope that some absolutist views will be expressed soon though!

FT

I've heard the Wilson Sabrinas on of all things, a SuperUnity.  They sounded fantastic, but more than I am able to spend to mate with my 272 and 250DR.  Alas, I've not heard Focal so cannot offer any comparisons.

Every time I hear Wilson's I feel like I'm watching a fireworks display.  Lot's of sizzle, frequencies zipping all over the place.... not much music.  I'd suggest the Kudos Titan or the new 707 as a much more musical alternative.  

I have heard Wilsons and they sounded spectacular but I did not reach for my wallet.  I would like to hear the Sopra or other Focals.   In that price range, in the US, I would seek out the Rockport and the Magico.   I have a knowledgeable friend who was over the top on the Rockport, but the Magico sounded better to me.  Both at an exalted $20,000+ price point.  The Focal may be competitive in that league.

So far I have heard the Wilson Audios and Focals in multiple shows. I always found that the Wilson Audios are in a special league. While I never heard them paired with Naim electronics.

For reasonable prices, I suggest the new Canton Reference K series. Even the best ones, the 1 K, are not more expensive than smaller Wilsons. They are very well built, look even costlier, have special custom drivers and the upper models are really, really something. Their presentation is very balanced, have deep and controlled bass, a neutral voice. I strongly suggest an audition.

Plus, they are German, and say what you want, I look at them and I don't see Trump's or Le Pen's face.

(No intention of offending anyone; and Martin Schulz was one of Berlusconi's great enemies. So, vive l'Allemand!)

Bert Schurink posted:

So far I have heard the Wilson Audios and Focals in multiple shows. I always found that the Wilson Audios are in a special league. While I never heard them paired with Naim electronics.

Agree with Bert. Only heard these in the not-ideal setting of  Hi-Fi shows, but my impression is that the Wilsons are in a much higher league to the Focals. The latter just weren't my cup of tea. 

However, recently heard some PMC MB2i's ............................ Gordon Bennett !!!!!!!!  The biz 

The Focal sopra speakers are more like a beefed up Electra series, rather than a Utopia-lite.  The Utopia range are more uncompromising and demand more of an uncompromising system to bring the best out of them - like Wilson speakers.

Sopras have been designed and built to sound so they will bring out the best of high quality but not so uncompromising situations, so could have more widespread appeal with a variety of systems. Different league but useful to know your onions from your shallots.  

I auditioned both the Sabrina and the Focal 2's.  My taste prefers the Sabrinas, your milage (and ears) may vary.  Listen to each an get a good sense of what you like.  I was sold on how the Sabrina sound right away, didn't need to compare and contrast much. Shockingly good sound with my Naim kit.

I had a demo of the Sopra II and Wilson Sabrinas last year amongst others. A search for "Speaker Shoot out" should find the thread. We used 500 series kit and NDS as the source. The Wilsons required quite a bit more juice from the NAP but were more musical if taht makes sense. The Sopras were more hifi and less well integrated. I didn't buy either in the end.

Dave

Still find myself at a loss to understand how anyone, regardless of sound quality, could bear to have in their lounge / man cave / listening room speakers that resemble, to these eyes, a cheap and nasty Dr Who 1960's monster or a baddy from Day of the Tentacles computer game!! I just could not take either of these seriously. 'Chacon à son goût' and all of that. I'm sure many find my choice of ProAcs very traditional, dull and boring. Not criticising, just my personal observation and gentle fun.

Vive la différence!

I saw and heard the Wilson Sabrinas at KJ West One a couple of weeks back and I was completely smitten with them. 

It could of course have been the Vertere Magic or possibly even the MacIntosh 8000 (nah, surely not) but I loved the sound and the looks of the speakers, which I had previously thought looked faintly ridiculous, but they are gorgeous in sound, looks and finish. 

Touraj was downstairs showing off his SG1 through Naim Statements and I think Magico speakers, which by the power of negative thinking, didn't really get through to me. 

Sabrina's with a 272- 300DR remains one of my all-time favorite kit!