Focal Kanta 2

Hard to really tell if you liked the Kantas or not by some of your comments...I own Sopra 1s,and mine are also about 1.5 meters into the room.Huge detailed soundstage is how I would describe them too,and lots of foot tapping going on at my place.Having owned them now for about 4 months,I have no desire to look elsewhere.You think DR is good,try adding Superlumina full loom to them.

I love them, sorry to confuse.  What I wrote was what I found a little off setting other than that great. Running them in could change, this I’m unsure of. They just kill the s400 imo. Superlumina I have played with for a short while on a classic 500 system. Didn’t do much for me made things to polite. But whole knows I may drop my beacon   sandwich next time I get to play.

I heard the Kanta 2 yesterday - 272 but an SN2 (odd), anyway, i didn't think much of the 272 vs a Nova, but my key takeaway was the Kantas where the real star (wide sound stage, great extended bass, i felt the HF where a little dull) and probably not run in and that usually takes a good few weeks+.

The room was relatively small but the Kantas were nearly a metre from the rear wall.

Hi [@mention:44225913049030173] , I bought my Focal Kanta 2's a few months ago and enjoy every moment with them. See also here. They now accompany a system of 282/HCdr/250Dr/NDX with NACA5 and HiLine cabling. With the delivery the dealer installed them with limited toe-in and some 30cm of the back-wall. It sounded very well even though it took 4-6 weeks before they were truly run-in.

A friend recommended to have an independent expert doing a sound check and verify the exact speaker position. Because of the amount of money I had invested, I thought that was worth a try ....... in the end it became the biggest upgrade I have done in the last few years: we closed one of the bass-ports, the speaker came more into the room and slightly closer to each other, and there is now more toe-in. Everything bettered significantly. I am really glad and now have a sound quality that impresses me with every track I play. So I can definitely echo Sounsfaber's statement that placing is a thing to be careful on. 

A few weeks ago I replaced a Nordost interlink with a HiLine. I read the countless threads on HiLine's, but I am with the lucky ones, since the HiLine bettered everything (especially more detail) quite a lot. Yesterday I also replaced my LowRad powerblock with a PowerIgel.

Ah ... and this .. I decided to pre-order the NDX2 .. really looking forward to it even though I believe the price-increase (6100€ in BeNeLux) is a bit over the top.

Cheers

Iver

They look fantastic far better than my sopra 2s

Iver van de Zand posted:

Hi [@mention:44225913049030173] , I bought my Focal Kanta 2's a few months ago and enjoy every moment with them. See also here. They now accompany a system of 282/HCdr/250Dr/NDX with NACA5 and HiLine cabling. With the delivery the dealer installed them with limited toe-in and some 30cm of the back-wall. It sounded very well even though it took 4-6 weeks before they were truly run-in.

A friend recommended to have an independent expert doing a sound check and verify the exact speaker position. Because of the amount of money I had invested, I thought that was worth a try ....... in the end it became the biggest upgrade I have done in the last few years: we closed one of the bass-ports, the speaker came more into the room and slightly closer to each other, and there is now more toe-in. Everything bettered significantly. I am really glad and now have a sound quality that impresses me with every track I play. So I can definitely echo Sounsfaber's statement that placing is a thing to be careful on. 

A few weeks ago I replaced a Nordost interlink with a HiLine. I read the countless threads on HiLine's, but I am with the lucky ones, since the HiLine bettered everything (especially more detail) quite a lot. Yesterday I also replaced my LowRad powerblock with a PowerIgel.

Ah ... and this .. I decided to pre-order the NDX2 .. really looking forward to it even though I believe the price-increase (6100€ in BeNeLux) is a bit over the top.

Cheers

Iver

hi you mentioned closing one of the bass ports - what did you use to do this?

I really liked the kanta n2's except that in smaller spaces the rear port may have unwanted effects on the low end when placed too close to the wall (when space is an issue) - never tried sealing the rear bass ports yet so would like to find out more on how you managed to do this?

All the speakers I have owned with ports,usually come with a supplied foam plug.My Sopra 1s have basically a small slot at the rear of the speaker for a port...there was a foam plug supplied by Focal.

IVN_SG po

 

hi you mentioned closing one of the bass ports - what did you use to do this?

I really liked the kanta n2's except that in smaller spaces the rear port may have unwanted effects on the low end when placed too close to the wall (when space is an issue) - never tried sealing the rear bass ports yet so would like to find out more on how you managed to do this?

Usually port bungs are supplied with the speakers, but if not, and your ports are round, you can measure the diameter of the port and order a pipe stopper from a plumbing supplies or DIY shop. These make an airtight seal of the port, which may or may not be the best option as making the box sealed can change the behaviour of the driver. Another option is to buy some wool felt and roll it up to fit the port nicely. This will attenuate the port output without sealing the box airtight.

Worth testing both methods for only a few dollars/quid.

Hi IVN_SG,

don’t laugh, but I used two old t-shirts ... they do a super good job closing the back bass-port.

iver

Be careful making your own port bungs,  traditionally mnftr supplied bungs are open cell foam (semi restrictive) or foam reflex tube length x diameter reducers.  A total block of a single port or one or other of twin ports will most likely screw with the cabinet/port tuning,  it might work OK, but probably not  

Focals come with a foam bung, best to use that or ask your dealer why it is missing.

If you are too anxious to get your new speakers set up,you might not check every corner of the box,sometimes they hide the port plugs in with the manual,or a hidden compartment.

Well I searched and re-searched in every corner of the focal boxes, but no port plugs. Will call the dealer. Hat are they usually made off, foam ? Iver

Yes,basically a porous type of foam.

i have unboxed quite a few kanta n2's and have never seen the foam plugs, i am not aware that they come included in the package?  Sopra n1 yes but kanta n2 no

How do the Kanta’s stack against other favoured brands kudos 606/707, PMC Fact 8/12 etc.

Would  love to hear from anyone that has demo’d them.

Gary

The 606/707 and Fact 12 are several thousand pounds more expensive so you would hope they were much better. The PMC fact 8 or 25.26 are similar price points. When I bought my 25.26 the Kanta had not been released. I have heard it a few times and I certainly would have auditioned it. The PMC sound is different, so it really comes down to personal choice......I personally have never bought into the kudos sound so far.

Iver van de Zand posted:

Well I searched and re-searched in every corner of the focal boxes, but no port plugs. Will call the dealer. Hat are they usually made off, foam ? Iver

I just read the Kanta 2 manual & there is no mention of port plugs. 

Didn't find any port plugs in the Kanta empty boxes as well.