Focal Seduces Us: Sopra No1 Bookshelf Speaker Review

[@Hubbman32]

Just love it when people make negative comments about a product they have never actually heard. And further, they make comments about the price only considering their own financial situation. Unless you have any experience, I would suggest you zip it and accept the fact that you have no idea what you’re talking about. I have both the Sopra 1s and the Sopra 2’s in my listening room with the Sopra center, and I can tell that these speakers are amazing.

[@Maxime-ho9iv]

Focal beryllium tweeters are simply the best. They are so refined and detailed, yet so smooth. If you ever have the chance to listen to them, Sopra really are mini Utopia (and the Kanta are mini Sopra). It’s quite clear that those guys at Focal are working hard to push even further the boundaries, and you can only acknowledge that they do a marvelous job, both acoustically and aesthetically. I don’t even know how they will be able to improve now that they are where they are.

[@davidmorales359]

I have had Sopra 1s for two years now. They're definitely my all time favorite speaker for my set up, which is a dedicated medium-room system with acoustical treatment. I've waivered on the subwoofer issue since they can sound fairly hefty-room shaking-at the bottom end with Analysis Plus Oval 9 speaker cables. I've added a tube pre-amp, although it doesn't need tubes to throw a great soundstage and sound euphonic. In my living room I am using Focal Solo6 be studio monitors with a matching Focal Sub6, which are a great budget option for home entertainment purposes. In comparing the two against each other, the Sopra 1 is more "cohesive," euphonic- a greater sense of it's sonic signature, and throws a wider soundstage. The Focal Solo6be does deliver on all the details.

[@ChrisMag100]

I own a pair of Sopra No. 2. Love them. Honestly, they do so well for music and movies in a 2-ch configuration I haven’t considered bothering with a center or rears.

[@Paranimal86]

I’ve got the focal Chora 826s with the matching center for my front stage… they are incredible for movies and music. You hear so much detail without it ever being abrasive.

[@mesonto]

Have this setup myself, but #3s for the front left and right. However I also added a pair of Rythmik G22s nearby for that extra base with music and less so for movies. If you want otherworldly sonic detail it's just that good. On another note, I know someone that has the Utopias up front and center and the Sopra 3's for the remaining 4 surrounds. I heard it one time and I wish I had not. The sound 7.1 sound was, by a landslide, the best I have ever heard. It is something I will never afford though and I kinda feel bad for listening to it. BTW, who would down vote this video and what for? He is only giving his perception of a few speakers for everyone's interest.

[@junior-OG]

4 Sopra 3 for surround damn

[@mesonto]

@@junior-OG Yep, some of us seem to be doing extremely well financially in life... me, I'm waiting for my lotto numbers to come in... actually the guy who owns this stuff is a doctor, he also owns a serious art collection.

[@Nobodyanybody778]

You’ve got an insane setup yourself ! What series utopia LCR does your friend have ? Regardless , it must be incredible !

[@mesonto]

@@Nobodyanybody778I believe Maestro Utopias from the previous incarnation. And a viva centre.

[@CimmerianSon]

Love seeing Spare Change doing a speaker review on the Audioholics channel! Hope to see more of this goodness in the future!

[@Turtleback8024]

Notice how clear the video is and how great it sounds?🤓 Hope Gene is taking notes.

[@johndixon1591]

I had the opportunity to have a pair of Focal's older Micro Utopia bookshelves in my home for several weeks due to a customer request to hear a good, solid stereo system. Our customer was not able to travell to the dealer that was located about 50 miles away, so we brough the system to him. He and I were extremely impressed with the capability and sound quality of the Focal speakers. I believe this new Sopra 1 is very similar in design and performance to the Micro Utopia's that we auditioned for several weeks, but I have not ha the opportunity to listen to this current speaker.

[@Eric-xx3mb]

I have Aria 926 towers and love them. If I ever win the lottery, lol!, I'll look into the Sopra line of speakers!

[@Racedoc]

I love them I have Sopra 3 and thinking of getting Sopra 1 for home theater

[@zrhapp]

I've owned Focal 836V's for a little over 10 years now. I love these speakers but have thought about upgrading on and off over the years. I've heard both the Kanta's and Sopra's, but I just can't justify what they cost vs what I have. I wonder if I'm missing something in the way they were set up, or if the 836's are still that good.

[@philipgardiner2003]

I bought a new pair of Electra 1008 BE's a few years ago. I'm driving them with a Hegel H90, connected by Cardas Parsec cables. Streaming Tidal into Bluesound Node 2i using coax cable to take advantage of Hegel's superior DAC. The Focal's sit on a pair of custom Sound Anchor stands. Great review.

[@Turtleback8024]

An Audioholics video that’s in focus with great sound to boot. Hope Gene is watching.🤓

[@cristiantolbaru7153]

Now that will be interesting! Also the Kanta review with full set of spin measurements should be very good to see. :)

[@DigitalDonAV]

Spin Measurements?

[@cristiantolbaru7153]

@@DigitalDonAV as in spinorama / CEA2034 measurements

[@vishveshwarkovuri9889]

Provide buying links please

[@dman7776]

I love my Sopra N1s. Can you describe how the Diablos differ?

[@ryancampos1435]

I want to see Shane review the Chora line. Not a lot of trusted reviews on them

[@dumitrustoian3600]

Hey bro,you think the Sopra sounds better that 805 d4?thanks

[@stephantranquille6681]

They look the part, they siund absolutely amazing and at $10;000 you're doing quite well. Throw in a good variety of colours and woods, you have a pair sensational sounding speakers at hand.

[@TheDo1986]

is it me or at 4:39, the finish seems damage around the tweeter

[@operamatthew]

love seeing shane on audioholics!

[@reikoshea]

Is this shane's first review for audioholics? I didnt know this was happening.

[@therealshanelee]

He's been around here for quite some time.

[@junior-OG]

@@therealshanelee lol

[@DigitalDonAV]

Shane is awesome!

[@havok2022]

Shane from Spare Change is with Audioholics? I had no idea.

[@Audioholics]

No we stole his video. Don't tell him.

[@havok2022]

@@Audioholics even better I say.

[@therealshanelee]

@@Audioholics 😡😂

[@bs11100010]

nice 79910. love me some Tudor

[@therealshanelee]

⌚

[@jasonzimmerman6496]

Shane, what McIntosh amp were running for these? I have the sopra center myself and the Electra tower speakers with the beryllium tweeter and am in the market for a good matching amp for those speakers (currently have an Anthem MCA325). Please let me know. Thank you and great work it worked and pairing with Audioholics

[@gabrielegelfofx]

buy 4 x Solo 6 Be + 1 x Twin 6 be + 1 x Sub 6 Be and you get the best Focal active speakers setup.

[@mikez-ht7706]

I recently purchased the Kanta 2 a few months ago & they have amazing SQ, such a nice warmth sound to them and huge soundstage! With the IsoAcoustics GAIA II. I also use the Focal Chora 826 as surrounds and the Chora center blends in very well believe it or not with the kanta 2 and the svs prime elevation for Atmos, as for the subs I only use them for movie watching the Fluance DB12 dual subs. Kanta 2 for me don't need subs running for 2.0 they hit very hard and low and fast response,& the Beryllium tweeter gives me the chills, very outstanding ,bass goes down to 35hz. Love Focal Sounds! Swing on over to my channel for demos and other videos.

[@DigitalDonAV]

I love the Kanta No2's, they are also very dynamic.

[@DigitalDonAV]

I am reviewing them now for Audioholics

[@Sativacyborg007]

Shane, how would the b&w 7.3 stack up against these?

[@Maxime-ho9iv]

Very badly. To be honest B&W diamond tweeters sound so harsh if you compare them to Focal beryllium tweeters. You just have to experience this in real life to understand. I had the chance to listen to them (B&W 802D3 vs Focal Sopra 3), there is really no match, Focal is way way above.

[@Sativacyborg007]

@@Maxime-ho9iv well the speakers I mentioned above don’t have diamond tweeters and I wasn’t comparing those two types of speakers I was asking for HT. As Shane uses the 7.4 B&w for his movie reviews.

[@therealshanelee]

@@Sativacyborg007 it's not really a fair comparison. Plus I kinda said how they compared at the end of the video.

[@Sativacyborg007]

@@therealshanelee no worries buddy I wasn’t able to finish the video but thank you for the reply.

[@paulsmith1981]

@@Maxime-ho9ivAccording to What Hi Fi the No1 are lacking in attack and punch. Which isn't good when they are considerably more expensive than B&W 800 line.

[@SirMountainpass]

The Sopra 1 in combination with the active SW 1000 = next level 😊

[@Alexandroskollias1]

Why all Focal speakers are without waveguides?

[@necrodh]

Because they are speakers for dummies.

[@afrancois1968]

Probably because the benefits aren’t bigger than the disadvantages according to them. They seem to be able to integrate the different drivers without waveguides. I have Sopra 2’s and I’m very pleased with them. These speakers are very revealing and deserve good electronics. It took me 2 years to squeeze the last drop out of the electronics. The Sopra’s will reward you big time.

[@audacious22]

Why are the vast majority of speakers sans waveguides, for that matter? Why aren’t all speakers concentric like Tannoy / KEF / TAD / ELAC and a couple of Vandersteens? That takes the waveguide concept even farther.

[@crocography8075]

Why would they? Waveguides have a tendency to narrow the focus of the frequency range (tweeter) and that would limit their ability to create a larger soundstage. This is just one area in which these focal speakers shine. Besides Focal are at the forefront of cone design.

[@audacious22]

@@crocography8075 - Actually, waveguides improve tweeter/midrange integration (look-up polar maps; also search for review of Monitor Audio Silver 1; reviewer went into great detail about waveguides and polar maps) and help reduce side-wall reflections (this part not as much as a horn-loaded tweeter, but horn-loaded has its own drawbacks, of course). Current KEF Q-series and LS50s are soundstage champions among typical tweeter/midrange configurations; more so than traditional flush-mounted tweeters and midranges, as well as, waveguide configurations.

[@kman9387]

Love my Focals!

[@SlyNine]

You guys do reviews?

[@jarodreddig63]

I’ve demoed so many of these audiophile speakers in my theater and they all compress at high volumes. Can only do so much with a single dome and little woofer. These would be better for my living room.

[@audacious22]

What speakers do you use in your theater system?

[@jarodreddig63]

@@audacious22 I use 3 JTR 212 HTs for my LCR, 4 JBL Pro 9310 for surrounds, and 2 JTR Captivator 2400s subwoofers.

[@audacious22]

@@jarodreddig63 - Cool set-up. JTR is new to me, so that’s fun!

[@jarodreddig63]

@@audacious22 appreciate it thanks

[@boydrijkvan6500]

The absence of a subwoofer for movies does not only mean missing out on some bass extension. You are actually missing out on the entire LFE channel as well. A reference surround setup without a subwoofer is just silly.

[@therealshanelee]

This video is based on the merrits of the speakers alone. It's clearly stated in the video.

[@boydrijkvan6500]

@@therealshanelee And yet at 8:50 you talk about the speakers not giving you the "Gut check" without a subwoofer attached. You hereby imply that the speakeres are not producing this low-end because of their technical limitations. The real reason is that you are not hearing the LFE channel at all. You are listening in 5.0.

[@therealshanelee]

@@boydrijkvan6500 point being what exactly? I explain in the video there's no sub and the expectations of it without the sub. What seems to be the issue here exactly. Are you not understanding the concept of this video?

[@boydrijkvan6500]

@@therealshanelee yeah. I guess you did a great job at absolutely everything in the video. That is the only type of response that seems too be appreciated here. Thanks for letting me know your position on that.

[@Audioholics]

You should ALWAYS use dedicated powered subwoofers in a home theater system and bass manage your speakers. This ensures best dynamics, best bass extension and best bass response since the subs can be more optimally placed than the speakers to produce bass.

[@JezJerzy22]

Sopra or 1st ver. of Diablo Utopia?

[@donpayne1040]

Good vid. sounds dope

[@MRPC5]

Contour 20s? Tell me more!

[@therealshanelee]

They're very nice.

[@tee-jaythestereo-bargainph2120]

Nice ! I don't know why your videos hasn't been showing up on my News feed dang it ! Now i got to catchup on you videos ! Appricate all your hard work ! I juat got in the Triangle 40th edtion in Santos Rosewood they sound amazing for $2200.00 U.S. and I am sure me and Steve the Audiophilliac got the 2 first pairs in the U.S but would live to tey these focals !!

[@vishveshwarkovuri9889]

Provide buying links

[@Audioholics]

Focal Sopra series are NOT available on Amazon.

[@therealshanelee]

@@Audioholics Aww man no Prime shipping 🤬

[@Joenerk]

Focal's lettering around their drive units is corny. As is the multiple box construction. Nevertheless, they always impress reviewers. I would consider them for a future upgrade.

[@deankim6687]

I totally agree.

[@drsumantamajumdar2771]

1:42 THE DOGS WILL LIKE IT..... rofl.....tHAT'S cLASSIC ......

[@onlymekeels7217]

I guess the dog did 😂

[@onlymekeels7217]

😂😂😂

[@yowandbm]

Odd to see audio enthusiasts being oblivious to the picture quality, one might think you would appreciate deep blacks of OLEDs and not bigger-better so go for projector. Looking at this sound and video quality discrepancy is just odd. Anyway, speakers are one of the best out there.

[@geraldperry7779]

I just purchased hypernaked 2021 KTM 1290 Super Duke RR,only 500 worldwide will be offerd ,it's made in Austria hand assembled, dripping with carbon fiber and Titanium pieces, i paid $38K. These are $10K lmao.

[@JamesWilliams-gf8gm]

I bought Spare change posted this video 6 months ago.

[@fiestarstyle]

best sound for my country better than american speakers

[@JEG6919]

Go Focal Pro if you want a cheaper taste.

[@tedmingolla2847]

Don't see the logic in hearing this speaker on KZbin through a 2 inch computer speaker. This is a reference speaker meant to be played with a high quality source not a crappy compressed movie audio source.

[@therealshanelee]

It's established the demos are for visual purposes only. It's very clearly written on screen during the audio portion of the video.

[@LQ-gaming]

bruh, these speakers, they make me want to sell my house and move in a single bedroom home cinema movie listening apartment

[@waterlover]

Beautiful speakers but way to expensive to buy

[@Spierdalajyoutube]

Look 2nd hand

[@deankim6687]

These are 12K now in 2022.

[@Mr.BananaManYT]

You can find some used for half that in 2024

[@CaptainCave-t3n]

They better corn my cob for that price man.....

[@aardvarkansaw]

Long form advertising

[@therealshanelee]

I know. It's disgusting 🤮

[@andr.3348]

See the review plus measurements on the site, this speaker delivers.

[@revo1336]

No way these go on a bookshelf

[@therealshanelee]

A big bookshelf.

[@melberg9098]

yeahhhhhh cool

[@MD-oy4gv]

Always enjoy covidganda commercials!

[@afrog2666]

Hehe

[@solarfall2728]

All that money for a flat frequency response? If I want automotive finish on something, I'll buy a car. I don't suppose you'd let Amir get his hands on these turkeys to see if they're really worth the money? At least you got the amps right. Those are the same ones Ted Denny has in his setup.

[@Audioholics]

Ridiculous comment. These speakers measure very well and we have a 7,000 word writeup posting on the editorial site later this week. Why would you want a speaker that isn't flat, and purposely colors the sound?

[@solarfall2728]

@@Audioholics I didn't say that I wanted a speaker that isn't flat that purposefully colors the sound, did I? I just said that its a lot of money to pay for one that does. Either way, I take it that you're not Gene. I like having a bit of fun with him, that's all. Its not going to be easy, but one day I'm going to make him laugh. I know, good luck with that.

[@Maxime-ho9iv]

@@solarfall2728 You’re off track really I’m sorry. 1) A flat frequency response is something to look for in speaker 2) A good speaker is way more than just a flat frequency response, and if you think these ones cost « all that money for a flat frequency response », you miss a couple things I’m afraid. If you compare what Focal is doing with the Sopra in general, and if you compare that to the competition, they are not that expensive. We’re in the top of the top of the hifi range and some speakers will cost way more than that in this category. As for the « automotive finish », they are just gorgeous looking speakers. Period. They look refined and most importantly they look modern. Elegantly modern. Those speakers are made for our times, not for the past.

[@solarfall2728]

@@Maxime-ho9iv Read my 2nd post.

[@markrigg6623]

That is one whacky load of wtf.

[@irzyxelwj]

I guess I'm that odd person out, who thinks it looks bad. Cheap and nasty to be honest.

[@Kami84]

I don’t like the looks either.