Focal Sopra No.2 Loudspeakers w/ Upscale Audio's Kevin Deal

www.upscaleaudio.com/products...
This is flat-out one of the hottest speakers we sell. Made in France with custom-tuned W cone mid and bass drivers, and Focal's incredible Beryllium tweeter. This is a sensitive, dynamic speaker that would suit most amps, and is engaging and lively, yet easy to live with.

[@kubixxx1]

I just love your passion and the way you explain things. You can tell it's so real and from the heart!

[@Pitbull0669]

MAN O MAN I LOVE YOUR VIDEOS!

[@xtctaz]

wish i lived in the US...ur passion is infectious

[@blackknight7017]

It's an illusion.

[@mendiesel7932]

Great Looking Speaker. One can only dream!

[@_Chev_Chelios]

John Doe, yeah! I’d love know exactly what they sound like via a recorded video saved to KZbin, streamed to my TV. Perfect way to experience a speaker!

[@audioeeze8396]

@@JohnDoe-np3zk Hahahaha

[@ericw1330]

Great presentation. I would love to hear those.

[@scottyo64]

My next trip down to SoCal I am going to have to stop by.

[@SpartanKing1968]

Those are simply bad ass.

[@kingcosworth2643]

When I break a new set of speakers I use the Tuner, set the oldies channel and leave for around 24hours. I increment the volume up twice during the time, starting off at around 2mm P-P excursion and finish at just below normal listening standards. After this I'll play a few tracks from 'Bass Mekanik' which is an album written for those competition SPL car systems. The songs contain many sinewave signals from around 30hz to 70hz (it also contains a test section with 20kHz-20Hz sinesweep, 10Hz-100Hz sinewaves incremented by 1Hz etc, great for tuning systems and sub woofers). I'll play a number of these songs at a normal listening level, not excessive and then I still won't go to 11 for around a week of listening.

[@MikeGervasi]

I bought an amp from Upscale and they were great in every way.

[@upscaleaudio]

Jeepers Mike THANK YOU! We try very hard!! Kevin

[@theaustralianconundrum]

@@upscaleaudio I see my Rotel amp, pre amps there on the left. Good choice!

[@ejr1953]

I was lucky enough to receive one of the first pairs of Sopra No2's that arrived in the U.S. It cured me of my regular swap out of this-that-and-the-other components. I will probably not purchase another speaker in the future. If you get a pair, be patient, they really do take a long time to fully break in...mine really settled down after about six months.

[@TheBodhisattvaWisdom]

That Beryllium dome made one fast nose dive😎

[@anthonypavlos1822]

The Zeppelin picture is cool

[@yourotherleft]

How far apart do you need to place these? It maybe too big for my 12’x19’ room. I need to demo between this and Tannoy Kensington GR.

[@Zurvv]

Darn you Kevin... this video made me buy a pair of these :(

[@Bunno1177]

I love these speakers but interesting for someone who always says to look under the hood you didn't look at the crossover on these at all. It's surprising

[@rasmuspersson1000]

Well the mass doesnt affect how fast things fall to the floor... but I get your point

[@thisnameisit]

Hi there , how do these compare to Kanta 3? Thanks

[@stevenoconnor5693]

Focal is not the only one that uses lasers to measure sound and reaction of sound for the cones. A lot of what she say you could save for Bowers and Wilkins as well lol.

[@jacktheraven]

Are these Sopra's top of the line, before Utopia? And, how much per pair?

[@moukiebengal9753]

in another video on your channel , you got the exact same pair coupled with REL's Sho 5 in Sub Stereo , not sure if these sopra 2's have the bottom end like you mention in this video

[@kayakuprising5914]

No speaker is going to have the bottom end a dedicated sub can produce. I see nothing wrong with saying a speaker has great bottom end, I don't know anyone who thinks that would mean as good as pairing them with a dedicated sub(s).

[@holprod00]

@@kayakuprising5914 thats soo wrong what you wrote.plenty of speakers can deliver the bottom a sub can,if you dont know then you have a lot to learn in the world of hifi.

[@TuanTran-pb3zr]

Hi: is PrimaLuna Evo 300 hybrid strong enough to drive this Sopra 2? Please advise me

[@joannismess]

I have to confess and update ...also in some Other forums witch I complain about the sopras. Reason : after almost 1 year!!! of trying speaker placement, (And believe me I move them 1000 times ..)even with an acoustic engineer (700 euro cost). the sopras sounded BAD. A few day’s ago I placed them (by accident)more apart from each other 3.5 meter and with a different angle The distance from my sitting place is 3.4meter but ...heaven is here. Even when the triangle is not “right”..everything is smooth now and center image is where it should be..the difference is unbelievable..totally different speaker.. Sopra is just fine now but placement of this speaker is unbelievable difficult ..I find the right place just by luck

[@joshuabrain9751]

Focal’s are the fussiest speakers I’ve owned in terms of everything. Positioning, electronics, cables. Anything can make or break them. Once you give them what they need, the reward is huge!

[@xsamitt]

@@joshuabrain9751 That's what she said!!!!

[@joshuabrain9751]

@@xsamitt Hahaha so true

[@jamesf1505]

You are the Man. I'm really thinking of saving my chips and going with a pair or 2 pair of Focal Towers. I have 4 polk TSI500's. What do you think of Polk Audio?

[@cyberathlete]

It's good for the money. But the things is Upscale Audio is a high end audio boutique. You don't go to a super car dealership that sells Ferrari's and McLaren's and ask them what they think of the Honda Civic. For the average person who affords them and drives Hondas, they are great. But for those who revel in luxury they won't even bat an eyelash at that question. In my opinion if you want good Polk Audio, you need to get into their LSiM or Legend series. Anything below is just below average. You can save up for the LSiM 707 towers (I have these), you can get them for $1500-$2000 a pair and you'll be fine. The Sopra 2 walk all over them BUT then you also need to spend a lot on your amplifier and pre-amp to run them to their full potential. So you're not only looking at $10,000 for the speaker but another $5,000-$8,000 in electronics. With the LSiM 707 you can spend $800-$1500 in electronics and be done with it

[@isaacsykes3]

You never did finish telling us about the bass response..lol

[@ramirezbrf]

isn't beryllium super toxic?

[@DS__112]

What do you think is the best matching amplifier? with Sopra no2

[@riceman78]

They need some real solid high current amplification. I recommend Electrocompaniet, Luxman or ps audio in 300w per channell range.

[@barney6888]

I'm up in Ontario Canada and a pair of these very speakers are reduced as used. My goal is to get Prima Luna amps, but beer budget forbids that at this time. Will these play large, and I mean very large, orchestral/choral recordings on tube amps? Just in case I win the lottery, or my ex stops visiting me.

[@salventuri2050]

No. These are quiet speakers that will choke themselves if pushed. Buy a pair of Klipsch RF7's and thank me later. Oh, and save about $9,000 compared to these.

[@barney6888]

@@salventuri2050 I will try them out some day, i just hope they don't sound boxy. i listen to classical orchestral and sometimes with choir. Mahler's 8th is a good example. I want to hear that deep gnarly Ab chord in the brass at the end.

[@melvingeovanny1]

@@barney6888 klipsch yes sir you in for a treat!!!

[@Kway-xl7cc]

Klipsch does not even compare!

[@dimitriskammenos8499]

Can a Naim Supernait 3 drive the Sopra 3 ? Or the Unity Nova ?

[@ricknaish4072]

I was wondering something similar. Would the Unity Nova be a good match for the Sopra no2? The Sopra no3 is a pretty big speaker and you might need more power than 80W to control the woofers even considering the Naim stuff is very high current.

[@crushingbelial]

Kevin you are a hoot. "I stole some shit" hahaha

[@japerlm8150]

Sound better in five years, think about that sale argument. So they dont sound as focal wants now, If you don like them now, dont worry they will get better, Ok Kevin have you already listended to them five years forward. ;-)

[@621jihoonkim]

if you compare to KEF Reference 3, which one do you prefer

[@ricknaish4072]

I just A/B'd the Sopra no2 vs KEF Reference 3. I found the midranges very similar. The Sopra bass sounded lower with more authority while the KEF sounded much more articulate. The upper ranges of the KEF were very forward while the Focal were more relaxed. You would think KEF w/ the UniQ would image better but in the demo the Focal seemed to image better. *both speakers were tested in the same location w/ same front end.

[@greencraig8570]

I wonder what kinda boss Kevin really is....

[@bryanfurys]

hello i own kef r3, and nad m33 amp, what speakers i should get i want to upgraded kef reference 1 meta, bowers and wilkinsons 805 d4, focal utopia diablo evo colour, focal sopra 1?

[@Richiv77]

U don't, u keep it

[@glendawest9871]

No Syd barrett, Roger waters,david gilmore. I'd like to Hear the kozmic blues or some ear candy like The tree top flyer on those.Mike

[@willmac5642]

Easy to drive but not much bass

[@kirkvandixon]

Can you use these speakers with the PRIMALUNA DIALOGUE PREMIUM HP INTEGRATED AMPLIFIER?

[@QuikSeps-UltraSeps]

HUGE markup on those critters.

[@trinity0085]

If you can afford them, who cares. Besides, you wouldn’t attempt to replicate these as a DIY project in your garage, right?

[@QuikSeps-UltraSeps]

@@trinity0085 You wouldn't believe how fantastic DIY speakers engineered correctly with decent drivers can sound.

[@trinity0085]

QuikSeps I believe you, I’m just not that handy, I myself would not attempt that. I would just focus on what I do best and purchase whatever I can afford and be happy with it. If I had the money I would consider the Sopras, high mark up or not, it wouldn’t bother me. I understand high end products wether, cars, watches, audio, even dining out... They all have higher mark up prices, they just don’t cater the masses where low markup is profitable through mass production and sales.

[@celluloidtherapy5003]

Most of the “high end” speaker manufacturers have been seriously gouging in the last few years, with mark-ups is the 30+% range without a good reason (GREEDY,) to do so. But, it’s their prerogative, and mine to just walk away. The Focal Sopra IS a REALLY beautiful design though....

[@alphonsoconner5069]

@@QuikSeps-UltraSeps loop

[@bobkrueger194]

Careful. Beryllium is awesome but highly toxic if you touch it.

[@w3rdnama1]

Easily one of the best pair of loudspeakers I’ve ever heard in my life.

[@w3rdnama1]

@Rile Stream I do not, I currently own B&W 805 D3s that will soon be sold. My mind has changed and I don't believe it will change anytime soon. The JBL M2s and Revel Salon2s > Everything else. End game speakers.

[@w3rdnama1]

@Rile Stream Very nice. I sold the Diamonds finally. The Sopra's are lovely, they're just too pricy for me nor are they as accurate as I'd like for the price. Damn, I've heard the Sopra 2s with that exact pre/power and they sounded very bright and underwhelming. If you do switch, I'd highly recommend Hegel or Benchmark.

[@w3rdnama1]

@Rile Stream They're pretty accurate for sure. Cables wouldn't do that. I believe it was the room. I've heard several setups with Sopra's and that was the only time it was ever bright.

[@derrickmcpherson44]

I came here to here what it sounds like. I guess it’s not happening

[@bernsie6323]

I used to own a pair of Thiel CS-5i's powered completely with tube pre and power amplification...300 watts into 8 Ohms, 600 watts into 4 Ohms, 1200 watts into 2 Ohms. I've never heard recorded music sound so alive or image so perfectly. Vocalists were in the room with you. I recall one stereo recording that circled around the room and then actually imaged behind the listening position! Alas, I had to sell the system for quick financial needs. I sure do miss it and my music has never sounded the same, and my enjoyment of recorded music has suffered greatly. Jim Thiel died and his designs went with him. Thiel now is a far cry from their glory days, I wouldn't waste my money on the new Thiel. They couldn't pay me to take and use their speakers...Such a shame

[@_TheRealGod]

B&W 800 series are more advanced than these in just about every aspect. In particular in the two top registers when it comes to engineering.

[@holprod00]

this guy is worse than a used car salesman.soo sleak..

[@miklee4834]

They are too bright and harsh for me. Thiel cs 2.4 is way better, unfortunately the company is no longer around.

[@joannismess]

I have the sopra 2,even with the sopra subwoofer..playing with the amazing Gryphon Diablo 300 and with the Aurender N 10 one of the best streamer available now. Cables Speaker/ aes ebu/power in a cost of 10.000 € !! Room full treated with Gik acoustics by an acoustic engineer...I even buy the Isoacoustics Gaia 1 for 1000 euro to help the speaker to his presentation..Worst speaker ever...!!!! So bright ...without synergy...10 minutes and your brain is in pain..because we listen to all this bullshit reviews. Spending thousands of euros or dollars in to the garbage.

[@thisnameisit]

Have you heard kanta 3 by any chance

[@joannismess]

Sean Flynn I had the kanta 2. I wanted to upgrade so I bought the Sopra 2. Witch in my room with my equipment are with absolut no midd bass that’s why I think it sounds so bright to my ears.

[@thisnameisit]

Joannis Messaritakis Did you find Kanta 2 similar to Sopra 2 , ? Thanks Sean, what did you go for in the end

[@joannismess]

Sean Flynn sopra 2 is definitely a better speaker( to my ears). But I still can’t make them sounding right. When I first hear the sopra in my house I say wow...but after listening ...this speaker makes me tired!

[@NiSHAN256]

@@joannismess I guess you have a big ass null in your room. Run a sine sweep and see, you may want to change their position or yours to avoid the null. DSP correction for the bass can also fix bass issues if you're okay with DSP.

[@Bumblebee76]

Great speakers but Bowers&Wilkins are best

[@DavidGilden]

B&W 802Ds!!!