Focal Sopra No3 Loudspeaker Review w/ Upscale Audio's Kevin Deal

[@jeffreythurston1822]

I bought a pair of Focal Kanta 2 with the Beryllium tweeter from Upscale. They are beautiful and incredible. I whole heartedly agree they need broken in. I have about 200 hours on mine so far and they have warmed dramatically since unboxing. I can only imagine how nice the Sopra sound. Thanks for the info.

[@Bleakend]

I listened to both the Kanta 2 and Sopra 2 at length in the store. The Kanta has super smooth mids and endless treble extension, and the Sopra builds on that to have even tighter and better integrated bass that really shines when playing disco music. The timing on the Sopra is slightly better too, because of the more aggressive angling of the mid range, so it feels like the notes hit you all at once. Can't go wrong with either!

[@AudiolandCH]

I own the Sopra 3's and have them hooked up to a Boulder 866, the base is incredible. Precision is brutal. The difference you hear out of the recordings quality is insane.

[@Edmond347]

About 20 years ago I went to Sound by Singer in NYC, and was lucky enough to hear the Utopias (I think they were Minis on a stand) with the beryllium tweeter. Never before had I or after have I ever heard a better top end. The whole speaker was mesmerizing. I can't imagine what these or the Grand Utopias must sound like after 20 years of refinement. It must be a life-altering experience.

[@Cashmore1671]

I’ve come to starting my day off watching Kevin’s standup, mostly because he puts a grand smile on my face for the rest of the day. Oh, wait, he also knows his shit and and is extremely informative.

[@millermark445]

Quite an entertaining guy, I agree.

[@kevinwest1607]

Love his passion for this hobby.

[@HiFiInsider]

I like these speakers. I'm still rocking the vintage JMLab Mezzo Utopia.

[@palerider55]

Been a diehard B&W fan for decades, but I seriously want to hear these. I've only heard people say outstanding things about the Sopra 3. I think I want a pair.

[@darkroom8317]

I own a pair of Aria 936’s, they are fantastic, but with the focal 25% price increase I am now looking at Sonus Faber instead, the Electa Amator III with a REL sub or a Utopia Diablo bookshelf with a REL as well...I certainly hope the employees at Focal got a 25% increase in pay as well. Thanks Kevin for the great video!

[@carforcoin1161]

Excellent review. Had a chance to listen to a set in person and it brought a tear to my eye

[@petenamlook18]

I just want everybody to know that Kevin has been to the factory.

[@marcbegine]

Like the "inverted Berylium Focal Tweeter" in the Wilson Loudspeakers!!!

[@Maher_Alahdab]

Thank you for the informative videos. Would love if the video could have more description of the sound and listening impressions and a bit less about construction process

[@LuxAudio389]

Bass on the Sopras is super fast and full. If your room isn't set up right or is too small it can be over powering. The detail on the Sopras is wide and non fatiguing. They easily dissapear.

[@AndyMillerPhotoUK]

Thanks Kevin -- long time to break in -- OK -- the user manual says 20 hours -- I assume you suggest much much longer. What about 1 week of constant play or 1 month? Not a few hours. And playing pink noise or something else - a so called break in track. Once broken in does the harsh/fatiguing that some folk observe reduce significantly? Some folk dislike the Beryllium tweeter -- maybe they just listened to an NOT-broken in spkr/system. With the Focal Sopra No 3 - the user manual indicates users should not position the speaker too close to the corner or the front wall. This speaker is "better" in Zone 3 (shown graphically but not described) -- an example is provided for positioning wrt to the side and front (called rear) wall "If the centre of the woofer is 20" (50cm) away from the rear wall (A) and 24" (60cm) above the floor (B), then the side wall will be ideally 28" (72cm) away [C = B^2 ⁄ A = 28" (72cm)] (fig. D). So further from the side wall than the front/"rear" wall. Which seems odd to me. I assume that toe in makes a difference too. I use my floor-standers (1,1,3) both for Pure Direct from analogue sources (including my DAC) and as and part of a 7.1.4 system for TV/movies (with a match centre channel and same brand/range sides/rears/front presence etc... - same tweeter and similar mids etc.). My positioning places the mains at 11' appart 4' from the front/'rear' wall and 4' from the side walls - toed in to point at the furthest listening position and some 70 degrees to the closest listening position -- bass-traps in the corners behind the speakers and heavy curtains/rug/furniture all around the bay in which the spkrs/TV etc stand in the 28'x15'x12' room and a full height/width bookshelf at the far end. The speakers certainly sound better in this location that they did when pushed closer to the front/"rear" wall AND they sound more controlled when 2 foam plugs are inserted in each speakers rear ports.

[@peace-yv4qd]

I love in-house speakers. Focal is one of my favorites. Not looking for a floor stander at present. I'm currently looking at the Aria 906 to go with matching Focal stands I picked up for a good price. I kick myself for not picking up a pair when they were on sale for a thousand. I really enjoy these reviews. Kevin is great person to deal with. Enjoy his videos.

[@ewmcdade]

That color looks fantastic Kevin, great choice!

[@marct9587]

I'd love to have a set, but with Focal's recent 25% price hike, these are beyond reach. But i guess a nice used set of Kanta 2 will do!

[@LuxAudio389]

I have Kanta No 2 and Sopra No 3 and they are fantastic. Sopra No2 would be a good choice if you can go used, but you won't go wrong with the Kanta No 2. 👍

[@OhMyGodMuffins]

Beautiful speakers, love focal. I currently have the arias and was planning upgrading to the sopras, but after the 25% price increase i just don't see the value.

[@erbyjay7414]

The price hike was shocking. I to had kanta 2 speakers and upgraded a month before the price jump. They are amazing.with 300 hrs on them they are starting to create that focal sound stage presence. I honestly would gladly pay the new price. They are a lifetime speaker and the last I'll ever own. Keep the faith.

[@BradRocker]

I can tell you're over the moon on these.

[@bobkrueger194]

Nice video. Thanks for doing these. Expensive buggers...I'll have to keep my Aria 936s.

[@CarlosPerez-eb5er]

Probley being same of the same age it was a real flash back to hear you mention Husongs. A serious place to hang and party in Baja. Thanks for the memory. BTW, loving my Primaluna. Keep up the fantasy with your videos. Rock on!

[@ELG1958]

Best integrated pairings for these Sopra 3's ? I only want to buy once. I know DACs over time will add capabilities. I want absolute best across all drivers for the money for playing softly or loudly which these speakers are built for ! I already own the speakers, just need the electronics match.

[@LuxAudio389]

I don't understand the naritive that speakers don't need break-in. Even shoes and tires have a break-in period.

[@frankdirks]

The speaker sound magic if you like its sound signature, I'm a owner of a pair as well. One thing though, the build quality is absolute shite. Bad paint quality and the HDF panels are misaligned. You can even see it the misalignmend on this video, just check left below of the tweeter "housing", the left side panel doesn't sit flush. Focal's explenation was that it is hand build and that we have to live with it... at this price point, we have to live with it? Still sounds amazing though :)

[@georgemalone3318]

Wait, a 12-year-old‘s best friend is a 19 year old? Hey did you just say something about speakers

[@Ricky-cl5bu]

Brilliant as usual

[@Octocoupler]

They look good, but prefer white or the orange

[@stu3232]

These or a pair of Wilson Sabrina X's? hmmm

[@williammorales8204]

Take my 3 credit cards now Kevin, here take my amex too for delivery to AZ!

[@rysior]

so how you compare them to older Electra line? Electra 1038 has more of Kanta or Sopra line ? (love you man!) ;)

[@CercaTrova13]

I have same question. But i found out that electra has more of Sopra line. All same technologies in drivers. The biggest difference for me is the size of LF drivers in sopra 3 it is much bigger. However 1038 has 3 of them. But also take into account that sopra 3 wheighs 25 kg more then electra 1038

[@dimitriskammenos8499]

Should a match the supernait3 or Unity nova with sopra 3 ?

[@AudiolandCH]

Supernait 3 or better

[@Novilicious]

Kevin is one cool guy!

[@androcci]

Can you make a review for the Focal Maestro Utopia vs the Focal Sopra No.3? The Maestros have 10 inch drivers i wonder if the difference between them are the same as having the Trio6 BE (8 inch bass driver) vs the Trio11 BE (10 inch bass driver)

[@mmdusa]

Beautiful speakers but I'm not loving the "battleship grey" color on that one. Love Upscale Audio!

[@erbyjay7414]

The grey in person is striking. In the right room they are an art piece.

[@gabeah]

@@erbyjay7414 agree, i have black oak but would trade for Ash Grey in a heartbeat

[@erbyjay7414]

@@gabeah I bought a pair of those grey Sopra 3's. Against the black chrome and glass of the audio stands and my silver faced audio gear. I use fairy lights under my turntable which has a clear plinth, a Perspex 6 and lights around the gear for affect the highly polished grey looks luxurious with the leather face. Don't try a pair unless you have the money to buy a pair because they will ruin you towards anything in its price range. Hard to describe how they sound and how large their sound staging is.

[@gabeah]

@@erbyjay7414 sounds like you enjoy em! i have a pair of sopra 3 in black oak driven by a Luxman AX590II with a REL S812. what amp are you using?

[@erbyjay7414]

Music Fidelity monoblock 250 watts a side. More than enough power but clean, clean and natural sound reproduction. Also using a music fidelity DAC with cd transport. 1.3 terabytes of storage. I use a music fidelity m6 phono stage. Whisper quiet or rattle the windows loud this system performs flawlessly. The Sopra 3's where the final piece.

[@audioexperience]

great video!

[@brucelavender]

@upscaleaudiohighfidelity Love your reviews and your take on high fidelity. Could you tell me where I could score one of the puppeteer t shirts?

[@hitechburg]

FOCAL SOPRA 3 $25,998/pair

[@imosolar]

Do they play well with tube power amplifier 30w class A?

[@Toki1908]

We don't use that word Bitchin' anymore Kev

[@searchinggood]

Is that a sansui 1000a in the background?

[@jacobegly8653]

What amp and pre-amp would you suggest? Better yet, how would configure these?

[@CercaTrova13]

Musical fidelity m8xi for example. Or Dan d’agostino progression integral amp - perfect match Or Gold note is 1000

[@johnruppert5630]

❤️the gray👍

[@michaelphillippi4676]

How much do they cost and how much do they weigh? Berry interested.

[@CercaTrova13]

16000€ 75 kg each

[@ahadriz3982]

LOL I LOVE THIS GUY

[@AN-ce1nd]

Best speakers made period. I own the models before those. Electras.

[@marksimkow6956]

👏👍

[@marcbegine]

You need to install the "Iso-Acoustics Gaia I" instead of the spikes!!!

[@hawaiiguykailua6928]

Sorry Kevin, I'm calling out your architect. That is one funky room whether it's for acoustic design or not. Not a chance I'd ever pitch that room to a customer.

[@dazaudio2131]

They are not their to buy the room...

[@paulmelendez580]

Love it ~~ Bought 4 Focal Tweeters For my cabinet back in 2008 ~~ Please Donate A Pair Sopra Please !! Running Old Skool G.A.S. Ampzilla on the bottom end and A S.a.e On the top end and A sumo per amp ~~~ Thanks ~~ Paul ~~

[@paulmelendez580]

1 Day Krell's

[@OscarSanchez-tk3hx]

Sumo audio man it beats the hell of the best audio even today

[@lordsinthegardenofEden]

🙄😒for these i worked a Lifetime...🤔or i eat nothing for years and sleep "under the Bridge"..😏