hi, i got the English Electric 8Switch. plus careful selection of the streamer/DAC and the replacing switching plugs, power cables, moving router from the room, replacing ethernet cables with better shielded cable etc.. so it wasnt only the switch. If you have fibre coming into your house, which i dont i have copper ethernet the difference im guessing would be lesser.
but as high end audio especially at this level - everything matters!
happy tweaking! |
I also have Scala EVO and love them. Just curious what quiet network switch did you get that made a big difference?
Thank you |
Hi there fellow! :-)
thanks for the advice. Had a look/listen to some of the YouTube clips and i fully agree to his opinion on the strengths and what stands out with the EVO, and also what makes it different from the Wilson for example.
the midrange and the treble is less critical to the rest of the equipment, as also he dresses, it works great with lesser cables and electronics but as you up the range the EVO blossoms. Though i find the bass in the EVO to be more demanding, it has all the goods except the punch and the slam until you have your amp, source and especially clean network and power feed is in place. Before its textured, autothorative, powerful, has weight but not the punch. In my room and in my environment and to my ears of course..
Bottom line, they are awesome and I don’t after a bit more than two years lean elsewere.
will continue follow Jay channel and see more of the clips comparing more speakers, and I’m also curios how he finds the Pass INT 250 as well..
have a great Sunday ahead! |
Hi fellow Stockholmer!
You seem to have chosen the Focal EVO already and I wish you a great time with them. Seems like great speakers. I was going to say that Jay's Audio Lab have made some Youtube videos about them and compared them to some other speakers but not the Blades. |
Hi!
Fantastic! End-game (unless I would switch to a much larger living room, then perhaps the maestro).
theh are so capable and transparent and resolving that I still have a long way to go improving acoustics, cabling, peripherals etc.. just recently installed a quiet network switch for the streaming source and that improved a lot and the EVO sang with it. |
Hi there
Do you still have the evo , how are you finding them
thanks
Sean |
Good choice on the EVO. It's not only significantly better than anything else on your list, they're one of the best speakers ever made at any price. Easy top 10 of all time.
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I hope you enjoy your new system!
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Your experience sort of sums up the reality of trying to find the best component for your preferences. Comprises! No perfect speaker exist, so we have to make trade-offs to find the best balance to our ears. Good luck and I have you enjoy your new system.
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Congrats on your choice! Enjoy! |
So I made the decision, after some 7-8 years casually trying out and reading about gear and the last year ramping up getting more serious in the upgrade.
A pair of Focal Scala Utopia Evo and a Pass Labs INT 250 with wireworld cables to be delivered next week to my house.
I'm thrilled, this will be an upgrade from my current Canton Ergo Rc-l and NAD C370 to some serious high-end. 10x the price 😬😬😬 or so..
Didn't get the chance to audition Sopra 3 thoroughly (heard them once two years ago), but Scala Evo (much more balanced, coherent and natural than Scala v2) knocked out sopra 2 in every aspect (which one would hope since it's almost 3x the price).
Blade 2 is more focused, a bit more drama, holographic, soundstage size separation and precision incredible but resolution, details, natutralness especially in the treble and midrange the Focal Scala Evo is a clear winner (also costlier than blade 2).
Also listened to Sonus faber Amati Tradition in the same room with same electronics as Sopra 2 and Scala EVO, both Focals were arier and instruments were more detached from the speakers than with Sonus, sonus had more potent bass and more focus in the soundstage. Focal more natural to my ears. Treble is more pleasing to your ear regardless of material with this new generation of Focal!!!
Funny thing is while deciding between Scala and Blade I found the scala to be a little soft in bass slam and edges of guitars very detailed without grain but lacking attack. Changed speaker cable from harmonix hs101 to wireworld eclipse 7 and what I found missing was there!!(though harmonix sounds more natural, but costs twice as much).
Dealer gave me a great package price so the choice in the end fell on Focal/Pass for many reasons.
And my kids won't be able to shoulder these 85kg beasts either ;) |
The Hegel is clean but dry sounding Electocompaniet a bit warmer perfect match especially in Europe where Electros gear should be less expensive then Pass.
Blades are way better then Ref 5.
Only the Blades have the higher end midrage driver with the lithium stiffening ring
We have both series.
Dave and Troy
Audio Doctor NJ |
Thanks Troy! I appreciate your detailed response!
I've only found dealers who can audition Reference 5 and sopra 2 but not the bigger ones in the same store.
Have heard blade 2 with AW400, Hegel 360 and expensive Moon. Hegel would bey least preference overall (have heard the in many setups, great but there are better options imho).
Any experience with Pass labs x250.8 or other A/B from Pass together with Blade 2?
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I would find it surprising you can't find a dealer with both brands in Europe.
We are a Kef dealer in the States and have the Blades, they are amazing setup with the right gear. Electrocompaniet and Kef is fantastic.
The Blades have a huge and well focused soundstage, due to the dual concerntric and semi horn loading.
The Blades also have a great bass punch and definition.
The new Sopras have a bit more air in the treble and a slightly richer midrange, the Sopras are the best imaging Focal designs but they still don't have the image specficity of the Kef. we also find them a bit more colored sounding.
So it will depend on what you value if you are lookng for a very panoramic sound with a great floating center image, a very tight deep bass the Kefs would be better they also play very loud without any strain and are very punchy.
If you crave a slighty richer midrange, a slightly airy top end and punchy but a tad looser bass and a wide but less focused image then the Focals are better for you.
Dave and Troy
Audio Doctor NJ
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Thanks for all the responses!
Any comments comparing Focal Sopra 3 and KEF Blade 2 for a room size like this? since they are in the same price range etc. |
Scala EVO will work perfectly in your room, due to the fact that it has many adjustments as @bar81 pointed out.
I'd take it all day over the Sopra 3. Not only due to the Sopra not having the ability to fine tune the sound, but also due to the fact that it's a far better speaker, as the price suggests.
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Between the Focals, it's not even close, the Scala EVO (the price differential reflects that).
That room is pretty big, 4.2m depth should be fine as long as you set the bass jumpers to the low setting (one of the best things about the Focals besides the performance is the flexibility). On my Maestros, putting the jumper in the low position transformed bass in my room - took the bass from being a little heavy to whip quick and extremely articulated - I was pretty shocked at the difference.
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Thanks Greg. i first heard them with Electrocompaniet AW 400, the grip, the slam and the details in the bass was something i never heard before. ill revisit that thought of Electrocompaniet definitely! |
Since you are in Europe, if you go KEF Blade 2, you should also look at Electrocompaniet Nemo amps. KEF uses them to demo the Blade in their factory museum. I am using them with my KEF Reference 5s and they are outstanding.
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