Focal Sopra 2 thoughts?


I have been considering the Focal Sopra 2's  (room size 16w x 22L x 9ht) and would like to solicit comments from current owners or those of you with first hand experience with this product.
Sound quality?
Build quality?
Product support?
Do they require a particular type/style of electronics?  High power? SS vs. Tube?
Better choices at this price point?
Thank you,
thermals1
I got my Sopra No2's about three years ago, when the first shipment to the U.S. arrived from France.  My "man cave" is a 24 x 26 x8 room, with a carpeted concrete form.  I drive them with a McIntosh MC452 (450 wpc) amp, when I'm really playing music loud, the meters dance around 4.5 watts...but that's really loud, for me.
I'm one of those enthusiasts who has upgraded this, that and the other, but since I got the Focals, got them dialed in to the room and broken in, I have no interest in changing to another speaker...which is nearly a first for me!
Sound quality: great for all kinds of music I listen to (everything but rap and country).  In my setup, the best sound stage I've ever experienced, great at bringing out the slightest details, the bass it has is very detailed (I have a pair of subs).
Build quality: excellent!
Product support: no reason to reach out to Focal.
Type of electronics: I have 450 watts per channel behind them, but I'd say you could drive them with much less power.  I have heard the Sopra's driven by a few other lower powered integrated amps and (to me) they didn't sound as good, but I believe that was not because of the amp's power, but that those integrated amps had a little bit of shrillness.  I would think a tube amp would drive them really well.

Be patient about breaking the Sopra's in.  They will really start to find their stride by the time they are a few months old.  I absolutely love mine!  In the search for them, listened to just about everything in the $10k-$25k price range.
Thank you for your comments.  
Do you feel the speakers need the additional subs?
Thanks again.

Thermals1,

Mine are in a room that is 24' x 26'.  I've had subs for several of my setups over the years and after going thru the heartache of getting them working well, enjoy having them.

The bass that the Sopra's have is very good, but IMO subs add a lot to the extreme low end.

I'd recommend, if you get the Sopra's you do so without subs and get them really "dialed in" to the room.  In my case, in my "man cave" I found they sound the best when pointed in, "focused" just in front of my listening position.  I've never placed any of my speakers that way, but the sound stage is just awesome in that room, pointed in so much.  When listening to the Beatles, it sounds like Paul McCartney is standing right in front of me singing!

I have a tube preamp, solid state power amp, and a pair of JL F113v2 subs...very much overkill, but I love the sound!  I can listen to this setup for hours, never get fatigued.
Again, thank you for your comments.
Have you auditioned the Sopra 3's?  Any further thoughts?  Do they go low enough that you wouldn't need sub woofers?
Many thanks.
I have heard the Sopra No3's but at a show, not a great audition, music was too loud, lots of people in the room, music I wasn't familiar with.  It seemed that the No3's had a little more bass impact, but this was not an ideal way to do an audition.

My dealer let me know when the No3's were first available, but I think I'm "set" with the No2's.  I suspect that either would bring a smile to your face.

As for subs, in my opinion most "main" speakers don't compete with a good sub in the low bass region.  Having said that, I'd recommend you take some quality time and audition both models.  Though I enjoy having subs, the additional bass from the No3's might be more pleasing to you, than struggling with properly integrating a sub (or two).  In my experience, it is sometime fairly difficult to get subs to sound good, based on the individual room acoustics.

Happy Listening!
I got a good deal for a pair of pre-owned Focal Sopra 2 Speakers.  Will it suitable for my room size of 17' L, 11' W and 10' H.  Thanks in advance.
I have Sopra 2 for me hands down best speaker I have ever owned and I have had Martin Logan Monolith B&W 804 and Krell Resolution 2
Best top to bottom balance Detailed not harsh driving with Bryston B135 SSt Integrated amp Nordost Blue Heaven cables