audiosgp1,
I know it took a while for my last order too.
The cables break in fairly quick but give them a week anyway.
In addition, when you move the cables it takes a while to resettle. (Up to 24 hours)
Hope you enjoy them.
ozzy
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Congrats. That Is how I reacted too!
ozzy
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I also added the Iso Acoustics GAIA 1's footers under the Sopra's.
ozzy
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Stereo5, maplegroovemusic, uberwaltz, lak, mtrot, Thank you for the replies.
Maplegroovemusic, The Iso Acoustics GAIA 1 were put under the Sopra’s the next day after I found the sweet spot. At the time, they did seem to add a deeper 3D image to the sound, but now I am used to it. They were kinda tough to install since my right arm is still recovering from surgery. I also bought the carpet spikes.
uberwaltz, yeah I was disappointed in the Carver speakers. There was a review of them in 2015 in the Absolute Sound but I think that was of a earlier version.
BTW, Bob Carver also doesn’t think too much about speaker cable quality. He told me so. And after looking at the wire in his umbilical cord connecting the crossover to the speaker it appears to be about 18 gauge wire.
mtrot,
I hope you can get them. With the Sopra 2’s now on the Iso acoustic footers they appear to be much larger than they are. The Sopra 3’s would even be taller. But if you have the room they are really impressive sounding.
ozzy
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I should add that my review is slanted to the type of genre and sound that I prefer. Many of the other speakers that I listened to did have their qualities and I didn’t mean to dismiss some of the very popular designs.
I did want to hear the Legacy Aeries but never got the chance. The Tekton speakers are inexpensive relatively speaking, and seemed interesting, but I couldn’t get past all the drivers and the boxy exterior. I also wanted to hear the new Martin Logan’s but passed based on the Magnepan demo. But so many people own these...
So, based on your equipment, genre, and listening habits many of the other speakers could be preferred to what I like.
ozzy
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I just removed the metal screen cover that is over the Sopra tweeter and found additional airiness along with a wider dispersion.
So, those of you with these speakers remove those grills!
ozzy
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93cobra, dmk_hifi, bar81,
Thanks for that information.
When you look at pictures of Focal’s higher end Utopia line they seem to be shown with no screen.
To me, it does sound better sans screen.
ozzy
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twoleftears,
I read that notice with the instructions for the speakers. I took it as though it is dangerous if the tweeter gets damaged. Which I hope will never happen.
ozzy
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93cobra,
I agree.
When was the last time you poked out a tweeter or any speaker?
ozzy
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At the Audio store I was only able to listen to the Sopra 3’s and they were awesome! I picked the High Gloss black since most of my equipment is either black or silver. But the Blue looked pretty nice!
ozzy
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caphill,
I have never heard the Utopia line, but I would like to someday. They must be huge!
From what I have read, Focal actually makes the speaker drivers in house and is one of the largest speaker manufacturers in the world.
ozzy
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redphu72,
Wow! Congrats! They should sound awesome based on how well the Sophia 2’s sound! Any idea when you will be receiving them? I think they take a while to break in (most speakers do). I purchased mine used so they sounded right very quickly.
Keep me posted.
Merry Christmas!
ozzy
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redphu72,
My center speaker is a DIY as are my side and rear speakers. To me, they sound pretty good.
As to set up for your Utopia's. Pull them out of the box on their sides, stand them up and then walk them into place. Sounds easy? But it probably won't. Make sure you have a strong helper.
I removed the Focal footers and installed the ISO Acoustics GAIA 1's in their place.
I would be interested in your opinion once you have them set up.
ozzy
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redphu72,
I did make a mistake, the Sopra’s came in a box that has a pull rod at the bottom to help pull them straight out of the box. Yours will probably the same I believe once out of the box then I had to tilt them to get the bottom packing off.
ozzy
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redphu72,
If you are referring to installing the ISO Acoustics footers, I had someone (wife) tilt them to the side while I installed the footers and carpet spikes. I did have to loosen the base a bit to get the original spikes off.
I started with a placement that is pretty close to every speaker I have had in this room. That is, approximately 8 feet from the back wall and 11 feet apart and 4 feet from the sidewalls. And, I am sitting about 11 feet from the center of the speakers. I use very little toe in.
Are your speakers new? If so, give them a couple hundred hours to break in.
Merry Christmas!
ozzy
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redphu72,
I hope you had a very Merry Christmas and the New Year will be great for you!
Don’t worry about the thinness you are hearing with the new speakers. That’s typical and the amount of time for break in will very by the speaker make. I will say this, the Focal Sopra 3 had the best overall sound I have ever heard, so I expect the Utopia’s will be much more. I am using the Cerious Matrix speaker cables. What are your speaker cables?
ozzy
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gmercer,
The Sopra's are listed as a 8 ohm nominal rated speaker. And I would say that most speakers dip down to at least 3 ohms (or more) at certain frequencies. Many speakers actually start out as a 4 ohm nominal rating.
I believe 100 wpc would be sufficient. Are you talking SS or Tubes?
ozzy
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gmercer,
The minimum impedance is important but I like I stated earlier 3 ohm is really not that low.
Now to me, SS power seems to have more guts to handle those issues. Tubes can be iffy. Although, I love the sound of tube amps. I am using Bob Carver Raven 350 mono block amps. They are rated for 350 wpc but I really don't know how many watts I am actually using, far less I'm sure. You can never have too much power, especially for dynamic swings and deep bass.
If the Sopra 2's are nearby, perhaps you can take your amp to the audition?
ozzy.
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Yes, thanks lak.
I really like the Cerious matrix speaker cables with the Sopra 2's.
ozzy
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wig,
Thanks.
Looking at your systems page, it looks like you have a fine system there.
And your a tweaker like me!
ozzy |
I bought mine used so I don’t know how long it takes to break in.
But a couple hundred hours sounds right to me.
ozzy |
Those footers are excellent with the Focal Sopra’s
ozzy |
smodtactile,
The Sopras have the port in the front bottom of the cabinet so it would probably be fine for your size room.
audiosgp,
If you are like me sooner or later you will get the upgrade bug and end up getting the Matrix cables anyway. So, to save money overall you would be better off just buying the Matrix cables now.
There really is a big difference between the Matrix and the original.
ozzy
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ksubrama,
Congrats on the footers.
ozzy |
I think so, 30" from the side walls would seem to be ok. My room is 17 x 25 and I have mine about 40" from the sides and about 8 feet out into the room. You may have to play around with the toe in a bit. But not a big deal. Perhaps you could also try them on the long wall? I prefer the short wall.
Don't forget the Iso-acoustics Gaia 1 footers.
ozzy |
winesome993,
I have my Focal Sopra 2's about 8 feet out into the room. I totally agree that you must move them around to find the best spot in your room. All rooms are different as are all speaker's.
ozzy |
winsome993,
I have not tried tilting the speaker upward but, with the Iso Acoustic Gaii 1 footers they do raise the speaker a little higher than the included footers.
samzx12,
Perhaps the lower or older model Focal’s could be considered brighter sounding, but I would definitely not describe the Sopra 2’s that way, and I am using pure solid silver speaker wire.
ozzy |
I just traded in my long loved Sopra 2's I hope I don't regret it.
Anyway, I was using tube amps. But I think they will sound good on just about any amp.
ozzy
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Yes, I am still using tube amps.
I don’t know about the speakers I am getting; they must be jinxed. The reviewer I am getting them from is shipping them from California, they are on a truck at the terminal in Fontana. At this moment, there is an 85-year storm event going on at about the same location where the shipping terminal is located.
So, I am reluctant to say what brand it is.
But, if I turn on the news and I see an image of the flooding in California and I see some speakers floating...
ozzy
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Yeah, now I hear there are earthquakes! Yikes!
ozzy
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Hurricane, earthquakes, flooding, mud slides, and now rattlesnakes getting into the flooding! Never a storm like this in 84 years in this area!
Just because I ordered new speakers?
I do hope everyone stays safe.
ozzy
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