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From B&W 804 D3 to Focal Sopra 2?

I posted this on Reddit as well so apologies in advance to those who may have seen it.

 I have the Anthem STR Pre and Power amp. A dealer is selling a pair of Sopra 2s and he said my Anthem stack is very capable of running the Sopras.

I then read an ad from another seller and he said a lot of power is needed - dual mono (?) or better yet, mono blocks. I also watched a youTube short with that combination. Two people said the Anthem was “bottlenecking” the speakers - i.e. the potential of the Sopra 2 is constrained by the abilities of the Anthem.

Focal puts recommended power at 300 and my Anthem has 400 a side.
So I thought I’d ask thoughts are out there in internetland.

Currently, I’m running B&W 804 D3. I was running them with a 200 wpc integrated and I bought this Anthem set because it was sold to me for a really good price. I’m just not cranking up the volume.  I’ve owned several B&Ws and have found them to be weak in bass.  Improvement has been marginal over succeeding series.

Thanks in advance!

US; odd living/dining combo approx 13 x 30 ft; vaulted ceiling - 8 ft on low end; 15 higher end.; Classical, pop, EDM, folk/C&W.

128x128tobaccoleafpie
bimmerman2's avatar
bimmerman2
86 posts
 

Not necessarily high watts, but need a 2 ohm stable amp to handle the impedance dip.

arnold_h
96 posts
 

I have heard the Sopra 2 and 3 and I would have to say when set up properly they were some of best sounding speakers I’ve ever heard.  As far as the Anthem amp, 400 wpc should be more than enough.  

papyneau
31 posts
 

Hi,

My Sopra 2 are paired with a 120w integrated (Luxman L-509X) and my friends also have Sopra 2 with a 100w integrated (Yamaha A-S3200) in an even bigger room and both setups have plenty of power (volume cannot humanly pass 50% as it became way too loud). I don't power should be a strong criteria in your selection.

The bass is very clean and precise. These are not "loud" speakers and they do not "invent' bass when there is none. At this price point, no speakers are bad and it's more a matter of personal taste, but I agree with another member saying these are, for me, the best speaker I heard (minus the Grand Utopia at the audio show, but it cost the price of a house!) 

audioman58's avatar
audioman58
4,134 posts
 

Go hear the Borresen X1 monitor with matching 

Stands  I have heard them all before 

A sub is needed if you want low bass 

The Borresen is by fsr the best tweeter

That ribbon is open and airy

Another speaker perlisten R5 in the $6k range also with stands 

2 exceptional speakers that ate a much better value 

And at least as good ,

rick_n's avatar
rick_n
207 posts
 

I think that the your Anthem will power the Sopra's just fine.  I'm driving Sopra No2s with a Hegel H590 (300w/ side, dual mono) and it's never clipped or run out of headroom.  

 

B&W vs. Focal:  I disagree with some of the comments, I'm in the camp that the Sopra's will be nice step up sonically.  It's a much more robust speaker, better crossovers, much more substantial cabinet (for better bass).  The B&W weigh 73lbs the Sopra's are 120lbs.

 

Having said that, you have a very large listening space and it will be challenging for any speaker that size to fully pressurize it with bass.  Subs are an obvious option or perhaps consider the larger Sopra No3.  Good luck and cheers.

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