Goldenear Reference Vs. Focal Sopra #2.....pocket the $5k difference and don't look back?
I've listened to both, and each has its pluses and minuses. Unfortunately, I can't listen to them side by side as they are at different dealers. :-( I listen to a lot of classic rock and I'm not sure the Focals are up for the challenge. The Refs sound a bit fuller (to my ears) and I think adapt better to rock music....especially with the built in subs. Obviosly the Focal are GORGEOUS and sound incredible...but for $5k ish more?
Im looking to buy one or the other in the next 30 days. Any advise or input would be helpful.
@contuzzi - nothing funny per se, but if you care to post the source of your measurement claims I’ll see what I can find out off board.
@kosst_amojan - I surmise your post was directed at me, not tuxedocat. Apologies if I'm mistaken. :)
contuzzi/kosst, by all means feel free to berate this video. A worthwhile listen in its entirety and its only 2:20. This is all I was referring to in my most previous post herein this thread. Of course you can choose to "Believe It or Not" (I’m referring to a Hunter/Garcia ballad recorded for Built To Last but not released on the album. It was played live by the Grateful Dead only six times in 1988 and once in 1990).
Gdhal, it’s funny you say that, yet you don’t understand the difference between the Focal -6db bottom end measurement and the golden ear “12hz” (likely at -10db or more) sandy gross marketing bottom end measurement since you compared the two as if they’re the same measurement.
what qualifies someone as a purveyor of accuracy in something as subjective as loudspeaker evaluation. I gave my subjective opinion ..I am an un-jaded first time poster who hasnt been influenced by reviewers or flavor of the month hype.
Fair enough. Welcome to the forum. FWIW, I’m also influenced by my own two ears and measurement data, especially when (in the case of speakers) the measurements are performed in an anechoic chamber (and in which case are objective).
what qualifies someone as a purveyor of accuracy in something as subjective as loudspeaker evaluation. I gave my subjective opinion ..I am an un-jaded first time poster who hasnt been influenced by reviewers or flavor of the month hype.
I just love when first time posters on the forum are able to offer such insightful information, irrespective of whether or not the information is accurate or inaccurate.
If you want a great all around speaker that sound even better than both of those options, than consider the Tekton double impacts and save yourself an additional $5.5k over the goldenears...And, they are made in the U.S.A
Sorry if anyone thought I was being disparaging about 'serious listening' and the GoldenEars. All I meant was when I decide to listen to music, I usually chose the room with the Focal Sopra 3's.
I'm not saying anything bad about the GoldenEars with music. The room with the Sopras used to have a pair of Focal Electra Be1027's, and back then I chose to do 'serious' music listening with the GoldenEars.
They are both really good speakers, we're lucky to have such a great choice at these price points !
I bought the References based on my owning the Triton Ones and being totally satisfied with them. I never went to the store, I ordered them from Pete Freeman and stayed in touch with him until her personally delivered them to me. Pete told me they will be closing their retail store in North Attleboro at the beginning of 2018 and will be doing strictly internet sales.
Stereo 5, I know we are close in proximity ... I was wondering did Audio Concepts have the top of the line Golden Ears on display to demo or did you order them based on your satisfaction of the pair before?
I mostly use the GoldenEars in a 5.1 movie setup, and I love them, but when I want to do serious listening it’s with the Focals.
@jra_samba
That is a very fair assessment on your part. And of course, you certainly are entitled to listen in whatever manner you choose. I too listen seriously.
I have the References and Triton Ones. I also had the Triton twos at one time. You will find the References are about 45% more of the Triton Ones. More bass, better integrated midrange and better midbass. Treble is about the same but it will play much louder than the tweeter in the Triton Ones. Most of the guys in the Golden Ear forum who are running home theater are now using the References for the front and the Triton 1 or 2's for the rear. I do not do home theater so I can't comment on my experience.
Well, Happy Holidays guys, and hope we all spend some quality time listening to our speakers over the next few days!
Now, my situation is different than most of your as I am a Home Theater nut, and listen to, and watch movies, 90% of the time I go to my room, as compared to most of you, who listen to music only.
I am looking for your opinion on how the GE Ref would sound in my HT room!
My room is 14.5' x 22'
have a 128" screen in front,
have a pair of GE Triton Ones, with the GE XXL CC,
and 2 GE rear in-wall, 2 GE in-wall sides, and 2nd CC in my ceiling, with 4 GE Atmos speakers in my ceiling.
My question to you, will I hear any difference if I upgrade my R & L front channels to the Reference from my Ones?
I would like to throw this in there too- over the summer I got a pair of Revel Gems and M20s for quite a bargain- I'd never heard anything from Revel prior but did a bunch of reading before plunking down the cash. You will find that many reviews have stated that they will take the punishment of high volume rock and still sound great for more detailed stuff. The ones I have are little but I would agree that. I had a bout 3 months solid with them running daily at work. I've never heard bigger Revels but if I had a reasonably large budget (Focals) I would definitely consider them for the mix
I'm fortunate to have an office above my BBQ joint where I can fit whatever I want- Even my wife has Zero say in what I have. I've heard the Focals but not the GE's- The Focals are very nice but I tend to agree that they are not where its at for rock. Personally, I have different stuff for different material. I listen to everything from Yo Yo Ma to the blues to Black Sabbath and Pantera. If you have the space, I would score the GE's and put the $$$ saved into smaller/stand mounted for the mellower stuff. I have a bunch of JBL for when it's time to wail- L'7s , L100T3s and 4312's. If I blow them up, well, they didn't cost 10k so it wouldn't ruin me. On the other hand I have B&W CDM'9s that were my regular everyday speakers but I just scored a pair of little Sonus Faber Auditors on stands that are just out of this world. I got them for a grand. I think pursuing something like that would give you the best of both worlds and save you some loot at the same time. Just a thought.
I listened to Goldenear Reference speakers at my local dealer a couple of months ago. Not to hear the speakers but to hear a Chord Blu MkII. I just don't like the way they sound. Of course just my opinion:)
@ricred1
That is a very fair assessment on your part. And of course, you certainly are entitled to your opinion. As I too am entitled to mine.
I listened to Goldenear Reference speakers at my local dealer a couple of months ago. Not to hear the speakers but to hear a Chord Blu MkII. I just don't like the way they sound. Of course just my opinion:)
The GE references are overrated by paid magazines and overpriced. I owned the ones and loved them for what they cost me new ($4500) I heard the reference extensively and did not find them much better to warrant nearly double the price. At that price point, you can do much better. They still use cheap Chinese parts (look and touch the plastic base) and make such a big deal about the “massive steel support 3/32 inch thick” that part is at home deport for a few bucks !! look at that size on a ruler, not a big deal. Don’t get me wrong, they sound phenomenal, (like the ones) just not worth $8500. buy a pair of used ones for $3500. or if you like imaging, my Spatial M3 triodes beat both in every single category except the lowest bass, IMHO. Happy listening !!!
@winefix
I've already discredited the abundance of misinformation you disseminate here:
Not only do I listen to live Dead, I've seen them live too. They play big Meyer Sound rigs that don't go below 30Hz so I don't know what you're talking about.
@kosst_amojan
I have to think you took your bathroom break during the drums and space portion of the show (usually middle of second set). Even then you should have heard and felt it.
Focals are very revealing and demanding speakers. They can shine gloriously with good recordings and right upstream components but also they will ruthlessly bring out all the nasties of mediocre (rock) recordings and/or shortcomings in upstream gear.
Sopra is far from full range so a good sub like JL F113/113 is necessary.
The GE references are overrated by paid magazines and overpriced. I owned the ones and loved them for what they cost me new ($4500) I heard the reference extensively and did not find them much better to warrant nearly double the price. At that price point, you can do much better. They still use cheap Chinese parts (look and touch the plastic base) and make such a big deal about the “massive steel support 3/32 inch thick” that part is at home deport for a few bucks !! look at that size on a ruler, not a big deal. Don’t get me wrong, they sound phenomenal, (like the ones) just not worth $8500. buy a pair of used ones for $3500. or if you like imaging, my Spatial M3 triodes beat both in every single category except the lowest bass, IMHO. Happy listening !!!
I agree with the previous poster, at 8500$ there are certainly as good or at least slightly better speakers that the GE Reference. OTOH, the Reference model is considerably better than any of the Tritons. I found the Tritons more beamy than many electrostatics. I do like the Focals more; but if you like rock, why not look at a comparable (or used!) Vandersteen? I forget the model in that range. there are the CTs orTrios that might be had used in your range, or new less than 5K over the list of the GE Ref. They do a great job of bass response w/o the Ref's slight overemphasis.
Spend the $5k more and don't look back. You know they sound "incredible". Why settle for less wishing every day you got the Sopras?
By the way, if you like the Sopras you should listen to the Personas. I brought both home for a side by side audition. They are very similar in timbre, but I liked the detail of the Personas.
Gdhal: apparently you don’t understand. The Sopras can go lower than you are suggesting, but it’s not any reasonable output. Just like the output at 12hz isn’t reasonable output on the GE.
You seem to fail to understand basic speaker measurement concepts. The funny part is, the page you linked me to as “evidence” to my ignorance doesn’t even show what you say. Apparently you’re going by the 12hz-35k frequency response listed on the web site. Again, thanks for the laughs. Learn a little bit of speaker basics before you post and embarrass yourself again.
The only number I "threw around" is the fact that the GE T Refs go down to 12Hz and the Focals 28. That isn’t fiction, it’s fact and manufacturer specifications in the public domain.
It was then *you* who felt the need to "rebut" that fact by posting "12hz..... at 12db". Also you who felt the need to post that ignorance is bliss. It appears it is you who is wanting to defend something.
gdhal: You calling me ignorant is truly hilarious considering that you are taking the measurement from focal at -6db, but not the Golden Ear. The -6 on the GE is 18hz (which is impressive of course, but not that impressive considering that it has a power sub with DSP built in). I know you want to defend your speakers, but try to have some credibility instead of throwing numbers around nonsensically. If you can't make it a fair comparison, don't bother calling others ignorant.
I just recently found myself in your same situation of choosing between Focal Sopra 2 and the GE Reference. After hearing both, I choose the Reference.
To produce the same frequency range as the GE's, I would have needed to buy a sub with the Sopra 2's. This may not be the case for your room, but I took it into consideration.
I also prefer the overall sound signature of the Reference, but that may be due to the fact that I have been living with Triton Ones for the last few years.
If looks played a bigger role in my decision making, I would have bought the Sopra 2's, but I was focused on the best sound for the money.
OP, just take your favorite music and listen to both and make up your own mind. Just make sure you consider the differences in the pairing electronics and room set up in your final decision. I'm sure you already knew all this.
Focal Sopra 2’s and a nice sub to get down to to where the 2's can't reach is the way I’d go.
The OPs post is specific to the Triton Reference, not the T2. The T Refs get down to 12Hz on their own and without the need for an external sub. The Focal 2 only goes down to 28Hz so I suppose a sub would be needed to achieve the same bass response. I guess the real cost difference is even greater than $5K.
First of all, GE designed all their own drivers for the Triton References and they certainly aren't cheap drivers slapped in a box. Their crossovers use all the best high end parts including Mondurf caps. The fact that they build them in China in their own factory mind you means nothing. I believe some of the B & W speakers and Sonus Favor speakers are also made in China yet everyone seems to love them. If you do not like Golden Ear speakers, its fine but don't go on with your negativity simply because you don't like Sandy Gross or where they are made.
My wife and I heard over 50 different speakers at the RMAF and we both agreed that our GE Triton References were a much better sounding speaker in our home than what we heard at the show. I heard the Focals at the show including the new ones with outrageous colors and I still prefer what I have. I left the show feeling really good that I made such a wise choice. And, everytimne I listen to my main rig, it puts a big smile on my face and really engages me in the music. This is coming from a seasoned audiophile with 40+ years in the high end. I have owned high end speakers made by Vandersteen, DeVore, Von Schweikert, Odyssey and Paradigm and nothing has come close to the Golden Ear series of speakers.
All in-house designed and hand built in France vs. subwoofers and drivers slapped in a box and made in China.
You realize of course your statement means the premise is that something touched by a humans hand is necessarily preferable or otherwise comes out right.
Comes a time when the blind man takes your hand, says don't you see?
All in-house designed and hand built in France vs. subwoofers and drivers slapped in a box and made in China. For that kind of money, only you can decide.
You could also buy some Sopra demos for $10k or so to bridge the price gap.
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