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Harbeth vs. Focal - Apples and Oranges...

I am thinking about replacing my Harbeth m30.2s with Focal Sopra 1s.  I realize they are very different presentations and I think I am looking for more incisiveness that the Focal sound offers, though I do love the Harbeths. 

Particulars are this:
Supplemented by a pair HSU Research ULS15 MK2 subs. I will retain these (unless...see below)
PS Audio BHK 300 monos and BHK preamp
Modwright/Oppo Sonica DAC
Anti-Mode 2.0 Dual Core
Fidelizer Nimtra Signature Server/Roon Core

Listening room:
12 x 14 for near field (20% of my listening)
Above opens through double doors to an open space living area where I do 80% of my listening.
Here I sit 18 ft from speakers. Far wall is 36 ft from speakers; open area extends to an approx 1000 sq ft area dining/living area.

Questions:
Understanding that Focal and Harbeth house sounds are vastly different and a matter of subjective choice, I have a few questions:
(1) Will Sopra 1 + subs adequately fill the 18 ft listening position?
(2) Would I sacrifice LF by going to Sopra 2 floors-tanders and losing the subs? Would Sopra 2s fill the larger space or...
(3) Sopra 3s for larger space? Sopra 3s to big for the 12 x 14 space? No subs...

Thanks for any and all comments...

(The back story is that I sent off my m30.2s to replace a blown tweeter and pulled my old Focal 706V bookshelves from my closet. Although the sweetness, etc of the Harbeths was not there ($750 vs $6000), the Focals filled the larger space with such ease that I was astounded. Much moreso than the Harbeths. I had last listened to my Focals with my old system - modded Hafler amp and pre and no subs. What I heard from the 706s blew me away, despite some obvious shortcomings compared to the Harbeth.)
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Showing 1 response by tobes

tobes's avatar
tobes
436 posts
 
I owned m30.1's for 6 yrs and also found myself seeking a bit more incisiveness and dynamics.
Since I owned Focal Utopia headphones I was considering the Focal Electra 1007Be at the time. I took my Benchmark amp into the store and was planning to listen to both the Focal and the ATC SCM19mk2. 
I actually ended up listening to the SCM19 first and was hooked, I did have a brief listen to the Focal but it just didn't impress after the ATCs. The ATCs appear quite workmanlike compared to the visually flashier  Focal's, but the proof is in the listening.
The great thing about the ATCs is that I didn't give up the great midrange or tonal correctness of the Harbeth - in fact I find the ATCs more correct and dynamically lifelike over a greater range. The ATCs excel at voice and acoustic instruments and bass smokes the Harbeths.
I've gone on to get a bigger active pair of ATCs, so perhaps I'm a bit smitten and biased.
My only caveat is that ATCs (or Harbeths for that matter) will likely sound better when listening at near field distances - where their neutrality is less polluted by room sound. Listening 18ft from the speakers is probably not ideal - though in terms of max SPL the ATCs will play loud and stay very composed given enough power.
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