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Would you Upgrade?

Hi everyone, i'd like to get everyone's opinion on upgrading my set of loudspeakers.

I would be going from a pair of B&W 802D (the first of the diamond models, around 2010) to a pair of Focal Sopra 3's.

Is there much of an upgrade making this change?

I heard the Sopra's at an upscale dealer with a close to perfect setup: speakers about 15 feet from the front wall and about 10 feet from the side walls. Electronics were all Esoteric, including their $44,000 Grandiosa M1 monoblocks, preamp, cd player, power regenerator and $3,800 Cardas clear stereo speaker cables.

I'm not sure if these speakers would sound much different from my current 802D and my humble Classe CAM 100 monoblocks.

Also, how many years do speakers last before they degrade (speaker, crossovers, etc...)

thanks to everyone in advance.
onehorsepony

Showing 2 responses by james633

james633
1,051 posts
 
Onehorsepony,

“Trouble is, about 15 years ago I changed things up by purchasing a pair of Thiel 3.7’s and they never worked out for me.

If I were to ask myself what I don’t like about my current 802D’s I would say issues with the soundstage and imaging. Vocals tend to wander from center to left to right within the same recording. Soundstage does not seem spacious and as open as I’d like.”

what is it you did not like about the Thiel 3.7? It is the bench mark for a wide soundstage and imaging for me. I had a demo of the 3.7 and 802D2 a long time go switching the two in and out of the same system. My issue with the Thiels for me are the center focus of vocals seemed foggy and the bass was lean for my tastes (like the Sophia 3 better even though it was a “worse” speaker in absolute terms). My issue with the B&W’s is the upper mids wore my ears out quick and the driver integration was bad imo. Both very good though. Just knit picking. 

 I have owned both Thiel and B&Ws. 
I can’t help with the focal but I ask about the Thiels because the focals I have heard are closer to the Thiels than the B&Ws
The Sopra lack low bass based on measurements and I would 100% need subs. I am kicking around the idea of used Sopra 2s for me. I would give the Wilson Yvette a try if you don’t use subs. I see used ones from time to time.
james633
1,051 posts
 
Onehorsepony,

understanding your issues with the 3.7 I think you will end up with the same issue with focals. I have not heard the Sopra but 1037/1038be a number of times. They are just as revealing if not more so than Thiel and tend to be on the lean side more than the warm side. Both the 3.7 and the focals have bass but only when called for. 
Again I would try to give the Wilson’s current line a try. It is a good mix of detail and “warmth”. The paper drivers and soft dome tweeter take the edge off. The slight bass lift keeps poor recording pumping along too. 
If you can swing the price I think the Yvette would make you happy. The Sabrina might not be big enough (bass power) coming from the 802D. 

Not sure you will like warm speakers (harbeth etc). You are way up on the bright side of things now so a neutral speaker with strong bass will probably do the trick. 

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