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Focal Speakers The Spirit of Sound

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  #21  
Old 11-13-2018, 10:47 PM
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Ampteks Ampteks is offline
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The Kanta 3's do sound good and there is no getting around physics since they have different size drivers.

Sopra2
IHL (Infinite Horn Loading) beryllium tweeter
Midrange: 1-6.5" W cone (foam sandwiched between glass fibers), TMD, NIC
Woofer: 2-7" W cone, NIC, cone area 154"(4)
Exceptional Pineau & Le Porcher design (time aligned)

Kanta3
Next gen IAL3 (Infinite Acoustic Loading) and IHL (Infinite Horn Loading) beryllium tweeter
Midrange: 1-6.5" Flax cone, TMD (tuned mass damper)suspension, NIC (neutral inductance circuit)
Woofer: 2-8" NIC, cone area 201"(4)
Upscale looks with time aligned cabinet

Might be missing a couple things but you should consider your room size as well.

Quote:
Originally Posted by dvir View Post
Apologies for using this thread but I still can't create new topics..

I'm currently hardly contemplating between the kanta 3 and sopra 2. They are priced relatively "close" by focal so budget wise I'm willing to invest the difference. I'm just not really sure whether it's worth it and I can't listen to them side by side. Any advice?

Thanks
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  #22  
Old 11-14-2018, 05:55 AM
dvir dvir is offline
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Thanks for the reply Ampteks.
I have no doubt that the Kanta 3's sound good , I guess my question is whether the Sopra 2's extra cost is worth it.

BTW - the difference is $3K in upscale audio since the Sopra's are listed at $15K, but anywhere else i reviewed them the list price for them was $14K.. strange. Kanta 3's are consistently listed at $12K everywhere.

I've seen the spec differences, i'm just not sure how it translates to sound differences. Regarding drivers size differences I can say that I currently have the aria 948 at home and i took the Kanta 2's for a week's trial. Even though the aria has the bigger drivers the sound coming from the Kanta's was remarkably much more to my liking, the bass was much better and filling even though they had smaller size drivers compared to the 948's.
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  #23  
Old 11-14-2018, 08:45 PM
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Ampteks Ampteks is offline
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The only way to know is to find a place to listen. The Sopra and Kanta both have beryllium tweeters, NIC, TMD as well as cabinet technology which the 948 does not have. The Sopra2 could have an edge on dynamics and detail, where the Kanta3 could offer more low end? Its all speculation until you listen

I will be comfortable with the K3 as an entry for a while and probably make a jump to the Scala Evo in a year or so.

Quote:
Originally Posted by dvir View Post
Thanks for the reply Ampteks.
I have no doubt that the Kanta 3's sound good , I guess my question is whether the Sopra 2's extra cost is worth it.

BTW - the difference is $3K in upscale audio since the Sopra's are listed at $15K, but anywhere else i reviewed them the list price for them was $14K.. strange. Kanta 3's are consistently listed at $12K everywhere.

I've seen the spec differences, i'm just not sure how it translates to sound differences. Regarding drivers size differences I can say that I currently have the aria 948 at home and i took the Kanta 2's for a week's trial. Even though the aria has the bigger drivers the sound coming from the Kanta's was remarkably much more to my liking, the bass was much better and filling even though they had smaller size drivers compared to the 948's.
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  #24  
Old 01-05-2019, 03:42 PM
garpt garpt is offline
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Well I know this thread is a couple of months old now, but I've been looking for folks talking about the Kanta 3's! I got a pair about six weeks ago to replace my vintage B&W 802 S3's. Got Primaluna gear (Dialogue preamp and Dialogue HP Amp) to drive them.
I am still getting accustomed to them (I almost purchased the Kanta 2's but I'm a bit of a "bass head" and wanted more!)
The Kanta 3's are extraordinary speakers! The bass is absolutely outstanding, I don't believe I've heard better in a speaker near this size and this size driver. The bass is deep, powerful, FAST, and very dynamic. My right speaker is placed only about two feet from a corner out of necessity and the bass on that side can be (almost) overwhelming on some very occasional material. I need to do some room treatments. Overall, the sound is very well integrated, midrange is open with great resolution, the high end is NOT bright at all but airy and very omnidirectional sounding. In fact, the speakers are definuitely a bit to the warm side of neutral. The soundstage is outstanding. They have really "opened up" with wonderful air around instruments and voices, good depth (that took a few weeks to blossom), and the classic overused phrase that the speakers just seem, to "disappear". They are some of the fastest speakers I"ve heard, meaning great transient response- very "quick"- well integrated throughout the range. More like listening to a ribbon or electrostatic type speaker rather than a "box" speaker, if I am portraying that properly. Seem relatively easy to drive, I have more power than I need with the Primaluna HP amp. But they handle power VERY well. But I must mention again- the bass- I have rarely if ever heard speakers that get the perfect "snap" of a snare drum, the fast "thump" of a bass drum. Drums sound like...drums! Very "live" sounding, you- are- there nature. And dealers will work with you (at least mine did) on a deal as I think they want to put a little more room between these and the Sopras, which makes them an outstanding value. I am waiting patiently still for some in- depth reviews from the major publications. Well, that's my impressions of my first experience with Focal (except for some Focal speakers I have in my car doors!) I'd love to hear other impressions and if anyone knows of any reviews (besides a couple of shorter ones and previews) I'd be excited to read them as well.
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  #25  
Old 01-05-2019, 07:44 PM
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garpt... Welcome to AA!
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Accuphase/Canton System: ACCUPHASE E800 INTEGRATED, DP570 CD/SACD PLAYER, T1200 FM STEREO TUNER, DG-68 VOICING EQUALIZER, PS530 POWER SUPPLY, CANTON REF K3’s, CANTON REF K5’s, SILENZIO MUSIC SERVER, HRS MXR REFERENCE MAHOGHANY RACK w/ M3X2 SHELVES, WW GOLD CABLES
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  #26  
Old 01-05-2019, 08:06 PM
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For The Love of Music For The Love of Music is offline
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Default Kanta No. 3.....finally

Good to hear the excitement, enjoy your sound 🤺
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  #27  
Old 01-05-2019, 10:27 PM
garpt garpt is offline
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Thanks, Masterlu & FTLOM!
I've been lurking around for quite a while. I don't know if I'm unusual, but I go through "buying sprees" and do some wreckless things (spending wise) every few years or so. This last spree was my biggest, with the Kanta 3's, Primaluna gear, Michell Gyro SE TT w/ Dynavector 2x20L, Rogue Audio Ares {upgraded one) and a bunch of cables. (Oh, and tubes!)Like many, always chasing the dragon! FTLOM-Maybe next round I'll try to reach for the stars with D'Agostino! The styling on that gear is just amazing, as I'm sure the sound is as well.... Anyway, it's frustrating to see so relatively little on both forums and the net in general regarding Focal, so happyto run into a dedicated forum. I had expected a bunch more out there on the Kanta 3's by now. They've been out something like five months.
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  #28  
Old 01-06-2019, 10:46 AM
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