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Focal Speakers The Spirit of Sound

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  #161  
Old 06-11-2017, 04:57 PM
Progfan2112 Progfan2112 is offline
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I've only had my Sopra 2s for a week now and they already sound better in my listening room than they did in the dealer's showroom. It's funny because there were a couple of times during my audition where I felt the tweeter was a bit too "hot". Maybe it was because they were pointing right at me or at least very toed-in. I remember both Joni Mitchell and Led Zeppelin were a bit much when cranking the volume. But I fell in love with the midrange and had to have them. At any rate, I have very little toe in right now and these speakers are not bright at all. Detailed, yes, but not in the least fatiguing. I was a little worried the Sopra 2's would be the loudspeaker equivalent of the Sennheiser HD800 headphones-but thankfully that is not the case. Best of all, nearly every album I've played is like rediscovering the music for the first time. These speakers are that darn good, IMO!
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  #162  
Old 09-10-2017, 02:47 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by saz View Post
Hi jdandy-
I don't have any experience with stillpoints but I'm sure they are a quality product that would improve the sopra's considerably. However, the price of the stillpoint Ultra SS is about double the price I paid for the IsoAcoustic GAIA-1. The IsoAcoustic GAIA-1 seem to me to improve both the warmth and resolution of my sopra's in my room.




ejr1953-
I noticed similar effect. I've had mine about as long as you. I have been dialing my system in around the focals (carpet change was dramatic) and finally hit a point where the sound relaxed.
Wow!
Mind if I ask how you removed the stock spikes, to install the Gaia's? I'm considering doing the same thing for Stillpoint SS's, not sure if it's same on the Sopra 3's compared to the 2's, but I heard you have to loosen the glass base. Clueless how this would be done easily without risking cracking the base, short of laying speaker on it's side.
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Audio research LS28SE preamplifier, Aurender N10 Streamer, Topping D90 DAC, McIntosh MC462 amplifier. Focal Sopra 3 speakers. Salamander Archetype rack, Symposium Acoustics Segue shelves, Silver Eclipse 7 XLRs, Shunyata Everest power conditioner, Alpha V2, Delta V2 and Venom V2 10/12 power cords, and Audioquest Oak speaker cables. GIK Acoustic's bass soffits and 244 bass trap Art panels room treatments. Sony XBR75X900e 4K TV and Sony UBP-X800 Blu-ray player
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  #163  
Old 09-13-2017, 04:11 PM
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I installed Gaias on my Sopra 3. Hardest part was getting them on their side on a ottoman. Definitely a nice improvement over the spikes.
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  #164  
Old 09-13-2017, 08:08 PM
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OK I pretty much came to the conclusion looking at mine that it would require laying them on their side to do this safely without risking breaking the glass base. Was hoping for a trick to avoid this, not willing to do that I actually hurt my back doing that by myself with my Paradigms which only weighed 68lbs installing Gaias. Thanks for the info.
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Audio research LS28SE preamplifier, Aurender N10 Streamer, Topping D90 DAC, McIntosh MC462 amplifier. Focal Sopra 3 speakers. Salamander Archetype rack, Symposium Acoustics Segue shelves, Silver Eclipse 7 XLRs, Shunyata Everest power conditioner, Alpha V2, Delta V2 and Venom V2 10/12 power cords, and Audioquest Oak speaker cables. GIK Acoustic's bass soffits and 244 bass trap Art panels room treatments. Sony XBR75X900e 4K TV and Sony UBP-X800 Blu-ray player
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  #165  
Old 09-17-2017, 11:56 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Blueoak View Post
I am proud to be joining the Focal Sopra 2 club. I have purchased the GAIAs as well and sold my Stillpoints.
Congratulations, you'll love them. What was your reasoning for choosing to use GAIA's over your Stillpoints with them?
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Audio research LS28SE preamplifier, Aurender N10 Streamer, Topping D90 DAC, McIntosh MC462 amplifier. Focal Sopra 3 speakers. Salamander Archetype rack, Symposium Acoustics Segue shelves, Silver Eclipse 7 XLRs, Shunyata Everest power conditioner, Alpha V2, Delta V2 and Venom V2 10/12 power cords, and Audioquest Oak speaker cables. GIK Acoustic's bass soffits and 244 bass trap Art panels room treatments. Sony XBR75X900e 4K TV and Sony UBP-X800 Blu-ray player
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  #166  
Old 09-18-2017, 10:52 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Blueoak View Post
Great news. I ordered a pair of Focal Sopra 2s just seven days ago and I got notification from my local dealer that they will arrive tomorrow! Amazing customer service!

Can't wait to take delivery tomorrow and get them setup.

@mcpaf76

I decided to use the IsoAcoustics GAIA 1s over the Stillpoints Ultra SS because of four big reasons:

1) I compared the Stillpoints Ultra SS against the IsoAcoustics GAIA 1 and found that the GAIA worked just as well as the Ultra SS.
2) The GAIA I was half the cost of the Ultra SS.
3) Extra $1,000 in my pocket that can go towards room treatments!
4) The IsoAcoustics GAIA has rubber suction feet that keep the speakers planted on my hardwood floor. The Ultra SS were just stainless steel and would end up moving over time due to the small vibrations from the woofers.
Cool Beans Doug -- and don't forget photos. Shoot some close ups of the GAIA 1's too. What is the suggested break in time on those BTW?

Best Sir,

Bob
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Speaker Cables:3M Nordost Odin Supreme Reference on Nordost Sort Lifts.
Signal Cables:Nordost Odin XLR's on dCS DAC & Amps.
Digital Cables: Nordost Odin 2's, 110 ohm AES/EBU on dCS Transport to DAC.
Clock Cables:5 each 75 ohm 1.25M Nordost Valhalla BNC/BNC Digital
Ethernet Cable: WireWorld Platinum 1M Starlight® 8 Twinax
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  #167  
Old 09-18-2017, 11:01 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Blueoak View Post
Great news. I ordered a pair of Focal Sopra 2s just seven days ago and I got notification from my local dealer that they will arrive tomorrow! Amazing customer service!

Can't wait to take delivery tomorrow and get them setup.

@mcpaf76

I decided to use the IsoAcoustics GAIA 1s over the Stillpoints Ultra SS because of four big reasons:

1) I compared the Stillpoints Ultra SS against the IsoAcoustics GAIA 1 and found that the GAIA worked just as well as the Ultra SS.
2) The GAIA I was half the cost of the Ultra SS.
3) Extra $1,000 in my pocket that can go towards room treatments!
4) The IsoAcoustics GAIA has rubber suction feet that keep the speakers planted on my hardwood floor. The Ultra SS were just stainless steel and would end up moving over time due to the small vibrations from the woofers.


Congrats on the speakers! I look forward to your review.

I’ve been thinking of the ISO Pucks for under my center channel. The pucks are only 60 bucks for 2 of them. So for $180 it gets the job done.

If I like them I may consider the GAIA for my subs. It appears they accomplish the same goal at a considerably lower cost.
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  #168  
Old 09-18-2017, 11:05 PM
Blueoak Blueoak is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by vintage_tube View Post
Cool Beans Doug -- and don't forget photos. Shoot some close ups of the GAIA 1's too. What is the suggested break in time on those BTW?
Will do. I don't think a mechanical device like the GAIA has a break-in period, but I will learn more about them and let you know.

As far the Focal speakers, my local dealer says they need about 10 hours to break-in and stop being hot/bright. He also mentioned after about 100 hours they will settle down and sound the way they should.

The best thing for me is that I know what they should sound like, because my local dealer has the exact same pair in his room.

Here is an example of what the Focal Sopra 2s in walnut should look like. Very beautiful:



I fell in love with these Focal speakers. I compared them against the B&W 802D3s and of course the McIntosh XR100s. I also compared them against the KEF Reference series.

Anyway, I will get it setup tomorrow and hopefully be able to take some pictures!

Last edited by Blueoak; 09-18-2017 at 11:08 PM.
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  #169  
Old 09-18-2017, 11:06 PM
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Blueoak, thanks seems like you investigated it thoroughly. I'm still using the stock spikes with herbies hush puckies to clean up some of the floor resonance. Eventually I will probably try something else. Let us know how they work out.
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Audio research LS28SE preamplifier, Aurender N10 Streamer, Topping D90 DAC, McIntosh MC462 amplifier. Focal Sopra 3 speakers. Salamander Archetype rack, Symposium Acoustics Segue shelves, Silver Eclipse 7 XLRs, Shunyata Everest power conditioner, Alpha V2, Delta V2 and Venom V2 10/12 power cords, and Audioquest Oak speaker cables. GIK Acoustic's bass soffits and 244 bass trap Art panels room treatments. Sony XBR75X900e 4K TV and Sony UBP-X800 Blu-ray player
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  #170  
Old 09-18-2017, 11:07 PM
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My bad -- I was referring to the Focals break in. Roger on 10 hrs.

Best Sir,

Bob
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Amps:VAC 450iQ Monos in Silver Flake on HRS M3X2-1921's, HRS G7 Footers/G-Links & Sound Anchor Conecoasters.
Preamp:VAC Master Preamplifier (Silver Flake)
Digital Source: dCS Rossini CD/SACD Transport, Vivaldi APEX DAC, Upsampler Plus & matching Clock (Silver)
Analogue Preamp:VAC Renaissance SE Phono stage in Silver Flake with XLR Output Option & with Nordost Valhalla XLR's.
Analogue Sources:SME 20/2 w/SME V arm & Nordost Valhalla TA cable, Palo Santos Presentation Cartridge & Akai GX-400D Reel-to-Reel w/relapped heads by JRF Magnetic Sciences. Akai RC-17 cabled remote (original owner since 1974).
Vibration Control:TT on HRS M3X2-1921 shelf.
Speakers:Wilson Audio Alexia in Argento Silver/Black grills sitting on Acoustic Diode Kit.
Power Cables:4 Nordost Odin Supreme Reference on amps, preamp & DAC. Ansuz Acoustics C2 on Transport & Clock.
Power Distribution Bar:Shunyata Everest 8000 w/Omega XC Power Cable.
Power Outlets:Furutech GTX-D NCF (R) duplex outlet, GTX Wall Plate & Duplex Cover (x2) on dedicated, same panel phase, 20A breakers.
Speaker Cables:3M Nordost Odin Supreme Reference on Nordost Sort Lifts.
Signal Cables:Nordost Odin XLR's on dCS DAC & Amps.
Digital Cables: Nordost Odin 2's, 110 ohm AES/EBU on dCS Transport to DAC.
Clock Cables:5 each 75 ohm 1.25M Nordost Valhalla BNC/BNC Digital
Ethernet Cable: WireWorld Platinum 1M Starlight® 8 Twinax
Headphones:Vintage Koss Pro IV AA.
RCM: Audio Desk PRO
Tube Test Gear:Mint late '60's/calibrated Heathkit TT-1A, MaxiMatcher Preamp & Space Tech Labs ATT-3.02 tube test sets.
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