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Focal Sopra No 2 vs Magico A3

I wish I could listen to the Focal Sopra No 2s and the Magico A3's in the same room on the same day with the same equipment.

In the fantasy world I like to live in Focal lowers the price on their Sopra No. 2's to better compete with the Magico A3's. Wow. Wouldn't that be great! Not sure what I would do then. Probably buy the Sopra No. 2's.

I purchase speakers on what they sound like NOT what they look like. Who would buy speakers based on how good they look?

londontk

Showing 3 responses by techno_dude

techno_dude
382 posts
 
Coloration from cabinet is not always a bad thing. Someone may just as well prefer the colorated sound of the Sopras. Take percussions for example, that mdf coloration can give spooky real snare drum sound reproduction.

Spendor classic and Harbeth uses the thin wall cabinet resonance that gives that famous magic midrange to their speakers. Voices, brass and winds sound absolutely wanderful.
techno_dude
382 posts
 

So all speakers should be made with aluminium casing....

Exact science speaker 101: Aluminium body only. What a dull and bland world hi-fi would be if all speaker were made like so.

I want options, différences, coloration, fun , pros and cons.

techno_dude
382 posts
 
I agree Harbeth speakers don’t have the best crossover parts and best tweeters on market, but that Radial polymer midrange may be the best plastic midrange on market right now. We have to give credit to the designer. And we cannot forget that he has to build a product to a price point, so choices must be made in selecting parts. He has the right to make a living like everyone else who owns a company, so we should forgive him if he does not put a pair of Scanspeak beryllium revelators in his Shl5...

Sure , carbon, aluminium, titanium, beryllium and ceramic composite are more modern driver materials and they have their pros and cons.

Nevertheless, the first time I eard a pair of classic Spendors bookshelves I was very impressed by that midrange naturalness ! Only the bbc thin wall design can give you that kind of sound... Is it perfect , no. But it sure sounds special with voices, brass, winds, acoustic instruments.
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