Focal Sopra N°2

SOPRA N°2 3-way floor-standing speaker Sopra N°2 combines a number of key advantages: compactness, hi-fi sound and purity of design. Like the other top-of-the-range Sopra loudspeakers, it approaches the performance of Utopia loudspeakers, Focal's excellence. Its timeless finish adds a touch of sophistication. Perfect for living rooms of up to 30m², it is equally at home in larger rooms of up to 70m².                   A CONCENTRATE OF UNRIVALLED TECHNOLOGIES Equipped with the best midrange ever developed by Focal, with NIC and TMD technologies, Sopra N°2 pushes back the limits of reproduction in terms of sound transparency in a loudspeaker with very contained volume.             PERFECT ACOUSTIC CONVERGENCE The architecture of the loudspeaker is articulated around the intermediate piece. Injected with polyurethane, this element allows the top and bottom cabinets to be tilted for "Focus Time", ensuring perfect acoustic convergence of the channels at the listening point.   THE FINEST MATERIALS Cabinets made in France by our cabinetmakers, vibration-eliminating tempered glass, lacquered or wood finishes: the material sublimates the sound. Sopra N°2 underlines the uniqueness of every living space. EXCELLENCE IN DETAIL The deliberately visible decoupling tips were designed for Sopra and manufactured by watchmaking specialists. The Beryllium tweeter is protected by a grille with a lattice pattern. The same pattern is repeated on the back plate of the midrange.         VOLUM CONTROL, PURE DESIGN, MUSICALITY When form and sound become one     TECHNOLOGIES "W" MEMBRANE Perfectly defined midrange and bass By developing and manufacturing its own membranes, Focal pushes the limits of innovation in acoustics. The sandwich "W" membrane of the loudspeakers plays an essential role in sound reproduction. It consists of two sheets of glass placed on either side of a central foam body; a sandwich construction that enables us to master the three key parameters of a good loudspeaker: lightness, rigidity and damping. This flagship membrane of Focal know-how perfectly optimizes the frequency response curve, providing low distortion and total listening transparency. Sound is the ultimate in precision.           TMD SUSPENSION Stabilized surround, eliminates vibrations While our engineers are experts in the development of exclusive diaphragms, they also innovate in all the components that make up the loudspeakers, such as the surround that connects the diaphragm to the frame, the performance of which must be mastered. Introduced in 2015, Tuned Mass Damper (TMD) technology with harmonic damping consists of the addition of finely positioned toroidal weights to stabilize the surround for even greater sonic neutrality. This technology enhances the midrange and the erratic behavior of the surround between 1 kHz and 2 kHz.     BÉRYLLIUM TWEETER For exceptional treble Membrane shape and materials are essential for high-fidelity reproduction. For exceptional treble, our engineers have developed the Béryllium inverted dome tweeter in pure Beryllium. Thanks to its unrivalled rigidity, Beryllium is the material of choice for high-frequency loudspeakers. Developed and patented by Focal, the pure Beryllium inverted dome is capable of covering more than five octaves (1,000 - 40,000 Hz) for perfect perception of micro-details.       INFINITE HORN LOADING High-definition sound For the Beryllium tweeter to deliver all its finesse, it would need an almost infinite volume. Sopra's need for compactness meant that the maximum volume of the cabinet had to be used for the bass. Exploring new ways of loading the tweeter led us to imagine the IHL infinite-load horn. The IHL (Infinite Horn Loading) system enables the Beryllium tweeter to be loaded while respecting the compactness of the loudspeaker. The rear wave is gently and progressively absorbed to avoid distortion. The result is maximum definition.         GAMMA STRUCTURE An anti-vibration cabinet As the surface area of a loudspeaker cabinet is greater than that of the loudspeaker diaphragms, it can radiate sounds that are distorted by the resonances of the cabinet structure. This alters reproduction and blurs the sound image. To prevent such "interference", it is essential that the cabinet is as inert as possible, that it is not emissive. At Focal, we use MDF (Medium Density Fiber) to achieve this inertia. This stable, heavy structure is anti-vibration. It has been optimized by vibratory mapping of the loudspeaker walls to reinforce or modify the structure wherever a weak point appeared.           NIC TECHNOLOGY Very high sound definition For very high-definition sound, control of the magnetic flux circulating in the loudspeaker is essential. Our acousticians have created a magnetic circuit of incredible stability, guaranteeing perfectly controlled sound: Neutral Inductance Circuit (NIC) technology. This patented technology resides in a Faraday ring whose dimensions, material and positioning are optimized to make the magnetic flux stable and the sound highly precise.               REVIEW & AWARDS FutureAudiophile.com 2023 Gear of the Year Awards - Read More "Consider the Focal Sopra No. 2 speakers to be very possibly an end game."     Diapason d’or 2022 : Enceintes FOCAL SOPRA N° 2 - Read More "As for Bin Wang's instrument (Une grande Rivière by Chu Wang Hua. Bayard Musique), it occupies the space like a concert piano, with weight, but also finesse and sustained energy from the most note high to lowest. Success !" Focal Sopra No2 Loudspeakers - Read More "The Sopra No2’s styling will do what many Focal speakers have done before: polarize buyers. There will be plenty who will love the way they look, plenty who won’t. That’s what usually happens when you make bold, distinct choices in industrial design. That said, I really liked the look of the Sopra No2, particularly in Electric Orange; in fact, I think it’s the best-looking speaker Focal has ever made. But this is a matter of taste. What I don’t think will polarize listeners is the Sopra No2’s sound. It has certain Focal hallmarks, as well as others that are either different from or clear improvements over what I’ve heard in the past from Focal. Besides the Sopra’s liveliness, I enjoyed its remarkable clarity through the audioband and particularly through the midrange, which was magic with voices; its oodles of presence, which gave real body to the music at no cost in resolution; its awesome bass weight and detail, which were surprising from what are relatively compact cabinets and modest-size woofers; and its extremely precise imaging, which made for astonishing soundstage focus. All of this adds up to a speaker that’s not only exceptional for its price, but exceptional for any price. I could see living with a pair of Sopra No2s and not wanting more for a very long time. The Sopra No2 more than lives up to its name: It not only goes over and above; it goes above and beyond." - Doug Schneider    Focal Sopra N° 2 Loudspeakers - Read More "“Reveal the Invisible” heads up Focal’s description for their Sopra N° 2 and for sure it’s an apt statement. By high-end standards, the Sopra is not at all expensive. The Wilson Audio Sabrina, and Magico’s A3 come to mind as competitors, with both being more expensive. Considering the level of performance, not to mention the stunning design, build quality, finish and the real-world technological innovations applied, the Sopra is a force to be reckoned with. I could live with these… Can somebody tell me that I have to? Please?" - Barry Jones   Focal Sopra No 2 Review - Read More "Obviously, I have Naim goggles on and I just want these speakers forever, in white, orange or just about any colour going spare.  It is hard for me to think how much better this setup could be, I guess a Naim XPS managing the power to the NAC will add further but this really is heaven for me.  I’ve had the T+A Criterion TCD 110s and 210s speakers and they were stunning driven by the T+A HV series.  The HV electronics are simply top drawer.  I have also experienced the Avalon Transcendent speakers with the same HV electronics and they too were stunning, probably the best I have experienced domestically.  But the Sopra No 2s seem to be so accessible in size (relative to the Sopra No 3s, TCDs) and price (relatively) and I just feel the combination with the 250 DR is seamless and comfortable.  I am bound to mention my recent experience with the Moon electronics which were softer and easier to the ear and a tie up with these speakers would be interesting indeed on the same playing field.  This experience has left me wondering if I have reached the end of a journey to find my audio nirvana, with Ryan Adams ‘Live at Carnegie Hall’, I think I probably have. " - Simon Wilce   Focal Sopra N°2 Loudspeaker - Read More "So, all that Focal tech goodness is on display, but that last percentage of coherence was bettered by my Raidho references. Laser like and always welcome. That said, the Sopra is a very coherent speaker -- just experience analog on them. My Rega RP10 [reviewed here] is a lovely marriage with Focal. But to my ears, the Raidho soundstage and imaging are very difficult to beat. And I wouldn't trade them for those two reasons alone. But if no Raidhos, my predilection for all things Focal would make these new speakers a no brainer. Their musicality, power handling and superb imaging and beautiful soundstage make these gorgeous Focal speakers very highly recommended.  " - Anthony Kershaw Focal Sopra N°2 - Read More " Let the music flow for I find no limits. No nasty compression, no roughness, ultralow distortion, hardly any coloration, in truth I can’t detect its ‘signature’. The Sopra N°2 is neutral and never overstates things, that said it’s a true Focal with its roots firmly in the Utopia range, it does have French (=Focal) character. A word of wisdom for anyone considering a pair, do not overdamp your listening room, this is a loudspeaker that should be free and alive. Use a dynamic and rhythmically strong source and powerful amplifier behind it. This has proved to be the best and only way to experience how much effort the Focal R&D team has put into this remarkable product. Is this a new statement in its price range? Even when you cannot find a place in your house for them, find them too expensive, dislike the cabinet design or come up with another reason not to buy a pair, you will always marvel at their performance. The Sopra N°2 is literally and figuratively an impressive loudspeaker."    Focal Sopra No. 2 Loudspeakers Reviewed - Read More "I change high-end audio speakers often as a matter of client relations as a publisher in the audiophile business. Right now, I have some killer Revel 228 BE floorstanding speakers that are about $10,000 a pair in my media room, and I love them. I also have the itch to write a check for another pair of Focal Sopra No. 2s in a gorgeous and glamorous color. Consider the Focal Sopra No. 2 speakers to be very possibly an end game. Yes, there is a larger (thicker looking to my eye) Sopra No. 3 for a bit more money, and my dear friend and former writer Ken Taraszka has them finished in white down in Florida and he loves them and uses them without a sub, which fits his floor plan better. Either way, it is just hard to lose with the Focal Sopra line. They are easy to drive. They are even easier on the eyes. Comparably, they are easy on your pocketbook compared to say Wilson Audio, Bowers & Wilkins, and others. There’s just nothing not to like about the Focal Sopra No. 2 loudspeakers. " - Jerry Del Colliano       SPECIFICATIONS Sound - Accoustic Product type Bass-reflex 3-way column Membrane W cone Woofer 2x7" (18cm) "W" woofer Medium 6.5" (16.5cm) "W" midrange with TMD suspension and NIC motor Tweeter 1" (27mm) IHL Beryllium inverted dome tweeter Response at - 6dB (Low frequency point) 28 Hz Frequency response (+/- 3dB) 34 Hz - 40 kHz Minimum impedance 3.1 Ω Nominal Impedance 8 Ω Recommened amplifier power 40 - 300 W Sensivity 91 dB Design Depth 54 cm / 21.25 in Height 119 cm / 46.87 in Width 35.8 cm / 14.12 in Weight 55 kg / 122 lb Accessories Counter points Counter spikes x4 already mounted Grids  Magnetic cloth frame Points Spikes x4