It’s funny how usually the higher the chain you go the more finicky things become, seems like the general feeling is that the sopra 1 is a better overal speaker costing half the money.
That's the thing with Focal speakers. I owned a pair and even though I miss them, I'm glad to not have to deal with them anymore. System matching is very critical with them. I think the amps you used didn't do that speaker justice. I bet a nice tube amp would've been magic with them.
That's precisely why I haven't bought a focal yet. Saw a pair of 1038be on eBay for $6k and I do badly wanted to drive to Connecticut to get them buttttt I'm very scared to deal with their critikill fatiquinnesse. I knew I'd have to buy the best of everything or it won't gloss over anything. Bah humbugs
@@kohnfutner9637 Yep. I thought maybe stepping up to higher models would rid the Focals of that but I found even the Sopra too much for me... Not that they were rough or edgy, but just too emphasized on the top for my ears to handle.
@@amirjubran1845 I know how that is. I have speakers that have irritating frequencies in the upper mid-range. I like my Klipsch better than anything I've ever had regardless of the bs that's been said about them around the web by the audio snobs.
@@kohnfutner9637 I've only heard Klipsch briefly but it gave me that live feeling, just insane dynamics. They sounded great but the concentrated horn sound was more than my ears could handle.
@@amirjubran1845 my 280f are not bright at all. Partnered up with a Yamaha aventage receiver, I have them bi-amped, probably not necessary but they are. I thought they didn't sound so great with Denon. Denon likes to brighten the sound and also give extra bass, kind of a v shape sound to me. I love the Klipsch/Yamaha sound. Very strong performance, warm and lifelike, bigger than life really. I think the reviewers shot them down too quickly and easily because they have their choice of speakers much more expensive. I doubt they took the time to set them up their best. And I've been messing with them over a year now. I can listen to them for hours and I can't believe how great they sound. They blow me away every day. On movies, they are perfect. Klipsch is the most highly used brand in professional theaters and I can see why. They do deep bass for post malone or Adriana grande. They give great weight to jazz instruments, strong striking drums. They deal delicately with blues & roots rock guitar and voices are a delight, though, the voices were hard to dial in and get the edginess completely out. Sometimes they like to be shouty, but they can clear up if you will be patient and continue to work with them and the built in room correction from the Yamaha. I got the 450c center which is a fantastic center. I'm dying to get the 250s while they're $250 each.
Great video! In my personal audition, I liked it but I thought the tweeter has a very open sounds with a very little coloration. However, I thought the woofer which may be viewed as uncolored and not boxy sounds - in comparison to the superb tweeter I felt colored and boxy.. I had a rather limited audition so trying to get a second opinion if I heard it well.
Jay I never would’ve thought it when I first saw your headphone reviews that you would be doing speaker reviews. Well done brother. Please try and review the ATC SCM40 speakers. Kept it up
It depends. Some people prefer to have bookshelf with powered sub so they can adjust the sub level depending in song genre. Some prefer towers. Also some prefer, at same price range, to get the best in book shelf vs second line of tower. You also have factor the coat of amps to power bookshelf vs tower and the space requirements of towers.
These as floor standing speakers cost more. A LOT more. If you care more about the mids and high end, then these may be a budget alternative. You can always add a subwoofer, even if a pair of Grande Utopias may sound better.
You can't evaluate properly high end speakers with mid level amplifiers. Plus the more you go high in the food chain the more it becomes difficult to achieve the perfect mariage. I take this review with a grain of salt.
Dam focal for making every other speaker sound inferior. I got to find their secret recipe so I can build it myself. Does anything come close to the sound for a lot lot less? Like tekton lore with be tweeter?
JAY- “7 MINUTE VID” - for 17k bookshelves AUDIO EXCELLENCE- “37 MINUTE VID” - for 17k bookshelf’s I like them both but sometimes wish A.E. were shorter....
ain't no body got 3 feet to keep between the speaker and the wall! These babies go straight against the wall with a max of 20 cm behind and a 10 cm diffuser/absorber behind it !
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It’s funny how usually the higher the chain you go the more finicky things become, seems like the general feeling is that the sopra 1 is a better overal speaker costing half the money.
They sound great just looking at them !! 😆 Thanks Jay for the review ,
I own these speakers and your comments on placement are exactly right. Thank you.
That's the thing with Focal speakers. I owned a pair and even though I miss them, I'm glad to not have to deal with them anymore. System matching is very critical with them. I think the amps you used didn't do that speaker justice. I bet a nice tube amp would've been magic with them.
That's precisely why I haven't bought a focal yet. Saw a pair of 1038be on eBay for $6k and I do badly wanted to drive to Connecticut to get them buttttt I'm very scared to deal with their critikill fatiquinnesse. I knew I'd have to buy the best of everything or it won't gloss over anything. Bah humbugs
@@kohnfutner9637 Yep. I thought maybe stepping up to higher models would rid the Focals of that but I found even the Sopra too much for me... Not that they were rough or edgy, but just too emphasized on the top for my ears to handle.
@@amirjubran1845 I know how that is. I have speakers that have irritating frequencies in the upper mid-range. I like my Klipsch better than anything I've ever had regardless of the bs that's been said about them around the web by the audio snobs.
@@kohnfutner9637 I've only heard Klipsch briefly but it gave me that live feeling, just insane dynamics. They sounded great but the concentrated horn sound was more than my ears could handle.
@@amirjubran1845 my 280f are not bright at all. Partnered up with a Yamaha aventage receiver, I have them bi-amped, probably not necessary but they are. I thought they didn't sound so great with Denon. Denon likes to brighten the sound and also give extra bass, kind of a v shape sound to me. I love the Klipsch/Yamaha sound. Very strong performance, warm and lifelike, bigger than life really.
I think the reviewers shot them down too quickly and easily because they have their choice of speakers much more expensive. I doubt they took the time to set them up their best. And I've been messing with them over a year now. I can listen to them for hours and I can't believe how great they sound. They blow me away every day. On movies, they are perfect. Klipsch is the most highly used brand in professional theaters and I can see why.
They do deep bass for post malone or Adriana grande. They give great weight to jazz instruments, strong striking drums. They deal delicately with blues & roots rock guitar and voices are a delight, though, the voices were hard to dial in and get the edginess completely out. Sometimes they like to be shouty, but they can clear up if you will be patient and continue to work with them and the built in room correction from the Yamaha.
I got the 450c center which is a fantastic center. I'm dying to get the 250s while they're $250 each.
Jay, which source and preamp did you used to pair up with the eigentakt purifi amp for these diablos?
Hi Jay! Did you drive them full randge or crossed at 80hz
I want one!! Send it to me!
Here comes the Focal fanboy ! haha. 😉
Thomas's heart started pounding like that driver !
I vote here too! :)
I'd take two, mono no beuno
Thomas are you out of hiding now?
These or the ATC SCM-11's or SCM-19's?
Great video! In my personal audition, I liked it but I thought the tweeter has a very open sounds with a very little coloration. However, I thought the woofer which may be viewed as uncolored and not boxy sounds - in comparison to the superb tweeter I felt colored and boxy.. I had a rather limited audition so trying to get a second opinion if I heard it well.
Great review. Surprised at the balance, most focals are pretty balanced from top to bottom
Wow, 20k bookshelf speakers! Any chance you can also review Magico A1 or LS50 Meta and compare?
Just reviewed the a1s. Check soundstage take 2.
@@Jayiyagi Awesome!
How does Esse Quadro Luna 77 come out in comparison with Magic a1 end Focal?
How do they measure to bowers and wilkins diamond bookshelf
very detailed and great reviews at any time, thanks for your contributions! greetings from Switzerland
thank you. Cheers
Jay I never would’ve thought it when I first saw your headphone reviews that you would be doing speaker reviews. Well done brother. Please try and review the ATC SCM40 speakers. Kept it up
Jay, amazing Dali speakers you have behind you!
honesty opens up good and bad doors but you opened them non the less
So you're saying these are designed for older audiophiles that have lost their high frequency hearing yet finally have $$ to spend
Could you compare to JBL 4429?
kef reference 1 next
do you think we can put this in the living room?
For sure.
Diablo utopia or dali epicon2 ?
From everything I read the Sopra No1 has this older speaker beat in just about every category….
I'm looking at prices today. These things are 22k a pair! in 2023. Talk about Inflation!!?
These, or Sonus faber electa amator 3s, my 2 dream stand mount speakers, nice dream.
If you can spend that much money on speakers why would you get bookshelves? I doubt that people with that much money don’t have room for big speakers.
It depends. Some people prefer to have bookshelf with powered sub so they can adjust the sub level depending in song genre. Some prefer towers. Also some prefer, at same price range, to get the best in book shelf vs second line of tower. You also have factor the coat of amps to power bookshelf vs tower and the space requirements of towers.
These as floor standing speakers cost more. A LOT more. If you care more about the mids and high end, then these may be a budget alternative. You can always add a subwoofer, even if a pair of Grande Utopias may sound better.
Been on the b&w train for the last 20 years... focal sopra line may make me a convert :(((
Great review! So....$17K US...and it’s light on the bass and picky as to amps and placement. Probably needs a sub😋
I am planning to look at b&w diamond speakers. Still looking for who else can be competitor to bw diamonds
Most speakers need a sub. Even floorstanders.
You can't evaluate properly high end speakers with mid level amplifiers. Plus the more you go high in the food chain the more it becomes difficult to achieve the perfect mariage.
I take this review with a grain of salt.
I dont know why you would say they cost $17k. Looking at european eshops, they are $8,5k with tax... puts them in a whole new perspective ;)
I think that price is for one speaker. If that were the price for a pair then I might be interested
Dam focal for making every other speaker sound inferior. I got to find their secret recipe so I can build it myself.
Does anything come close to the sound for a lot lot less? Like tekton lore with be tweeter?
Focal electra 1008be or 1028be
"Comprises". Just a note. Not "Compromises".
JAY- “7 MINUTE VID” - for 17k bookshelves
AUDIO EXCELLENCE- “37 MINUTE VID” - for 17k bookshelf’s
I like them both but sometimes wish A.E. were shorter....
Review audiovector r1 arrete 👌👍
Why you are not understand that in review of speakers need let speakers to speak, not yourself? This is so simple to understand.
ain't no body got 3 feet to keep between the speaker and the wall! These babies go straight against the wall with a max of 20 cm behind and a 10 cm diffuser/absorber behind it !
Lan jiao u again
👍!
Way too rich for me. 😒
I find the Focal beryllium tweeter fatiguing within minutes. Never liked the brand personally and consider them brand wildly over priced.
You would be better to talk less and let you play it
Your video about $17000 speakers is rediculous. Totally bullshit !!!
it's not pricey, you can't afford it