Focal Sopra No.2
3-way high-end loudspeaker
Sopra N°2 is the new epitome of today’s premium loudspeakers. It perfectly combines dynamics, space optimisation and harmonic richness.
Sopra n°2 inaugurates a new era for the “Premium High End” by taking into account new performance criteria. Compact, modern, a pure design, character… all these are essential factors to ensure perfect integration into your interior.
Equipped with the best midrange drivers ever developed by Focal, with the NIC and TMD technologies, Sopra n°2 pushes back the limits of sound reproduction in terms of transparency in a very compact enclosure. Indeed, unlike Utopia, which is extravagant by essence and where size is by no means a constraint, Sopra aims for maximal compactness to ensure easy integration into reasonably sized rooms. Sopra n°2 is perfectly at ease in rooms measuring up to 320ft2 (30m2), and is even ideal for larger rooms measuring up to 750ft2 (70m2).
CUTTING-EDGE TECHNOLOGY
Since the beginning, Focal always had a great interest in the magnetic circuit, an essential aspect of a speaker drive unit. The precision and detail of audio reproduction depend on the stability of the magnetic field. NIC technology (Neutral Inductance Circuit) permits to control of the magnetic field and finally enables the mastering of it, all to limit distortion. It decreases the effects of distortion and gives the sound a very high definition and an unprecedented dynamic.
Focal’s teams have revealed resonances which alter the definition of the suspension which connects the cone to the basket. The solutions already known for increasing the damping properties of the suspension all result in an increase of the mass which consequently alters the definition. The answer came from a technology used in earthquake-resistant skyscrapers and which is also used for the suspension of racing cars. “TMD” technology consists of optimising the suspension profile which controls the resonance to drastically reduce distortion and increase the definition of bass and midrange.
MASTERING THE CABINET AND CHOICE OF MATERIALS
Made in France, Sopra’s cabinet was designed in Focal’s cabinet-making facility in Bourbon-Lancy (Burgundy, France) using the same manufacturing process as for Utopia The 69mm sandwich-machined front panel uses the same principle as ‘Gamma Structure’ to provide inertia and damping. Its density gives it the inertia necessary to provide a stable mechanical reference for optimal definition. The inside of the cabinet has no parallel side panels, and small Helmholtz resonators have been added to the lower section to prevent vertical standing waves. We chose glass as the material for the base of the loudspeaker to provide floor coupling, using spikes, which enabled the fastest propagation time possible, thus eliminating all halo effects in the bass.
NO SACRIFICE OF PERFORMANCE TO AESTHETICS
The sleek design of the line naturally favours its performance, whilst the combination of high-end materials with an array of finishes provides real character and sophistication:
• coloured varnished finishes: Electric Orange, Carrara White, Black Lacquer.
• wood finishes: Light Oak, Smoked Oak, Macassar.
Sopra N°2 is also available in Brown Concrete and Black Ostrea finishes. The architecture hinges around the central section. Made by polyurethane injection, this makes it possible to angle the top and bottom subs to achieve ‘Focus Time’, where the two channels acoustically converge.
DETAILS
The main theme of Sopra is deliberately uncluttered, though it still offers connoisseurs the opportunity to enjoy all the small details. The grille with an incremental meshing motif protects the Beryllium tweeter and gives it a strong identity. This motif is repeated for sealing the curved back panel of the middle section. The terminal board, the thumb nuts and the adjustable spikes have all been specially designed for Sopra, as have the few visible screws, all of which were manufactured by watchmaking experts.
Technical Specifications
- Type – Three-way Bass-reflex floorstanding loudspeaker Speakers
Two 7″ (18cm) “W” woofer 6 1/2″ (16.5cm) “W” midrange with TMD suspension
NIC motor 1 1/16 (27mm) IHL Beryllium inverted dome tweeter - Frequency Response (±3dB) – 34Hz – 40kHz
Low Frequency Point -6dB – 28Hz - Sensitivity (2.83V/1m) – 91dB
- Nominal impedance – 8 Ohms
- Minimum Impedance – 3.1 Ohms
- Crossover Frequency – 250Hz / 2 200Hz
- Recommended Amplifier Power – 40 – 300W
- Dimensions (H x W x D) – 190 x 358 x 540 mm
- Net Weight (unit) – 121.2 lbs / 55KG
