Focal
Sopra N°1 Bookshelf Speaker
$6,499.00 USD2-Way High-End Bookshelf Loudspeakers
Sold Individually.
Stands are available for an additional $1,980 per pair.
Compact and powerful, Sopra N°1 is a concentration of technological innovation. It features 'NIC' magnetic circuit, 'TMD' surrounds for the midrange woofer, and Infinite Horn Loading (IHL) of the tweeter. It is a true 'demonstrator', corroborating the contribution of the new technologies implemented on Sopra. First, the very low distortion gives it incredible clarity and very high definition combined with the spectacular spatialization typical of bookshelf loudspeakers...
Beyond this attractive first impression, what's astonishing is the texture and smoothness of its sound. It provides a solid, 'fleshy' sound with full and articulated bass. Precious is by no means artificial, nor is it limited to the treble. The overall coherence and harmonic richness give the listener a surprising understanding of the music.
Sopra clearly 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.
NEUTRAL INDUCTANCE CIRCUIT
Stabilising the magnetic field
Since the beginning, we have 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 controlling the magnetic field and finally enables mastering it in order to limit distortion. It decreases the effects of distortion and gives the sound a very high-definition and unprecedented dynamic.
INFINITE HORN LOADING
Focal's Beryllium tweeter features an incredibly light and extremely rigid dome that delivers a transparent and dynamic sound. Its main limitation comes from the compression of air in the cavity behind it. But the requirement for Sopra to be compact meant that as much of the cabinet as possible had to be used for the bass. We had to explore other options for loading the tweeter, which led us to come up with the IHL system. The "IHL" system enables the loading of the Beryllium tweeter, respecting the compactness demand of the speaker. The rear wave of the tweeter is delicately and gradually absorbed to avoid any distortion. The treble definition is pushed to the maximum.
NO SACRIFICE OF PERFORMANCE TO AESTHETICS
The design agency Pineau & Le Porcher designed Sopra with one rule: no sacrifice of performance to aesthetics. The Sopra line is destined for the most passionate sound enthusiasts. Its design favours performance, whilst bringing together the qualities expected of an object which will be integrated into very elegant interiors and décors. Lacquered or bloodwood finishes are associated with noble materials to create an elegant line. Substantial efforts were made to give the front a tidy appearance, particularly around the speaker drivers, to iron out any aspects that could affect the acoustics or the appearance. Sopra’s very structure is articulated around the intermediate section. This injected polyurethane component allows for the upper and lower cabinets to be inclined for the "Focus Time" (acoustic convergence of the channels).
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. Focal 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.
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.
| Parameter | Specification |
|---|---|
| Physical Specifications | |
| Type | 2-way bass-reflex bookshelf loudspeaker |
| Dimensions (H×W×D) | 16 × 10 × 15 inches |
| Weight | 42 lbs (19kg) |
| Audio Specifications | |
| Frequency Response (±3dB) | 45Hz - 40kHz |
| Low Frequency Point (-6dB) | 41Hz |
| Sensitivity (2.83V/1m) | 89dB |
| Nominal Impedance | 8 Ohms |
| Minimum Impedance | 3.9 Ohms |
| Crossover Frequency | 2,200Hz |
| Driver Specifications | |
| Bass/Midrange Driver | 6.5 inch (16.5cm) "W" cone with "TMD" suspension and "NIC" motor |
| Tweeter | 1-1/16 inch (27mm) "IHL" Beryllium inverted dome tweeter |
| Amplifier Requirements | |
| Recommended Amplifier Power | 25 - 150W |