Focal Sopra 2 suggestions

[GregWormald]

The actual setup of the speakers must match the room first; before any room treatment is considered. The Wilson Audio Setup Procedure is available on youtube by Dave Wilson himself and the Sumiko Master setup instructions are at AudioAficionado.org.

 

Both emphasise that very small movements (less than an inch in the final stages!) can make significant differences.

 

Good luck, and remember to have fun.

 

[GregWormald]

10 hours ago, Zurv said:

These are pretty popular speakers. (some how at this price point...)

You need to remember that hi-fi and music nuts are just that—nuts. Like any other nut they are prepared to spend on their hobbies and obsessions. Just look at how many guitars many guitar players have, or what car nuts spend on "transport".

 

My latest active speakers (still in the manufacturing process) have a retail of almost $A90K, and all my friends know I'm nuts.

10 hours ago, Zurv said:

I'm still confused of the over 300lb shipping weight tho...

Wooden crates are the only way to ship large, heavy, delicate objects and be sure they'll arrive in one piece. Cardboard won't work for large speakers. I know mine will arrive in wooden crates and weigh in over 400 lbs total. It costs way more to replace damaged items than it costs to build and ship in crates.

 

Have fun unpacking and setting up. I sure plan to.

 

[GregWormald]

13 minutes ago, Zurv said:

Thoughts on what breaking in sound i should play? I under and the focals likes a slow break in (vs blast loud - which isn't an option anyway.)

IMO just play what you like.

The guy who designs and manufactures my new speakers has doubts about "mechanical" break-in taking very long at all. Woofers cycle at (say) 50 times a second and tweeters at (say) 10,000 times a second. They should wear in fairly quickly at that rate.

[GregWormald]

8 hours ago, Zurv said:

she was enjoying the trend of stuff getting smaller

Offer to buy a small TV to save space. (or a smaller lounge)

8 hours ago, Zurv said:

Oh, of note to people using these fine speakers to connect them to a poppy AVR :)

Audyssey reports that the speakers are out of polarity. ie, that the black and red connections are reversed.

<snip>

Very few people can hear absolute phase. Try it both ways and see if you prefer one or the other.