Focal SOPRA N°2 Floorstanding Loudspeakers - Orange (Pair)

IHL
INFINITE HORN LOADING

Our Beryllium tweeter features an incredibly light and extremely rigid dome, that deliver a transparent and dynamic sound. Its main limitation comes from the compression of air in the cavity behind it, that create interference with the incredible definition. To overcome this, the ideal would be to have a nearly infinite volume. 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 rear of the Beryllium tweeter is loaded via a small cavity which is connected to the exterior of the enclosure by a horn. whom inside is filled with a damping material. Sound waves from the rear of the tweeter are delicately and gradually absorbed. Its acoustic impedance approaches zero so that no resistance alters the movement of the dome. This reduces distortion by 30% and pushes definition to its maximum.

DESIGN

BEYOND AESTHETICS AND SHAPE

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 to 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 which could afflict 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). It also provides the freedom to achieve the desired enhancements for the treble (decompression, isolation of the tweeter section...). It contributes to the very high rigidity of the structure as a whole and its compactness optimises the use of space for the midrange.

CONTROLED BASS
AND MAXIMAL COMPACTNESS

The two 7” (18cm) woofers for the bass register equipped with natural inductance magnetic circuits benefit from a substantial volume thanks to the tweeter’s IHL, allowing us to take full advantage of the cabinet’s capacity. En effet, à la différence d’Utopia, déraisonnable par essence, pour laquelle le volume n’est en rien une contrainte, Sopra vise une compacité maximale pour aider à l’intégration dans des séjours aux dimensions réalistes.

What’s more, the cabinet’s Gamma Structure with a 69mm front panel provides remarkable inertia considering such a size. Weighing 120 lbs (55kg), Sopra n°2 is by no means envious of its larger competitors... Thus weight and compactness are well balanced to provideimpressive density and articulation.

This remarkable control of the bass makes Sopra n°2 even easier to integrate. It is perfectly at ease in rooms measuring up to 320ft2 (30m2), and is even ideal for larger rooms measuring up to 750ft2 (70m2).

MADE IN FRANCE