November is the month where we celebrate all that is high-end, just before the mad Christmas rush begins and therefore the perfect time to look at what you want, before you look at whatever everybody else might want. It’s a good time to get yourself something special
So, on that note, here’s something (well, two things!) that are both high end, and special. Very special. All you have to decide is… bookshelf, or floorstander?
… and which colour too, of course. Those beautiful specimens above are the Focal Sopras. No.1 and No.2.
Bridging the gap between the mid-range Electra series and the legendary Utopia range, Focal saw an opportunity with the Sopra. They wanted to make something sleek, sophisticated and elegant, something which could live up to everything accomplished in the two decades of Utopia…
“Following on from Utopia and keeping in line with all Focal loudspeakers, the design of Sopra is the result of a very close collaboration between designers and engineers, a passionate quest aiming to conciliate complex constraints, experience, as well as sophisticated and innovative solutions, and all of this would have to be almost invisible, leading to something obvious, immediate simplicity for the pleasure and the purity of an unforgettable listening experience.
The Sopra line is destined for sound enthusiasts. When expectations are so high, the design must provide solutions which go far beyond aesthetics and shape. This represents a great deal of work in terms of industrial design, which must serve acoustic experts and favour performance, whilst bringing together the qualities expected of an object which will be integrated into very elegant interiors and décors.” Focal
Let’s take a closer look.
No.1.
Compact, clean and perfect for smaller spaces, the No.1s are deliciously high-end, yet perfect in any contemporary space. Sopra have paid particularly keen attention to cabinet design, which makes for a very tight, clean yet highly realistic and detailed sound, that still managed a great deal of depth and atmosphere for such a tiny cabinet.
Nothing suits Focal quite like Naim – they’re a figurative match made in heaven! We would recommend pairing the No.1s with our current demo pairing: the Super Uniti network streamer and the NAP250 DR power amplifier. Trust us, it’s a gorgeous team.
No.2.
While cabinet design is integral to the sound of the No,1s, it is even more so with the No.2s (and somewhat iconic too!) their unique shape is owed to the wish to create a harmonious and full bodied sound, with all the richness and atmosphere (re:bass and presence!) you’d expect with a large floorstanding cabinet, but without losing even the tiniest speck of detail, accuracy and dynamics.
Much like its smaller, and speedier, sibling the No.2s are a match made in Naim heaven, with the NAP250 DR power amplifier and the NAC-N 272 pre amp and network streamer.
Both models are available in five different finishes (as pictured above) and sound beautiful, no matter what colour, what model, or what you pair (or team) them with.
Take your pick! And if you need a little more time, you can see both models here, and if you need any more information (or you’d like to come and see them for yourself!) then give us a shout. They’re two gems in our high-end showroom collection, and we love showing them off.