Sopra N°3: Deep Bass, Pure Sound, Unrivaled Performance

The Focal Sopra N°3 stands as a testament to Focal's commitment to auditory excellence, embodying a harmonious blend of sophisticated engineering and aesthetic refinement. As the flagship floor-standing speaker in the esteemed Sopra line, the N°3 is designed to deliver a captivating and immersive sound experience for discerning audiophiles.

Design and Technology

The Sopra N°3 is a three-way loudspeaker that incorporates advanced technologies derived from Focal's flagship Utopia series, alongside innovations unique to the Sopra range. It features two substantial 8.25-inch "W" cone woofers, a 6.5-inch "W" cone midrange driver, and a 1.13-inch pure Beryllium inverted dome tweeter. This driver configuration ensures a wide frequency response, extending from a deep 33Hz up to an airy 40kHz.

The "W" cone, a proprietary Focal technology, is constructed from a glass-glass sandwich, meticulously engineered for optimal rigidity, lightness, and damping. This design minimizes distortion and ensures accurate sound reproduction across the frequency spectrum. The pure Beryllium inverted dome tweeter is another hallmark of Focal's engineering prowess. Beryllium, known for its exceptional stiffness and low mass, allows the tweeter to deliver pristine high frequencies with remarkable clarity and extension, free from harshness or coloration.

The Sopra N°3 also incorporates Focal's innovative technologies such as "Neutral Inductance Circuit" (NIC) and "Tuned Mass Damper" (TMD) in the midrange driver. NIC technology stabilizes the magnetic field, reducing harmonic distortion and intermodulation, while TMD surrounds minimize resonance and further enhance midrange clarity. These technologies contribute to the speaker's ability to reproduce music with exceptional precision and realism. 

The cabinet of the Sopra N°3 is not merely an enclosure but an integral part of the speaker's acoustic performance. Significantly larger than its sibling, the Sopra N°2, the N°3 boasts a 35% bigger cabinet with a 60% larger bass section. This substantial cabinet volume allows for a more powerful and extended bass response. The cabinet's construction is meticulously designed to minimize vibrations and resonances, ensuring a clean and focused sound.

Listening Impressions

Upon audition, the Focal Sopra N°3 immediately impresses with its ability to handle a wide range of musical genres with equal aplomb and power. Whether it's the delicate nuances of a classical concerto or the dynamic energy of a rock anthem, the Sopra N°3 renders each with remarkable fidelity and authority.

The bass performance is particularly noteworthy. The dual 8.25-inch woofers deliver a deep, articulate, and controlled low end. Bass notes are rendered with weight and impact, yet remain remarkably detailed and free from muddiness. The speaker's ability to reproduce the full weight and scale of orchestral works or the driving rhythm of electronic music is truly captivating.

The midrange is exceptionally transparent and refined. Vocals are rendered with naturalness and presence, conveying the subtle inflections and emotions of the performance. Instruments in the midrange, such as guitars, pianos, and horns, possess a lifelike quality, with rich timbral accuracy and texture.

The Beryllium tweeter shines in its ability to reproduce high frequencies with exceptional clarity and detail. Treble is extended and airy, without any hint of harshness or sibilance. The Sopra N°3 excels at resolving fine details and nuances in recordings, revealing subtle textures and spatial cues that might be missed on lesser speakers.

The Sopra N°3 also excels in soundstaging and imaging. It creates a wide and deep soundstage, with instruments and vocals precisely placed within the sonic landscape. The speakers disappear as sound sources, leaving the listener immersed in a holographic and three-dimensional sound field.

While the Sopra N°3 is capable of playing at high volumes without strain, it is equally impressive at lower listening levels. The speaker maintains its clarity, detail, and dynamic range even when played softly, making it suitable for late-night listening sessions.

Conclusion

The Focal Sopra N°3 is a truly exceptional loudspeaker that delivers a captivating and immersive listening experience. Its sophisticated design, advanced technologies, and meticulous engineering result in a speaker that excels in all aspects of sonic performance. From its powerful and articulate bass to its transparent midrange and pristine highs, the Sopra N°3 offers a level of sonic refinement that will satisfy even the most demanding audiophiles. While ideally suited for medium to large-sized rooms, the Focal Sopra N°3 is a speaker that promises to bring musical enjoyment for years to come, standing as a worthy investment for those seeking high-fidelity audio reproduction.