In this review, we will be comparing Reference Center 2023 and Sopra Center, two Passive Center Channel speakers from Canton and Focal.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Canton Reference Center 2023 and Focal Sopra Center first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Canton Reference Center 2023 | Focal Sopra Center |
|---|
| Brand | Canton
Germany · founded 1972 | Focal
France · founded 1979 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" | 1.1" Inverted Dome |
|---|
| Midrange | 6.85" | 3" |
|---|
| Woofer | — | 2 x 6.5" W sandwich |
|---|
| Frequency response | 25-40k Hz | 55-40k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | — | 91 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 130-230 watts | 40-200 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 25.95kg / 57.1lbs | 19.00kg / 41.8lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 10.6" x 27.5" x 15.3"
269.2 x 698.5 x 388.6mm | 9-1/4" x 24" x 13-3/4"
235.0 x 609.0 x 350.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Canton Reference Center 2023 and Focal Sopra Center speakers good for?
The size of the room in which you are planning to use these loudspeakers is an important decision
factor. Here we have compared their suitability to various sizes of environments considering their size
and max power parameters:
| Listening Environment* |
Canton Reference Center 2023 |
Focal Sopra Center |
| Near-field |
Good |
Good |
| Small Room |
Good |
Good |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Average |
| Large Room |
Poor |
Poor |
| Very Large Room |
No way |
No way |
(* Approximate Room sizes: Small < 100sq. ft / 9 m2,
Mid-size: 100-220 sq. ft / 9-20 m2, Large 220-400 sq. ft / 20-36 m2, Very Large: >
400 sq. ft / 36 m2.
Average Floor Height: 9" / 2.7m. Typical room sizes differ from country to country, and the actual
listening experience changes depending on floor height, room shape, surface materials, listening
position, speaker locations, etc.)
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that Reference Center 2023 is a 2-way design whereas the Sopra Center is a 3-way speaker. 3-way designs utilize a midrange driver in addition to the tweeter and woofer on 2-way designs. Designing a crossover for a 3-way speaker is a complicated process and generally increases the overall cost of the speaker.
Canton Reference Center 2023Focal Sopra Center
TweeterMidrangeWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
Canton Reference Center 2023 |
Focal Sopra Center |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1.1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 6.85-inch |
1 x 3-inch |
|
Woofer
|
x -inch
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
Reference Center 2023 features a 1" Aluminum ceramic oxyd Tweeter, a 6.85" Midrange and x " Woofer. On the other hand, the Sopra Center features a 1.1" Beryllium Inverted Dome Tweeter, a 3" Midrange and 2 x 6.5" W sandwich Woofer.
Frequency Response
Reference Center 2023 has a frequency range of 25-40k Hz whereas Sopra Center has a frequency range of 55-40k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 25Hz, the Reference Center 2023 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Sopra Center's min frequency of 55Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Center Channel class in our database.
Low Frequency
Center Channel Speakers
Neither pair reaches down to 20Hz, the usual definition of full-range, which is normal for speakers of this size. If you want the bottom octave for movies or bass-heavy music, add a subwoofer to whichever you choose. Visit our Powered Subwoofers section to find out more about the available options.
Power Range
Power
range is the range of input power in watts RMS that a loudspeaker is designed to handle. Staying
within that range gives nominal performance; driving the speaker beyond its maximum wattage can damage it.
Reference Center 2023 can handle a max power of 230 watts RMS, whereas Sopra Center has a max power handling value of 200 watts RMS, 30 watts less than the Reference Center 2023.
Note that higher power handling does not make a speaker louder: that depends mainly on
sensitivity and impedance. The calculator below shows how loud each of these actually plays
on a real amplifier.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
Reference Center 2023 features Binding post type posts and Sopra Center has a Binding post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Physical Specs
The size of a speaker can sometimes be an important decision factor due to space constraints or in some cases purely for esthetic reasons. In this section, we are going to compare Canton Reference Center 2023's and Focal Sopra Center's external dimensions. Canton Reference Center 2023 has external dimensions of 269.2 x 698.5 x 388.6mm (10.6 x 27.5 x 15.3inch) whereas Focal Sopra Center has external dimensions of 235.0 x 609.0 x 350.0mm (9-1/4 x 24 x 13-3/4inch).
Canton Reference Center 2023 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 89.5mm wider, 34.2mm taller and 38.6mm deeper than Focal Sopra Center.
Size, drawn to scale
Both speakers and both views share one scale, so everything here is directly comparable. Hover a box for its dimensions.
One scale for both, standing on the same surface and pushed back to the same wall, so the deeper one visibly sticks out further.
Canton Reference Center 2023 needs about 27% more floor or shelf area. Canton Reference Center 2023 is 39mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. Canton Reference Center 2023 is 34mm taller.
Base Surface Area Comparison
Base surface area of a loudspeaker may become a determining factor when the space in your room or desk is limited.
The base surface area of the Canton Reference Center 2023 is approximately 2714.4cm2 / 420.7inch2 and base area of the Focal Sopra Center is approximately 2131.5cm2 / 330.4inch2. The Reference Center 2023 requires 27% more surface area than the Sopra Center which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.
Weight Comparison The weight of a loudspeaker can become an important factor if you need to move and reposition the unit often. Weight of a speaker can also "sometimes" be an indicator of the rigidity of the enclosure and the quality of the internal components used. The Canton Reference Center 2023 weighs 25.95kg / 57.1lbs and the Focal Sopra Center weighs 19.00kg / 41.8lbs. This makes the Reference Center 2023 37% heavier than the Sopra Center.
Here is a comparison of how Reference Center 2023 and Sopra Center's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Center Channel class.
Weight
All Center Channel Speakers
Canton Reference Center 2023
 Max Input Power |
230 watts
vs
200 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Low Frequency Response |
25 Hz
vs
55 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
|
Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
inches
|
Larger woofer |
 Height |
235mm
vs
269mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
2131cm2
vs
2714cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
4999USD
vs
5000USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Canton Reference Center 2023 |
Focal Sopra Center |
| Brand |
Canton |
Focal |
| Speaker Type |
Center channel speaker |
Center Channel speaker |
| Power Range |
130-230 watts |
40-200 watts |
| Sensitivity |
n/a |
91 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
25-40k Hz |
55-40k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
|
2 |
| Woofer Size |
" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
|
W sandwich |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1.1" |
| Tweeter Type |
n/a |
Inverted Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
6.85" |
3" |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
269.2mm (10.6") |
235.0mm (9.3") |
| Width |
698.5mm (27.5") |
609.0mm (24") |
| Depth |
388.6mm (15.3") |
350.0mm (13.8") |
| Weight |
25.95kg (57.1lbs) |
19.00kg (41.8lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
n/a |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
|
|
| Labor Warranty |
|
|
A generation apart: Canton Reference Center 2023 is the newer design, against a 2016 model. Newer is not automatically better, but the older one is more likely to be discounted or near run-out.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | A | Canton Reference Center 2023 digs deeper - 25Hz against 55Hz. |
| Amplifier match | B | Focal Sopra Center is the easier load at 8 ohms; the other is 4 ohms and wants an amplifier rated for it. |
| Headroom | evenly matched | Similar power handling (230W vs 200W). |
| Size | depends | Focal Sopra Center is easier to place; Canton Reference Center 2023 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Price | evenly matched | Much the same money ($5,000 vs $4,999 a pair). |
A Canton Reference Center 2023 B Focal Sopra Center
depends neither is better in the abstract - it turns on your room, your system or how you will use them. Only specs published for both speakers are judged; anything missing on either side is left out rather than guessed.
Which should you choose?
Neither runs away with it - they trade advantages. Let the "depends" rows and your own room settle it. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 55Hz anyway, so judge these on the other rows instead. In a large or open-plan room, Canton Reference Center 2023 has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, Focal Sopra Center is the easier speaker to get right.
And remember what a spec sheet cannot show: how each looks in your room and whether the finish suits it, what dealer support and warranty are like where you live, and how they actually sound to you. If you can hear them first - ideally with your own music - that will tell you more than any number above.