In this review, we will be comparing Sopra No.1 and Contour 20i, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Focal and Dynaudio.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Focal Sopra No.1 and Dynaudio Contour 20i first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Focal Sopra No.1 | Dynaudio Contour 20i |
|---|
| Brand | Focal
France · founded 1979 | Dynaudio
Denmark · founded 1977 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1.1" Inverted Dome | 1.1" Soft-Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 6.5" W sandwich | 7" MSP |
|---|
| Frequency response | 45-40k Hz | 39-23k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 89 dB | 86 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 4 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 25-150 watts | — |
|---|
| Weight | 16.00kg / 35.2lbs | 14.00kg / 30.8lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 16-3/4" x 11" x 15-9/16"
425.0 x 279.0 x 396.0mm | 17-5/16" x 8-7/16" x 14-3/16"
440.0 x 215.0 x 360.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Focal Sopra No.1 and Dynaudio Contour 20i 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* |
Focal Sopra No.1 |
Dynaudio Contour 20i |
| 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
Both Sopra No.1 and Contour 20i are 2-way speakers.
Focal Sopra No.1Dynaudio Contour 20i
TweeterWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
Focal Sopra No.1 |
Dynaudio Contour 20i |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1.1-inch
|
1.1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
1 x 7-inch
|
Sopra No.1 features a 1.1" Beryllium Inverted Dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" W sandwich Woofer. On the other hand, the Contour 20i features a 1.1" Esotar 2i Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 7" MSP Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2200 Hz.
Frequency Response
Sopra No.1 has a frequency range of 45-40k Hz whereas Contour 20i has a frequency range of 39-23k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 39Hz, the Contour 20i can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Sopra No.1's min frequency of 45Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Bookshelf class in our database.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf 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.
Impedance and Sensitivity
Sopra No.1 is a 8 ohms speaker compared to the Contour 20i which has a nominal impedance of 4 ohms. Lower impedance speakers, especially the ones that are rated at 4 ohms may put more pressure on the amplifier unit especially when played at high volume levels, so make sure the amp you pair with the Contour 20i can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Sopra No.1 sensitivity is rated at 89 dB and the Contour 20i's is rated at 86 dB. This 3 dB difference makes the Focal Sopra No.1 a more sensitive speaker compared to Dynaudio Contour 20i, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Bookshelf Speakers
Which plays louder on your amplifier?
Starting with a popular amplifier - change it to the one you own, or any you are
considering, and watch both numbers move.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
Sopra No.1 features Binding post type posts and Contour 20i 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 Focal Sopra No.1's and Dynaudio Contour 20i's external dimensions. Focal Sopra No.1 has external dimensions of 425.0 x 279.0 x 396.0mm (16-3/4 x 11 x 15-9/16inch) whereas Dynaudio Contour 20i has external dimensions of 440.0 x 215.0 x 360.0mm (17-5/16 x 8-7/16 x 14-3/16inch).
Dynaudio Contour 20i is 64mm narrower and 36mm less deeper than Focal Sopra No.1 but it is also 15mm taller.
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.
Focal Sopra No.1 needs about 43% more floor or shelf area. Focal Sopra No.1 is 36mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. Dynaudio Contour 20i is 15mm 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 Focal Sopra No.1 is approximately 1104.8cm2 / 171.2inch2 and base area of the Dynaudio Contour 20i is approximately 774.0cm2 / 120.0inch2. The Sopra No.1 requires 43% more surface area than the Contour 20i 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 Focal Sopra No.1 weighs 16.00kg / 35.2lbs and the Dynaudio Contour 20i weighs 14.00kg / 30.8lbs. This makes the Sopra No.1 14% heavier than the Contour 20i.
Here is a comparison of how Sopra No.1 and Contour 20i's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
 Sensitivity |
89 dB
vs
86 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 High Frequency Response |
40k Hz
vs
23k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
425mm
vs
440mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Max Input Power |
180 watts
vs
150 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Woofer Size |
7 inches
vs
6.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
39 Hz
vs
45 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Base Surface Area |
774cm2
vs
1104cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
5750USD
vs
6499USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Focal Sopra No.1 |
Dynaudio Contour 20i |
| Brand |
Focal |
Dynaudio |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Sensitivity |
89 dB |
86 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
4 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
45-40k Hz |
39-23k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
7" |
| Woofer Composition |
W sandwich |
MSP |
| Tweeter Size |
1.1" |
1.1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Inverted Dome |
Soft-Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
n/a |
2200 Hz |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
425.0mm (16.7") |
440.0mm (17.3") |
| Width |
279.0mm (11") |
215.0mm (8.5") |
| Depth |
396.0mm (15.6") |
360.0mm (14.2") |
| Weight |
16.00kg (35.2lbs) |
14.00kg (30.8lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Mounting Bracket |
|
|
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
No |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
|
|
| Labor Warranty |
|
|
A generation apart: Dynaudio Contour 20i is the newer design, against a 2015 model. Newer is not automatically better, but the older one is more likely to be discounted or near run-out.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | B | Dynaudio Contour 20i digs deeper - 39Hz against 45Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs | A | Focal Sopra No.1 is more sensitive (89dB vs 86dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Amplifier match | A | Focal Sopra No.1 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 (150W vs 180W). |
| Size | depends | Dynaudio Contour 20i is easier to place; Focal Sopra No.1 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Price | B | Dynaudio Contour 20i is cheaper - $5,750 against $6,499, about 12% less. |
A Focal Sopra No.1 B Dynaudio Contour 20i
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?
The usual trade-off: Focal Sopra No.1 measures better, Dynaudio Contour 20i costs about about 13% more% less. Whether that gap is worth the money is the call only you can make - and in a normal room it is often smaller than the numbers suggest. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 45Hz anyway, so judge these on the other rows instead. If your amplifier is modest, vintage or valve-based, Focal Sopra No.1 is the safer partner - the other will want more current or more watts to sound its best.
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.