In this review, we will be comparing two different type of speakers by Focal. Focal Sopra No.1 is a Bookshelf speaker whereas the Sopra Center is a Center Channel speaker.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Focal Sopra No.1 and Focal Sopra Center first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
Focal Sopra No.1 Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1.1" Inverted Dome Tweeter
- 6.5" W sandwich Woofer
- 45-40k Hz Frequency Response
- 89 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:25-150watts
- Weight:16.00kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 16-3/4" x 11" x 15-9/16" ( 425.0 x 279.0 x 396.0mm )
Focal Sopra Center Key Specs
- 3-way Design
- 1.1" Inverted Dome Tweeter
- 3" Midrange
- 2 x 6.5" W sandwich Woofer
- 3" Midrange
- 55-40k Hz Frequency Response
- 91 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:40-200watts
- Weight:19.00kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 9-1/4" x 24" x 13-3/4" ( 235.0 x 609.0 x 350.0mm )
Sopra No.1 and Sopra Center are members of Focal's Sopra series of speakers. Below you can find the loudspeakers from this series.
Focal Sopra Series
History
What size room are the Focal Sopra No.1 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* |
Focal Sopra No.1 |
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.)
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Focal Sopra No.1 and Focal Sopra Center compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these loudspeakers is the better choice for you.
**This post contains affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking
through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Drivers
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that Sopra No.1 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.
| Driver |
Focal Sopra No.1 |
Focal Sopra Center |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1.1-inch
|
1.1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
1 x 3-inch |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
2 x 6.5-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 Sopra Center features a 1.1" Beryllium Inverted Dome Tweeter , a 3" Midrange and 2 x 6.5" W sandwich Woofer .
Frequency Response
Sopra No.1 has a frequency range of 45-40k Hz whereas Sopra Center has a frequency range of 55-40k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 45Hz, the Sopra No.1 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Sopra Center's min frequency of 55Hz.
Below graphs depict how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average values of the Min and Max Frequencies of other speakers in the Bookshelf class in our database.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
High Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
None of these speakers achieves full range experience which is commonly agreed as 20Hz-20kHz. In order to achieve lower lows / deeper bass, we recommend you pair these with a subwoofer. Visit our Powered Subwoofers section to find out more about the available options.
Impedance and Sensitivity
Sopra No.1 and Sopra Center have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Sopra No.1 sensitivity is rated at 89 dB and the Sopra Center's is at 91 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the Focal Sopra Center a more sensitive speaker compared to Focal Sopra No.1, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Bookshelf Speakers
Power Range
Power
range is the range of input power in watts RMS that a loudspeaker is designed to handle. While using
an amplifier within this range ensures the nominal performance , inputting a power that is higher than the
max wattage can result in a damaged speaker.
Sopra No.1 can handle a max power of 200 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Sopra No.1 has a max power handling value of 150 watts RMS , 50 watts less than the Sopra Center.
Keep in mind that a higher max power handling value doesn't necessarily make that a louder speaker
compared to a lower max handling speaker. Loudness or the sound level is also impacted by parameters
such as Impedance, sensitivity and system efficiencies.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
Sopra No.1 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
Size of a speaker can sometimes become 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 Focal Sopra Center'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 Focal Sopra Center has external dimensions of 235.0 x 609.0 x 350.0mm ( 9-1/4 x 24 x 13-3/4inch) .
Focal Sopra Center is 190mm shorter and 46mm less deeper than Focal Sopra No.1 but it is also 330mm wider.
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 Focal Sopra Center is approximately 2131.5cm2 / 330.4inch2. The Sopra No.1 requires 48% less surface area than the Sopra Center which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.