Int. Amplifier with Focal 807W Speakers

Hi Topten,
Your Focal 807W are around tested 88db efficiency, about normal. The worst tested impedance is 4ohm between 100hz and 200hz, while this is not too nasty a load by itself for a good 4ohm say 50-100w tube amp. You have to add to that, it is tested also to have a negative phase angle of -45 degrees at 100hz also, that would give with 4ohm impedance load a combined EPDR (equivalent peak dissipation resistance) of around 2ohms.

While a tube amp will drive this and sound ok'ish, that bass region around 100hz will sound much more punchier and tighter driven by an amp with good current drive, 100w-8ohm solid state that can almost double to 200w-4ohm.

Cheers George

If you only have 1 source, you could try a passive pre/volume control. The external amp/preamp connections on the back of your nad allows you to bypass the preamp completely.

Good pickup ZD, and good on NAD for doing a poweramp input, they (integrateds) should all have this feature, and yes a passive VC into the poweramp section will cure your too much gain problem.

Cheers George

Check out a Musical Fidelity M6 500i. Loads of detail, volume control with .5 db steps, and bass that reproduces an upright bass in a very realistic presentation. Not in the component of the month club. At 500 watts it would grab ahold of your Focals and show you what the are and are not capable of.

About a month ago my new Focal Sopra No2's arrived! I am smitten!
My journey to select these speakers took me about six months, and I was careful to make sure my electronics were not at all shrill sounding, as I found the Focal line to be "musical", but the tweeters were not very "forgiving".
During my search I auditioned 1038BE's and the Sopra's driven by both tube and solid state electronics. In every case I found the tube equipment to sound "dull" and "restrained", to me not great qualities for these speakers.
The best electronics I heard driving these speakers was the McIntosh C50/MC452. I was fortunate enough to snag a lightly used pair for a reasonable amount. Before that, I had the McIntosh MAC6700 receiver (essentially a 200 wpc integrated, with a tuner module). I find the McIntosh equipment to sound really "smooth" and "musical". It's not everyone's "cup of tea", but I find I can listen to these Sopra's for a long time at a sitting without fatigue.