Focal Sopra 2 vs Sopra 3?

@rsf507 ,
Can you please elaborate "unlistenable". That is totally NOT what I found about Sopra when setup properly. I was in a properly treated room (Vicoustic) and the Sopras sounded pretty good with a nice bottom end. The front end was Simaudio and Hegel. Wiring was Nordost Valhalla 2.

@2bz this goes to prove how a speaker can sound so different in one setup Vs the other. Hence it is recommended that you try to audition yourself, rather than depending on users. Take our experience as a "guide", but not as "your experience".

I auditioned both speakers at a dealer.  Both were very good, but the Sopra No. 3 was clearly superior.  Everything the No. 2 did well, the No. 3 did better.  The No. 3's had better resolution, better dynamics, better transparency, and created a larger, deeper soundstage.  The No. 3 were exceptional at reproducing large scale symphonic music with authority and weight, whereas the No. 2 started to sound a bit compressed and congested in comparison.  Both were auditioned with Audio Research electronics.  I ended up buying the No. 3.  It is a magnificent, stunningly musical speaker.

I auditioned the 2's and so wanted to like them. I didn't. I actually liked the Sopra 1's better as I thought they were better balanced. So did I buy the Sopra 1's? Well, no. I also listened to the Wilson Sabrina which I though were quite good. I wound up with a speaker I liked better than any if the ones I just mentioned- Revel Studio 2's. Never heard the Sopra 3's. 

I will say that I gave also heard the Sonus Faber Olympica 3's, which I think are pretty terrific. The Olympica 2's sounded anemic to me. 

I heard the Olympica 2’s with Audio Reaserch and I found then anemic too.
Too much silky and soft to my taste, overall I was disappointed from every Sonus Faber speakers I listened to.Overtime I learned to prefer speakers that have more professional/ studio approach( not the fancy looking ones) such as Proac, ATC,Bryston act.

I'm not up in the more rarified air of buying Sopras, but if I was for my 13.5'x18' room I'd definitely do No.2. I wouldn't consider the 3 without twice that space. This is basically the dilemma you find between the 936 and 948; ever so much deeper bass and the dispersion characteristics of the narrower baffle vs. the wider baffle. I think the only way to rightly compare them isn't in the same room, but rather rooms appropriate to their intended size. I feel I'm missing nothing with 936 as opposed to 948's and I suspect the same would be true with No.2's and No.3's if the room is more appropriate for the 2's.