Goldenear Reference Vs. Focal Sopra #2.....pocket the $5k difference and don't look back?

Gdhal, it’s funny you say that, yet you don’t understand the difference between the Focal -6db bottom end measurement and the golden ear “12hz” (likely at -10db or more) sandy gross marketing bottom end measurement since you compared the two as if they’re the same measurement.

Sorry Tuxedocat, but the kinds of things like you just said are definitely the product of hype and trendiness. Eric's ideas about speakers are just a bit discombobulated from a technical standpoint and both the Reference and Sopra No.2 represent vastly better engineering and build quality, which I do believe produce a more refined sound. 

As for the question of bass, I read the Stereophile measurements of the Sopra No.3, which has an identical low point as my 936's, and JA points out that with usual room boundary reinforcement achieving flat response to 20Hz shouldn't be a problem. 

Assuming the No.2 measures pretty much as well as the No.3, which would be a reasonable expectation, it's a technically superior speaker. Ultimately it's up to taste as I've said before, but for me the beaming sort of dispersion you get from the AMT would push me towards the Focal as it's already done. 

@contuzzi - nothing funny per se, but if you care to post the source of your measurement claims I’ll see what I can find out off board.

@kosst_amojan - I surmise your post was directed at me, not tuxedocat. Apologies if I'm mistaken.  :)

contuzzi/kosst, by all means feel free to berate this video. A worthwhile listen in its entirety and its only 2:20. This is all I was referring to in my most previous post herein this thread. Of course you can choose to "Believe It or Not" (I’m referring to a Hunter/Garcia ballad recorded for Built To Last but not released on the album. It was played live by the Grateful Dead only six times in 1988 and once in 1990).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pHx3EnnG8lw

@gdhal 
The first paragraph was squarely directed at Tuxedocat. I'm not much of a fan of Tekton nor those that claim his $3000 speakers in any way compare to the technical an subjective achievements that speakers like the Reference and Sopra No.2 represent. 

All my point was about was that anechoic measurements of low points don't represent the actual performance of a speaker in a real room. 

I'm not a guy who uses subs or even likes them. I much prefer getting speakers intended for a larger space than what I have and taking advantage of their more robust bass performance. It avoids complications and makes for a simpler set up.