Short answer: the Yamaha NS-800A. Both are rated 4.0/5 for sound quality (#81 and #88 of 214 bookshelf speakers), and the Yamaha NS-800A costs $4,999.90 against $12,998 for the Focal Sopra N°1, and with sound quality even, the cheaper one is the better buy.
Why pick the Focal Sopra N°1: A high-end two-way stand-mount with a 6.5” W sandwich cone woofer and a 1” beryllium inverted dome tweeter, with Focal’s TMD surround and NIC motor. The catch: Audioholics’ measurements stop at 200Hz, so it has no preference score; the rating is estimated from that data and the Focal Theva N°1.
Why pick the Yamaha NS-800A: Exceptionally well-built cabinet with no internal resonance issues at all: confirmed clean in both burst decay and impedance measurements. The catch: A wide, roughly 2kHz-10kHz scoop in the upper-midrange/lower-treble gives it a laidback, soft, low-attack character: notably worse than the reviewer’s Audio First Fidelia reference in an A/B comparison.
Buy the Yamaha NS-800A. Both are rated the same for sound quality, and it costs $7,998.10 less than the Focal Sopra N°1.
About the ratings: the Focal Sopra N°1’s rating is estimated from measured siblings and predecessors rather than its own measurements, with a likely range of 3.6 to 4.4, so this verdict could change once it is measured.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Passive Home rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Focal Sopra N°1 | Yamaha NS-800A | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $12,998 per pair | $4,999.90 per pair |
| Ranked | #88 of 214 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers Estimated | #81 of 214 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 45Hz (manufacturer specified) | 68Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Drivers | 6.5” W sandwich cone woofer, 1” (25mm) beryllium inverted dome tweeter | 1.25” dome tweeter, 6.5” mid-woofer |
| Sensitivity | 89dB (2.83V/1m, manufacturer specified) | 84.9dB (measured average 300Hz-3kHz @ 2.83V/1m, Erin’s Audio Corner; 86.5dB manufacturer specified) |
| Impedance | 8 ohms nominal (3.9 ohms minimum) | 6 ohms nominal, 4.3 ohms minimum (measured above 80Hz, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Frequency Response | 45Hz-40kHz ±3dB (manufacturer specified) | - |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported | Bass reflex |
| Dimensions | 16.7”H x 11”W x 15.6”D (425 x 279 x 397 mm) | 16.5”H x 9.1”W x 14.1”D (419.1 x 231.8 x 358.8 mm) |
| Weight | 41.9 lbs (19 kg) each | 28.7 lbs (13.0 kg) each |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 35Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Crossover Frequency | - | 2600Hz |
| Power Handling | - | 40W nominal, 120W max |
| Spinorama Preference Score | - | 4.66 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | - | 6.43 |
Frequency Response Compared
Both speakers’ spinorama measurements, overlaid. A flatter line is more neutral: peaks sound forward or harsh, dips sound recessed. Each curve is shifted so its average from 300 Hz to 3 kHz sits at 0 dB, so loudness differences between the two are removed and only the shape is compared. The two were measured by different sources, so small differences, especially in the bass, can come from the measurement setup rather than the speakers.
Measurement data: Focal Sopra N°1 (measured by an independent reviewer) and Yamaha NS-800A (measured by Erin’s Audio Corner), via spinorama.org.
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The Two Speakers In Full
Focal Sopra N°1: $12,998 per pair Estimated Focal eBay
Same family: the Focal Sopra N°2 (smaller floorstanding, estimated 4.1/5), the Focal Sopra N°3 (larger floorstanding, estimated 4.1/5) and the Focal Sopra Center (center, estimated 3.9/5).
Pros: A high-end two-way stand-mount with a 6.5” W sandwich cone woofer and a 1” beryllium inverted dome tweeter, with Focal’s TMD surround and NIC motor. Sensitivity is 89dB, and Focal rates the bass to 45Hz (±3dB).
Cons: Audioholics’ measurements stop at 200Hz, so it has no preference score; the rating is estimated from that data and the Focal Theva N°1. Impedance dips to 3.9 ohms.
Full Focal Sopra N°1 review and specifications →
| Released | Jun 2015 (11 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 45Hz (manufacturer specified) |
| DIY Kit | No |
| Dimensions | 16.7”H x 11”W x 15.6”D (425 x 279 x 397 mm) |
| Drivers | 6.5” W sandwich cone woofer, 1” (25mm) beryllium inverted dome tweeter |
| Frequency Response | 45Hz-40kHz ±3dB (manufacturer specified) |
| Impedance | 8 ohms nominal (3.9 ohms minimum) |
| Sensitivity | 89dB (2.83V/1m, manufacturer specified) |
| Weight | 41.9 lbs (19 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Yamaha NS-800A: $4,999.90 per pair The Music Room eBay
Pros: Exceptionally well-built cabinet with no internal resonance issues at all: confirmed clean in both burst decay and impedance measurements. Good, wide directivity (~75 degrees horizontal) that stays consistent enough to EQ successfully. Distortion is low, staying under 3% at 96dB, and dynamic range holds up well until right near its 102dB limit. A shallower, higher-frequency bass rolloff profile (F3 68Hz, F10 35Hz) means it can be placed closer to the wall (about a foot) without turning boomy, actually gaining bass presence rather than losing it. Measured bass extension of 68Hz (-3dB), with a measured sensitivity of 84.9dB.
Cons: A wide, roughly 2kHz-10kHz scoop in the upper-midrange/lower-treble gives it a laidback, soft, low-attack character: notably worse than the reviewer’s Audio First Fidelia reference in an A/B comparison. On top of that, treble breaks up badly above 10kHz, swinging up as much as 8dB: a significant, named flaw. Sounds inconsistently voiced as a result (bright on some material like cymbals and shakers, dull/laidback on vocals and instrument attack) until corrected with real parametric EQ (the reviewer needed a +2dB boost around 4.5kHz at Q0.5 plus taming the treble spike to bring it to life) combined with near-wall placement and 30-degree toe-out. Without that combination, it’s a tough sale for a $5000 bookshelf speaker.
Full Yamaha NS-800A review and specifications →
| Released | 2024 (2 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 35Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 68Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Crossover Frequency | 2600Hz |
| DIY Kit | No |
| Dimensions | 16.5”H x 9.1”W x 14.1”D (419.1 x 231.8 x 358.8 mm) |
| Drivers | 1.25” dome tweeter, 6.5” mid-woofer |
| Impedance | 6 ohms nominal, 4.3 ohms minimum (measured above 80Hz, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Power Handling | 40W nominal, 120W max |
| Sensitivity | 84.9dB (measured average 300Hz-3kHz @ 2.83V/1m, Erin’s Audio Corner; 86.5dB manufacturer specified) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 4.66 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.43 |
| Weight | 28.7 lbs (13.0 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | Bass reflex |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
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