The year is a guess as I bought these 2nd hand from an audio dealer in N.H. I had intended to buy a pair of Harbeth speakers that sell for around $2100.00-$2200.00 per pair at the time. The store had this pair of Opera's hanging around , they told me they were a review pair. No manual and not much info. from the store. one of the cabinets was slightly damaged but they sounded fantastic, they blew away the Harbeth's by a mile. I was able at a later date to e-mail someone at Opera in Italy and was told that from my description of them they probably had Focal drivers in them and sold originally for $1995.00. They have very crisp highs and room placement is a concern. I currently use them in the front end of my surround system w/a Cambridge Audio surround reciever. Once in a while I listen to music through them along w/a B and W sub. and the sound is most enjoyable. I've had them for about a year and a half and plan to keep them for a lot longer. I also swap them out w/the rear speakers once in a while which are B and W CM1'S. It is impossible to compare the two as the B and W's are much more mellow in the high's and mids and have their own great sound. I Iike them both but if I had to live with one or the other it would be the Opera's, hands down.

These speakers may seem expensive but as soon as you look at them you can see where the money went, they're like beautifully sculpted pieces of furniture. The cabinet is made from solid mahogany panels and once you sit down and listen to them £900 doesn't seem like bad value - it seems like a steal.

They're only small but they can produce a surprising amount of bass due to the rear port and that high mass, rigid cabinet. Their best trick is being able to float a number of different sounds in front of you simultaneously in a way that defies logic. How can something that small throw up such a large and focused soundstage?

I auditioned them against the Sonus Faber Concertinos and Operettas sound and appearance were in a different league - it didn't take long to decide which ones to take home!

I've lived with them for five years and have received many complements from visitors about them. I wouldn't consider parting with them, well not until I can afford some of the even better Opera speakers!