Opera Seconda SE Speakers (Each)

Opera Loudspeakers Seconda SE

The Opera Seconda SE is a redesigned two-and-a-half-way floorstanding speaker.

Drivers

The 7-inch woofer is a custom unit built by Scanspeak for the updated Classica series. It performs exceptionally well in the midrange and is even used as the midrange driver in the Opera Quinta. The woofer features an aluminum diaphragm, a 38 mm voice coil with two layers of CCWA wire, and an aluminum former housed in a precisely shaped magnetic gap. A metal ring around the pole piece helps control magnetic flux variations. The basket is die-cast for added rigidity. Compared to the previous model, the woofer’s displacement volume has increased by 10 percent. The aluminum diaphragm avoids sub-harmonic distortions and delivers accurate bass. Both woofers are wired in parallel and share a 40-liter internal chamber.

The tweeter is a Scanspeak D26 model with a treated one-inch soft dome, dual magnet structure, decompression chamber, ferrofluid damping, and aluminum faceplate. It has a peak-to-peak excursion of one millimeter, which is twice the range of conventional tweeters. The frequency response extends up to 30 kHz with no attenuation and reaches 40 kHz at minus six decibels. With a resonant frequency of approximately 860 Hz, the tweeter is well isolated from vibration, especially when mounted to the 30 mm thick MDF front panel.

Crossover

The crossover circuit is split between two separate boards to reduce mutual inductance between coils. The high-pass section for the tweeter is carefully designed to minimize microphonic effects, which are often overlooked in speaker design. Capacitors in the signal path are chosen for their high performance and contribute to a stable, precise soundstage with a well-defined center image.

Cabinet

The cabinet takes its design cues from the curved upper section of Opera’s flagship Malibran model. The 30 mm MDF front panel accommodates the drivers and features rounded leather-covered edges that also act as an acoustic seal. The sides are finished in real wood veneer and finely polished. Internal bracing improves structural integrity. Two layers of 10 cm thick, pyramid-shaped polyurethane are used inside the cabinet to absorb rear radiation from the woofers. The result is a consistent and clear acoustic presentation. The cabinet also includes robust metal bars designed to support both wheels and spikes for flexible placement.

Terminals and Connectivity

The Seconda SE includes four gold-plated brass binding posts for bi-wiring. These high-quality terminals are used across Opera’s product line and support all standard termination types, ensuring a solid and secure connection.

Thanks to its design, the Seconda SE is particularly well suited for vinyl playback, minimizing the impact of subsonic frequencies. It also performs exceptionally well in home theater environments, whether used as front or rear speakers. A pair of these can deliver a full cinematic experience without the need for a center speaker or subwoofer.

Impedance and Compatibility

Special attention has been given to the electrical impedance curve to make the speaker less sensitive to the choice of cables or amplifier. The speaker operates as a nominal 4-ohm load and adheres to DIN 45500 standards, maintaining a minimum impedance above 3.2 ohms. It can be used with any amplifier rated for 4-ohm operation, including tube and solid-state designs.

Conclusion

The Opera Seconda SE delivers deep, full-range sound in a refined and compact design. With its extended low-frequency response, natural midrange, and detailed highs, it is easy to place in a room and delivers performance typically found in Opera’s top-tier models. This updated version replaces the well-regarded previous model, which earned global recognition including a "Best Buy" rating from HiFi Choice and a "Best Recommended" award from Audio Art. This new edition aims to surpass those achievements.