Opera Prima V2 Bookshelf Speakers; pair

The Opera Prima V2 may look like a classic bookshelf speaker, but it is anything but traditional beneath the surface. Handcrafted in Italy, this two-way bass-reflex design represents the culmination of Opera’s decades-long research into cabinet acoustics, material behavior, and musical realism. The Prima V2 is deeply informed by real-world listening, not just measurement curves. It brings together thoughtful cabinet geometry, bespoke crossover design, and custom Scan-Speak drivers to produce a sound that is full, open, and emotionally connected, even at low listening levels. Just when you thought Opera could not improve on something amazing, they delivered anyway.

Key Features

• Optimized cabinet geometry: Minimizes internal resonances and controls decay across critical midband frequencies
• Custom 180 mm aluminum woofer (7.1”): Developed with Scan-Speak for fast transients and low coloration
• Modified 26 mm soft dome tweeter (1.0”): Tailored chamber damping for smooth, extended treble
• Precision crossover network: Features Vishay resistors, Mundorf capacitors, and proprietary inductors for exceptional phase control and tonal clarity
• Dual-density internal damping: High-mass polyurethane absorber reduces internal reflections by an order of magnitude
• Available in new finishes: Choose from rich Rosewood or modern Concrete Gray for a look that suits both classic and contemporary rooms
• Crafted to Opera’s Italian design standards: Built with furniture-grade finish and acoustically intelligent detail

Cabinet Design That Redefines Control

Most speaker builders treat the cabinet as a formality, a box to house the drivers. Opera treats it as an acoustic environment, just like your listening room. The Prima V2’s cabinet proportions were re-engineered to distribute internal modes across a wider frequency range, reducing peak resonances and controlling decay. Combined with a high-density polyurethane internal absorber, these design choices reduce internal noise and coloration by a factor of ten compared to previous generations.

The result is greater low-level resolution, better spatial articulation, and superior musical realism even at modest volumes. Every surface, joint, and material has been tuned not just for strength, but for silence.

Driver Collaboration with Scan-Speak

Rather than spec’ing off-the-shelf components, Opera worked closely with Scan-Speak to refine every aspect of the Prima V2’s drivers. The 180 mm black-anodized aluminum woofer delivers fast, clean bass and transparent midrange thanks to a carefully controlled mass-to-compliance ratio and custom magnet assembly. It produces strong dynamic swing with low distortion and excellent dispersion.

The tweeter is a 26 mm soft dome unit, modified internally to match Opera’s house voicing. With carefully damped chamber materials and double ferrite magnets, it balances sparkle with softness, integrating smoothly with the woofer without drawing attention to itself.

A Crossover Worth Talking About

Opera doesn’t treat the crossover like a back-end detail. Every aspect, from the acoustic slopes to the layout of the PCB, was voiced in the listening room, not just the lab. The network uses Vishay resistors and Mundorf capacitors in both the signal and ground paths, delivering exceptional transparency. Inductors were built to Opera’s specs for coil shape, size, and adhesive treatment, avoiding phase anomalies and preserving spatial integrity.

Most importantly, this crossover was built to respect the natural behavior of the drivers, not to force them into arbitrary alignment. The acoustic phase remains stable across the transition point, which sits at 2500 Hz. The result is a speaker that remains composed at low volume but doesn’t fall apart when pushed, a rare achievement in its class.

Real Engineering, Real Listening

What separates the Prima V2 from so many bookshelf speakers is how little it changes as volume goes up. Distortion stays low, articulation remains consistent, and the overall tonal balance holds steady. Opera’s unique articulation measurements, developed in-house, confirm what you hear in the room: a speaker that scales without smearing, distorting, or hardening.

With a sensitivity of 90 dB and a nominal 6-ohm impedance (minimum 3.8 ohms), the Prima V2 is flexible with both solid-state and tube amplification. It presents a load that’s friendly without being dull, and an impedance phase that’s easy on most quality amps.

The Listening Room Difference

We carry speakers like the Opera Prima V2 because they represent true craftsmanship, the kind of gear that reflects years of listening, thinking, and refinement. And when you call or message us with questions, you won’t get a chatbot or a generic answer. You’ll reach a real person, usually Mike, our third-generation owner and lifelong audiophile. He’s actually listened to the Prima V2, knows how it compares to the competition, and will help you decide if it’s the right speaker for your room, your amp, and your music.

We’re a family-run brick-and-mortar shop in Chestertown, Maryland. We know this gear because we live with it. And that’s what makes The Listening Room different.

Specifications

• Type: Two-way bass-reflex bookshelf speaker
• Tweeter: 26 mm (1.0”) soft dome, aluminum front plate, double ferrite magnet
• Woofer: 180 mm (7.1”) black anodized aluminum cone, ferrite magnet
• Crossover Frequency: 2500 Hz
• Frequency Response: 50 Hz – 21,000 Hz (±3 dB)
• Sensitivity: 90 dB (2.83V / 1m)
• Nominal Impedance: 6 ohms
• Minimum Impedance: 3.8 ohms
• Recommended Amplifier Power: 25 – 100 watts
• Maximum Power Handling: 100W (without clipping)
• Cabinet Dimensions: 237 × 428 × 390 mm (9.3” × 16.9” × 15.4”)
• Total Height with Stand: 1162 mm (45.7”)
• Total Depth with Stand: 449 mm (17.7”)
• Net Weight: 14 kg (30.9 lbs)
• Made in: Italy