In this review, we will be comparing Aria 906 and Chorus 706, two Passive Bookshelf speakers by Focal Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Focal Aria 906 and Focal Chorus 706 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the Focal Aria 906 and Focal Chorus 706 speakers good for?
The size of the room in which you are planning to use these loudspeakers is an important decision factor. Here we have compared their suitability to various sizes of environments considering their size and max power parameters:
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Focal Aria 906 and Focal Chorus 706 compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these loudspeakers is the better choice for you.
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Drivers
Both Aria 906 and Chorus 706 are 2-way speakers.
Driver |
Focal Aria 906 |
Focal Chorus 706 |
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
Woofer
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
Aria 906 features a 1" TNF aluminum/magnesium Inverted Hard Dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Flax Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2800Hz. On the other hand, the Chorus 706 features a 1" TNV2 AI/Mg inverted dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Polyglass Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 3000Hz.
Frequency Response
Aria 906 and Chorus 706 has exactly the same frequency range of 55-28k Hz.
Below graphs depict how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average values of the Min and Max Frequencies of other speakers in the Bookshelf class in our database.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
High Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
None of these speakers achieves full range experience which is commonly agreed as 20Hz-20kHz. In order to achieve lower lows / deeper bass, we recommend you pair these with a subwoofer. Visit our Powered Subwoofers section to find out more about the available options.
Impedance and Sensitivity
Aria 906 and Chorus 706 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Aria 906 sensitivity is rated at 89.5 dB and the Chorus 706's is at 90 dB.
Sensitivity
Bookshelf Speakers
Power Range
Power
range is the range of input power in watts RMS that a loudspeaker is designed to handle. While using an amplifier within this range ensures the nominal performance , inputting a power that is higher than the max wattage can result in a damaged speaker.
Keep in mind that a higher max power handling value doesn't necessarily make that a louder speaker
compared to a lower max handling speaker. Loudness or the sound level is also impacted by parameters
such as Impedance, sensitivity and system efficiencies.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
Aria 906 features Binding post type posts and Chorus 706 has a Binding post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Aria 906 has a rear firing port whereas Chorus 706 has a front firing ports. Focal Chorus 706's front-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to Focal Aria 906 with its rear-firing port.
Physical Specs
Size of a speaker can sometimes become an important decision factor due to space constraints or in some cases purely for esthetic reasons. In this section, we are going to compare Focal Aria 906's and Focal Chorus 706's external dimensions. Focal Aria 906 has external dimensions of 391.0 x 228.0 x 288.0mm ( 15-3/8 x 8-15/16 x 11-5/16inch) whereas Focal Chorus 706 has external dimensions of 390.0 x 220.0 x 263.0mm ( 15.4 x 8.7 x 10.4inch) .
Focal Aria 906 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 8mm wider, 1mm taller and 25mm deeper than Focal Chorus 706.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Focal Aria 906 and Focal Chorus 706 in scale.
Base Surface Area Comparison
Base surface area of a loudspeaker may become a determining factor when the space in your room or desk is limited.
The base surface area of the Focal Aria 906 is approximately 656.6cm2 / 101.8inch2 and base area of the Focal Chorus 706 is approximately 578.6cm2 / 89.7inch2. The Aria 906 requires 13% more surface area than the Chorus 706 which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.
Weight Comparison The weight of a loudspeaker can become an important factor if you need to move and reposition the unit often. Weight of a speaker can also "sometimes" be an indicator of the rigidity of the enclosure and the quality of the internal components used. The Focal Aria 906 weighs 8.64kg / 19lbs and the Focal Chorus 706 weighs 8.20kg / 18lbs. This makes the Aria 906 5% heavier than the Chorus 706.
Here is a comparison of how Aria 906 and Chorus 706's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
What's in the Box of Focal Aria 906?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Aria 906:
2 Bookshelf loudspeakers 2 Cloth grilles User manual
What's in the Box of Focal Chorus 706?
Here are the items that come with the Chorus 706:
2 Bookshelf loudspeakers 2 Cloth grilles (attached) User manual
Minimum Impedance |
4.6 ohms
vs
3.6 ohms
|
Very low impedance levels puts more pressure on amplifier |
Port Position |
Front
vs
Rear
|
Gives more flexibility placing close to walls |
Height |
390mm
vs
391mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
Base Surface Area |
578cm2 (220x263mm)
vs
656cm2 (228x288mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
General |
Focal Aria 906 |
Focal Chorus 706 |
Brand |
Focal |
Focal |
Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
Power Range |
25-120 watts |
25 - 120 watts |
Sensitivity |
89.5 dB |
90 dB |
Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
Impedance |
4.6 ohms |
3.6 ohms |
Frequency Response |
55-28k Hz |
55-28k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
Woofer Size |
6.5" |
6.5" |
Woofer Composition |
Flax |
Polyglass |
Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
Tweeter Type |
Inverted Hard Dome |
inverted dome |
Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
Crossover Frequency |
2800Hz |
3000Hz |
Firing Direction |
rear |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
Height |
391.0mm (15.4") |
390.0mm (15.4") |
Width |
228.0mm (9") |
220.0mm (8.7") |
Depth |
288.0mm (11.3") |
263.0mm (10.4") |
Weight |
8.64kg (19lbs) |
8.20kg (18lbs) |
Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
Finish |
MDF/Glass/Leather |
Lacquer/Leatherette |
Available Colors |
Walnut, Black |
Rosewood, Walnut, Black |
Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
Recommended Stand Height |
24-28" |
24-26" |
Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Biamp Inputs |
No |
No |
Other |
|
|
Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 |
Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 |