In this review, we will be comparing Aria 906 and L100 Classic, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Focal and JBL. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Focal Aria 906 and JBL L100 Classic first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the Focal Aria 906 and JBL L100 Classic 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 JBL L100 Classic 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
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that Aria 906 is a 2-way design whereas the L100 Classic is a 3-way speaker. 3-way designs utilize a midrange driver in addition to the tweeter and woofer on 2-way designs. Designing a crossover for a 3-way speaker is a complicated process and generally increases the overall cost of the speaker.
| Driver |
Focal Aria 906 |
JBL L100 Classic |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
1 x 5.25-inch |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
1 x 12-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 L100 Classic features a 1" Titanium Dome Tweeter , a 5.25" Midrange and 1 x 12" Pulp Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 450Hz and 3500Hz.
Frequency Response
Aria 906 has a frequency range of 55-28k Hz whereas L100 Classic has a frequency range of 40-40k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 40Hz, the L100 Classic can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Aria 906's min frequency of 55Hz.
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 is a 8 ohms speaker compared to the L100 Classic which has a nominal impedance of 4 ohms. Lower impedance speakers, especially the ones that are rated at 4 ohms may put more pressure on the amplifier unit especially when played at high volume levels, so make sure the amp you pair with the L100 Classic can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Aria 906 sensitivity is rated at 89.5 dB and the L100 Classic's is rated 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.
Aria 906 can handle a max power of 200 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Aria 906 has a max power handling value of 120 watts RMS , 80 watts less than the L100 Classic.
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 Five-way gold-plated binding posts type posts and L100 Classic has a Five-way gold-plated binding posts type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Focal Aria 906's Binding post terminals
JBL L100 Classic's Five-way gold-plated binding posts terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Aria 906 has a rear firing port whereas L100 Classic has a front firing ports. JBL L100 Classic'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 JBL L100 Classic'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 JBL L100 Classic has external dimensions of 636.5 x 389.6 x 371.5mm ( 25.0 x 15.3 x 14.6inch) .
JBL L100 Classic is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 161.6mm wider, 245.5mm taller and 83.5mm deeper than Focal Aria 906.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Focal Aria 906 and JBL L100 Classic in scale.
Comparison image of Focal Aria 906 and JBL L100 Classic Size and External Dimensions
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 JBL L100 Classic is approximately 1447.4cm2 / 224.3inch2. The Aria 906 requires 55% less surface area than the L100 Classic which gives it a small advantage 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 JBL L100 Classic weighs 26.70kg / 58.7lbs. This makes the L100 Classic 209% heavier than the Aria 906.
Here is a comparison of how Aria 906 and L100 Classic'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 JBL L100 Classic?
Here are the items that come with the L100 Classic:
Bookshelf loudspeaker
Grille
Owner's Manual
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Height |
391mm
vs
636mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
656cm2 (228x288mm)
vs
1447cm2 (389x371mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
2198USD
vs
4400USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Max Input Power |
200 watts
vs
120 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
 Woofer Size |
12 inches
vs
6.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
| Low Frequency Response |
40 Hz
vs
55 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
40k Hz
vs
28k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Port Position |
Front
vs
Rear
|
Gives more flexibility placing close to walls |
| General |
Focal Aria 906 |
JBL L100 Classic |
| Brand |
Focal |
JBL |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
25-120 watts |
25-200 watts |
| Sensitivity |
89.5 dB |
90 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
4 ohms |
| Impedance |
4.6 ohms |
n/a |
| Frequency Response |
55-28k Hz |
40-40k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
12" |
| Woofer Composition |
Flax |
Pulp |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Inverted Hard Dome |
Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
5.25" |
| Crossover Frequency |
2800Hz |
450Hz and 3500Hz |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
391.0mm (15.4") |
636.5mm (25.1") |
| Width |
228.0mm (9") |
389.6mm (15.3") |
| Depth |
288.0mm (11.3") |
371.5mm (14.6") |
| Weight |
8.64kg (19lbs) |
26.70kg (58.7lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Glass/Leather |
Genuine walnut veneer |
| Available Colors |
Walnut, Black |
Walnut |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Recommended Stand Height |
24-28" |
18" |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
No |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |