In this review, we will be comparing Aria 906 and LS50, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Focal and KEF.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Focal Aria 906 and KEF LS50 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Focal Aria 906 | KEF LS50 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Uni-Q driver | — | 11th Generation Uni-Q |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Inverted Hard Dome | 1" Vented dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 6.5" Flax | 5.25" Magnesium/aluminum alloy |
|---|
| Frequency response | 55-28k Hz | 79-28k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 89.5 dB | 85 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 25-120 watts | 25-100 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 8.64kg / 19lbs | 7.20kg / 15.8lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 15-3/8" x 8-15/16" x 11-5/16"
391.0 x 228.0 x 288.0mm | 11.8" x 7.8" x 10.9"
302.0 x 200.0 x 278.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Focal Aria 906 and KEF LS50 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:
| Listening Environment* |
Focal Aria 906 |
KEF LS50 |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Average |
| Small Room |
Average |
Good |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Average |
| Large Room |
Average |
Poor |
| Very Large Room |
Poor |
Bad |
(* Approximate Room sizes: Small < 100sq. ft / 9 m2,
Mid-size: 100-220 sq. ft / 9-20 m2, Large 220-400 sq. ft / 20-36 m2, Very Large: >
400 sq. ft / 36 m2.
Average Floor Height: 9" / 2.7m. Typical room sizes differ from country to country, and the actual
listening experience changes depending on floor height, room shape, surface materials, listening
position, speaker locations, etc.)
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
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Drivers
Both Aria 906 and LS50 are 2-way speakers.
Focal Aria 906KEF LS50
TweeterWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
Focal Aria 906 |
KEF LS50 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
1 x 5.25-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 LS50 features a 1" Aluminum Vented dome Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" Magnesium/aluminum alloy Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2200Hz.
Frequency Response
Aria 906 has a frequency range of 55-28k Hz whereas LS50 has a frequency range of 79-28k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 55Hz, the Aria 906 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the LS50's min frequency of 79Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Bookshelf class in our database.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
Neither pair reaches down to 20Hz, the usual definition of full-range, which is normal for speakers of this size. If you want the bottom octave for movies or bass-heavy music, add a subwoofer to whichever you choose. Visit our Powered Subwoofers section to find out more about the available options.
Impedance and Sensitivity
Aria 906 and LS50 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 LS50's is at 85 dB. This 5 dB difference makes the Focal Aria 906 a more sensitive speaker compared to KEF LS50, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Bookshelf Speakers
Power Range
Power
range is the range of input power in watts RMS that a loudspeaker is designed to handle. Staying
within that range gives nominal performance; driving the speaker beyond its maximum wattage can damage it.
Aria 906 can handle a max power of 120 watts RMS, whereas LS50 has a max power handling value of 100 watts RMS, 20 watts less than the Aria 906.
Note that higher power handling does not make a speaker louder: that depends mainly on
sensitivity and impedance. The calculator below shows how loud each of these actually plays
on a real amplifier.
Which plays louder on your amplifier?
Starting with a popular amplifier — change it to the one you own, or any you are
considering, and watch both numbers move.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
Aria 906 features Post type posts and LS50 has a Post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Focal Aria 906's Binding post terminals
KEF LS50's Post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both Aria 906 and LS50 have rear firing ports. Rear ported speakers generally need more room between the backside of the speaker and the wall compared to sealed and front/bottom ported speakers. Placing the speakers too close to the walls may cause the bass to sound boomy.
If you are limited in space and can't get the speakers away from the backwall, check our Speakers with Front Firing Ports page.
Physical Specs
The size of a speaker can sometimes be 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 KEF LS50'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 KEF LS50 has external dimensions of 302.0 x 200.0 x 278.0mm (11.8 x 7.8 x 10.9inch).
Focal Aria 906 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 28mm wider, 89mm taller and 10mm deeper than KEF LS50.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Focal Aria 906 and KEF LS50 in scale.
Comparison image of Focal Aria 906 and KEF LS50 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 KEF LS50 is approximately 556.0cm2 / 86.2inch2. The Aria 906 requires 18% more surface area than the LS50 which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.
Here is another comparison that shows both speakers on a BDI Octave Media Cabinet, next to a standard size amplifier and turntable in scale:
Size Comparison image of Focal Aria 906 and KEF LS50 on a Media Console
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 KEF LS50 weighs 7.20kg / 15.8lbs. This makes the Aria 906 20% heavier than the LS50.
Here is a comparison of how Aria 906 and LS50'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 KEF LS50?
Here are the items that come with the LS50:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Foam port plugs
- 8 Self-adhesive rubber feet
- Owner's Manual
- Warranty Registration Card
 Max Input Power |
120 watts
vs
100 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Sensitivity |
90 dB
vs
85 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Minimum Impedance |
4.6 ohms
vs
3.2 ohms
|
Very low impedance levels puts more pressure on amplifier |
 Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
5.25 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
55 Hz
vs
79 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Height |
302mm
vs
391mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
556cm2
vs
656cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
| General |
Focal Aria 906 |
KEF LS50 |
| Brand |
Focal |
KEF |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
25-120 watts |
25-100 watts |
| Sensitivity |
89.5 dB |
85 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
4.6 ohms |
3.2 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
55-28k Hz |
79-28k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
5.25" |
| Woofer Composition |
Flax |
Magnesium/aluminum alloy |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Inverted Hard Dome |
Vented dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
2800Hz |
2200Hz |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
391.0mm (15.4") |
302.0mm (11.9") |
| Width |
228.0mm (9") |
200.0mm (7.9") |
| Depth |
288.0mm (11.3") |
278.0mm (10.9") |
| Weight |
8.64kg (19lbs) |
7.20kg (15.8lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Glass/Leather |
Polymer/Lacquer |
| Available Colors |
Walnut, Black |
Black, High Gloss Piano Black, High Gloss Piano White |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Recommended Stand Height |
24-28" |
18-28" |
| Grille |
Yes |
n/a |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
No |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
No single best speaker here - they are built to different priorities, and the right one depends on your room, your amplifier and what you listen to.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass |
A |
Focal Aria 906 digs deeper - 55Hz against 79Hz. |
| Amplifier needs |
A |
Focal Aria 906 is more sensitive (90dB vs 85dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Headroom |
evenly matched |
Similar power handling (120W vs 100W). |
| Size |
depends |
KEF LS50 is easier to place; Focal Aria 906 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability |
depends |
Neither adds bi-amping, a sub output or height drivers. KEF LS50 sits in a wider range (10 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
A Focal Aria 906
B KEF LS50
depends neither is better in the abstract - it turns on your room, placement or how you will use them.
Only specs published for both speakers are judged; anything missing on either side is left out rather than guessed.
Which should you choose?
Focal Aria 906 has the edge on paper, though the margin is not large. The rows marked "depends" may matter more to you than the score does. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 79Hz anyway, so judge these on the other rows instead. Match it to your room: we rate Focal Aria 906 the better fit for a mid-size room and a large room, and KEF LS50 for near-field listening and a small room.
And remember what a spec sheet cannot show: how each looks in your room and whether the finish suits it, what dealer support and warranty are like where you live, and how they actually sound to you. If you can hear them first - ideally with your own music - that will tell you more than any number above.