In this review, we will be comparing Aria 906 and Reva 2, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Focal and Wharfedale. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Focal Aria 906 and Wharfedale Reva 2 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the Focal Aria 906 and Wharfedale Reva 2 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 Wharfedale Reva 2 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 Reva 2 are 2-way speakers.
Driver |
Focal Aria 906 |
Wharfedale Reva 2 |
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
Woofer
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
1 x 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 Reva 2 features a 1" woven textile Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5" Woven Glass Fiber Woofer .
Frequency Response
Aria 906 has a frequency range of 55-28k Hz whereas Reva 2 has a frequency range of 48-20k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 48Hz, the Reva 2 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 and Reva 2 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 Reva 2's is at 86 dB. This 4 dB difference makes the Focal Aria 906 a more sensitive speaker compared to Wharfedale Reva 2, 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. 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 120 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Reva 2 has a max power handling value of 80 watts RMS, 40 watts less than the Aria 906.
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
Reva 2 features Post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. Aria 906 has a Binding post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Aria 906 has a rear firing port whereas Reva 2 has a bottom firing ports. Wharfedale Reva 2's bottom-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 Wharfedale Reva 2'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 Wharfedale Reva 2 has external dimensions of 358.0 x 201.0 x 326.0mm ( 14-1/16 x 7-7/8 x 12-13/16inch) .
Wharfedale Reva 2 is 27mm narrower and 33mm shorter than Focal Aria 906 but it is also 38mm deeper.
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 Wharfedale Reva 2 is approximately 655.3cm2 / 101.6inch2. The Aria 906 requires 0% more surface area than the Reva 2 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 Wharfedale Reva 2 weighs 7.82kg / 17.2lbs. This makes the Aria 906 10% heavier than the Reva 2.
Here is a comparison of how Aria 906 and Reva 2'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 Wharfedale Reva 2?
Here are the items that come with the Reva 2:
2 Bookshelf loudspeakers2 Grilles (pre-installed)8 Self-adhesive rubber feet4 Jumper bars (pre-installed)Pair of white glovesUser-feets Manual
Max Input Power |
120 watts
vs
80 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
Sensitivity |
90 dB
vs
86 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
High Frequency Response |
28k Hz
vs
20k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
Low Frequency Response |
48 Hz
vs
55 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
Height |
358mm
vs
391mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
Base Surface Area |
655cm2 (201x326mm)
vs
656cm2 (228x288mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
General |
Focal Aria 906 |
Wharfedale Reva 2 |
Brand |
Focal |
Wharfedale |
Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
Power Range |
25-120 watts |
20-80 watts |
Sensitivity |
89.5 dB |
86 dB |
Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
Impedance |
4.6 ohms |
n/a |
Frequency Response |
55-28k Hz |
48-20k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
Woofer Size |
6.5" |
5" |
Woofer Composition |
Flax |
Woven Glass Fiber |
Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
Tweeter Type |
Inverted Hard Dome |
Dome |
Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
Crossover Frequency |
2800Hz |
n/a |
Firing Direction |
rear |
bottom |
Physical Specs |
|
|
Height |
391.0mm (15.4") |
358.0mm (14.1") |
Width |
228.0mm (9") |
201.0mm (7.9") |
Depth |
288.0mm (11.3") |
326.0mm (12.8") |
Weight |
8.64kg (19lbs) |
7.82kg (17.2lbs) |
Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
Finish |
MDF/Glass/Leather |
Wood composite laminate |
Available Colors |
Walnut, Black |
Walnut, Black |
Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
Recommended Stand Height |
24-28" |
24" |
Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Biamp Inputs |
No |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |