In this review, we will be comparing two different type of speakers . Focal Aria 936 is a Floor-standing speaker whereas the M8 SP2 is a On-wall speaker.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Focal Aria 936 and Revel M8 SP2 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
Focal Aria 936 Key Specs
- 3-way Design
- 1" inverted dome Tweeter
- 6.5" Midrange
- 3 x 6.5" Flax Woofer
- 39-28k Hz Frequency Response
- 92 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:50-300watts
- Weight:29.09kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 1148.0" x 11-9/16" x 14-11/16"( 1148.0 x 294.0 x 374.0mm )
Revel M8 SP2 Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1" Hard-Dome Tweeter
- 2 x 3" Micro Ceramic Composite Woofer
- 110-21k Hz Frequency Response
- 88 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:10-125watts
- Weight:1.57kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 297.0" x 4-1/4" x 4-5/8"( 297.0 x 108.0 x 118.0mm )
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Focal Aria 936 and Revel M8 SP2 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 936 is a 3-way design whereas the M8 SP2 is a 2-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 936 |
Revel M8 SP2 |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 6.5-inch |
- |
|
Woofer
|
3 x 6.5-inch
|
2 x 3-inch
|
Aria 936 features a 1" TNF Al/Mg inverted dome Tweeter , a 6.5" Midrange and 3 x 6.5" Flax Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 260Hz and 3,100Hz. On the other hand, the M8 SP2 features a 1" MCC (Micro Ceramic Composite) Hard-Dome Tweeter and 2 x 3" Micro Ceramic Composite Woofer .
Frequency Response
Aria 936 has a frequency range of 39-28k Hz whereas M8 SP2 has a frequency range of 110-21k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 39Hz, the Aria 936 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the M8 SP2's min frequency of 110Hz.
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 Floor-standing class in our database.
Low Frequency
Floor-standing Speakers
High Frequency
Floor-standing 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 936 and M8 SP2 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Aria 936 sensitivity is rated at 92 dB and the M8 SP2's is at 88 dB. This 4 dB difference makes the Focal Aria 936 a more sensitive speaker compared to Revel M8 SP2, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Floor-standing 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 936 can handle a max power of 300 watts RMS from the amp the whereas M8 SP2 has a max power handling value of 125 watts RMS, 175 watts less than the Aria 936.
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 936 features 5-way post type posts and M8 SP2 has a 5-way post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
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 936's and Revel M8 SP2's external dimensions. Focal Aria 936 has external dimensions of 1148.0 x 294.0 x 374.0mm ( 45-3/16 x 11-9/16 x 14-11/16inch) whereas Revel M8 SP2 has external dimensions of 297.0 x 108.0 x 118.0mm ( 11-11/16 x 4-1/4 x 4-5/8inch) .
Focal Aria 936 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 186mm wider, 851mm taller and 256mm deeper than Revel M8 SP2.
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 936 is approximately 1099.6cm2 / 170.4inch2 and base area of the Revel M8 SP2 is approximately 127.4cm2 / 19.7inch2. The Aria 936 requires 763% more surface area than the M8 SP2 which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.
What's in the Box of Focal Aria 936?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Aria 936:
Floorstanding loudspeakerGrilleBase4 Spike feet (pre-installed in base)4 Plastic feet4 ScrewsAllen-keyHex-toolUser Manual
What's in the Box of Revel M8 SP2?
Here are the items that come with the M8 SP2:
2 Satellite loudspeakers2 Wall-brackets4 Wall-mount end-caps2 Rubber foot padsHex-keyOwners Manual
Max Input Power 
Driver Setup 
Sensitivity 
Woofer Size 
High Frequency Response 
Mounting Bracket 
Height 
Base Surface Area 
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