In this review, we will be comparing Aria 948 and Aria Evo X No4, two Passive Floor-standing speakers by Focal.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Focal Aria 948 and Focal Aria Evo X No4 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Focal Aria 948 | Focal Aria Evo X No4 |
|---|
| Brand | Focal
France · founded 1979 | Focal
France · founded 1979 |
|---|
| Design | 3-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" inverted dome | 1" inverted dome |
|---|
| Midrange | 6.5" | 6.5" |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 8.25" Flax | 2 x 6.5" Flax |
|---|
| Frequency response | 37-28k Hz | 37-30kHz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 92.5 dB | 92.5 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 50-350 watts | 40-350 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 35.00kg / 77lbs | 35.00kg / 77lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 45-1/4" x 14-5/8" x 16-9/16"
1150.0 x 372.0 x 421.0mm | 45-1/4" x 14-5/8" x 16.5"
115 x 37.1 x 42 cm |
|---|
What size room are the Focal Aria 948 and Focal Aria Evo X No4 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 948 |
Focal Aria Evo X No4 |
| Near-field |
Are you nuts? |
Are you nuts? |
| Small Room |
Poor |
Poor |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Average |
| Large Room |
Good |
Good |
| Very Large Room |
Good |
Good |
(* 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 948 and Aria Evo X No4 are 3-way speakers.
Focal Aria 948Focal Aria Evo X No4
TweeterMidrangeWoofer
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 948 |
Focal Aria Evo X No4 |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 6.5-inch |
1 x 6.5-inch |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 8.25-inch
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
Aria 948 features a 1" TNF Al/Mg inverted dome Tweeter, a 6.5" Midrange and 2 x 8.25" Flax Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 280Hz and 2,600Hz. On the other hand, the Aria Evo X No4 features a 1" Al/Mg inverted dome Tweeter, a 6.5" Midrange and 2 x 6.5" Flax Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 280 Hz - 2600 Hz.
Frequency Response
Aria 948 has a frequency range of 37-28k Hz whereas Aria Evo X No4 has a frequency range of 37-30kHz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Floor-standing class in our database.
Low Frequency
Floor-standing 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 948 and Aria Evo X No4 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms and their sensitivity is also same at 93 dB.
Sensitivity
Floor-standing 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.
Both handle the same maximum of 350 watts RMS, though Aria 948 is rated 50-350 watts and Aria Evo X No4 40-350 watts.
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 948 features Binding post type posts and Aria Evo X No4 has a Binding post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Focal Aria Evo X No4's Binding post terminals
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 948's and Focal Aria Evo X No4's external dimensions. Focal Aria 948 has external dimensions of 1150.0 x 372.0 x 421.0mm (45-1/4 x 14-5/8 x 16-9/16inch) whereas Focal Aria Evo X No4 has external dimensions of 115 x 37.1 x 42 cm (45-¼ x 14-⅝ x 16-½).
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 948 is approximately 1566.1cm2 / 242.7inch2 and base area of the Focal Aria Evo X No4 is approximately 1558.2cm2 / 241.5inch2. The Aria 948 requires 1% more surface area than the Aria Evo X No4 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 948 weighs 35.00kg / 77lbs and the Focal Aria Evo X No4 weighs 35.00kg / 77lbs.
Here is a comparison of how Aria 948 and Aria Evo X No4's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Floor-standing class.
Weight
All Floor-standing Speakers
What's in the Box of Focal Aria 948?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Aria 948:
- Floorstanding loudspeaker
- Grille
- Base
- 4 Spike feet (pre-installed in base)
- 4 Plastic feet
- 4 Screws
- Allen-key
- Hex-tool
- User Manual
 Woofer Size |
8.25 inches
vs
6.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 High Frequency Response |
30k Hz
vs
28k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Base Surface Area |
1558cm2
vs
1566cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
5998USD
vs
6598USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Focal Aria 948 |
Focal Aria Evo X No4 |
| Brand |
Focal |
Focal |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
50-350 watts |
40-350 watts |
| Sensitivity |
92.5 dB |
92.5 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
2.5 ohms |
2.5 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
37-28k Hz |
37-30kHz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
8.25" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Flax |
Flax |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
TMD |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
inverted dome |
inverted dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
6.5" |
6.5" |
| Crossover Frequency |
280Hz and 2,600Hz |
280 Hz - 2600 Hz |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
1150.0mm (45.3") |
1150.0mm (45.3") |
| Width |
372.0mm (14.6") |
371.0mm (14.6") |
| Depth |
421.0mm (16.6") |
420.0mm (16.5") |
| Weight |
35.00kg (77lbs) |
35.00kg (77lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Glass/Leather |
n/a |
| Available Colors |
Gloss Black |
Black High Gloss, Prime Walnut, Moss Green High Gloss |
| 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 |
A generation apart: Focal Aria Evo X No4 is the newer design, against a 2013 model. Newer is not automatically better, but the older one is more likely to be discounted or near run-out.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | evenly matched | Much the same reach (37Hz vs 37Hz). |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (93dB vs 93dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Headroom | evenly matched | Similar power handling (350W vs 350W). |
| Size | depends | Similar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit. |
| Price | evenly matched | Much the same money ($6,598 vs $5,998 a pair). |
A Focal Aria 948 B Focal Aria Evo X No4
depends neither is better in the abstract - it turns on your room, your system 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?
Neither runs away with it - they trade advantages. Let the "depends" rows and your own room settle it.
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.