In this review, we will be comparing Aria 948 and RP-6000F, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from Focal and Klipsch. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Focal Aria 948 and Klipsch RP-6000F first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the Focal Aria 948 and Klipsch RP-6000F 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 948 and Klipsch RP-6000F 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 948 is a 3-way design whereas the RP-6000F 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 948 |
Klipsch RP-6000F |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
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 RP-6000F features a 1" Tractrix Horn Tweeter and 2 x 6.5" Cerametallic Woofer .
Frequency Response
Aria 948 has a frequency range of 37-28k Hz whereas RP-6000F has a frequency range of 34-25k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 34Hz, the RP-6000F can go slightly deeper then the Aria 948's min frequency of 37Hz.
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 948 and RP-6000F have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Aria 948 sensitivity is rated at 92.5 dB and the RP-6000F's is at 97 dB. This 4 dB difference makes the Klipsch RP-6000F a more sensitive speaker compared to Focal Aria 948, 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 948 can handle a max power of 350 watts RMS from the amp the whereas RP-6000F has a max power handling value of 125 watts RMS, 225 watts less than the Aria 948.
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
RP-6000F features Post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. Aria 948 has a Binding post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Klipsch RP-6000F's Post terminals allows Bi-amping or 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 948's and Klipsch RP-6000F'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 Klipsch RP-6000F has external dimensions of 1010.0 x 237.0 x 432.0mm ( 39-3/4 x 9-5/16 x 17inch) .
Klipsch RP-6000F is 135mm narrower and 140mm shorter than Focal Aria 948 but it is also 11mm 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 948 is approximately 1566.1cm2 / 242.7inch2 and base area of the Klipsch RP-6000F is approximately 1023.8cm2 / 158.7inch2. The Aria 948 requires 53% more surface area than the RP-6000F 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 Klipsch RP-6000F weighs 22.27kg / 49lbs. This makes the Aria 948 57% heavier than the RP-6000F.
Here is a comparison of how Aria 948 and RP-6000F'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 loudspeakerGrilleBase4 Spike feet (pre-installed in base)4 Plastic feet4 ScrewsAllen-keyHex-toolUser Manual
What's in the Box of Klipsch RP-6000F?
Here are the items that come with the RP-6000F:
Floorstanding loudspeakerStabilizer feet (installed)Grille (installed)2 Terminal jumpers (installed)User ManualImportant Safety InstructionsWarranty Information
 Max Input Power |
350 watts
vs
125 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
 Woofer Size |
8.25 inches
vs
6.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 High Frequency Response |
28k Hz
vs
25k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Sensitivity |
97 dB
vs
93 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
| Low Frequency Response |
34 Hz
vs
37 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
 Height |
1010mm
vs
1150mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
1023cm2 (237x432mm)
vs
1566cm2 (372x421mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
1378USD
vs
6598USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Focal Aria 948 |
Klipsch Reference Premiere RP-6000F |
| Brand |
Focal |
Klipsch |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
50-350 watts |
up to 125 watts |
| Sensitivity |
92.5 dB |
97 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
2.5 ohms |
n/a |
| Frequency Response |
37-28k Hz |
34-25k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
8.25" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Flax |
Cerametallic |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
inverted dome |
Tractrix Horn |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
6.5" |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
280Hz and 2,600Hz |
n/a |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
1150.0mm (45.3") |
1010.0mm (39.8") |
| Width |
372.0mm (14.6") |
237.0mm (9.3") |
| Depth |
421.0mm (16.6") |
432.0mm (17") |
| Weight |
35.00kg (77lbs) |
22.27kg (49lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Glass/Leather |
MDF/Wood-grain vinyl |
| Available Colors |
Gloss Black |
Walnut, Black |
| 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 |