In this review, we will be comparing Aria Evo X Center and HTM6 S3, two Passive Center Channel speakers from Focal and Bowers Wilkins.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Focal Aria Evo X C and BW HTM6 S3 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Focal Aria Evo X C | BW HTM6 S3 |
|---|
| Brand | Focal
France · founded 1979 | Bowers Wilkins
United Kingdom · founded 1966 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" inverted dome | 1" Decoupled Double Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 6.5" Flax | 2 x 5" Continuum |
|---|
| Frequency response | 57-30kHz | 72-28k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 91 dB | 87 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 40-120 watts | 30-120 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 10.50kg / 23.1lbs | 7.70kg / 16.9lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 7-7/8" x 21" x 10"
20 x 53.3 x 24.5 cm | 6.3" x 18.9" x 11.2"
160.0 x 480.0 x 283.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Focal Aria Evo X C and BW HTM6 S3 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 Evo X C |
BW HTM6 S3 |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Average |
Average |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Good |
| Large Room |
Average |
Average |
| Very Large Room |
Poor |
Poor |
(* 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 Evo X Center and HTM6 S3 are 2-way speakers.
Focal Aria Evo X CBW HTM6 S3
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 Evo X C |
BW HTM6 S3 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
2 x 5-inch
|
Aria Evo X Center features a 1" Al/Mg inverted dome Tweeter and 2 x 6.5" Flax Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2800 Hz. On the other hand, the HTM6 S3 features a 1" Titanium Decoupled Double Dome Tweeter and 2 x 5" Continuum Woofer.
Frequency Response
Aria Evo X Center has a frequency range of 57-30kHz whereas HTM6 S3 has a frequency range of 72-28k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 57Hz, the Aria Evo X Center can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the HTM6 S3's min frequency of 72Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Center Channel class in our database.
Low Frequency
Center Channel 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 Evo X Center and HTM6 S3 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Aria Evo X Center sensitivity is rated at 91 dB and the HTM6 S3's is at 87 dB. This 4 dB difference makes the Focal Aria Evo X C a more sensitive speaker compared to BW HTM6 S3 , hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Center Channel 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 120 watts RMS, though Aria Evo X Center is rated 40-120 watts and HTM6 S3 30-120 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
Both Aria Evo X Center and HTM6 S3 features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.
Focal Aria Evo X C's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
BW HTM6 S3 's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both Aria Evo X Center and HTM6 S3 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 Evo X C's and BW HTM6 S3 's external dimensions. Focal Aria Evo X C has external dimensions of 20 x 53.3 x 24.5 cm (7-7/8 x 21 x 9-5/8) whereas BW HTM6 S3 has external dimensions of 160.0 x 480.0 x 283.0mm (6.3 x 18.9 x 11.2inch).
BW HTM6 S3 is 53mm narrower and 40mm shorter than Focal Aria Evo X C 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 Evo X C is approximately 1305.9cm2 / 202.4inch2 and base area of the BW HTM6 S3 is approximately 1358.4cm2 / 210.6inch2. The Aria Evo X Center requires 4% less surface area than the HTM6 S3 which gives it a small advantage 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 Evo X C weighs 10.50kg / 23.1lbs and the BW HTM6 S3 weighs 7.70kg / 16.9lbs. This makes the Aria Evo X Center 36% heavier than the HTM6 S3.
Here is a comparison of how Aria Evo X Center and HTM6 S3's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Center Channel class.
Weight
All Center Channel Speakers
What's in the Box of BW HTM6 S3 ?
Here are the items that come with the HTM6 S3:
- Center-channel loudspeaker
- Grille (pre-installed)
- Two-piece foam plug
- 4 Self-adhesive rubber feet
- 2 Jumper-straps (pre-installed)
- Manual
- Warranty Information
- Bowers Wilkins brochure
 Sensitivity |
91 dB
vs
87 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
57 Hz
vs
72 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
30k Hz
vs
28k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Base Surface Area |
1305cm2
vs
1358cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Height |
160mm
vs
200mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Price per pair* |
899USD
vs
999USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Focal Aria Evo X Center |
Bowers & Wilkins HTM6 S3 |
| Brand |
Focal |
Bowers Wilkins |
| Speaker Type |
Center channel speaker |
Center channel speaker |
| Power Range |
40-120 watts |
30-120 watts |
| Sensitivity |
91 dB |
87 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
4.3 ohms |
4.3 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
57-30kHz |
72-28k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Flax |
Continuum |
| Woofer Surround Material |
TMD |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
inverted dome |
Decoupled Double Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
2800 Hz |
n/a |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
200.0mm (7.9") |
160.0mm (6.3") |
| Width |
533.0mm (21") |
480.0mm (18.9") |
| Depth |
245.0mm (9.6") |
283.0mm (11.1") |
| Weight |
10.50kg (23.1lbs) |
7.70kg (16.9lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Available Colors |
Black High Gloss, Prime Walnut, Moss Green High Gloss |
Black, White, Oak |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
Yes |
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 Evo X C digs deeper - 57Hz against 72Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | A | Focal Aria Evo X C is more sensitive (91dB vs 87dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Headroom | evenly matched | Similar power handling (120W vs 120W). |
| Size | depends | Similar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit. |
| Expandability | depends | Focal Aria Evo X C: bi-amping; BW HTM6 S3 : bi-amping. |
| Price | B | BW HTM6 S3 is cheaper - $899 against $999, about 10% less. |
A Focal Aria Evo X C B BW HTM6 S3
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?
The usual trade-off: Focal Aria Evo X C measures better, BW HTM6 S3 costs about about 11% more% less. Whether that gap is worth the money is the call only you can make - and in a normal room it is often smaller than the numbers suggest. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 72Hz anyway, which makes the cheaper BW HTM6 S3 much easier to justify. If your amplifier is modest, vintage or valve-based, Focal Aria Evo X C is the safer partner - the other will want more current or more watts to sound its best.
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.