In this review, we will be comparing Aria Evo X No4 and Aria 948, two Passive Floor-standing speakers by Focal
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Focal Aria Evo X No4 and Focal Aria 948 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
Focal Aria Evo X No4 Key Specs
- 3-way Design
- 1" inverted dome Tweeter
- 6.5" Midrange
- 2 x 6.5" Flax Woofer
- 37-30kHz Frequency Response
- 92.5 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:40-350watts
- Weight:35.00kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 1150.0" x 14-5/8" x 15-1/4"( 115 x 37.1 x 42 cm )
Focal Aria 948 Key Specs
- 3-way Design
- 1" inverted dome Tweeter
- 6.5" Midrange
- 2 x 8.25" Flax Woofer
- 6.5" Midrange
- 37-28k Hz Frequency Response
- 92.5 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:50-350watts
- Weight:35.00kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 1150.0" x 14-5/8" x 16-9/16"( 1150.0 x 372.0 x 421.0mm )
What size room are the Focal Aria Evo X No4 and Focal Aria 948 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 No4 |
Focal Aria 948 |
| 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.)
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Focal Aria Evo X No4 and Focal Aria 948 compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these loudspeakers is the better choice for you.
**This post contains affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking
through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Drivers
Both Aria Evo X No4 and Aria 948 are 3-way speakers.
| Driver |
Focal Aria Evo X No4 |
Focal Aria 948 |
|
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 6.5-inch
|
2 x 8.25-inch
|
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. On the other hand, the 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.
Frequency Response
Aria Evo X No4 has a frequency range of 37-30kHz whereas Aria 948 has a frequency range of 37-28k Hz.
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 Evo X No4 and Aria 948 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. 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.
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 Evo X No4 features Binding post type posts and Aria 948 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
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 Evo X No4's and Focal Aria 948's external dimensions. Focal Aria Evo X No4 has external dimensions of 115 x 37.1 x 42 cm ( 45-¼ x 14-⅝ x 16-½) whereas 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) .
Focal Aria Evo X No4 is 1mm narrower and 1mm less deeper than Focal Aria Evo X No4 but they have the same height of 1150.0mm.
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 No4 is approximately 1558.2cm2 / 241.5inch2 and base area of the Focal Aria 948 is approximately 1566.1cm2 / 242.7inch2. The Aria Evo X No4 requires 1% less surface area than the Aria 948 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 No4 weighs 35.00kg / 77lbs and the Focal Aria 948 weighs 35.00kg / 77lbs.
Here is a comparison of how Aria Evo X No4 and Aria 948'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 come with the Aria 948:
Floorstanding loudspeakerGrilleBase4 Spike feet (pre-installed in base)4 Plastic feet4 ScrewsAllen-keyHex-toolUser Manual
 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) |
 Woofer Size |
8.25 inches
vs
6.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
| General |
Focal Aria Evo X No4 |
Focal Aria 948 |
| Brand |
Focal |
Focal |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
40-350 watts |
50-350 watts |
| Sensitivity |
92.5 dB |
92.5 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
2.5 ohms |
2.5 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
37-30kHz |
37-28k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
8.25" |
| Woofer Composition |
Flax |
Flax |
| Woofer Surround Material |
TMD |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
inverted dome |
inverted dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
6.5" |
6.5" |
| Crossover Frequency |
280 Hz - 2600 Hz |
280Hz and 2,600Hz |
| Firing Direction |
front |
n/a |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
1150.0mm (45.3") |
1150.0mm (45.3") |
| Width |
371.0mm (14.6") |
372.0mm (14.6") |
| Depth |
420.0mm (16.5") |
421.0mm (16.6") |
| Weight |
35.00kg (77lbs) |
35.00kg (77lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
n/a |
MDF/Glass/Leather |
| Available Colors |
Black High Gloss, Prime Walnut, Moss Green High Gloss |
Gloss Black |
| 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 |