In this review, we will be comparing two different type of speakers by Focal. Focal Aria SR900 is a Surround speaker whereas the Aria CC 900 is a Center Channel speaker.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Focal Aria SR900 and Focal Aria CC 900 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
Focal Aria SR900 Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1" Inverted Dome Tweeter
- 2 x 5" W sandwich Woofer
- 85-28k Hz Frequency Response
- 90 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:25-120watts
- Weight:5.60kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 11-5/8" x 15-3/4" x 6-11/16" ( 295.0 x 400.0 x 170.0mm )
Focal Aria CC 900 Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1" inverted dome Tweeter
- 2 x 6.5" flax/fiberglass Woofer
- 57-28k Hz Frequency Response
- 91 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:40-200watts
- Weight:10.45kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 7-15/16" x 20-15/16" x 11-3/16" ( 202.0 x 532.0 x 285.0mm )
Aria SR900 and Aria CC 900 are members of Focal's Aria series of speakers. Below you can find the loudspeakers from this series.
Focal Aria Series
History
What size room are the Focal Aria SR900 and Focal Aria CC 900 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 SR900 |
Focal Aria CC 900 |
| Near-field |
Good |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Good |
Average |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Good |
| Large Room |
Poor |
Average |
| Very Large Room |
No way |
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.)
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Focal Aria SR900 and Focal Aria CC 900 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 SR900 and Aria CC 900 are 2-way speakers.
| Driver |
Focal Aria SR900 |
Focal Aria CC 900 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 5-inch
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
Aria SR900 features a 1" Beryllium Inverted Dome Tweeter and 2 x 5" W sandwich Woofer . On the other hand, the Aria CC 900 features a 1" TNF aluminum/magnesium inverted dome Tweeter and 2 x 6.5" flax/fiberglass Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2800Hz.
Frequency Response
Aria SR900 has a frequency range of 85-28k Hz whereas Aria CC 900 has a frequency range of 57-28k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 57Hz, the Aria CC 900 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Aria SR900's min frequency of 85Hz.
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 Surround class in our database.
Low Frequency
Surround Speakers
High Frequency
Surround 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 SR900 and Aria CC 900 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Aria SR900 sensitivity is rated at 90 dB and the Aria CC 900's is at 91 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the Focal Aria CC 900 a more sensitive speaker compared to Focal Aria SR900, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Surround 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 SR900 can handle a max power of 200 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Aria SR900 has a max power handling value of 120 watts RMS , 80 watts less than the Aria CC 900.
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 SR900 features Binding post type posts and Aria CC 900 has a Binding 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 SR900's and Focal Aria CC 900's external dimensions. Focal Aria SR900 has external dimensions of 295.0 x 400.0 x 170.0mm ( 11-5/8 x 15-3/4 x 6-11/16inch) whereas Focal Aria CC 900 has external dimensions of 202.0 x 532.0 x 285.0mm ( 7-15/16 x 20-15/16 x 11-3/16inch) .
Focal Aria SR900 is 132mm narrower and 115mm less deeper than Focal Aria CC 900 but it is also 93mm taller.
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 SR900 is approximately 680.0cm2 / 105.4inch2 and base area of the Focal Aria CC 900 is approximately 1516.2cm2 / 235.0inch2. The Aria SR900 requires 55% less surface area than the Aria CC 900 which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.
What's in the Box of Focal Aria CC 900?
Here are the items that come with the Aria CC 900:
- Center-channel loudspeaker
- Grille
- 4 Rubber feet
- User Manual