In this review, we will be comparing Chora 826 and Chora 816, two Passive Floor-standing speakers by Focal
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Focal Chora 826 and Focal Chora 816 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
Focal Chora 826 Key Specs
- 3-way Design
- 1" inverted dome Tweeter
- 6.5" Midrange
- 2 x 6.5" Slatefiber Woofer
- 48-28k Hz Frequency Response
- 91 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:40-250watts
- Weight:21.15kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 1053.0" x 12" x 15-7/8"( 1053.0 x 305.0 x 404.0mm )
Focal Chora 816 Key Specs
- 3-way Design
- 1" inverted dome Tweeter
- 6.5" Midrange
- 6.5" Slatefiber Woofer
- 6.5" Midrange
- 50-28k Hz Frequency Response
- 89.5 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:40-200watts
- Weight:18.50kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 1007.0" x 12" x 15-7/8"( 1007.0 x 305.0 x 404.0mm )
Chora 826 and Chora 816 are members of Focal's Chora series of speakers. Below you can find the loudspeakers from this series.
Focal Chora Series
History
What size room are the Focal Chora 826 and Focal Chora 816 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 Chora 826 |
Focal Chora 816 |
| Near-field |
Bad |
Bad |
| Small Room |
Poor |
Poor |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Good |
| Large Room |
Good |
Good |
| Very Large Room |
Average |
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 Chora 826 and Focal Chora 816 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 Chora 826 and Chora 816 are 3-way speakers.
| Driver |
Focal Chora 826 |
Focal Chora 816 |
|
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
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
Chora 826 features a 1" TNF Al/Mg inverted dome Tweeter , a 6.5" Midrange and 2 x 6.5" Slatefiber Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 270Hz and 2700Hz. On the other hand, the Chora 816 features a 1" TNF Al/Mg inverted dome Tweeter , a 6.5" Midrange and 1 x 6.5" Slatefiber Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 270Hz and 2700Hz.
Frequency Response
Chora 826 has a frequency range of 48-28k Hz whereas Chora 816 has a frequency range of 50-28k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 48Hz, the Chora 826 can go slightly deeper then the Chora 816's min frequency of 50Hz.
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
Chora 826 and Chora 816 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Chora 826 sensitivity is rated at 91 dB and the Chora 816's is at 89.5 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the Focal Chora 826 a more sensitive speaker compared to Focal Chora 816, 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.
Chora 826 can handle a max power of 250 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Chora 816 has a max power handling value of 200 watts RMS, 50 watts less than the Chora 826.
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
Chora 826 features Binding post type posts and Chora 816 has a Binding post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Focal Chora 826's Binding post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both Chora 826 and Chora 816 have front firing ports. front ported speakers offers more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls&surfaces compared to rear ported speakers.
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 Chora 826's and Focal Chora 816's external dimensions. Focal Chora 826 has external dimensions of 1053.0 x 305.0 x 404.0mm ( 41-1/2 x 12 x 15-7/8inch) whereas Focal Chora 816 has external dimensions of 1007.0 x 305.0 x 404.0mm ( 39-5/8 x 12 x 15-7/8inch) .
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Focal Chora 826 and Focal Chora 816 in scale.
Comparison image of Focal Chora 826 and Focal Chora 816 Size and External Dimensions
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 Chora 826 is approximately 1232.2cm2 / 191.0inch2 and base area of the Focal Chora 816 is approximately 1232.2cm2 / 191.0inch2.
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 Chora 826 weighs 21.15kg / 46.5lbs and the Focal Chora 816 weighs 18.50kg / 40.7lbs. This makes the Chora 826 14% heavier than the Chora 816.
Here is a comparison of how Chora 826 and Chora 816'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 Chora 826?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Chora 826:
Floorstanding loudspeakerBase4 Rubber feet4 Spike feet4 Nuts4 Screws4 WashersHex-keyGrilleUser manual
What's in the Box of Focal Chora 816?
Here are the items that come with the Chora 816:
Floorstanding loudspeakerBase4 Rubber feet4 Spike feet4 Nuts4 Screws4 WashersHex-keyGrilleUser manual
 Max Input Power |
250 watts
vs
200 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Sensitivity |
91 dB
vs
90 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Number of Woofers |
2
vs
1
|
More woofers |
|
Low Frequency Response |
48 Hz
vs
50 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Minimum Impedance |
4 ohms
vs
2.9 ohms
|
Very low impedance levels puts more pressure on amplifier |
 Height |
1007mm
vs
1053mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Price per pair* |
1798USD
vs
2398USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Focal Chora 826 |
Focal Chora 816 |
| Brand |
Focal |
Focal |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
40-250 watts |
40-200 watts |
| Sensitivity |
91 dB |
89.5 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
2.9 ohms |
4 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
48-28k Hz |
50-28k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Slatefiber |
Slatefiber |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
inverted dome |
inverted dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
6.5" |
6.5" |
| Crossover Frequency |
270Hz and 2700Hz |
270Hz and 2700Hz |
| Firing Direction |
front |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
1053.0mm (41.5") |
1007.0mm (39.6") |
| Width |
305.0mm (12") |
305.0mm (12") |
| Depth |
404.0mm (15.9") |
404.0mm (15.9") |
| Weight |
21.15kg (46.5lbs) |
18.50kg (40.7lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Vinyl-wrap |
MDF/Vinyl-wrap |
| Available Colors |
Black, Dark wood, Light wood |
Black, Dark wood, Light wood |
| 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 |