In this review, we will be comparing Chora 826 and Theva No3, two Passive Floor-standing speakers by Focal.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Focal Chora 826 and Focal Theva No3 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Focal Chora 826 | Focal Theva No3 |
|---|
| Design | 3-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" inverted dome | 1" inverted dome |
|---|
| Midrange | 6.5" | 6.5" |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 6.5" Slatefiber | 2 x 6.5" Slatefiber |
|---|
| Frequency response | 48-28k Hz | 48-28kHz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 91 dB | 91 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 40-250 watts | 40-250 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 21.15kg / 46.5lbs | 20.00kg / 44lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 41-1/2" x 12" x 15-7/8"
1053.0 x 305.0 x 404.0mm | 39" x 8-3/8" x 15-1/4"
991.0 x 213.0 x 388.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Focal Chora 826 and Focal Theva No3 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 Theva No3 |
| Near-field |
Bad |
Bad |
| Small Room |
Poor |
Poor |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Average |
| Large Room |
Good |
Good |
| Very Large Room |
Average |
Average |
(* 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 Chora 826 and Theva No3 are 3-way speakers.
Focal Chora 826Focal Theva No3
TweeterMidrangeWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
Focal Chora 826 |
Focal Theva No3 |
|
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 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 Theva No3 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 270 Hz - 2700 Hz.
Frequency Response
Chora 826 has a frequency range of 48-28k Hz whereas Theva No3 has a frequency range of 48-28kHz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Floor-standing class in our database.
Low Frequency
Floor-standing 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
Chora 826 and Theva No3 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms and their sensitivity is also same at 91 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. Staying
within that range gives nominal performance; driving the speaker beyond its maximum wattage can damage it.
Chora 826 and Theva No3 have the same power range of 40-250 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
Chora 826 features Binding post type posts and Theva No3 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
Chora 826 has a front firing port whereas Theva No3 has a rear firing ports. Focal Chora 826's front-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to Focal Theva No3 with its rear-firing port.
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 Chora 826's and Focal Theva No3'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 Theva No3 has external dimensions of 991.0 x 213.0 x 388.0mm (39 x 83/8 x 151/4).
Focal Chora 826 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 92mm wider, 62mm taller and 16mm deeper than Focal Theva No3.
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 Theva No3 is approximately 826.4cm2 / 128.1inch2. The Chora 826 requires 49% more surface area than the Theva No3 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 Chora 826 weighs 21.15kg / 46.5lbs and the Focal Theva No3 weighs 20.00kg / 44lbs. This makes the Chora 826 6% heavier than the Theva No3.
Here is a comparison of how Chora 826 and Theva No3'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 loudspeaker
- Base
- 4 Rubber feet
- 4 Spike feet
- 4 Nuts
- 4 Screws
- 4 Washers
- Hex-key
- Grille
- User manual
 Port Position |
Front
vs
Rear
|
Gives more flexibility placing close to walls |
 Height |
991mm
vs
1053mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
826cm2
vs
1232cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
| General |
Focal Chora 826 |
Focal Theva No3 |
| Brand |
Focal |
Focal |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
40-250 watts |
40-250 watts |
| Sensitivity |
91 dB |
91 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
2.9 ohms |
2.9 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
48-28k Hz |
48-28kHz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| 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 |
270 Hz - 2700 Hz |
| Firing Direction |
front |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
1053.0mm (41.5") |
991.0mm (39") |
| Width |
305.0mm (12") |
213.0mm (8.4") |
| Depth |
404.0mm (15.9") |
388.0mm (15.3") |
| Weight |
21.15kg (46.5lbs) |
20.00kg (44lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Vinyl-wrap |
n/a |
| Available Colors |
Black, Dark wood, Light wood |
Black High Gloss,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 |
Both are Focal, from different ranges - so the house sound is shared and the differences are mostly in scale, engineering and price.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass |
evenly matched |
Much the same reach (48Hz vs 48Hz). |
| Amplifier needs |
evenly matched |
Similar sensitivity (91dB vs 91dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Headroom |
evenly matched |
Similar power handling (250W vs 250W). |
| Size |
depends |
Focal Theva No3 is easier to place; Focal Chora 826 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Price |
evenly matched |
Much the same money ($2,398 vs $2,398 a pair). |
A Focal Chora 826
B Focal Theva No3
depends neither is better in the abstract - it turns on your room, placement 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?
Neither runs away with it - they trade advantages. Let the "depends" rows and your own room settle it. In a large or open-plan room, Focal Chora 826 has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, Focal Theva No3 is the easier speaker to get right.
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.