In this review, we will be comparing Chora 826 and SE 8000F, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from Focal and Paradigm.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Focal Chora 826 and Paradigm SE 8000F 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 )
Paradigm SE 8000F Key Specs
- 3-way Design
- 1" Tweeter
- 6.5" Midrange
- 3 x 8" Mineral-filled polypropylene Woofer
- 6.5" Midrange
- 45-21k Hz Frequency Response
- 95 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:15-150watts
- Weight:31.36kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 1169.0" x 11-3/4" x 17-3/4"( 1169.0 x 299.0 x 451.0mm )
What size room are the Focal Chora 826 and Paradigm SE 8000F 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 |
Paradigm SE 8000F |
| 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 Paradigm SE 8000F compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these loudspeakers is the better choice for you.
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Drivers
Both Chora 826 and SE 8000F are 3-way speakers.
| Driver |
Focal Chora 826 |
Paradigm SE 8000F |
|
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
|
3 x 8-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 SE 8000F features a 1" Tweeter , a 6.5" Midrange and 3 x 8" Mineral-filled polypropylene Woofer .
Frequency Response
Chora 826 has a frequency range of 48-28k Hz whereas SE 8000F has a frequency range of 45-21k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 45Hz, the SE 8000F can go slightly deeper then the Chora 826's min frequency of 48Hz.
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 SE 8000F 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 SE 8000F's is at 95 dB. This 4 dB difference makes the Paradigm SE 8000F a more sensitive speaker compared to Focal Chora 826, 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 SE 8000F has a max power handling value of 150 watts RMS, 100 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 Post type posts and SE 8000F has a Post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Focal Chora 826's Binding post terminals
Paradigm SE 8000F's Post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Chora 826 has a front firing port whereas SE 8000F 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 Paradigm SE 8000F with its rear-firing port.
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 Paradigm SE 8000F'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 Paradigm SE 8000F has external dimensions of 1169.0 x 299.0 x 451.0mm ( 46 x 11-3/4 x 17-3/4inch) .
Focal Chora 826 is 116mm shorter and 47mm less deeper than Paradigm SE 8000F but it is also 6mm wider.
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 Paradigm SE 8000F is approximately 1348.5cm2 / 209.0inch2. The Chora 826 requires 9% less surface area than the SE 8000F which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.