In this review, we will be comparing Chorus 706 and Aria 906, two Passive Bookshelf speakers by Focal.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Focal Chorus 706 and Focal Aria 906 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Focal Chorus 706 | Focal Aria 906 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" inverted dome | 1" Inverted Hard Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 6.5" Polyglass | 6.5" Flax |
|---|
| Frequency response | 55-28k Hz | 55-28k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 90 dB | 89.5 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 25 - 120 watts | 25-120 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 8.20kg / 18lbs | 8.64kg / 19lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 15.4" x 8.7" x 10.4"
390.0 x 220.0 x 263.0mm | 15-3/8" x 8-15/16" x 11-5/16"
391.0 x 228.0 x 288.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Focal Chorus 706 and Focal Aria 906 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 Chorus 706 |
Focal Aria 906 |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Average |
Average |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Good |
| Large Room |
Average |
Average |
| Very Large Room |
Poor |
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.)
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 Chorus 706 and Aria 906 are 2-way speakers.
Focal Chorus 706Focal Aria 906
TweeterWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
Focal Chorus 706 |
Focal Aria 906 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
Chorus 706 features a 1" TNV2 AI/Mg inverted dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Polyglass Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 3000Hz. On the other hand, the Aria 906 features a 1" TNF aluminum/magnesium Inverted Hard Dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Flax Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2800Hz.
Frequency Response
Chorus 706 and Aria 906 has exactly the same frequency range of 55-28k Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Bookshelf class in our database.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf 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
Chorus 706 and Aria 906 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Chorus 706 sensitivity is rated at 90 dB and the Aria 906's is at 89.5 dB.
Sensitivity
Bookshelf 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.
Both handle the same maximum of 120 watts RMS, though Chorus 706 is rated 25 - 120 watts and Aria 906 25-120 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
Chorus 706 features Binding post type posts and Aria 906 has a Binding post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Focal Aria 906's Binding post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Chorus 706 has a front firing port whereas Aria 906 has a rear firing ports. Focal Chorus 706's front-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to Focal Aria 906 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 Chorus 706's and Focal Aria 906's external dimensions. Focal Chorus 706 has external dimensions of 390.0 x 220.0 x 263.0mm (15.4 x 8.7 x 10.4inch) whereas Focal Aria 906 has external dimensions of 391.0 x 228.0 x 288.0mm (15-3/8 x 8-15/16 x 11-5/16inch).
Focal Aria 906 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 8mm wider, 1mm taller and 25mm deeper than Focal Chorus 706.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Focal Chorus 706 and Focal Aria 906 in scale.
Comparison image of Focal Chorus 706 and Focal Aria 906 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 Chorus 706 is approximately 578.6cm2 / 89.7inch2 and base area of the Focal Aria 906 is approximately 656.6cm2 / 101.8inch2. The Chorus 706 requires 12% less surface area than the Aria 906 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 Chorus 706 weighs 8.20kg / 18lbs and the Focal Aria 906 weighs 8.64kg / 19lbs. This makes the Aria 906 5% heavier than the Chorus 706.
Here is a comparison of how Chorus 706 and Aria 906's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
What's in the Box of Focal Chorus 706?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Chorus 706:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Cloth grilles (attached)
- User manual
What's in the Box of Focal Aria 906?
Here are the items that come with the Aria 906:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Cloth grilles
- User manual
 Port Position |
Front
vs
Rear
|
Gives more flexibility placing close to walls |
 Height |
390mm
vs
391mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
578cm2
vs
656cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Minimum Impedance |
4.6 ohms
vs
3.6 ohms
|
Very low impedance levels puts more pressure on amplifier |
| General |
Focal Chorus 706 |
Focal Aria 906 |
| Brand |
Focal |
Focal |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
25 - 120 watts |
25-120 watts |
| Sensitivity |
90 dB |
89.5 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
3.6 ohms |
4.6 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
55-28k Hz |
55-28k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Polyglass |
Flax |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
inverted dome |
Inverted Hard Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
3000Hz |
2800Hz |
| Firing Direction |
front |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
390.0mm (15.4") |
391.0mm (15.4") |
| Width |
220.0mm (8.7") |
228.0mm (9") |
| Depth |
263.0mm (10.4") |
288.0mm (11.3") |
| Weight |
8.20kg (18lbs) |
8.64kg (19lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
Lacquer/Leatherette |
MDF/Glass/Leather |
| Available Colors |
Rosewood, Walnut, Black |
Walnut, Black |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Recommended Stand Height |
24-26" |
24-28" |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
No |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 |
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 (55Hz vs 55Hz). |
| Amplifier needs |
evenly matched |
Similar sensitivity (90dB vs 90dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Headroom |
evenly matched |
Similar power handling (120W vs 120W). |
| Size |
depends |
Similar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit. |
| Expandability |
depends |
Neither adds bi-amping, a sub output or height drivers. Focal Aria 906 sits in a wider range (7 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
A Focal Chorus 706
B Focal Aria 906
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.
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.