In this review, we will be comparing Chora 806 and Theva No1, two Passive Bookshelf speakers by Focal.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Focal Chora 806 and Focal Theva No1 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Focal Chora 806 | Focal Theva No1 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" inverted dome | 1" inverted dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 6.5" Slatefiber | 6.5" Slatefiber |
|---|
| Frequency response | 55-28k Hz | 58-28kHz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 89 dB | 89 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 25 - 120 watts | 25-120 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 7.35kg / 16.2lbs | 6.82kg / 15lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 17" x 8.25" x 10.7"
431.0 x 210.0 x 270.0mm | 15-3/8" x 8-3/8" x 10-1/4"
391.0 x 213.0 x 261.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Focal Chora 806 and Focal Theva No1 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 806 |
Focal Theva No1 |
| 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 Chora 806 and Theva No1 are 2-way speakers.
Focal Chora 806Focal Theva No1
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 Chora 806 |
Focal Theva No1 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
Chora 806 features a 1" TNV2 AI/Mg inverted dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Slatefiber Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 3000Hz. On the other hand, the Theva No1 features a 1" TNF Al/Mg inverted dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Slatefiber Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 3000 Hz.
Frequency Response
Chora 806 has a frequency range of 55-28k Hz whereas Theva No1 has a frequency range of 58-28kHz.
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
Chora 806 and Theva No1 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms and their sensitivity is also same at 89 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 Chora 806 is rated 25 - 120 watts and Theva No1 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
Theva No1 features Binding post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. Chora 806 has a Binding post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Focal Chora 806's Binding post terminals
Focal Theva No1's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both Chora 806 and Theva No1 have rear firing ports. Rear ported speakers generally need more room between the backside of the speaker and the wall compared to sealed and front/bottom ported speakers. Placing the speakers too close to the walls may cause the bass to sound boomy.
If you are limited in space and can't get the speakers away from the backwall, check our Speakers with Front Firing Ports page.
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 806's and Focal Theva No1's external dimensions. Focal Chora 806 has external dimensions of 431.0 x 210.0 x 270.0mm (17 x 8.25 x 10.7inch) whereas Focal Theva No1 has external dimensions of 391.0 x 213.0 x 261.0mm (153/8 x 83/8 x 101/4).
Focal Theva No1 is 40mm shorter and 9mm less deeper than Focal Chora 806 but it is also 3mm 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 806 is approximately 567.0cm2 / 87.9inch2 and base area of the Focal Theva No1 is approximately 555.9cm2 / 86.2inch2. The Chora 806 requires 2% more surface area than the Theva No1 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 806 weighs 7.35kg / 16.2lbs and the Focal Theva No1 weighs 6.82kg / 15lbs. This makes the Chora 806 8% heavier than the Theva No1.
Here is a comparison of how Chora 806 and Theva No1'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 Chora 806?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Chora 806:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Grilles
- 8 Self-adhesive rubber pads
- User manual
 Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
 Height |
391mm
vs
431mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
555cm2
vs
567cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
| General |
Focal Chora 806 |
Focal Theva No1 |
| Brand |
Focal |
Focal |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
25 - 120 watts |
25-120 watts |
| Sensitivity |
89 dB |
89 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
4.6 ohms |
4.6 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
55-28k Hz |
58-28kHz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
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 |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
3000Hz |
3000 Hz |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
431.0mm (17") |
391.0mm (15.4") |
| Width |
210.0mm (8.3") |
213.0mm (8.4") |
| Depth |
270.0mm (10.6") |
261.0mm (10.3") |
| Weight |
7.35kg (16.2lbs) |
6.82kg (15lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
Lacquer/Leatherette |
n/a |
| Available Colors |
Black, Dark wood, Light wood |
Black High Gloss,Dark Wood,Light Wood |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Recommended Stand Height |
22-24" |
n/a |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
No |
Yes |
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 (58Hz vs 58Hz). |
| Amplifier needs |
evenly matched |
Similar sensitivity (89dB vs 89dB) - 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 |
B |
Focal Theva No1: bi-amping. |
A Focal Chora 806
B Focal Theva No1
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?
Focal Theva No1 has the edge on paper, though the margin is not large. The rows marked "depends" may matter more to you than the score does.
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.