In this review, we will be comparing Theva No1 and Vestia No1, two Passive Bookshelf speakers by Focal.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Focal Theva No1 and Focal Vestia No1 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Focal Theva No1 | Focal Vestia No1 |
|---|
| Brand | Focal
France · founded 1979 | Focal
France · founded 1979 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" inverted dome | 1" inverted dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 6.5" Slatefiber | 6.5" Slatefiber |
|---|
| Frequency response | 58-28kHz | 56-30k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 89 dB | 89.5 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 25-120 watts | 25-120 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 6.82kg / 15lbs | 7.00kg / 15.4lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 15-3/8" x 8-3/8" x 10-1/4"
391.0 x 213.0 x 261.0mm | 15-1/4" x 8-5/8" x 10-1/4"
388.0 x 220.0 x 261.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Focal Theva No1 and Focal Vestia 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 Theva No1 |
Focal Vestia 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.
Drivers
Both Theva No1 and Vestia No1 are 2-way speakers.
Focal Theva No1Focal Vestia 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 Theva No1 |
Focal Vestia No1 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
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. On the other hand, the Vestia No1 features a 1" Al/Mg inverted dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Slatefiber Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2800Hz.
Frequency Response
Theva No1 has a frequency range of 58-28kHz whereas Vestia No1 has a frequency range of 56-30k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 56Hz, the Vestia No1 can go slightly deeper then the Theva No1's min frequency of 58Hz.
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
Theva No1 and Vestia No1 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Theva No1 sensitivity is rated at 89 dB and the Vestia No1's is at 89.5 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the Focal Vestia No1 a more sensitive speaker compared to Focal Theva No1, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
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.
Theva No1 and Vestia No1 have the same power range of 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.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Theva No1 has a rear firing port whereas Vestia No1 has a front firing ports. Focal Vestia No1's front-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to Focal Theva No1 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 Theva No1's and Focal Vestia No1's external dimensions. Focal Theva No1 has external dimensions of 391.0 x 213.0 x 261.0mm (153/8 x 83/8 x 101/4) whereas Focal Vestia No1 has external dimensions of 388.0 x 220.0 x 261.0mm (15-1/4-inch x 8-5/8-inch x 10-1/4-inch).
Size, drawn to scale
Both speakers and both views share one scale, so everything here is directly comparable. Hover a box for its dimensions.
One scale for both, standing on the same surface and pushed back to the same wall, so the deeper one visibly sticks out further.
Near-identical footprints.
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 Theva No1 is approximately 555.9cm2 / 86.2inch2 and base area of the Focal Vestia No1 is approximately 574.2cm2 / 89.0inch2. The Theva No1 requires 3% less surface area than the Vestia No1 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 Theva No1 weighs 6.82kg / 15lbs and the Focal Vestia No1 weighs 7.00kg / 15.4lbs. This makes the Vestia No1 3% heavier than the Theva No1.
Here is a comparison of how Theva No1 and Vestia No1's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
 Minimum Impedance |
4.6 ohms
vs
4.5 ohms
|
Very low impedance levels puts more pressure on amplifier |
 Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
 Base Surface Area |
555cm2
vs
574cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
998USD
vs
1198USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Sensitivity |
90 dB
vs
89 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Low Frequency Response |
56 Hz
vs
58 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
30k Hz
vs
28k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Port Position |
Front
vs
Rear
|
Gives more flexibility placing close to walls |
| General |
Focal Theva No1 |
Focal Vestia No1 |
| Brand |
Focal |
Focal |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
25-120 watts |
25-120 watts |
| Sensitivity |
89 dB |
89.5 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
4.6 ohms |
4.5 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
58-28kHz |
56-30k Hz |
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 |
3000 Hz |
2800Hz |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
388.0mm (15.3") |
388.0mm (15.3") |
| Width |
213.0mm (8.4") |
220.0mm (8.7") |
| Depth |
261.0mm (10.3") |
261.0mm (10.3") |
| Weight |
6.82kg (15lbs) |
7.00kg (15.4lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
n/a |
MDF |
| Available Colors |
Black High Gloss,Dark Wood,Light Wood |
Black High Gloss, Dark Wood, Light Wood |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
|
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
|
| Labor Warranty |
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 56Hz). |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (89dB 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 | A | Focal Theva No1: bi-amping. |
| Price | A | Focal Theva No1 is cheaper - $998 against $1,198, about 17% less. |
A Focal Theva No1 B Focal Vestia No1
depends neither is better in the abstract - it turns on your room, your system 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.