In this review, we will be comparing Theva No2 and Chora 816, two Passive Floor-standing speakers by Focal.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Focal Theva No2 and Focal Chora 816 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Focal Theva No2 | Focal Chora 816 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" inverted dome | 1" inverted dome |
|---|
| Midrange | 6.5" | 6.5" |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 6.5" Slatefiber | 6.5" Slatefiber |
|---|
| Frequency response | 53-28kHz | 50-28k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 90 dB | 89.5 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 40-200 watts | 40-200 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 16.82kg / 37lbs | 18.50kg / 40.7lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 36-5/8" x 7-1/2" x 13-7/8"
931.0 x 191.0 x 353.0mm | 39-5/8" x 12" x 15-7/8"
1007.0 x 305.0 x 404.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Focal Theva No2 and Focal Chora 816 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 No2 |
Focal Chora 816 |
| Near-field |
Bad |
Bad |
| Small Room |
Poor |
Poor |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Good |
| Large Room |
Good |
Good |
| 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.
**This post contains affiliate links, and we will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking
through our links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Drivers
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that Theva No2 is a 2-way design whereas the Chora 816 is a 3-way speaker. 3-way designs utilize a midrange driver in addition to the tweeter and woofer on 2-way designs. Designing a crossover for a 3-way speaker is a complicated process and generally increases the overall cost of the speaker.
Focal Theva No2Focal Chora 816
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 Theva No2 |
Focal Chora 816 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-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
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
Theva No2 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 280 Hz - 2900 Hz. On the other hand, the Chora 816 features a 1" TNF Al/Mg inverted dome Tweeter, a 6.5" Midrange and 1 x 6.5" Slatefiber Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 270Hz and 2700Hz.
Frequency Response
Theva No2 has a frequency range of 53-28kHz whereas Chora 816 has a frequency range of 50-28k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 50Hz, the Chora 816 can go slightly deeper then the Theva No2's min frequency of 53Hz.
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
Theva No2 and Chora 816 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Theva No2 sensitivity is rated at 90 dB and the Chora 816's is at 89.5 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.
Theva No2 and Chora 816 have the same power range of 40-200 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 No2 features Binding post type posts and Chora 816 has a Binding post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Focal Theva No2's Binding post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Theva No2 has a rear firing port whereas Chora 816 has a front firing ports. Focal Chora 816's front-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to Focal Theva No2 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 No2's and Focal Chora 816's external dimensions. Focal Theva No2 has external dimensions of 931.0 x 191.0 x 353.0mm (365/8 x 71/2 x 137/8) whereas Focal Chora 816 has external dimensions of 1007.0 x 305.0 x 404.0mm (39-5/8 x 12 x 15-7/8inch).
Focal Chora 816 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 114mm wider, 76mm taller and 51mm deeper than Focal Theva No2.
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 No2 is approximately 674.2cm2 / 104.5inch2 and base area of the Focal Chora 816 is approximately 1232.2cm2 / 191.0inch2. The Theva No2 requires 45% less surface area than the Chora 816 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 No2 weighs 16.82kg / 37lbs and the Focal Chora 816 weighs 18.50kg / 40.7lbs. This makes the Chora 816 10% heavier than the Theva No2.
Here is a comparison of how Theva No2 and Chora 816'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 816?
Here are the items that come with the Chora 816:
- Floorstanding loudspeaker
- Base
- 4 Rubber feet
- 4 Spike feet
- 4 Nuts
- 4 Screws
- 4 Washers
- Hex-key
- Grille
- User manual
 Number of Woofers |
2
vs
1
|
More woofers |
 Height |
931mm
vs
1007mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
674cm2
vs
1232cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
|
Low Frequency Response |
50 Hz
vs
53 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Port Position |
Front
vs
Rear
|
Gives more flexibility placing close to walls |
| General |
Focal Theva No2 |
Focal Chora 816 |
| Brand |
Focal |
Focal |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
40-200 watts |
40-200 watts |
| Sensitivity |
90 dB |
89.5 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
4 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
53-28kHz |
50-28k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
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 |
6.5" |
6.5" |
| Crossover Frequency |
280 Hz - 2900 Hz |
270Hz and 2700Hz |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
931.0mm (36.7") |
1007.0mm (39.6") |
| Width |
191.0mm (7.5") |
305.0mm (12") |
| Depth |
353.0mm (13.9") |
404.0mm (15.9") |
| Weight |
16.82kg (37lbs) |
18.50kg (40.7lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
n/a |
MDF/Vinyl-wrap |
| Available Colors |
Black High Gloss,Dark Wood,Light Wood |
Black, 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 |
B |
Focal Chora 816 digs deeper - 50Hz against 53Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs |
evenly matched |
Similar sensitivity (90dB vs 90dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Headroom |
evenly matched |
Similar power handling (200W vs 200W). |
| Size |
depends |
Focal Theva No2 is easier to place; Focal Chora 816 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Price |
evenly matched |
Much the same money ($1,798 vs $1,798 a pair). |
A Focal Theva No2
B Focal Chora 816
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 Chora 816 has the edge on paper, though the margin is not large. The rows marked "depends" may matter more to you than the score does. In a large or open-plan room, Focal Chora 816 has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, Focal Theva No2 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.