In this review, we will be comparing Vestia Center and Aria CC 900, two Passive Center Channel speakers by Focal Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Focal Vestia Center and Focal Aria CC 900 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the Focal Vestia Center and Focal Aria CC 900 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:
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Focal Vestia Center and Focal Aria CC 900 compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these loudspeakers is the better choice for you.
**This post contains affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking
through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Drivers
Both Vestia Center and Aria CC 900 are 2-way speakers.
| Driver |
Focal Vestia Center |
Focal Aria CC 900 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
Vestia Center features a 1" Al/Mg inverted dome Tweeter and 2 x 6.5" Slatefiber Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2700Hz. On the other hand, the Aria CC 900 features a 1" TNF aluminum/magnesium inverted dome Tweeter and 2 x 6.5" flax/fiberglass Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2800Hz.
Frequency Response
Vestia Center has a frequency range of 58-30k Hz whereas Aria CC 900 has a frequency range of 57-28k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 57Hz, the Aria CC 900 can go slightly deeper then the Vestia Center's min frequency of 58Hz.
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 Center Channel class in our database.
Low Frequency
Center Channel Speakers
High Frequency
Center Channel 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
Vestia Center and Aria CC 900 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Vestia Center sensitivity is rated at 91.5 dB and the Aria CC 900's is at 91 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the Focal Vestia Center a more sensitive speaker compared to Focal Aria CC 900, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Center Channel 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.
Vestia Center and Aria CC 900 has the same power range of 40-200 watts.
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.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both Vestia Center and Aria CC 900 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
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 Vestia Center's and Focal Aria CC 900's external dimensions. Focal Vestia Center has external dimensions of 216.0 x 537.0 x 261.0mm ( 8-1/2-inch x 21-1/8-inch x 10-1/4-inch) whereas Focal Aria CC 900 has external dimensions of 202.0 x 532.0 x 285.0mm ( 7-15/16 x 20-15/16 x 11-3/16inch) .
Focal Aria CC 900 is 5mm narrower and 14mm shorter than Focal Vestia Center but it is also 24mm deeper.
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 Vestia Center is approximately 1401.6cm2 / 217.2inch2 and base area of the Focal Aria CC 900 is approximately 1516.2cm2 / 235.0inch2. The Vestia Center requires 8% less surface area than the Aria CC 900 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 Vestia Center weighs 10.00kg / 22lbs and the Focal Aria CC 900 weighs 10.45kg / 23lbs. This makes the Aria CC 900 4% heavier than the Vestia Center.
Here is a comparison of how Vestia Center and Aria CC 900's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Center Channel class.
Weight
All Center Channel Speakers
What's in the Box of Focal Aria CC 900?
Here are the items that come with the Aria CC 900:
Center-channel loudspeaker Grille 4 Rubber feet User Manual
 Sensitivity |
92 dB
vs
91 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 High Frequency Response |
30k Hz
vs
28k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Base Surface Area |
1401cm2 (537x261mm)
vs
1516cm2 (532x285mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
699USD
vs
1099USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Minimum Impedance |
4.3 ohms
vs
3.6 ohms
|
Very low impedance levels puts more pressure on amplifier |
 Low Frequency Response |
57 Hz
vs
58 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Height |
202mm
vs
216mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
| General |
Focal Vestia Center |
Focal Aria CC 900 |
| Brand |
Focal |
Focal |
| Speaker Type |
Center channel speaker |
Center channel speaker |
| Power Range |
40-200 watts |
40-200 watts |
| Sensitivity |
91.5 dB |
91 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
3.6 ohms |
4.3 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
58-30k Hz |
57-28k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Slatefiber |
flax/fiberglass |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
n/a |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
inverted dome |
inverted dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
N/A" |
| Crossover Frequency |
2700Hz |
2800Hz |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
216.0mm (8.5") |
202.0mm (8") |
| Width |
537.0mm (21.1") |
532.0mm (20.9") |
| Depth |
261.0mm (10.3") |
285.0mm (11.2") |
| Weight |
10.00kg (22lbs) |
10.45kg (23lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF |
n/a |
| Available Colors |
Black High Gloss, Dark Wood, Light Wood |
Gloss Black |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
No |
n/a |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
|
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
|
5 Years |