In this review, we will be comparing Vestia Center and R400, two Passive Center Channel speakers from Focal and Polk Audio.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Focal Vestia Center and Polk R400 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Focal Vestia Center | Polk R400 |
|---|
| Brand | Focal
France · founded 1979 | Polk Audio
United States · founded 1972 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" inverted dome | 1" Pinnacle Ring Radiator |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 6.5" Slatefiber | 2 x 6.5" Polypropylene Turbine Cone |
|---|
| Frequency response | 58-30k Hz | 48-39K Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 91.5 dB | 89 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 40-200 watts | 20-200 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 10.00kg / 22lbs | 14.91kg / 32.8lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 8-1/2" x 21-1/8" x 10-1/4"
216.0 x 537.0 x 261.0mm | 7-13/16" x 24-5/16" x 14-5/8"
199.0 x 618.0 x 372.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Focal Vestia Center and Polk R400 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 Vestia Center |
Polk R400 |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Poor |
Average |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Good |
| Large Room |
Good |
Average |
| Very Large Room |
Average |
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 Vestia Center and R400 are 2-way speakers.
Focal Vestia CenterPolk R400
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 Vestia Center |
Polk R400 |
|
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 R400 features a 1" Pinnacle Ring Radiator Tweeter and 2 x 6.5" Polypropylene Turbine Cone Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2500Hz.
Frequency Response
Vestia Center has a frequency range of 58-30k Hz whereas R400 has a frequency range of 48-39K Hz. With a minimum frequency of 48Hz, the R400 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Vestia Center'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 Center Channel class in our database.
Low Frequency
Center Channel 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
Vestia Center and R400 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 R400's is at 89 dB. This 3 dB difference makes the Focal Vestia Center a more sensitive speaker compared to Polk R400, 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. Staying
within that range gives nominal performance; driving the speaker beyond its maximum wattage can damage it.
Both handle the same maximum of 200 watts RMS, though Vestia Center is rated 40-200 watts and R400 20-200 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.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both Vestia Center and R400 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.
Polk R400 dual 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 Vestia Center's and Polk R400'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 Polk R400 has external dimensions of 199.0 x 618.0 x 372.0mm (7-13/16 x 24-5/16 x 14-5/8inch).
Focal Vestia Center is 81mm narrower and 111mm less deeper than Polk R400 but it is also 17mm taller.
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.
Polk R400 needs about 64% more floor or shelf area. Polk R400 is 111mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. Focal Vestia Center is 17mm taller.
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 Polk R400 is approximately 2299.0cm2 / 356.3inch2. The Vestia Center requires 39% less surface area than the R400 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 Polk R400 weighs 14.91kg / 32.8lbs. This makes the R400 49% heavier than the Vestia Center.
Here is a comparison of how Vestia Center and R400'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 Polk R400?
Here are the items that come with the R400:
- Center-channel loudspeaker
- Grille
- Owners Manual
- Online Registration
 Sensitivity |
92 dB
vs
89 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Base Surface Area |
1401cm2
vs
2299cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Minimum Impedance |
4.1 ohms
vs
3.6 ohms
|
Very low impedance levels puts more pressure on amplifier |
 Low Frequency Response |
48 Hz
vs
58 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
39k Hz
vs
30k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
199mm
vs
216mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Price per pair* |
649USD
vs
699USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Focal Vestia Center |
Polk Audio Reserve R400 |
| Brand |
Focal |
Polk Audio |
| Speaker Type |
Center channel speaker |
Center channel speaker |
| Power Range |
40-200 watts |
20-200 watts |
| Sensitivity |
91.5 dB |
89 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
3.6 ohms |
4.1 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
58-30k Hz |
48-39K Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Slatefiber |
Polypropylene Turbine Cone |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
inverted dome |
Pinnacle Ring Radiator |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
2700Hz |
2500Hz |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
216.0mm (8.5") |
199.0mm (7.8") |
| Width |
537.0mm (21.1") |
618.0mm (24.3") |
| Depth |
261.0mm (10.3") |
372.0mm (14.6") |
| Weight |
10.00kg (22lbs) |
14.91kg (32.8lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF |
n/a |
| Available Colors |
Black High Gloss, Dark Wood, Light Wood |
Black, Walnut |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
No |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
|
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
|
5 Years |
No single best speaker here - they are built to different priorities, and the right one depends on your room, your amplifier and what you listen to.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | B | Polk R400 digs deeper - 48Hz against 58Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | A | Focal Vestia Center is more sensitive (92dB vs 89dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Headroom | evenly matched | Similar power handling (200W vs 200W). |
| Size | depends | Focal Vestia Center is easier to place; Polk R400 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | depends | Neither adds bi-amping, a sub output or height drivers. Polk R400 sits in a wider range (10 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | evenly matched | Much the same money ($699 vs $649 a pair). |
A Focal Vestia Center B Polk R400
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?
Neither runs away with it - they trade advantages. Let the "depends" rows and your own room settle it. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 58Hz anyway, so judge these on the other rows instead. Match it to your room: we rate Focal Vestia Center the better fit for a large room and a very large room, and Polk R400 for a small room.
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.