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.
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:
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Focal Vestia Center and Polk R400 compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these loudspeakers is the better choice for you.
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through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Drivers
Both Vestia Center and R400 are 2-way speakers.
| 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.
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 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. 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.
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 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
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 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.
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 loudspeakerGrilleOwners ManualOnline Registration
 Sensitivity |
92 dB
vs
89 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Base Surface Area |
1401cm2 (537x261mm)
vs
2299cm2 (618x372mm)
|
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 |
N/A" |
| 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 |