In this review, we will be comparing SuperCenter XL and Aria CC 900, two Passive Center Channel speakers from GoldenEar and Focal.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of GoldenEar SuperCenter XL and Focal Aria CC 900 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | GoldenEar SuperCenter XL | Focal Aria CC 900 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | — | 1" inverted dome |
|---|
| Woofer | — | 2 x 6.5" flax/fiberglass |
|---|
| Frequency response | 36-35k Hz | 57-28k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 91 dB | 91 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 20-250 watts | 40-200 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 9.55kg / 21lbs | 10.45kg / 23lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 5-3/4" x 29" x 11-1/8"
147.0 x 737.0 x 283.0mm | 7-15/16" x 20-15/16" x 11-3/16"
202.0 x 532.0 x 285.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the GoldenEar SuperCenter XL 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:
| Listening Environment* |
GoldenEar SuperCenter XL |
Focal Aria CC 900 |
| 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.
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Drivers
Both SuperCenter XL and Aria CC 900 are 2-way speakers.
| Driver |
GoldenEar SuperCenter XL |
Focal Aria CC 900 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
2 x -inch
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
SuperCenter XL features a " Tweeter and 2 x " Woofer. 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
SuperCenter XL has a frequency range of 36-35k Hz whereas Aria CC 900 has a frequency range of 57-28k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 36Hz, the SuperCenter XL can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Aria CC 900's min frequency of 57Hz.
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
SuperCenter XL and Aria CC 900 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms and their sensitivity is also same at 91 dB.
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.
SuperCenter XL can handle a max power of 250 watts RMS, whereas Aria CC 900 has a max power handling value of 200 watts RMS, 50 watts less than the SuperCenter XL.
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
SuperCenter XL features Binding post type posts and Aria CC 900 has a Binding post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
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 GoldenEar SuperCenter XL's and Focal Aria CC 900's external dimensions. GoldenEar SuperCenter XL has external dimensions of 147.0 x 737.0 x 283.0mm (5-3/4 x 29 x 11-1/8inch) 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).
GoldenEar SuperCenter XL is 55mm shorter and 2mm less deeper than Focal Aria CC 900 but it is also 205mm wider.
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 GoldenEar SuperCenter XL is approximately 2085.7cm2 / 323.3inch2 and base area of the Focal Aria CC 900 is approximately 1516.2cm2 / 235.0inch2. The SuperCenter XL requires 38% more surface area than the Aria CC 900 which gives it a small disadvantage 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 GoldenEar SuperCenter XL weighs 9.55kg / 21lbs and the Focal Aria CC 900 weighs 10.45kg / 23lbs. This makes the Aria CC 900 9% heavier than the SuperCenter XL.
Here is a comparison of how SuperCenter XL 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 GoldenEar SuperCenter XL?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of SuperCenter XL:
- Center-channel loudspeaker
- 3 Leveling feet
- 3 Threaded-inserts
- Owners Manual
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
 Max Input Power |
250 watts
vs
200 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Low Frequency Response |
36 Hz
vs
57 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
35k Hz
vs
28k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
147mm
vs
202mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
|
Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
inches
|
Larger woofer |
 Base Surface Area |
1516cm2
vs
2085cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
| General |
GoldenEar SuperCenter XL |
Focal Aria CC 900 |
| Brand |
GoldenEar |
Focal |
| Speaker Type |
Center channel speaker |
Center channel speaker |
| Power Range |
20-250 watts |
40-200 watts |
| Sensitivity |
91 dB |
91 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
n/a |
4.3 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
36-35k Hz |
57-28k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
|
flax/fiberglass |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
n/a |
inverted dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
n/a |
2800Hz |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
147.0mm (5.8") |
202.0mm (8") |
| Width |
737.0mm (29") |
532.0mm (20.9") |
| Depth |
283.0mm (11.1") |
285.0mm (11.2") |
| Weight |
9.55kg (21lbs) |
10.45kg (23lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Passive Radiator |
Bass Reflex |
| Available Colors |
Black |
Gloss Black |
| Grille |
n/a |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
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 |
A |
GoldenEar SuperCenter XL digs deeper - 36Hz against 57Hz. |
| Amplifier needs |
evenly matched |
Similar sensitivity (91dB vs 91dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Headroom |
A |
GoldenEar SuperCenter XL takes more power (250W vs 200W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size |
depends |
Similar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit. |
| Cabinet |
depends |
Passive Radiator vs Ported. |
| Expandability |
depends |
Neither adds bi-amping, a sub output or height drivers. Focal Aria CC 900 sits in a wider range (7 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price |
evenly matched |
Much the same money ($1,099 vs $1,099 a pair). |
A GoldenEar SuperCenter XL
B Focal Aria CC 900
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?
GoldenEar SuperCenter XL has the edge on paper, though the margin is not large. The rows marked "depends" may matter more to you than the score does. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 57Hz anyway, so judge these on the other rows instead. Match it to your room: we rate GoldenEar SuperCenter XL the better fit for a large room and a very large room, and Focal Aria CC 900 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.