In this review, we will be comparing R11 and Aria 936, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from KEF and Focal.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of KEF R11 and Focal Aria 936 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
KEF R11 Key Specs
- 3-way Design
- 1" Dome Tweeter
- 5" Midrange
- 4 x 6.5" Hybrid Aluminum Woofer
- 46-28k Hz Frequency Response
- 90 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:15-300watts
- Weight:37.70kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 1301.0" x 12-1/4" x 15-5/16"( 1301.0 x 312.0 x 389.0mm )
Focal Aria 936 Key Specs
- 3-way Design
- 1" inverted dome Tweeter
- 6.5" Midrange
- 3 x 6.5" Flax Woofer
- 6.5" Midrange
- 39-28k Hz Frequency Response
- 92 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:50-300watts
- Weight:29.09kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 1148.0" x 11-9/16" x 14-11/16"( 1148.0 x 294.0 x 374.0mm )
What size room are the KEF R11 and Focal Aria 936 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* |
KEF R11 |
Focal Aria 936 |
| Near-field |
Bad |
Bad |
| Small Room |
Poor |
Poor |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Average |
| Large Room |
Good |
Good |
| Very Large Room |
Average |
Average |
(* 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.)
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the KEF R11 and Focal Aria 936 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 R11 and Aria 936 are 3-way speakers.
| Driver |
KEF R11 |
Focal Aria 936 |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 5-inch |
1 x 6.5-inch |
|
Woofer
|
4 x 6.5-inch
|
3 x 6.5-inch
|
R11 features a 1" aluminum Dome Tweeter , a 5" Midrange and 4 x 6.5" Hybrid Aluminum Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 400Hz and 2900Hz. On the other hand, the Aria 936 features a 1" TNF Al/Mg inverted dome Tweeter , a 6.5" Midrange and 3 x 6.5" Flax Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 260Hz and 3,100Hz.
Frequency Response
R11 has a frequency range of 46-28k Hz whereas Aria 936 has a frequency range of 39-28k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 39Hz, the Aria 936 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the R11's min frequency of 46Hz.
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 Floor-standing class in our database.
Low Frequency
Floor-standing Speakers
High Frequency
Floor-standing 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
R11 and Aria 936 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. R11 sensitivity is rated at 90 dB and the Aria 936's is at 92 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the Focal Aria 936 a more sensitive speaker compared to KEF R11, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Floor-standing 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.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
R11 features Binding post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. Aria 936 has a Binding post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
KEF R11's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
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 KEF R11's and Focal Aria 936's external dimensions. KEF R11 has external dimensions of 1301.0 x 312.0 x 389.0mm ( 51-3/16 x 12-1/4 x 15-5/16inch) whereas Focal Aria 936 has external dimensions of 1148.0 x 294.0 x 374.0mm ( 45-3/16 x 11-9/16 x 14-11/16inch) .
KEF R11 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 18mm wider, 153mm taller and 15mm deeper than Focal Aria 936.
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 KEF R11 is approximately 1213.7cm2 / 188.1inch2 and base area of the Focal Aria 936 is approximately 1099.6cm2 / 170.4inch2. The R11 requires 10% more surface area than the Aria 936 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 KEF R11 weighs 37.70kg / 82.9lbs and the Focal Aria 936 weighs 29.09kg / 64lbs. This makes the R11 30% heavier than the Aria 936.
Here is a comparison of how R11 and Aria 936'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 KEF R11?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of R11:
Floorstanding loudspeakerGrille2 Foam port plugs4 Outrigger feet4 Spikes4 Protective discs4 Screws4 WashersWrenchHex-keyUser ManualWarranty Information
What's in the Box of Focal Aria 936?
Here are the items that come with the Aria 936:
Floorstanding loudspeakerGrilleBase4 Spike feet (pre-installed in base)4 Plastic feet4 ScrewsAllen-keyHex-toolUser Manual
 Minimum Impedance |
3.2 ohms
vs
2.8 ohms
|
Very low impedance levels puts more pressure on amplifier |
 Number of Woofers |
4
vs
3
|
More woofers |
 Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
 Sensitivity |
92 dB
vs
90 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
|
Low Frequency Response |
39 Hz
vs
46 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Height |
1148mm
vs
1301mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
1099cm2
vs
1213cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
5998USD
vs
6000USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
KEF R11 |
Focal Aria 936 |
| Brand |
KEF |
Focal |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
15-300 watts |
50-300 watts |
| Sensitivity |
90 dB |
92 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
3.2 ohms |
2.8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
46-28k Hz |
39-28k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
4 |
3 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Hybrid Aluminum |
Flax |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Dome |
inverted dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
5" |
6.5" |
| Crossover Frequency |
400Hz and 2900Hz |
260Hz and 3,100Hz |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
n/a |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
1301.0mm (51.2") |
1148.0mm (45.2") |
| Width |
312.0mm (12.3") |
294.0mm (11.6") |
| Depth |
389.0mm (15.3") |
374.0mm (14.7") |
| Weight |
37.70kg (82.9lbs) |
29.09kg (64lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Lacquer |
MDF/Glass/Leather |
| Available Colors |
Black Gloss, White Gloss, Walnut |
Gloss Black |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |