In this review, we will be comparing Synchrony T600 and Aria 936, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from PSB and Focal. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of PSB Synchrony T600 and Focal Aria 936 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the PSB Synchrony T600 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:
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the PSB Synchrony T600 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.
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Drivers
Both Synchrony T600 and Aria 936 are 3-way speakers.
| Driver |
PSB Synchrony T600 |
Focal Aria 936 |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 5.25-inch |
1 x 6.5-inch |
|
Woofer
|
3 x 6.5-inch
|
3 x 6.5-inch
|
Synchrony T600 features a 1" titanium with ferrofluid cooling and neodymium magnet Dome Tweeter , a 5.25" Midrange and 3 x 6.5" Carbon fiber Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 450Hz and 1800Hz. 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
Synchrony T600 has a frequency range of 24-23k Hz whereas Aria 936 has a frequency range of 39-28k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 24Hz, the Synchrony T600 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Aria 936's min frequency of 39Hz.
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
Synchrony T600 is a 4 ohms speaker compared to the Aria 936 which has a nominal impedance of 8 ohms. Lower impedance speakers, especially the ones that are rated at 4 ohms may put more pressure on the amplifier unit especially when played at high volume levels, so make sure the amp you pair with the Synchrony T600 can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Synchrony T600 sensitivity is rated at 89 dB and the Aria 936's is rated at 92 dB. This 3 dB difference makes the Focal Aria 936 a more sensitive speaker compared to PSB Synchrony T600, 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
Synchrony T600 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.
PSB Synchrony T600'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 PSB Synchrony T600's and Focal Aria 936's external dimensions. PSB Synchrony T600 has external dimensions of 1048.0 x 228.0 x 343.0mm ( 41-1/4 x 9 x 13-1/2inch) 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) .
Focal Aria 936 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 66mm wider, 100mm taller and 31mm deeper than PSB Synchrony T600.
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 PSB Synchrony T600 is approximately 782.0cm2 / 121.2inch2 and base area of the Focal Aria 936 is approximately 1099.6cm2 / 170.4inch2. The Synchrony T600 requires 29% less surface area than the Aria 936 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 PSB Synchrony T600 weighs 34.90kg / 76.8lbs and the Focal Aria 936 weighs 29.09kg / 64lbs. This makes the Synchrony T600 20% heavier than the Aria 936.
Here is a comparison of how Synchrony T600 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 PSB Synchrony T600?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Synchrony T600:
Floorstanding loudspeakrGrille2 Binding-post jumpers (pre-installed)4 Isolation feet2 Port plugsOwners ManualWarranty Card
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 |
4 ohms
vs
2.8 ohms
|
Very low impedance levels puts more pressure on amplifier |
 Low Frequency Response |
24 Hz
vs
39 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
 Height |
1048mm
vs
1148mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
782cm2 (228x343mm)
vs
1099cm2 (294x374mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
 Sensitivity |
92 dB
vs
89 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 High Frequency Response |
28k Hz
vs
23k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Price per pair* |
5998USD
vs
8000USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
PSB Synchrony T600 |
Focal Aria 936 |
| Brand |
PSB |
Focal |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
20-300 watts |
50-300 watts |
| Sensitivity |
89 dB |
92 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
2.8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
24-23k Hz |
39-28k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
3 |
3 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Carbon fiber |
Flax |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Dome |
inverted dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
5.25" |
6.5" |
| Crossover Frequency |
450Hz and 1800Hz |
260Hz and 3,100Hz |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
n/a |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
1048.0mm (41.3") |
1148.0mm (45.2") |
| Width |
228.0mm (9") |
294.0mm (11.6") |
| Depth |
343.0mm (13.5") |
374.0mm (14.7") |
| Weight |
34.90kg (76.8lbs) |
29.09kg (64lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Lacquer |
MDF/Glass/Leather |
| Available Colors |
Gloss Black, Satin 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 |