In this review, we will be comparing M105 and Aria 906, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Revel and Focal.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Revel M105 and Focal Aria 906 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Revel M105 | Focal Aria 906 |
|---|
| Brand | Revel
United States · founded 1996 | Focal
France · founded 1979 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Hard-Dome with Acoustic Lens Waveguide | 1" Inverted Hard Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 5.25" Aluminum | 6.5" Flax |
|---|
| Frequency response | 60Hz- 20kHz | 55-28k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 86 dB | 89.5 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 50-120 watts | 25-120 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 7.14kg / 15.7lbs | 8.64kg / 19lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 14-1/8" x 7-15/16" x 9-7/8"
359.0 x 202.0 x 251.0mm | 15-3/8" x 8-15/16" x 11-5/16"
391.0 x 228.0 x 288.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Revel M105 and Focal Aria 906 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* |
Revel M105 |
Focal Aria 906 |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Average |
Average |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Good |
| Large Room |
Average |
Average |
| Very Large Room |
Poor |
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 M105 and Aria 906 are 2-way speakers.
Revel M105Focal Aria 906
TweeterWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
Revel M105 |
Focal Aria 906 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
M105 features a 1" aluminum Hard-Dome with Acoustic Lens Waveguide Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" Aluminum Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2300Hz. On the other hand, the Aria 906 features a 1" TNF aluminum/magnesium Inverted Hard Dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Flax Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2800Hz.
Frequency Response
M105 has a frequency range of 60Hz- 20kHz whereas Aria 906 has a frequency range of 55-28k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 55Hz, the Aria 906 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the M105's min frequency of 60Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Bookshelf class in our database.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf 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
M105 and Aria 906 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. M105 sensitivity is rated at 86 dB and the Aria 906's is at 89.5 dB. This 4 dB difference makes the Focal Aria 906 a more sensitive speaker compared to Revel M105, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Bookshelf 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 120 watts RMS, though M105 is rated 50-120 watts and Aria 906 25-120 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.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
M105 features Binding post type posts and Aria 906 has a Binding post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Revel M105's Binding post terminals
Focal Aria 906's Binding post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both M105 and Aria 906 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.
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 Revel M105's and Focal Aria 906's external dimensions. Revel M105 has external dimensions of 359.0 x 202.0 x 251.0mm (14-1/8 x 7-15/16 x 9-7/8inch) whereas Focal Aria 906 has external dimensions of 391.0 x 228.0 x 288.0mm (15-3/8 x 8-15/16 x 11-5/16inch).
Focal Aria 906 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 26mm wider, 32mm taller and 37mm deeper than Revel M105.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Revel M105 and Focal Aria 906 in scale.
Comparison image of Revel M105 and Focal Aria 906 Size and External Dimensions
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 Revel M105 is approximately 507.0cm2 / 78.6inch2 and base area of the Focal Aria 906 is approximately 656.6cm2 / 101.8inch2. The M105 requires 23% less surface area than the Aria 906 which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.
Here is another comparison that shows both speakers on a BDI Octave Media Cabinet, next to a standard size amplifier and turntable in scale:
Size Comparison image of Revel M105 and Focal Aria 906 on a Media Console
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 Revel M105 weighs 7.14kg / 15.7lbs and the Focal Aria 906 weighs 8.64kg / 19lbs. This makes the Aria 906 21% heavier than the M105.
Here is a comparison of how M105 and Aria 906's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
What's in the Box of Revel M105?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of M105:
- Bookshelf loudspeaker
- Grille
- Foam port plug
- Owners Manual
What's in the Box of Focal Aria 906?
Here are the items that come with the Aria 906:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Cloth grilles
- User manual
 Height |
359mm
vs
391mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
507cm2
vs
656cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
1650USD
vs
2198USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Sensitivity |
90 dB
vs
86 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
5.25 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
55 Hz
vs
60 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
28k Hz
vs
20k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
| General |
Revel Performa3 M105 |
Focal Aria 906 |
| Brand |
Revel |
Focal |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
50-120 watts |
25-120 watts |
| Sensitivity |
86 dB |
89.5 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
n/a |
4.6 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
60Hz- 20kHz |
55-28k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
5.25" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Aluminum |
Flax |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Hard-Dome with Acoustic Lens Waveguide |
Inverted Hard Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
2300Hz |
2800Hz |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
359.0mm (14.1") |
391.0mm (15.4") |
| Width |
202.0mm (8") |
228.0mm (9") |
| Depth |
251.0mm (9.9") |
288.0mm (11.3") |
| Weight |
7.14kg (15.7lbs) |
8.64kg (19lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
Wood/Lacquer |
MDF/Glass/Leather |
| Available Colors |
Gloss Walnut,Piano Black,Piano White |
Walnut, Black |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Recommended Stand Height |
24-25" |
24-28" |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
No |
No |
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 | B | Focal Aria 906 digs deeper - 55Hz against 60Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs | B | Focal Aria 906 is more sensitive (90dB vs 86dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Headroom | evenly matched | Similar power handling (120W vs 120W). |
| Size | depends | Revel M105 is easier to place; Focal Aria 906 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Price | A | Revel M105 is cheaper - $1,650 against $2,198, about 25% less. |
A Revel M105 B Focal Aria 906
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?
The usual trade-off: Focal Aria 906 measures better, Revel M105 costs about about 33% more% less. Whether that gap is worth the money is the call only you can make - and in a normal room it is often smaller than the numbers suggest. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 60Hz anyway, which makes the cheaper Revel M105 much easier to justify. In a large or open-plan room, Focal Aria 906 has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, Revel M105 is the easier speaker to get right.
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.