In this review, we will be comparing Comete 40th and Aria Evo X No1, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Triangle and Focal.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Triangle Esprit Comete 40th and Focal Aria Evo X No1 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Triangle Esprit Comete 40th | Focal Aria Evo X No1 |
|---|
| Brand | Triangle
France · founded 1980 | Focal
France · founded 1979 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Horn-Loaded | 1" inverted dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 6.5" Paper | 6.5" Flax |
|---|
| Frequency response | 47-22k Hz | 55-30kHz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 90 dB | 89.5 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 25-130 watts | 25-120 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 8.80kg / 19.4lbs | 8.50kg / 18.7lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 15-3/4" x 7-7/8" x 12-3/4"
400.0 x 200.0 x 324.0mm | 15-3/8" x 8-7/8" x 11"
391.0 x 225.0 x 280.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Triangle Esprit Comete 40th and Focal Aria Evo X No1 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* |
Triangle Esprit Comete 40th |
Focal Aria Evo X No1 |
| 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 Comete 40th and Aria Evo X No1 are 2-way speakers.
Triangle Esprit Comete 40thFocal Aria Evo X No1
TweeterWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
Triangle Esprit Comete 40th |
Focal Aria Evo X No1 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
Comete 40th features a 1" Magnesium dome Horn-Loaded Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Paper Woofer. On the other hand, the Aria Evo X No1 features a 1" Al/Mg inverted dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Flax Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2800 Hz.
Frequency Response
Comete 40th has a frequency range of 47-22k Hz whereas Aria Evo X No1 has a frequency range of 55-30kHz. With a minimum frequency of 47Hz, the Comete 40th can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Aria Evo X No1's min frequency of 55Hz.
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
Comete 40th and Aria Evo X No1 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Comete 40th sensitivity is rated at 90 dB and the Aria Evo X No1's is at 89.5 dB.
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.
Aria Evo X No1 can handle a max power of 120 watts RMS, whereas Comete 40th has a max power handling value of 90 watts RMS, 30 watts less than the Aria Evo X No1.
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.
Triangle Esprit Comete 40th
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
Aria Evo X No1 features Binding post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. Comete 40th has a Binding post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both Comete 40th and Aria Evo X No1 have front firing ports. front ported speakers offers more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls&surfaces compared to rear ported speakers.
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 Triangle Esprit Comete 40th's and Focal Aria Evo X No1's external dimensions. Triangle Esprit Comete 40th has external dimensions of 400.0 x 200.0 x 324.0mm (15-3/4 x 7-7/8 x 12-3/4inch) whereas Focal Aria Evo X No1 has external dimensions of 391.0 x 225.0 x 280.0mm (15-3/8 x 8-⅞ x 11).
Focal Aria Evo X No1 is 9mm shorter and 44mm less deeper than Triangle Esprit Comete 40th but it is also 25mm wider.
Size, drawn to scale
Both speakers and both views share one scale, so everything here is directly comparable. Hover a box for its dimensions.
One scale for both, standing on the same surface and pushed back to the same wall, so the deeper one visibly sticks out further.
Near-identical footprints. Triangle Esprit Comete 40th is 44mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall.
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 Triangle Esprit Comete 40th is approximately 648.0cm2 / 100.4inch2 and base area of the Focal Aria Evo X No1 is approximately 630.0cm2 / 97.7inch2. The Comete 40th requires 3% more surface area than the Aria Evo X No1 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 Triangle Esprit Comete 40th weighs 8.80kg / 19.4lbs and the Focal Aria Evo X No1 weighs 8.50kg / 18.7lbs. This makes the Comete 40th 4% heavier than the Aria Evo X No1.
Here is a comparison of how Comete 40th and Aria Evo X No1's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
Triangle Esprit Comete 40th
 Low Frequency Response |
47 Hz
vs
55 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Max Input Power |
120 watts
vs
90 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Minimum Impedance |
4.6 ohms
vs
4.2 ohms
|
Very low impedance levels puts more pressure on amplifier |
 High Frequency Response |
30k Hz
vs
22k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
391mm
vs
400mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
630cm2
vs
648cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
2398USD
vs
2750USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Triangle Esprit Comete 40th |
Focal Aria Evo X No1 |
| Brand |
Triangle |
Focal |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
25-130 watts |
25-120 watts |
| Sensitivity |
90 dB |
89.5 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
4.2 ohms |
4.6 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
47-22k Hz |
55-30kHz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Paper |
Flax |
| Woofer Surround Material |
n/a |
TMD |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Horn-Loaded |
inverted dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
n/a |
2800 Hz |
| Firing Direction |
front |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
400.0mm (15.7") |
391.0mm (15.4") |
| Width |
200.0mm (7.9") |
225.0mm (8.9") |
| Depth |
324.0mm (12.8") |
280.0mm (11") |
| Weight |
8.80kg (19.4lbs) |
8.50kg (18.7lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Available Colors |
n/a |
Black High Gloss, Prime Walnut, Moss Green High Gloss |
| Mounting Bracket |
|
No |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
n/a |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
A generation apart: Focal Aria Evo X No1 is the newer design, against a 2020 model. Newer is not automatically better, but the older one is more likely to be discounted or near run-out.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | A | Triangle Esprit Comete 40th digs deeper - 47Hz against 55Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (90dB vs 90dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Headroom | B | Focal Aria Evo X No1 takes more power (120W vs 90W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Similar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit. |
| Expandability | B | Focal Aria Evo X No1: bi-amping. |
| Price | B | Focal Aria Evo X No1 is cheaper - $2,398 against $2,750, about 13% less. |
A Triangle Esprit Comete 40th B Focal Aria Evo X No1
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?
Focal Aria Evo X No1 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 55Hz anyway, which makes the cheaper Focal Aria Evo X No1 much easier to justify.
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.