In this review, we will be comparing NS-333 and Chora 806, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Yamaha and Focal.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Yamaha NS-333 and Focal Chora 806 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Yamaha NS-333 | Focal Chora 806 |
|---|
| Brand | Yamaha
Japan · founded 1887 | Focal
France · founded 1979 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Aluminum Dome With Waveguide Horn | 1" inverted dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 5" PMD Cone | 6.5" Slatefiber |
|---|
| Frequency response | 65-35k Hz | 55-28k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 87 dB | 89 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 6 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 60-150 watts | 25 - 120 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 5.49kg / 12.1lbs | 7.35kg / 16.2lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 12.625" x 7.875" x 8.375"
320.7 x 200.0 x 212.7mm | 17" x 8.25" x 10.7"
431.0 x 210.0 x 270.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Yamaha NS-333 and Focal Chora 806 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* |
Yamaha NS-333 |
Focal Chora 806 |
| Near-field |
Good |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Good |
Average |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Good |
| Large Room |
Poor |
Average |
| Very Large Room |
No way |
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 NS-333 and Chora 806 are 2-way speakers.
Yamaha NS-333Focal Chora 806
TweeterWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
Yamaha NS-333 |
Focal Chora 806 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 5-inch
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
NS-333 features a 1" Aluminum Dome With Waveguide Horn Aluminum Dome With Waveguide Horn Tweeter and 1 x 5" PMD Cone Woofer. On the other hand, the Chora 806 features a 1" TNV2 AI/Mg inverted dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Slatefiber Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 3000Hz.
Frequency Response
NS-333 has a frequency range of 65-35k Hz whereas Chora 806 has a frequency range of 55-28k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 55Hz, the Chora 806 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the NS-333's min frequency of 65Hz.
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
NS-333 is a 6 ohms speaker compared to the Chora 806 which has a nominal impedance of 8 ohms.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. NS-333 sensitivity is rated at 87 dB and the Chora 806's is rated at 89 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the Focal Chora 806 a more sensitive speaker compared to Yamaha NS-333, 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.
NS-333 can handle a max power of 150 watts RMS, whereas Chora 806 has a max power handling value of 120 watts RMS, 30 watts less than the NS-333.
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
NS-333 features Binding post type posts and Chora 806 has a Binding post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Focal Chora 806's Binding post terminals
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 Yamaha NS-333's and Focal Chora 806's external dimensions. Yamaha NS-333 has external dimensions of 320.7 x 200.0 x 212.7mm (12.625 x 7.875 x 8.375inch) whereas Focal Chora 806 has external dimensions of 431.0 x 210.0 x 270.0mm (17 x 8.25 x 10.7inch).
Focal Chora 806 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 10mm wider, 110.3mm taller and 57.3mm deeper than Yamaha NS-333.
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.
Focal Chora 806 needs about 33% more floor or shelf area. Focal Chora 806 is 57mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. Focal Chora 806 is 110mm taller.
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 Yamaha NS-333 is approximately 425.4cm2 / 65.9inch2 and base area of the Focal Chora 806 is approximately 567.0cm2 / 87.9inch2. The NS-333 requires 25% less surface area than the Chora 806 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 Yamaha NS-333 weighs 5.49kg / 12.1lbs and the Focal Chora 806 weighs 7.35kg / 16.2lbs. This makes the Chora 806 34% heavier than the NS-333.
Here is a comparison of how NS-333 and Chora 806's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
What's in the Box of Focal Chora 806?
Here are the items that come with the Chora 806:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Grilles
- 8 Self-adhesive rubber pads
- User manual
 Max Input Power |
150 watts
vs
120 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 High Frequency Response |
35k Hz
vs
28k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
320mm
vs
431mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
425cm2
vs
567cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
360USD
vs
990USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Sensitivity |
89 dB
vs
87 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
6 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
55 Hz
vs
65 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
| General |
Yamaha NS-333 |
Focal Chora 806 |
| Brand |
Yamaha |
Focal |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
60-150 watts |
25 - 120 watts |
| Sensitivity |
87 dB |
89 dB |
| Impedance |
6 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
n/a |
4.6 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
65-35k Hz |
55-28k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
5" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
PMD Cone |
Slatefiber |
| Woofer Surround Material |
n/a |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Aluminum Dome With Waveguide Horn |
inverted dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
n/a |
3000Hz |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
320.7mm (12.6") |
431.0mm (17") |
| Width |
200.0mm (7.9") |
210.0mm (8.3") |
| Depth |
212.7mm (8.4") |
270.0mm (10.6") |
| Weight |
5.49kg (12.1lbs) |
7.35kg (16.2lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
n/a |
Lacquer/Leatherette |
| Available Colors |
n/a |
Black, Dark wood, Light wood |
| Mounting Bracket |
|
No |
| Recommended Stand Height |
n/a |
22-24" |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
No |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
|
5 |
| Labor Warranty |
|
5 |
These sit in different price classes - Focal Chora 806 costs roughly 2.8x what Yamaha NS-333 does. Expect it to lead on paper; the question is whether the gap is audible enough in your room to be worth it.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | B | Focal Chora 806 digs deeper - 55Hz against 65Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | B | Focal Chora 806 is more sensitive (89dB vs 87dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Amplifier match | B | Focal Chora 806 is the easier load at 8 ohms. |
| Headroom | A | Yamaha NS-333 takes more power (150W vs 120W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Yamaha NS-333 is easier to place; Focal Chora 806 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Price | A | Yamaha NS-333 is cheaper - $360 against $990, about 64% less; arguably a different class. |
A Yamaha NS-333 B Focal Chora 806
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 Chora 806 measures better, Yamaha NS-333 costs about about 2.8x the price% 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 65Hz anyway, which makes the cheaper Yamaha NS-333 much easier to justify. Match it to your room: we rate Yamaha NS-333 the better fit for near-field listening and a small room, and Focal Chora 806 for a mid-size room and a large 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.