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This is probably the top 3 bookshelf speaker reviews I’ve seen yet bud.Honest, comparative, detailed, understandable, no speaker brand leg humping, and well connecting with those 75% of us and our price range. Thanks Andrew!
Always loved Focal. I've been using them since @2000 for car builds. Bought the Chora bookshelves on a whim last year when Crutchfield marked them down 40%. They quickly replaced my Klipsch Heresys IIIs in my main system. Still love the Heresys. They've just moved on to my house setup now.
I'm amazed that Focal is 'Made in France', reasonably priced, and look great! The Theva and Aria can be had for very similar prices, and I definitely agree that Focal has diluted themselves. If I were Focal, I'd have the Chora 700, Theva, Kanta, Utopia and some line in-between Theva and Kanta (Aria isn't a clear upgrade from Theva). I'd cancel out the Chora, Vestia, Sopra and Aria K2 lines. It makes a clear upgrade path, reduces some of the branding confusion, and communicates obvious improvements between each line.
I'm sure you just cancelled a lot of people's favorite speakers. The Chora's are gone and I'm sure Focal is not going to get rid of the brand new Vestia's. Let the brand decide what to sell, and you decide what to buy, o.k.?
I keep telling people the under $1,500 for bookshelf market is by far the best bang for buck. You have to spend a ton more to see an appreciable improvement.
Completely agree… I just bought a pair of Heco Celan Rev3 speakers and I absolutely love them. I had an open budget when shopping, so it wasn’t about the money… but in the end the sound I enjoyed the most were from a pair of bookshelf speakers that cost less than 1300 bucks a pair!
They forgot about Dre! 😂😂😂 Love it! My first experience with Focal was their powered studio monitors in my professional life. They make amazing studio monitors. I have not had the opportunity to hear the consumer lines. However, I did see a pair and I love their build quality. I'll look for this speaker in particular. Thanks for another great review!
Thanks and yes, I think in the past year or so enthusiasts have started to turn their backs on Focal because they do not seem to be AS popular as they once were --at least not here in the US. It's strange. Focal's pro monitors are also really good!
Sometimes entry level is good enough. In my spare room system i use Q Acoustics 3030i, cheap but they sound good. Speakers are a very personal choice, i can't stand any that sound thin and bright.
I have spent a long time in a dealers demo room only to find that at home the speakers sound terrible, my local dealer knows me and will steer me away from products that he knows will be back the next day@@user-xg6zz8qs3q
Thanks Andrew and Kristi great review! I managed to get a pair of the Focal Chora 806’s for $540.00 all included shipping tax etc. I could not be happier (certainly my purchase was based in part off your review of them)! I’m running them with a Musical Fidelity M2Si with a conservative 70 watt’s a channel. This specific combination has very impressive synergy! I originally intended them to be rear Channel only. My front end is a pair of vintage JBL’s with 15” woofers and EV horns era 1962 (totally refurbished) driven by a Macintosh MC162 power amp and a C39 pre amp. But the Musical Fidelity/Chora 806 Combination is so good that at low volume levels I’ll most often just leave it at that! Thanks again for the great advice that helped lead me to hear here!
It’s hilarious how well Andrew knows the dimensions of where the speakers sound best. 2ft from the wall, 9.5 ft apart, and 10.5 ft for the listening position. Move it 2 inches in each direction and I’m sure he’d be “wait, something’s wrong here”. I’m at an Airbnb with a 70 inch LG tv and I’m sitting 15 degrees to the right (where the tv ends) and I’m checking the colors and it appears washed out, I move one seat to the left (close to the middle) and my reaction was “what the hell? That’s a completely different tv😂”. The drop off in colors was absolutely shocking.
If you step up and listen to Theva #2, you get a better bottom. Significantly more bass. I heard these small floor speakers with a Cambridge AX R100 amplifier. This combo sounds better than it should. So I can warmly recommend this series of speakers. They play openly warm and accurate as far as I had the opportunity to listen. No sharp treble as it should be with Focal. Vive la france!
Your whole tone and style of reviewing is like chicken soup for the soul....lol You lull us into the reviewing and make us savor the equipment like a fine cooked meal. You guys are in the upper echelon of audio reviewing. God bless you both. Keep on doing what you do.
We'll do more Focal reviews if people watch and want them, but so far, at least here in the US, the brand's popularity seems to have fallen off a bit, which is weird because they generally make GREAT speakers!
Guys, great video today. Great start to a Sunday for sure. I do love speakers with crisp 90 degree angles and that woofer material looks great on that slate colored baffle. Have a fantastic day, you guys are doing really great work!!!!😊
@@fubartotale3389 Ohm as a company is for sale and may not be around much longer. As for Tekton, google my name and theirs and you'll find my older reviews.
They are not really to big on Tekton. For one thing there are ugly and this channel does have some focus on aesthetics. I would love the hear the Ohm Walsh's!
@@bearclaw5115 Agreed about the ugly. But a small saving grace to that is they offer a pretty wide variety of colors, and for "just a bit more" your color choice is nearly infinite. as for Ohm, did you see that Andrew left a comment? He says they are for sale. Now I'm curious to see how that pans out.
Great review Andrew and Kristi! Really like the new intro and editing style, hands down best production value of any hifi/home teather channel on youtube! Keep up the good work.👍🏻
I sold all my HT stuff and went with a Sonos Arc soundbar, Sonos Mini Sub, apt came with Sonos amp and in-wall speakers. Movie performance was good. Music, sports, TV, streaming, was bad. Midrange and midbass missing big time. I'm selling it and going back to traditional set up. I may start with these Focals for the fronts...
I did the same guy, sold a window shaking floorstander set up, amp etc, then got a 'high end' sound bar. It was a pos. I have gone back to speakers, though not as powerful. For the tv I have Edifier S350DB. There are better speakers out there, sure, but these are great for a cheap tv and music solution. For the $ they are tough to beat, and they destroy sound bars. I am convinced that the more bread one busts out on hifi, it does not necessarily translate to better sound.
Currently still have my aria 906’s it would be interesting to see how they compare to these. I do agree there are too many lines in the focal range now especially as there doesn’t seem to be a lot between them.
I just got a 5.1 Aria set (926+906+900CC) at a very competitive price. An equivalent Theva set would probably have been more expensive. Would it sound better ? I'm honestly curious.
If you care to add more time and nuance to your videos, I would be interested in what you think of some of these bookshelves for nearfield or computer audiophile setup. Adding video content for use (or bad implementation) as hi-fi computer monitors would interest the computerphile, audiophile, gamer, etc consumer. If you venture down this rabbit hole, pick a headphone amp with pre and you can pick whatever amp you want for the speakers. I use a Violectric V550 for this reason. Thanks for your and Kristi's hard work on this channel.
A friend of mine knows nothing about audio and he asked for my advice for a budget system. Found him a factory refurbished Cambridge Audio AXR100, preowned Velodyne 10 inch sub and Focal 806s on closeout. He's incredibly happy for just over a grand.
Hi Andrew, Would you ever consider reviewing Dali Speakers? The Oberon 9, The Lector series, Opticon series, Rubicon series. They look like a decent amount of speaker for the money. Your reviews are awesome. Thanks.
Just purchased a pair of Theva No.2 towers and am pretty blown away by the sound of these speakers. I like a good thump'n bass, so I was a bit worried about the 53Hz low end spec, but that has not been an issue at all. These little towers have seriously great bass! I would definitely question the rated specs as I'm hearing solid response far below the listed 53Hz spec. They easily put out more low end depth and punch than the Q Acoustic's 5040's even though those are rated down to 39Hz. Mids are amazingly clear and neutral sounding. Highs are a bit on the bright side, but pulling them down about 2dB on my Marantz Cinema 60 got rid of the touch of harshness at higher volumes. When it comes to treble response and intelligibility for home theater , the Q Acoutics 5040's have the edge, but overall I'm finding I prefer the Focal's just because of the richer low end. The Theva No.2's are just a fabulous all around tower!
Very entertaining, this hobby, obsession, never quits. I'm one payment away from owning my newest piece, Hint 6. Amazed how much it infuses new sound life into my Unifi 5s and LRSs. Seems that speakers development seems to be hitting the high mark in the audio chain. And there's the rub. Next month I'll be ready to roll the dice on something new. Thanks for your help and be sure that Kristi's take is a big factor! Now that I got the power looking for the grace. Source Point?
Great review!! Your room looks so beautiful! I love your reviews of speakers because, even though I have a feeling in general our taste in speakers are a little different, you describe the speakers in such a way that I can get a feel for the type of sound they produce, which is so helpful. I don't get the feeling that you would judge me for my slightly different preference from yours. At least I hope not? Our love for music and sound is beyond question and is what counts. Much love to you both! 💕❤️💕
Great review guys,as always,you are such a great team. Regarding the too many focal lines,i totally agree. If you look at them in Europe they have Aria 906 for around 1k and then the Kanta 1’ for 6k,no other bookshelf speaker in between,which i find crazy,and i doubt the Aria’s are good enough to keep up with bookshelf’s around 3k,like 705 s3’s
What a fun review thank you! And , ahem @Kristi, I hate to ask, but at this time last year you both seemed to love the Pro-Ject Speaker Box 5 S2. Is there any relevant comparison between these two?
The Speakerbox are going to be more neutral, a little less lively or "bright" and have less bass, but will be more compact making them potentially more small space friendly.
Great review, as always. I just get my Focal Theva center and No. 3 for my Homecinema. Yesterday I enjoyed it the first time. I really love them. Greetings from Germany
Hi Andrew, love the channel. Have you had a chance to review any of the speaker offerings from SVS? I had a set of Focal Choras in my vinyl setup and just couldn’t take the sibilance like you mentioned. I bought a set of SVS Prime bookshelf speakers that sounded so great I decided to upgrade to the towers, the prime pinnacle. They are amazing speakers. Now those prime bookshelves are my front stage for my basement home theater. Keep turning out the great content!
Love the review. The goal of my setup is a quality A/B bookshelf system that has enough quality characteristics to cover the whole gamut of my musical tastes. Not looking for that unicorn bookshelf speaker that does everything well for under $1000. Looking at the something in the realm of Klipsch RP600MKii and KEF Q series. I'll have to audition these for sure! Any other recommendations for a comprehensive A/B setup?
Great review . Would love to see you review the Buchardt Anniversary 10 , as well as Canton speakers ( apparently getting into the U.S. markets recently )😊
I just watched your video and am intrigued by this speaker. Question, I have an older set of Audio Engine P4's that have served me well but am on the hunt for a new speaker. Could/should I expect a noticeable improvement with the Theva No 1's? Small space, just my office, and, I actually have a focal sub that I am currently using that I would transfer over to use with this as well. Thoughts?
Great review. I wonder how these compare to Monitor Audio bronze and silver 100. I'm trying to upgrade my home theater. I like the 3-way center channel in the silver range. Focal center is a 2-way.
Thanks so much for the good work. Just wanted to let you know one of the favorite things from your reviews is the music used for review. I’ve discovered so many great songs that way. Thanks!
Love the new intro/branding! Like others, it would’ve been nice to hear a comparison with Pro-Ject Speaker Box 5 S2 given they won the category last year. I’m glad I didn’t buy the S2’s as the Theva sounds great!
These look very promising, especially for the cost of ownership. This is when the term "value option" most certainly doesn't mean it's in any way cheap. On the shortlist of the new av room I'm planning for sure.
IMHO, this is your typical speaker. The construction of the cabinet is so cheap: thin MDF with foam insulation. You’ll have the same quality from the Klipsch RP600M or Polk R200. To be clear, they can sound really good. Just don’t have high expectations.
@user-xg6zz8qs3q Why I said value. Good sound, easy to drive, and esthetics at this price point is a win. I'm a big Klipsch fan, and Polk as well. Just always on the lookout for new hitters at this tier.
I prefer my Arendal 1961 Monitors over the Focals. Might not be an exact match but still. Plus let’s not forget the 10 year warranty with Arendal which wasn’t mentioned here. That would tip the scales slightly.
The question I have is. Are they worth buying over the Aria 906? Currently you can buy a Focal Aria 906 in the UK for £729, where as the Theva No 1 is £659, which isn't a big difference.
That I cannot say. I personally didn't really take to the Aria line, but that is just me and my subjective tastes. Demo them both and see which one you prefer.
@@andrewrobinsonreviews Thank you for replying. I already have the Aria 926 K2 and I got the 816 Chora for free (which I have never unboxed), when I bought my Rokson K2 Integrated Amplifier (which I am running with the Aria). I was thinking about some bookshelf speakers for my computer room, though I think I am being a bit of an idiot, as I already have a pair of Air Pulse 100 speakers, which sound surprisingly good.
Another great show thanks. I have been AB(ing) the Focal 806 and the Revel M16 on my Marantz 2250B. I predominately listen at 60 to 75db. Both speakers are amazing. Thanks for turning me into an addict. Lol. The Revels unfortunately dont wake up until 80db. But the Focals, I have reached musical nirvanna. The butteriness of the marantz seems to make the focals melt into pure liquid music. Thanks for all that you both do. PS. Id be happy to send the 806’s to compare to the New focals. Just throwing it out there. ✌️
Is that a cinema 40? did you test it with that? Your tought? Im interesting in this setup for a 5.1.2 with the theva 3D, but for music too, and want to buy just one avr, do you have any other avr to match best for my needs? Thank you best regards
I really enjoy your reviews, and the fact that you cover products that are affordable. I would like for you to review the Vandersteen 1Ci+, which is the latest iteration of this iconic speaker. It is rarely reviewed for reasons that elude me. Thanks for all that you do!
I heard the Focal 806s at a brick and mortar store and took home the Klipsch RP600MIIs for $450 Black Friday on a side by side. I am sure the Thevas are better, Focal always improves. But if the Klipsch go for $450+/- on sale again, I think that works to be a no brainer... No Wharfdale 80th or 85th comparison? I always liked that Wharfdale sound and quality, then again no one can test everything! Nice review as always!
16:25 I really like the finish on these focals beautiful looking especially on the tripod stands ✊🏽 If I was in the market for bookshelf speakers hell I still have the Bose series iii bookshelves I can't get rid of 😅 These were definitely be a top choice for me
I think this is the same speaker as the last one sans the rear port compared to what I see for online specs with Chora 806 vs. Theva 1: same crossover point, same color scheme, same frequency response, same impedance. Now it looks less ugly with a rear port. Idk, still a good speaker having enjoyed the 806s, but Focal Naim can only pull this stuff for so long
Do you prefer an actual centre channel or just use front left and right channels instead because I find most centre channels are not the equal of the matching speakers
At the focal bookshelf level(no1) you might as well go with the vestia, better sounding for 200$ more...the new tweeter is far superior to the old one that they reused in the theva.
I really like the way the focals look like and trust your description of the sound. I currently have my old Energy Veritas three way book shelves center and rear surround. I was thinking about a either adding focals as rears or emotiva. I wonder if you guys have tried emotiva speakers ⁉️
The Focals will have a livelier top end and easier to drive. The Dynaudio line comparable is the Emit which will have more bass and easier on the ears, but are completely power hungry compared to the Thevas.
Thank you! Kristy mentioned the arendal 1961. I already have a svs sb1000 and amp is naim nait 5si. Do these do holographic soundstage like arendal? Suerte and stay cool!
I have a good question andrew and kristi, great channel and you guys also, i want to know you're top 3 best book shelf speaker for home theater, starting from your number one choice and what would you per them with each.
Focal (JM Lab) has been sold in the UK since the 1990s, and despite making some excellent products, the 'specialist press' practically ignored them. But now that Focal are being sold through all the usual big box shifter retailers, they've suddenly discovered them and are raving about them (despite the older Chorus, Cobalt and Utopias being clearly superior).
I like the looks but the rear port and price . Ill keep my Choras that I stole on liquidation for for $450 ,with its front ports , and similar sound . Thanks for showing these to me . 👍
After owning Chorus 826W towers for 3 years ( sonically only equaled by Monitor Audio at the time and completely different sounding to B&W by the way ), I went to a local shop and was blown away by the warm, capable Kanta No.1's. They cost 3k a peace, but are such a step up ( not only in price ). I went for for the Kanta No. 3 :) , but I'm sure Kanta No. 1's, with a good sub would be wonderful as well. You could say that even higher up in the Focal range, like Sopra and Utopia's , will give you a similar jump in quality, but that's not the same jump. If you can afford them, save some more money and make the jump to Flax cones and Beryllium from the Kanta series.
The Flax cones are actually a step back in several ways. They are older tech and the do not have as fast and responsive sound as the carbon slate fiber woofers. I'm sure overall the Kanta's are fantastic though.
Thanks for another good review. On a side note: I notice that Definitive Technology's demand line has come down in price recently. With the aluminum front baffle, i find them more aesthetically pleasing compared to their standard sock look. Would you be able to review of any of these speakers in the future?
Andrew, Really respect the reviews you and Kristi do. I am contemplating buying a new set of speakers. I'm torn between the Arendal 1961 towers on closeout pricing($1265) , the Q Acoustics 5040 and quite possibly the Focal Chor 826( obviously closeout.$1400) I currently have Css Audio Criton 1tdx bookshelves. Looking for something more engaging/ energetic with some punch, that can deliver full rich articulate sound. Which of these would you recommend? I've watched your reviews multiple times and yet I'm stuck. My room is small, only 12x 16, so I know that limits some of my choices ( no polk r700 fitting in there) lol😂
THEVA vs Pro-ject Speaker Box driven by a Marantz NR 1200. Thoughts or comments? And I see that’s been asked and answered roundabout by a different question. Thanks
I’ve owned Focal Chorus 826 Towers for 5 years. They are absolutely stunning. Not one complaint about anything. I’ll never sell them. Best speaker for the money I’ve ever bought.
Yes, I own the 836V’s and wouldn’t trade them for this line. Chorus uses the same tweeter and the polyglas drivers are just as good or better then the slate. I feel no need to upgrade or downgrade.
I own the special edition Chorus 826W's which I love, but I do wonder how they would compare to these new Theva/Vestia ranges. I'd love to see Andrew review the old Chorus V/W ranges to compare against the newer models and determine whether the new ranges are actually an improvement VS the older (but technically higher end at the time) ranges.
@@Rorzzaa He won’t compare them to the Chorus line because they are discontinued. You can be sure your “W” sandwich cones outperform the slate by quite a bit, I think my polyglas cones do too. Andrew is correct in saying Focal has too many lines of speakers.
Well they've only been out for 4yrs but I agree with your enthusiasm. I love mine. There is something special about how they push sound out into your room. My problem is that there is no clear upgrade path because they are fantastic at everything except the deepest bass. Most speakers above their immediate price point that have better bass also do something else worse. Usually soundstage. So I think you'd have to go way, way above the Chora's price to keep the things you like and improve the bass too.
@@scottborenstein8291 The Chora's were a definite upgrade to the Chorus as per many a reviewer. But if you like them, keep rockin'. I for one will not sell my Chora's for the Theva's. They are basically a bit of a looks upgrade but at the expense of the rear port (a negative for me).
Hi Andrew and Kristi. I listened to the Thevas (with Marantz Model 40N and Cambridge Audio EVO150) a couple of months ago, along with the Vestia and Aria K2. I completely agree with you: also for me the Thevas are better than the Vestias, which don't have the classic Focal sound. The improvements of the Aria K2 are not so great as to justify the large price difference. In the end, however, I bought the Sunun faber Sonetto (with Gold Note integrated amplifer)! 😁 Congratulations for the video, complete and exhaustive as always. I wanted to tell you last Sunday but I forgot: the new intro is really beautiful... Bravo! Ps: sorry for my bad English and hi from Italy.
@@andrewrobinsonreviews Focals were my dream since I was a child, maybe I had too high expectations. Then I discovered Sonus Faber and... It was love from the first listening. Thanks to you and Kristi for all the wonderful work you do, you are a rare gem in UA-cam Hi-Fi world. Ps: I gave a listen to Focal, B&W, Martin Logan, Sonus Faber, JBL... Mine was a very thoughtful choice (I live on disability benefits and have been saving for many years to be able to afford an excellent Hi-Fi system). The Sonus Faber sound immediately enraptured me and they also have a front bass reflex, which is very important for how I had to position the speakers.
@@bearclaw5115I know, but Aria K2 are not so lower, in any case I was very (very!) lucky and my dealer gave me a great price, slightly higher than that of the Aria K2. Thanks for the "gorgeus", I must admit that I am really very satisfied. 😃
The Vestia's are very similar to the Aria's actually (laid back). The Theva's are nearly the same as the outgoing Chora's which had a detailed, exciting, forward sound.
It seems like my favorite speakers are whatever you review most recently! I'm looking for some bookshelf speakers in that price range and size, 6.5" woofs for a buddy who wants to put them, surprisingly, on a bookshelf! It's more of a cubby so I'm thinking sealed or front ported. A center speaker will complete a 3.1 setup used mostly for TV watching. What says the community?
@@user-xg6zz8qs3q Thanks for the suggestion. My bud has got the cash to get a mid-tier AVR so I'm guessing anything with 110 wpc and up would do the job. He will not be playing LOUD, he mostly needs CLEAR for listening to the news on TV.
This situation sound similar to what happened when Polk released the reserve line, not long after the legend line, and basically cannibalize sales of the latter.
Hello Andrew & Kristi I am John De Bock from Belgium your videos are fantastic Also these of the Focal look great and now that I hear that they sound very good I also have great interest. Would this speakers go well with the Marantz PM7000N which has also received several awards? Here in Belgium, the Focals Thevo 1 cost €718 per pair. Greetings from Belgium and thank you
Nice review. I would be curious how the Theva's perform with a port hole form plug. I would anticipate some drop off in the lower end of the bass and some roll off, but it might make the bass a more tighter/sharper. Aperion Audio does incorporate this option in thier speaker designs. Using the foam plug could give some a different and equally good sound when matching an separante sub, like the Klipsch or an SVS such as micro3000 If I had viewed this a couple weeks earlier, I might have chosen them over the Arendal 1723s bookshelf, which was influenced by the 1963 review you did a little while back. I enjoy Focal sound I have experience with their headphones--Stellia and Elegia. Yes, the 1723s are harder to drive speakers, which really is only noticeable at lower volumes, where the Focal will most likely not comparatively. They do sound excellent once they're dialed in one's system, which I use BasX A2 and Marantz Cimena 70s. Also, Arendal's ten-year warranty says something about the quality of the speaker. I will say Arendal's customer service or sales personnel are very good. I've read Focal's customer service can not non-responsive. I cannot say if this is true on average since most people who will comment tend to be those who have a bad experience. I did have experience with Arendal's customer service or sales personnel. I purchased pair of Arendal's 1723s bookshelf. Apparently once of the had a scratch that I did see noted on the Outlet website listing. I was able to negotiate 25% off (an additional 15% off from the 10% off the original listing), which brought the cost down to $1200US from $1600US. The scratch turned out to be a lot smaller and lighter than I anticipated. Not sure how much better or worse the Arendals are comparatively at an additional $200US. The Focal's may be a better value at the MSRP
Hi Andrew. I have a pair of 606 S3 BW, I would like to change to a speaker where the voice has more prominence; Do you think these Theva n1s improve that aspect of the sound I want? Greetings.
As a comparison, I had the MA Silver 100 6th against my Focal 807W and while I liked what the MA added in bass, midbass and lower mids, the upper mids and the highs got congested while the Focals upper mids and highs remained nice in separation and staging. I was constantly adjusting volume at lower listening levels with the MAs as I couldn't hear lower level details as well but when dynamic swings in music or a soundtrack came along, it just blasted at me. With the Focals, there was alot better balance in dynamic swings for me. A fast sub would help round this out as the bass in the Focals are tighter and faster, IMO. While I didn't outright hate the Silver 100s, I sent those back still preferring the Focals overall. I could prefer the Silvers for some music and how they presented in my room but that congestion in the upper mids and highs I couldn't deal with. What I don't know is whether the 7th series cleaned this congestion up. Hope this helps.
Hi guys love the channel. I have a question regarding the new Polk Magnifi ax Sr 7.1.2 soundbar. It's proving very difficult to find any detailed on line reviews on this product. Specifically in comparison to the Samsung 990c. Do you have any plans in the near future for such a review or can anyone else reading this comment offer any advice many thanks Mike in New Zealand
A bit off topic. Would love to see you two do a classic excursion to a record store. DO IT, DO IT, DO IT!! 😃 BTW, now looking at the Polk R700 Thanks to your review.
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This is probably the top 3 bookshelf speaker reviews I’ve seen yet bud.Honest, comparative, detailed, understandable, no speaker brand leg humping, and well connecting with those 75% of us and our price range. Thanks Andrew!
Glad you enjoyed it!
Bought the Aria 948 about 3 months ago. So happy with Focal. Happy to hear the entry line got an upgrade
So glad to hear you're happy with your Focal speakers!
Good to hear that Focal's entry model is so solid, affordable great sound is much appreciated. Always interesting to hear your thoughts, thank you!
Hey Andrew and Kristi love you guys. You make my week. You guys just make my days go a little bit better.
Thank you so much, we're happy to be a part of your week!
Always loved Focal. I've been using them since @2000 for car builds. Bought the Chora bookshelves on a whim last year when Crutchfield marked them down 40%. They quickly replaced my Klipsch Heresys IIIs in my main system. Still love the Heresys. They've just moved on to my house setup now.
I'm amazed that Focal is 'Made in France', reasonably priced, and look great! The Theva and Aria can be had for very similar prices, and I definitely agree that Focal has diluted themselves. If I were Focal, I'd have the Chora 700, Theva, Kanta, Utopia and some line in-between Theva and Kanta (Aria isn't a clear upgrade from Theva). I'd cancel out the Chora, Vestia, Sopra and Aria K2 lines. It makes a clear upgrade path, reduces some of the branding confusion, and communicates obvious improvements between each line.
I'm sure you just cancelled a lot of people's favorite speakers. The Chora's are gone and I'm sure Focal is not going to get rid of the brand new Vestia's. Let the brand decide what to sell, and you decide what to buy, o.k.?
@@bearclaw5115 betcha 7 cents the vestia is gone in a year (or less).
Excellent review guys! You are correct, there are too many models in the Focal line up.
oh good, it's not just me. Appreciate you weighing in.
I keep telling people the under $1,500 for bookshelf market is by far the best bang for buck. You have to spend a ton more to see an appreciable improvement.
I don't disagree.
Completely agree… I just bought a pair of Heco Celan Rev3 speakers and I absolutely love them. I had an open budget when shopping, so it wasn’t about the money… but in the end the sound I enjoyed the most were from a pair of bookshelf speakers that cost less than 1300 bucks a pair!
My speakers are a hair under $2k and I wouldn’t buy anything else. They hardly have any reviews and nobody cares for them.
I agree with you. I have couple of pairs of Kef’s and they are excellent.
$500 5.1 is my budget so I this is a joke to you guys
They forgot about Dre! 😂😂😂 Love it! My first experience with Focal was their powered studio monitors in my professional life. They make amazing studio monitors. I have not had the opportunity to hear the consumer lines. However, I did see a pair and I love their build quality. I'll look for this speaker in particular. Thanks for another great review!
😍
Thanks and yes, I think in the past year or so enthusiasts have started to turn their backs on Focal because they do not seem to be AS popular as they once were --at least not here in the US. It's strange. Focal's pro monitors are also really good!
Sometimes entry level is good enough.
In my spare room system i use Q Acoustics 3030i, cheap but they sound good.
Speakers are a very personal choice, i can't stand any that sound thin and bright.
Same! I actually stopped listening to music when I owned the Klipsch RP600M. They were so disappointing.
I have spent a long time in a dealers demo room only to find that at home
the speakers sound terrible, my local dealer knows me and will steer me away from products
that he knows will be back the next day@@user-xg6zz8qs3q
Thanks Andrew and Kristi great review! I managed to get a pair of the Focal Chora 806’s for $540.00 all included shipping tax etc. I could not be happier (certainly my purchase was based in part off your review of them)! I’m running them with a Musical Fidelity M2Si with a conservative 70 watt’s a channel. This specific combination has very impressive synergy! I originally intended them to be rear Channel only. My front end is a pair of vintage JBL’s with 15” woofers and EV horns era 1962 (totally refurbished) driven by a Macintosh MC162 power amp and a C39 pre amp. But the Musical Fidelity/Chora 806 Combination is so good that at low volume levels I’ll most often just leave it at that! Thanks again for the great advice that helped lead me to hear here!
Was always curious about that combo. Sounds fun!
It’s hilarious how well Andrew knows the dimensions of where the speakers sound best. 2ft from the wall, 9.5 ft apart, and 10.5 ft for the listening position. Move it 2 inches in each direction and I’m sure he’d be “wait, something’s wrong here”.
I’m at an Airbnb with a 70 inch LG tv and I’m sitting 15 degrees to the right (where the tv ends) and I’m checking the colors and it appears washed out, I move one seat to the left (close to the middle) and my reaction was “what the hell? That’s a completely different tv😂”. The drop off in colors was absolutely shocking.
If you step up and listen to Theva #2, you get a better bottom. Significantly more bass. I heard these small floor speakers with a Cambridge AX R100 amplifier. This combo sounds better than it should. So I can warmly recommend this series of speakers. They play openly warm and accurate as far as I had the opportunity to listen. No sharp treble as it should be with Focal. Vive la france!
Your whole tone and style of reviewing is like chicken soup for the soul....lol
You lull us into the reviewing and make us savor the equipment like a fine cooked meal.
You guys are in the upper echelon of audio reviewing.
God bless you both. Keep on doing what you do.
I appreciate that!
pls do check other brands since im too lazy to do that
they might have hidden gem like rockit r50
Love the review Andrew. Really got a good insight to the sound. More Focal reviews please 🙏🏼
We'll do more Focal reviews if people watch and want them, but so far, at least here in the US, the brand's popularity seems to have fallen off a bit, which is weird because they generally make GREAT speakers!
Guys, great video today. Great start to a Sunday for sure.
I do love speakers with crisp 90 degree angles and that woofer material looks great on that slate colored baffle.
Have a fantastic day, you guys are doing really great work!!!!😊
Thank you Andrew and Kristi!!!
Still looking forward to a review of either the Tekton Double Impact speakers or the Ohm Walsh Tall speakers.
Yeah, the Ohms are criminally under publicised, and the Tektons smoke some very expensive speakers.
@@fubartotale3389 Ohm as a company is for sale and may not be around much longer. As for Tekton, google my name and theirs and you'll find my older reviews.
They are not really to big on Tekton. For one thing there are ugly and this channel does have some focus on aesthetics.
I would love the hear the Ohm Walsh's!
@@bearclaw5115 Agreed about the ugly. But a small saving grace to that is they offer a pretty wide variety of colors, and for "just a bit more" your color choice is nearly infinite.
as for Ohm, did you see that Andrew left a comment? He says they are for sale. Now I'm curious to see how that pans out.
Great review Andrew and Kristi! Really like the new intro and editing style, hands down best production value of any hifi/home teather channel on youtube! Keep up the good work.👍🏻
Thanks so much!
Another great review guys 👍🏻. When you start doing merchandise hope you're gonna ship internationally 😀.
ok on crutchfield, aria 906 and theva are pretty much same price ($998 abd $950, respectively) decisions decisions...
I sold all my HT stuff and went with a Sonos Arc soundbar, Sonos Mini Sub, apt came with Sonos amp and in-wall speakers. Movie performance was good. Music, sports, TV, streaming, was bad. Midrange and midbass missing big time. I'm selling it and going back to traditional set up. I may start with these Focals for the fronts...
I did the same guy, sold a window shaking floorstander set up, amp etc, then got a 'high end' sound bar. It was a pos. I have gone back to speakers, though not as powerful.
For the tv I have Edifier S350DB. There are better speakers out there, sure, but these are great for a cheap tv and music solution. For the $ they are tough to beat, and they destroy sound bars. I am convinced that the more bread one busts out on hifi, it does not necessarily translate to better sound.
THANKS ANDREW,KRISTI 🤗 IMHHO, it bears repeating,that this is the best time to be an audiophile,even on a budget 😎💚💚💚
Sure is! Thanks for joining us!
I scored a pair of Chora 806s in your 100k giveaway and continue to enjoy them today. Love your channel! 🙏
Currently still have my aria 906’s it would be interesting to see how they compare to these. I do agree there are too many lines in the focal range now especially as there doesn’t seem to be a lot between them.
I just got a 5.1 Aria set (926+906+900CC) at a very competitive price. An equivalent Theva set would probably have been more expensive. Would it sound better ? I'm honestly curious.
The Aria's are more laid back but have slightly improved bass from the thicker cabinet. The Theva's and Chora's have a more exciting, foward sound.
Right on. Such a busy weekend. Nice to take a break and check this out. Happy Sunday
So glad to be a part of your Sunday, thanks for tuning in!
If you care to add more time and nuance to your videos, I would be interested in what you think of some of these bookshelves for nearfield or computer audiophile setup.
Adding video content for use (or bad implementation) as hi-fi computer monitors would interest the computerphile, audiophile, gamer, etc consumer. If you venture down this rabbit hole, pick a headphone amp with pre and you can pick whatever amp you want for the speakers. I use a Violectric V550 for this reason. Thanks for your and Kristi's hard work on this channel.
A friend of mine knows nothing about audio and he asked for my advice for a budget system. Found him a factory refurbished Cambridge Audio AXR100, preowned Velodyne 10 inch sub and Focal 806s on closeout. He's incredibly happy for just over a grand.
Sounds like a great setup!
Hi Andrew,
Would you ever consider reviewing Dali Speakers? The Oberon 9, The Lector series, Opticon series, Rubicon series. They look like a decent amount of speaker for the money. Your reviews are awesome.
Thanks.
Just purchased a pair of Theva No.2 towers and am pretty blown away by the sound of these speakers. I like a good thump'n bass, so I was a bit worried about the 53Hz low end spec, but that has not been an issue at all. These little towers have seriously great bass! I would definitely question the rated specs as I'm hearing solid response far below the listed 53Hz spec. They easily put out more low end depth and punch than the Q Acoustic's 5040's even though those are rated down to 39Hz. Mids are amazingly clear and neutral sounding. Highs are a bit on the bright side, but pulling them down about 2dB on my Marantz Cinema 60 got rid of the touch of harshness at higher volumes. When it comes to treble response and intelligibility for home theater , the Q Acoutics 5040's have the edge, but overall I'm finding I prefer the Focal's just because of the richer low end. The Theva No.2's are just a fabulous all around tower!
Very entertaining, this hobby, obsession, never quits. I'm one payment away from owning my newest piece, Hint 6. Amazed how much it infuses new sound life into my Unifi 5s and LRSs. Seems that speakers development seems to be hitting the high mark in the audio chain. And there's the rub. Next month I'll be ready to roll the dice on something new. Thanks for your help and be sure that Kristi's take is a big factor! Now that I got the power looking for the grace. Source Point?
By the way, the new open is rockin'! I love the visuals too!
THANKS!
It is a delight to see the care taken in the filming of each video, congratulations and thank you very much.
Thanks for appreciating what we do!
Great review!! Your room looks so beautiful! I love your reviews of speakers because, even though I have a feeling in general our taste in speakers are a little different, you describe the speakers in such a way that I can get a feel for the type of sound they produce, which is so helpful. I don't get the feeling that you would judge me for my slightly different preference from yours. At least I hope not? Our love for music and sound is beyond question and is what counts. Much love to you both! 💕❤️💕
I love the new opening. I was saving up for the Polks but I might have to reconsider. Thanks!
Great review guys,as always,you are such a great team. Regarding the too many focal lines,i totally agree. If you look at them in Europe they have Aria 906 for around 1k and then the Kanta 1’ for 6k,no other bookshelf speaker in between,which i find crazy,and i doubt the Aria’s are good enough to keep up with bookshelf’s around 3k,like 705 s3’s
Yeah that line up is crazy. 3 lines at a similar price, and then the pricing explodes and goes bonkers. Not sure what they are thinking...
@Andrew Robinson Wow! Rave review! Does this Focal Line best my Focal Aria 936 K2's? Thanks
I cannot say if it "bests" your K2s but I can say that I think in a blind test you'd probably be shocked how close it can get.
I have ordered Theva N3 pair and Centre ..awaiting delivery.. what’s your take on that ?
What a fun review thank you! And , ahem @Kristi, I hate to ask, but at this time last year you both seemed to love the Pro-Ject Speaker Box 5 S2. Is there any relevant comparison between these two?
The Speakerbox are going to be more neutral, a little less lively or "bright" and have less bass, but will be more compact making them potentially more small space friendly.
Thank you @@andrewrobinsonreviews
These look nice!!! Any suggestions for smaller surround speakers to pair with these when slapping this in a home theatre?
Great review, as always. I just get my Focal Theva center and No. 3 for my Homecinema. Yesterday I enjoyed it the first time. I really love them. Greetings from Germany
Enjoy, your in for a fun ride!
Hi Andrew, love the channel. Have you had a chance to review any of the speaker offerings from SVS? I had a set of Focal Choras in my vinyl setup and just couldn’t take the sibilance like you mentioned. I bought a set of SVS Prime bookshelf speakers that sounded so great I decided to upgrade to the towers, the prime pinnacle. They are amazing speakers. Now those prime bookshelves are my front stage for my basement home theater. Keep turning out the great content!
Love the review. The goal of my setup is a quality A/B bookshelf system that has enough quality characteristics to cover the whole gamut of my musical tastes. Not looking for that unicorn bookshelf speaker that does everything well for under $1000. Looking at the something in the realm of Klipsch RP600MKii and KEF Q series. I'll have to audition these for sure! Any other recommendations for a comprehensive A/B setup?
Whoa that’s a snazzy new intro
Thanks!
Thank you for the review! It would also be exciting to see your review of Spendor speakers.
Great review . Would love to see you review the Buchardt Anniversary 10 , as well as Canton speakers ( apparently getting into the U.S. markets recently )😊
Hi Andrew and Kristi. Live 30 kilometers from France but never heard Focals. Keeping my Dynaudio Emits though. 😊
I just watched your video and am intrigued by this speaker. Question, I have an older set of Audio Engine P4's that have served me well but am on the hunt for a new speaker. Could/should I expect a noticeable improvement with the Theva No 1's? Small space, just my office, and, I actually have a focal sub that I am currently using that I would transfer over to use with this as well. Thoughts?
How do these compare with the aria line? They are also on sale now on numerous websites. I am considering these vs the aria 906
Great review. I wonder how these compare to Monitor Audio bronze and silver 100. I'm trying to upgrade my home theater. I like the 3-way center channel in the silver range. Focal center is a 2-way.
Thanks so much for the good work. Just wanted to let you know one of the favorite things from your reviews is the music used for review. I’ve discovered so many great songs that way. Thanks!
Love the new intro/branding! Like others, it would’ve been nice to hear a comparison with Pro-Ject Speaker Box 5 S2 given they won the category last year. I’m glad I didn’t buy the S2’s as the Theva sounds great!
These look very promising, especially for the cost of ownership. This is when the term "value option" most certainly doesn't mean it's in any way cheap. On the shortlist of the new av room I'm planning for sure.
IMHO, this is your typical speaker. The construction of the cabinet is so cheap: thin MDF with foam insulation. You’ll have the same quality from the Klipsch RP600M or Polk R200. To be clear, they can sound really good. Just don’t have high expectations.
@user-xg6zz8qs3q Why I said value. Good sound, easy to drive, and esthetics at this price point is a win. I'm a big Klipsch fan, and Polk as well. Just always on the lookout for new hitters at this tier.
@@Slim2none1 Elipson Horus 6B.
I prefer my Arendal 1961 Monitors over the Focals. Might not be an exact match but still. Plus let’s not forget the 10 year warranty with Arendal which wasn’t mentioned here. That would tip the scales slightly.
Love the new graphics. Man - that Marantz cinema 40 looks so clean in silver.
Thanks and the Marantz in silver is straight 🔥
The question I have is. Are they worth buying over the Aria 906? Currently you can buy a Focal Aria 906 in the UK for £729, where as the Theva No 1 is £659, which isn't a big difference.
That I cannot say. I personally didn't really take to the Aria line, but that is just me and my subjective tastes. Demo them both and see which one you prefer.
@@andrewrobinsonreviews Thank you for replying. I already have the Aria 926 K2 and I got the 816 Chora for free (which I have never unboxed), when I bought my Rokson K2 Integrated Amplifier (which I am running with the Aria).
I was thinking about some bookshelf speakers for my computer room, though I think I am being a bit of an idiot, as I already have a pair of Air Pulse 100 speakers, which sound surprisingly good.
I heard the Theva small towers powered by a Naim Unity atom at the Audio Advice expo.....wow! I was floored on how good they sounded.
Do you think the theva / chora 806 would pair well with ca axr100 or marantz pm6007?
Focal Theva No 1 or B&W 606 S3? I'm trying to pick between these two and would love your help. Which should I go with?
Another great show thanks. I have been AB(ing) the Focal 806 and the Revel M16 on my Marantz 2250B. I predominately listen at 60 to 75db. Both speakers are amazing. Thanks for turning me into an addict. Lol. The Revels unfortunately dont wake up until 80db. But the Focals, I have reached musical nirvanna. The butteriness of the marantz seems to make the focals melt into pure liquid music. Thanks for all that you both do. PS. Id be happy to send the 806’s to compare to the New focals. Just throwing it out there. ✌️
I agree, the Marantz/Chora combo is really nice. I hated the Focals with an Audiolab600a though.
Thanks Andrew, been looking at a new bookshelf to buy. ~Peace
P.S. Rogers Speakers; -any chance you might be reviewing them anytime soon? Thanks.
Is that a cinema 40? did you test it with that? Your tought? Im interesting in this setup for a 5.1.2 with the theva 3D, but for music too, and want to buy just one avr, do you have any other avr to match best for my needs? Thank you best regards
what is a good starter amp that can drive these.. or this kind of class of speakers for a small bedroom?
excelent video i have a cuestion what about the triangle comete ? compare in the same range of price
Wow digging the intro and this was 🔥
So glad you like the new look!
I really enjoy your reviews, and the fact that you cover products that are affordable. I would like for you to review the Vandersteen 1Ci+, which is the latest iteration of this iconic speaker. It is rarely reviewed for reasons that elude me. Thanks for all that you do!
I heard the Focal 806s at a brick and mortar store and took home the Klipsch RP600MIIs for $450 Black Friday on a side by side. I am sure the Thevas are better, Focal always improves. But if the Klipsch go for $450+/- on sale again, I think that works to be a no brainer... No Wharfdale 80th or 85th comparison? I always liked that Wharfdale sound and quality, then again no one can test everything! Nice review as always!
The 600M IIs at $450 a pair are a no brainer in my opinion and I totally get why you went with them over the full price (but still affordable) Focals.
Nice review timing Just curious about this speaker line
Well settle in because we got a good one for ya!
Focal makes some of the most attractive speakers imo.
16:25 I really like the finish on these focals beautiful looking especially on the tripod stands ✊🏽 If I was in the market for bookshelf speakers hell I still have the Bose series iii bookshelves I can't get rid of 😅 These were definitely be a top choice for me
I think this is the same speaker as the last one sans the rear port compared to what I see for online specs with Chora 806 vs. Theva 1: same crossover point, same color scheme, same frequency response, same impedance. Now it looks less ugly with a rear port. Idk, still a good speaker having enjoyed the 806s, but Focal Naim can only pull this stuff for so long
Do you prefer an actual centre channel or just use front left and right channels instead because I find most centre channels are not the equal of the matching speakers
At the focal bookshelf level(no1) you might as well go with the vestia, better sounding for 200$ more...the new tweeter is far superior to the old one that they reused in the theva.
They have already heard the Vestias and found them unexciting.
I really like the way the focals look like and trust your description of the sound. I currently have my old Energy Veritas three way book shelves center and rear surround. I was thinking about a either adding focals as rears or emotiva. I wonder if you guys have tried emotiva speakers ⁉️
Good morning! Great review! How would these compare to the dynaudio evoke?
We didn't have the Evokes to compare them to, sorry.
The Focals will have a livelier top end and easier to drive. The Dynaudio line comparable is the Emit which will have more bass and easier on the ears, but are completely power hungry compared to the Thevas.
You got to appreciate the editing
Thank you! Kristy mentioned the arendal 1961. I already have a svs sb1000 and amp is naim nait 5si. Do these do holographic soundstage like arendal? Suerte and stay cool!
I have a good question andrew and kristi, great channel and you guys also, i want to know you're top 3 best book shelf speaker for home theater, starting from your number one choice and what would you per them with each.
Focal (JM Lab) has been sold in the UK since the 1990s, and despite making some excellent products, the 'specialist press' practically ignored them. But now that Focal are being sold through all the usual big box shifter retailers, they've suddenly discovered them and are raving about them (despite the older Chorus, Cobalt and Utopias being clearly superior).
I like the looks but the rear port and price . Ill keep my Choras that I stole on liquidation for for $450 ,with its front ports , and similar sound . Thanks for showing these to me . 👍
After owning Chorus 826W towers for 3 years ( sonically only equaled by Monitor Audio at the time and completely different sounding to B&W by the way ), I went to a local shop and was blown away by the warm, capable Kanta No.1's. They cost 3k a peace, but are such a step up ( not only in price ). I went for for the Kanta No. 3 :) , but I'm sure Kanta No. 1's, with a good sub would be wonderful as well. You could say that even higher up in the Focal range, like Sopra and Utopia's , will give you a similar jump in quality, but that's not the same jump. If you can afford them, save some more money and make the jump to Flax cones and Beryllium from the Kanta series.
The Flax cones are actually a step back in several ways. They are older tech and the do not have as fast and responsive sound as the carbon slate fiber woofers. I'm sure overall the Kanta's are fantastic though.
Thanks for another good review.
On a side note:
I notice that Definitive Technology's demand line has come down in price recently. With the aluminum front baffle, i find them more aesthetically pleasing compared to their standard sock look. Would you be able to review of any of these speakers in the future?
Thanks for watching! I do not have any experience with the Demand line and as of right now there are no plans to review it, sorry.
Andrew,
Really respect the reviews you and Kristi do.
I am contemplating buying a new set of speakers.
I'm torn between the Arendal 1961 towers on closeout pricing($1265) , the Q Acoustics 5040 and quite possibly the Focal Chor 826( obviously closeout.$1400)
I currently have Css Audio Criton 1tdx bookshelves.
Looking for something more engaging/ energetic with some punch, that can deliver full rich articulate sound.
Which of these would you recommend?
I've watched your reviews multiple times and yet I'm stuck.
My room is small, only 12x 16, so I know that limits some of my choices ( no polk r700 fitting in there) lol😂
THEVA vs Pro-ject Speaker Box driven by a Marantz NR 1200. Thoughts or comments? And I see that’s been asked and answered roundabout by a different question. Thanks
I’ve owned Focal Chorus 826 Towers for 5 years. They are absolutely stunning. Not one complaint about anything. I’ll never sell them. Best speaker for the money I’ve ever bought.
Yes, I own the 836V’s and wouldn’t trade them for this line. Chorus uses the same tweeter and the polyglas drivers are just as good or better then the slate. I feel no need to upgrade or downgrade.
I own the special edition Chorus 826W's which I love, but I do wonder how they would compare to these new Theva/Vestia ranges.
I'd love to see Andrew review the old Chorus V/W ranges to compare against the newer models and determine whether the new ranges are actually an improvement VS the older (but technically higher end at the time) ranges.
@@Rorzzaa He won’t compare them to the Chorus line because they are discontinued. You can be sure your “W” sandwich cones outperform the slate by quite a bit, I think my polyglas cones do too. Andrew is correct in saying Focal has too many lines of speakers.
Well they've only been out for 4yrs but I agree with your enthusiasm. I love mine. There is something special about how they push sound out into your room. My problem is that there is no clear upgrade path because they are fantastic at everything except the deepest bass. Most speakers above their immediate price point that have better bass also do something else worse. Usually soundstage. So I think you'd have to go way, way above the Chora's price to keep the things you like and improve the bass too.
@@scottborenstein8291 The Chora's were a definite upgrade to the Chorus as per many a reviewer. But if you like them, keep rockin'. I for one will not sell my Chora's for the Theva's. They are basically a bit of a looks upgrade but at the expense of the rear port (a negative for me).
Hi Andrew and Kristi. I listened to the Thevas (with Marantz Model 40N and Cambridge Audio EVO150) a couple of months ago, along with the Vestia and Aria K2. I completely agree with you: also for me the Thevas are better than the Vestias, which don't have the classic Focal sound. The improvements of the Aria K2 are not so great as to justify the large price difference.
In the end, however, I bought the Sunun faber Sonetto (with Gold Note integrated amplifer)! 😁
Congratulations for the video, complete and exhaustive as always. I wanted to tell you last Sunday but I forgot: the new intro is really beautiful... Bravo!
Ps: sorry for my bad English and hi from Italy.
Glad you gave the Focal's a listen and appreciate you sharing your personal experience. Enjoy your Sonos Fabers! Thanks for watching!
@@andrewrobinsonreviews Focals were my dream since I was a child, maybe I had too high expectations. Then I discovered Sonus Faber and... It was love from the first listening.
Thanks to you and Kristi for all the wonderful work you do, you are a rare gem in UA-cam Hi-Fi world.
Ps: I gave a listen to Focal, B&W, Martin Logan, Sonus Faber, JBL... Mine was a very thoughtful choice (I live on disability benefits and have been saving for many years to be able to afford an excellent Hi-Fi system). The Sonus Faber sound immediately enraptured me and they also have a front bass reflex, which is very important for how I had to position the speakers.
Those Sonus Faber Sonetto's are a much higher end speaker line than the Theva's, Vestia's, and Aria k2's. They are gorgeous!
@@bearclaw5115I know, but Aria K2 are not so lower, in any case I was very (very!) lucky and my dealer gave me a great price, slightly higher than that of the Aria K2.
Thanks for the "gorgeus", I must admit that I am really very satisfied. 😃
Nice review. Always interesting. Cheers from Colombia
Thanks!
How do they compare to the Focal Aria line sonically ? Are they similar or are they more like the Vestia ?
The Vestia's are very similar to the Aria's actually (laid back). The Theva's are nearly the same as the outgoing Chora's which had a detailed, exciting, forward sound.
It seems like my favorite speakers are whatever you review most recently!
I'm looking for some bookshelf speakers in that price range and size, 6.5" woofs for a buddy who wants to put them, surprisingly, on a bookshelf! It's more of a cubby so I'm thinking sealed or front ported. A center speaker will complete a 3.1 setup used mostly for TV watching. What says the community?
The ELAC DBR62 fits the description. But you’ll need a beefy amplifier.
@@user-xg6zz8qs3q Thanks for the suggestion. My bud has got the cash to get a mid-tier AVR so I'm guessing anything with 110 wpc and up would do the job. He will not be playing LOUD, he mostly needs CLEAR for listening to the news on TV.
This situation sound similar to what happened when Polk released the reserve line, not long after the legend line, and basically cannibalize sales of the latter.
They look fantastic. I would give those a test if in the market and definitely at that price point.
Hello Andrew & Kristi I am John De Bock from Belgium your videos are fantastic
Also these of the Focal look great and now that I hear that they sound very good I also have great interest.
Would this speakers go well with the Marantz PM7000N which has also received several awards?
Here in Belgium, the Focals Thevo 1 cost €718 per pair. Greetings from Belgium and thank you
Focal/Marantz is a good match in our experience! Thanks for watching!
Nice review. I would be curious how the Theva's perform with a port hole form plug. I would anticipate some drop off in the lower end of the bass and some roll off, but it might make the bass a more tighter/sharper. Aperion Audio does incorporate this option in thier speaker designs. Using the foam plug could give some a different and equally good sound when matching an separante sub, like the Klipsch or an SVS such as micro3000
If I had viewed this a couple weeks earlier, I might have chosen them over the Arendal 1723s bookshelf, which was influenced by the 1963 review you did a little while back. I enjoy Focal sound I have experience with their headphones--Stellia and Elegia. Yes, the 1723s are harder to drive speakers, which really is only noticeable at lower volumes, where the Focal will most likely not comparatively. They do sound excellent once they're dialed in one's system, which I use BasX A2 and Marantz Cimena 70s. Also, Arendal's ten-year warranty says something about the quality of the speaker.
I will say Arendal's customer service or sales personnel are very good. I've read Focal's customer service can not non-responsive. I cannot say if this is true on average since most people who will comment tend to be those who have a bad experience. I did have experience with Arendal's customer service or sales personnel. I purchased pair of Arendal's 1723s bookshelf. Apparently once of the had a scratch that I did see noted on the Outlet website listing. I was able to negotiate 25% off (an additional 15% off from the 10% off the original listing), which brought the cost down to $1200US from $1600US. The scratch turned out to be a lot smaller and lighter than I anticipated. Not sure how much better or worse the Arendals are comparatively at an additional $200US. The Focal's may be a better value at the MSRP
I think the Wharfedale Evo series would be a better choice, even the Diamond series can "compete", especially in the 5.1 option.
what are these like compared to the MA silver 100 7gs?
LOS TUVE Y LOS DEVOLVÍ, DEMASIADOS GRAVES Y LOS AGUDOS ESTABAN TURBIOS !
Hi Andrew. I have a pair of 606 S3 BW, I would like to change to a speaker where the voice has more prominence; Do you think these Theva n1s improve that aspect of the sound I want? Greetings.
How are they compared to Monitor Audio Silver 100 7g given that Focals will be used with a subwoofer?
As a comparison, I had the MA Silver 100 6th against my Focal 807W and while I liked what the MA added in bass, midbass and lower mids, the upper mids and the highs got congested while the Focals upper mids and highs remained nice in separation and staging. I was constantly adjusting volume at lower listening levels with the MAs as I couldn't hear lower level details as well but when dynamic swings in music or a soundtrack came along, it just blasted at me. With the Focals, there was alot better balance in dynamic swings for me.
A fast sub would help round this out as the bass in the Focals are tighter and faster, IMO. While I didn't outright hate the Silver 100s, I sent those back still preferring the Focals overall. I could prefer the Silvers for some music and how they presented in my room but that congestion in the upper mids and highs I couldn't deal with.
What I don't know is whether the 7th series cleaned this congestion up.
Hope this helps.
Hi guys love the channel. I have a question regarding the new Polk Magnifi ax Sr 7.1.2 soundbar. It's proving very difficult to find any detailed on line reviews on this product. Specifically in comparison to the Samsung 990c. Do you have any plans in the near future for such a review or can anyone else reading this comment offer any advice many thanks Mike in New Zealand
A bit off topic. Would love to see you two do a classic excursion to a record store. DO IT, DO IT, DO IT!! 😃 BTW, now looking at the Polk R700 Thanks to your review.
You will love them . Mine are powered by the Rotel 1592 MKII with a beautiful REL sub and the Eversolo DMP A8 . Enjoy .
Good morning from Vancouver )) .
Morning! Thanks for joining us!