Focal Chora 806 Bookshelf Speaker Review. Best for low volume listeners.
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- Опубліковано 17 жов 2024
- Reviewed Today: Focal Chora 806 Bookshelf Speakers with matching speaker stands.
www.crutchfiel...
www.crutchfiel...
Preamp & Power Amplifier & Integrated amps used:
Kinki Studio EX-P7: www.kinki-stud...
Kinki Studio EX-B7 monoblock: www.kinki-stud...
IotaVX SA-3: www.iotaenterp...
Source: Bluesound Node 2i
www.crutchfiel...
(all music is hi-res streamed from TIdal)
RCA Cables: Analysis Plus Oval One
analysis.plus/...
Speaker Cables: Maze Audio REF4
www.mazeaudio.c...
Subwoofers Used (individually):
REL HT1205: rel.net/shop/p...
Rythmik L12: www.rythmikaudi...
Rythmik F12SE: www.rythmikaudi...
Your results may vary based on your ears, room, and associated equipment:
![[Sound Battle] Focal Chora 806 vs Aria 906 / NAD C338 / Integrated Amp / Bookshelf Speakers](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/skWUOJDBhSw/mqdefault.jpg)
***Clarifications & Updates***
-Keep in mind with all that information these give you crappy recordings will sound crappy. But average recordings are good enough.
I know this video is a bit old but I found a pair of 806s used for a great price. I currently have Peachtree D5s which are decent but I’m wondering if the Choras will be an upgrade. I don’t like harshness but am okay with a little more analytical. Currently running the system with a Musical Fidelity M5si with an SVS SB-1000 sub. Any thoughts? Thanks!
Hi bro, I havn't heard any musical fidelity amps so I can't really say. The Chora is mostly neutral, low vol champ, detail focused, it's a great speaker and if you're getting it around $500/pair on the used market or less that's a great deal. If you enjoy the analytical sound I say go for it!
@@NemoPropaganda thanks for taking the time to reply, man! Super insightful!
Did you try them with the IOTAVX SA3? Did they work well together? What was the low end like?
Yes I did, it was still very good, naturally more expensive amps like my reference gear will have more control, texture, etc... But for around $500 the IotaVX is easily among the best options.
Hi! How are they mounted to their matching stands? Are there screw holes at the bottom of the speaker's? Just wondering if they would slide off the stands, if not bolted to the stands.
4 screws on the bottom.
I'm interested more regarding the amplifier matching as you stated. What do you think about running this speakers with Naim Nait XS2 ? Will it be suitable? Thanks. Really enjoy your video
Thank you Risandi, I havn't heard that amp but I have heard people say Focal & Naim is a good pairing.
Which did you like better, these or Dynaudio emit 10? I'm looking around some can be found for a lil cheaper.
mmm, different sounds, the Dynaudio was a little warmer and fuller in the midrange while the Chora was more analytical. Dyn had stronger bass but Chora had cleaner bass. Both really good but very different. If you want something really good but cheaper check out my Heco Aurora 300 review. That was an absolutely fantastic speaker!
no questions really: I'm looking at speakers around the 500 euro mark, and these are currently €520 or so (not sure what they cost in the US - can't find them on US amazon). The competition is Polk R100 and Elac Unifi 2.0 UB52.
Thanks for the review 👍🏼
I'd go for the Chora or Polk R100, Elac is overhyped IMO and not the giant killer everyone claims it to be. Polk is the warmer while Focal is the more detailed and refined.
@@NemoPropaganda thanks for the feedback !!
Hey have u tried the Vestia bookshelf from focal? These are discontinued can’t find
:( wondered how that may compare
I have not, Focal does not send me review samples or respond to my emails requesting review samples and I am no longer willing to spend my own money to give them free publicity.
Hi Nemo Propaganda,
Great and consise review! I have a pair of Chora 806 in white cream. They are great speakers but a bit too much forward with mids in my place. I paired it with an Class D smsl amp. i would like to pair them with a more laidback amp for now. I was thinking about the denon pma 600 which is laidback but you don't recomend it whith these 806. Which amps do you recommend in order to get a less forward and less mid tone sound in the 300-600 range. Denon, Yamaha, iota vx, Cambridge? Thank you so much for your reply. Musically.
yeah I hate that denon amp, ummm I'd go for IotaVX for the Chora or just get different speakers, Focal might not be for you. Try to demo polk reserve or dynaudio emit 10
@@NemoPropaganda Thanks a lot lot for your reply! I would like to upgrade/adapt my amp first. Iota Vx put aside, it will be very kind if you had other propositions for a more laidback amps (kind of sweet V curve) than my SMSL Class D to tame a bit the forwardness in mids of my 806. Thanks again and long life to your channel!!! Happy New Year!!! Peace
@@piktosonik7669 then I think the safest option is just to make sure the amp you buy has tone controls so you can turn the treble down a bit or buy a dac that smooths things out a bit like Ares2. I don't like V curve sound myself so I can't really help you find amps like that because I am not familiar with them. Try reaching out to thomas & stereo, he's the v curve man.
@@NemoPropaganda Thank you very much for your answer!
Hey Nemo. Off topic but your my hifiguy so I only want to play cd's on my new yamaha reciever you recommended. Should I buy a cheap little cd drive thingy that has no dac, or should I buy a standard cheap CD player & use the yamaha's dac?
Hey Porkchop! Hope you're doing well my man. So that's entirely going to depend on which unit has the better internal DAC (the cd player or the Yamaha) and unfortunately the only way to know is by experimentation. A long time ago I had a Phillips CD player and integrated amp and I found the amp had a better dac than the CD player but other friends had the opposite experience. An easy way to avoid all this is just grab whatever CD player you want and if you don't like the sound you can add an external dac like the Schiit Modi which should be better than both internal dacs.
@@NemoPropaganda i c
Bro! I just found out the yamaha rs202 integrated I bought on your recommendation, has no digital inputs. I cancelled the order. Does yamaha have basically the same thing but with digital that you would recommend? I know it would cost more. Sorry for all the questions. Last time I promise.
All good bro i don’t mind. The Yamaha AS301 has digital inputs but at $350 i’d rather step up to $400 and grab the Emotiva TA-100 since it has pre-outs.
Great review! I have them for a couple of months now and I must say, I love their wide soundstage, really clear and detailed upper mids and highs (great for vocal music), while not being overly analitical. Now here comes the question. I’m thinking about buying a sub to pair with my Chora 806s. I think I’m using my speakers 70 % for music, 30 % for movies. After going through some reviews I’m considering to buy Arendal 1961 1S. I have a small sized room (3,6 x 3,1 m), but I think I’ll have some problems fitting the subwoofer because of most probably too big tv furniture (limited space on each side). I can fit the Choras with their stands on both side, but the best (and only) place for a sub would be behind or in front Chora stands. Do you think that is going to be an issue? Do you think that Chora 806 and Arendal 1961 1S can match together good?
The REL HT-1205 was the best match for the Chora 806 when I had them, I'd imagine the smaller HT-1003 will also be an excellent match if you need a pair of something smaller.
Check out the 3000 micro from SVS
Great review ! Thank you.
I've a pair of them and I'm currently planing to get a sub from REL.
How about T-ZERO MK III ? (I've watched your review on that too)
Do you think T-ZERO would be a good match for 806s ?
I'm using 806s in a 13 sq meter room and mainly for music.
I'd appreciate your answer 🙏
Just picked up a new pair today with the matching stands for $700 :) SCORE!! 😍😍😍😍😍😍
Excellent choice and an amazing deal!!
@@NemoPropaganda yea man!! I’m excited. They arrive tomorrow. Great review and thank you for your perspective.
@@abxaudiophiles if ur in the free discord you should post some pics :) link is in all my newer video descriptions.
Sound quality is exceptional for the price point
Thanks for review , I aske one question bookshelf speaker and surrounding speaker same or different
Most people do different buy stick with the same brand so the sound profile is similar but you don't have to. For example if your budget does not allow it or the brand doesn't offer matching surrounds.
Just got them and loving the sound.
But, I have a 30w, 6 ohm amp.
Will that be ok to pair?
Do I have to buy another amp?
Any help is greatly appreciated.
if you're loving the sound it sounds like you're good. You'd only need a new amp if they weren't getting loud enough, you don't like the sound, or if your current amp doesn't have certain features that you want.
@@NemoPropaganda
Got it.
I listen mostly on low volume, so the amp is handling it well it seems.
By the way, you were correct... low volume champion... 🙂
Your review really helped me for the purchase. Thanks!
@@aleph0909 I'm very happy that it helped you find a speaker you like :)
Nice review! What amp you can highly recommend?
I don't have much experience with amps but I like the Emotiva TA1, IotaVX SA3, Buchardt i150, and Kinki Studio.
@@NemoPropaganda many many many thanks
@@cityscapetour2429 anytime bro! Discord link in newer vids if you want to join. Its free.
@@NemoPropaganda Ok noted. I will
Would you think that those would pair well with a marantz pm6007 or a cambridge audio axr100?
I have not heard either amp specifically but if I had to guess I think the cambridge would be a better fit.
thanks for your reply!
@@NemoPropaganda
Nemo, great review! With top end like the Chora it's an engaging listening experience. In your opinion, do you think the Chora tweeters are similar in tone and performance to a ribbon tweeter (like a Quad S series speaker)? I have a laid back budget speaker (Wharfedale D320's) that I enjoy very much but now I am looking for a more exciting top end that blends in musically with the mids and lows. The Chora 806, Elac Uni-Fi 5.2's, and Quad S1's are on my radar.
Thank you for sharing your most recent audio gem with the rest of us :)
Hey Leroy, I would say no. Nothing really sounds like a ribbon tweeter except a ribbon tweeter really, they have this characteristic to them that's hard to describe but to my ears it's like this: Even when the sound is sharp or bright the leading edge of the sound is still soft. It's almost like they have a mix of smooth & sharp characteristics where dome tweeters do not. Smoother speakers like the Buchardt S400 generally will be closer to sounding like a ribbon tweeter in terms of delivery but even still will not have that sharp delivery at the crescendo. I like ribbon tweeters but I feel they never integrate properly, I can always hear a disconnect even on $20+k speakers, I think i might just be sensitive to that range of sound perhaps. It's a shame as i really do love the sound.
@@NemoPropaganda Thanks for your reply and insights.
@@Audioloon anytime :)
Hi great video, I wonder how these compare with B&w 606 s2 anniversary, I was looking at these but I saw set of 606 in the Uk shop for only £349 I went for those, I had b&w 602s3 which I like for some time . Regards mark
606 s2 is bass boosted and has bright treble. The Chora is a more balanced sound overall.
@@NemoPropaganda hi thanks for reply I had b&w 602s3 for a long time but the 606 s2 now available and bought a set for £349 they were £599 as s3 has come out , if I had more cash I would consider the 806 or minutes audio 100 silver 7g. As I think r Rotel a11 tribute it has capabilities of having 2 sets of speakers so got old and new ones set up . Regards mark
Nice review!! How good are they with imaging and soundstage? THANKS!!
Imaging and soundstage are some of the best I have heard, absolutely incredible. But for the best imaging the matching stand is a must! The only downside I failed to mention is with all that detail poor recordings will be somewhat obvious. But average recordings are fine :)
@@NemoPropaganda thanks!!
@@net_news glad I could help :)
Hey Nemo ! You have an affable manner which sets you apart from many ...Nice review 👍
I had to look up what affable meant :) thank you for the compliment Anand!! That's very kind of you.
@@NemoPropaganda Pleasure ! ,you can always write to me if you have something to sell anandemirates@gmail.com
@@Anand.Asrani I'll probably just post it on the YT community page :)
Thank you for the heads-up!
Your very good at what you do that's why I've liked and subscribed. I've just finished auditioning the KEF ls50 and i found them too bright for my liking, they would be great if I only listen to music now and again but I'm an avid listener therefore I'm looking for a pair of speakers where I'm able to listen to them for hours on end! So I'm hoping these focal 806s are going to be the ones! After that explanation if you got any other suggestions for RELL T5i in my small 13f × 12f room, I'm all ears!
Cheers for the posting mate
Hey dude! Love your screen name! So the Chora it's really going to come down to equipment and the room, some people may not be able to listen to them for hours, especially if the room or associated gear is lively. If you like longer listening sessions like I do (2+ hours) a smoother speaker like the S400 by Buchardt would be ideal and you won't even need a subwoofer as they extend even lower than the T5i so if your budget was enough for the Chora plus a sub I would maybe just go for the Buchardt S400 and no sub, i can listen to them for 3+ hours easily and love them.
If you're dead set on using the Chora with a sub I would pick the HT-1003 instead of the T5i as it extends lower and I like low bass a lot.
@@NemoPropaganda fortunately/unfortunately I've already purchased the the RELL t5i several months ago so it's here to stay! I'm also shopping for the right 2-channel amp or integrated amp depending on whether if I go with the ARCAM avr20 receiver and possibly the matching ARCAM pa410 4-channel power amp because if you click on the cat you shall see that I also have a full Atmos setup!
@@awwbollocksthen1359 well the t5i is a fine piece so no loss their either way :) I'm not too well versed in HT setups, have you seen sparechange? His content is all HT and he knows a ton!
@@NemoPropaganda cheers Nemo
Thanks for the video. Got back in audio with the Choras after a 10 year hiatus. For my tastes, hard pressed to find a pair of stand mounts that can compete with the Choras around $900 a pair. Hopefully you can snag a pair of Aria 906s to compare the Buchart vs Focal 2K offering. That would be sweet. Love the vids. 👍✌️
My friend has the Chora 906 so I might be able to finagle him into letting me borrow them :D Yeah if someone is after detail without being overbearing the Chora is seriously hard to beat.
Thanks for the review. There are very few reviews on this so it means a lot. I am planning to buy cambridge audio cxa81 and I got a nice discount in advance on dynaudio emit m10 but your review on that aroused some questions. I can't test them. How would cxa81 & 806 work hypotheticaly?
I havn't heard any Cambridge gear but most likely it will sound good, just not as good as the Chora could sound with say a $1000+ amp. Honestly though I don't have that many data points with amplifiers.
@@NemoPropaganda I really appreciate that you reply to every comment. Thanks a lot! The cambridge cxa81 amp that I have in my mind is $1299 though.
@@fenriz7421 you got it bro! Yeah, I don't know for sure because the $1k territory seems to be an odd one with lots of mixed opinions. If I was in that range I would look at AudioLab or Musical Fidelity but I havn't heard either, just seems people really liking those for that $1000-$1500 range. If you're looking for the best sound in a purist piece I would look to the Odyssey Audio Cyclops Integrated amplifier and make sure to add the remote option as well as any other inputs and outputs you want, they're kind of a custom piece and start at $1095.
@@NemoPropaganda Music Fidelity M3si would suit me because it has USB-B port DAC as all my sources are in my laptop. That's $2100 though in where I live... For that price I have something crazy in my already... Advanced Paris A10 Classic Hybrid tube amp! But don't think I would go that far. As for Odyssey not available here. Thanks again for reply! You da man!
@@fenriz7421 Odyssey Cyclops then :)
How does it compare with wharfdale Denton 80 or 85th anniversary, for low volume , near field ? Thanks
I don't know much about wharfedale.
Thanks for the review. I have an Emotiva ta100. Any idea if these or the Revel m16 would work better in your opinion?
I'm going to review the M16 soon but here is my short answer: the M16 and TA-100 are a good combination and the TA-100 and the Focal Chora 806 are also a good combination. The M16 is very different sounding than the Chora. The M16 has great detail like the Chora but warmer from the midrange down to the bass with a pronounced mid bass bump that gives a hard and tactile edge to the sound. Overall the M16 is more grounded with it's imaging and has a fuller size and sense of scale. The downside of the M16 is it's extremely fussy and very room dependent so you really need to have room treatment at least for the first reflection points and spend a lot of time placing the speakers with perfect distance from the walls and things like that. The M16 is a speaker people will either love or hate and it will 100% come down to the room and how they are setup. If you are local to Orange County CA you're welcome to swing by and have a listen.
Thanks for your help and quick reply. Unfortunately I’m in the east coast. Guess I’ll have to just take a few for spin. One more question if your able, do you have any experience with the B&W 606 s2? Please keep the videos coming. You get in quite in depth. I know it’s all subjective but it’s good to have an experienced person point out things to really listen for.
@@DG-oj4zy I have not heard those ones yet :(.
@@NemoPropagandaDo you still have the m16?
@@danielacosta1998 no, I sold them a long time ago to recoup my investment. Since my channel is small I don't get samples from everyone and sometimes have to buy the stuff with my own money.
Thank you for your review. I recently bought the 816 and I love them. The soundstage is way better than my 5.1 and it is so immersive. The fact that you vouched for the 806 ascertain my decision. My only regret is whether I should have bought the 826 instead. Anyway, waiting for your F12SE review before I pulling trigger on the REL. Lastly, the Buchardt 400 is REALLY nice looking. I am a big Star Wars fans and anything stormtrooper for me. LOL
Me too! That's why i bought them lol. I wouldn't worry about the 816 vs 826 unless you won't be running a subwoofer. If you're not running a sub then yeah the 826 would have been a better choice. But we all make mistakes in this hobby, god knows I've made a ton!
@@NemoPropaganda i just bought 826s , my amp is marantz pm7000n but the bass is so weak, i can't listen without my sub Dali k14f . I don't listen loud , low to mid level max.however in my room 25m2 i have very weak bass from choras.is it my amp so weak for choras?
@@fluxcapacitor3273 Hey bro, I'm not sure honestly because I have not heard the towers nor that amp :(. If you have a subwoofer thought doesn't that solve the problem? You can also try using the tone controls a bit to get a fuller overall sound, maybe try +2 on the bass.
For Home theater, I’m looking at he the towers and possibly these for sides and rears...thoughts on these for home theater use?
It would be an expensive rear/side speaker but they do project very well and have tons of sparkle & detail which is exactly what you want in an HT environment. I think these would be very good for that purpose and that would be an awesome HT setup, your stage will be absolutely massive :D
Bro I watched this video on the 806 and wanted too buy them but I cant afford the pricetag.But I found the 706 on accessories for less at a very reduced price.So I pulled the trigger and bought them after taking months to make a design. They are freaking amazing!! $470 bucks for the pair with tax.Made in France with full warranty. Thanks bro
Hell yeah brother, I'm happy they were a win for you!!
Thank you brother
Have you tried the 706 with movies?
@@kman9387 I havn't herad the 706 but I did use the Chora for movies if that's what you meant :).
@@NemoPropaganda yes, as I have been wanting to upgrade my LCR to a larger focal line. I see in the comments that Paul presley Jr bought the 706 for a great deal and was wondering how to find them. I see that you have mentioned that you sell some equipment? Any Focal LCR's available? Or bookshelf?
Thanks in advance for your help 👍
Which one you prefer ?? vs focal dbr62 . If listening to norah jones. Jazz pop / female vocal
The Chora 806 has the better top end while the DBR62 has a better midrange and midbass presentation. Overall I'd say they're even so I'd defer to aesthetics and take the Chora for it's better looks and dimensions as I find the DBR62 a bit odd shaped.
@@NemoPropaganda Thank you for your answer :)
Which one can listen to it longer I mean smooth sound before go to sleep ?? don't made you tired when listening.
@@Gabbieblues Probably DBR62 but it's VERY close, i can listen to both for hours.
Nice review. Have you heard the less expensive Triangle Borea Bro3 speakers?
I have not but a local audio-friend has offered to loan me his BR02 and Genese so maybe I will review those soon :)
Great review, just one question: could you please put your phone with a level app running on the stand or the top of your speaker and tell us the exact degree the stands provide? Would be SUPER useful, so we could just recreate the experience and test how much does it help before ordering?
Yes! The app says 4 degrees on the dot :)
@@NemoPropaganda thank you so much!
Thanks for the information man.
Pulling the trigger today , these or the
M16’s ?
They're both equally good, I prefer the Chora 806 but I wouldn't say its better. M16 is the warmer, Focal is the more analytical. The M16 is also built better. Personal taste will be the biggest factor.
what do you think about these speakers with a vintage Marantz 2230?
I don't have much experience with vintage products.
Could it be argued that a musical fidelity A1 mark 3 is not sufficient to drive these speakers?
I have never heard musical fidelity gear but I think the Chora 806 is a friendly speaker for most amps as long as they are not hash/brittle sounding.
Are these speaker suitable for all generes of music? Also for rock? Thank you.
Hey Roberto, that's a tough question to answer. In my opinion and for my taste yes. I listen to metal, edm, and pop music so I have very diverse taste and never felt that these speakers were lacking in any way. But I did use them with a subwoofer mostly. REL T5X pair or a single REL HT-1205 were an absolutely fantastic match!
@@NemoPropaganda Thank you Nemo, you make me happy! 😃
Any other standmount speaker you could recommend that is easy to drive and good for lower volume listening?
none that do it as well as the Chora do it, except the Focal Aria 906 :D
Rega Kyte , or Dali’s
@@anthonydaley278 I have not heard the Rega Kyte and I have only heard the Dali Oberon 1.
Just got a pair of 816 for home theater since i already have excellent sub. Thanks for your comments on details and i agree this is best for any listening volumes high to low. I find that with my LS50 i tend to turn volume up too much for average listening and maybe it is because i am still digging for more detail.
you're probably turning up the volume for the dynamics. Focal is really good at giving you killer low volume dynamics :D
@@NemoPropaganda thanks Nemo! I learnt something new again. so this is what strong dynamics mean!
@@WHo-vf1oz yeah like normally speakers sound kind of dull or flat at low volume so people turn it up, but they don’t always want loud. They want what loud does which is more detail, sense of scale, and dynamics. Focal gives you that at lower volumes which is very nice.
Hi there, would you happen to know how the Emotiva XRM 6.1 would fare against this? Particularly for near field and low volume listening?
wow!!! a fellow XRM owner? I'm shocked, I had the 4.1, absolutely LOVED those speakers and the look was so industrial, it was one of my favorites. Anyhow okay so the XRM was actually extremely good but it cannot compete against something 3x it's price. The Focal Chora will offer up much more detail, imaging, & refinement.
@@NemoPropaganda Thanks for the reply! Glad to hear you enjoyed the 4.1, I dig the industrial look too. Fair enough, I'd also expected the Focal Chora to have been incomprable due to the price different, but if I had paid $300 for a used XRM 6.1, would a $600 used Focal Chora be worth as an upgrade? (Assuming they're all in good working condition)
And also, this is a bit of a side note but, would the Elac Debut 2.0 B5.2 be worth an upgrade to the XRM 6.1 at $370 in 'like new' condition? Unfortunately these are the only speakers available on the used market where I'm from.
Would appreciate your thoughts, and again, thanks for your time!
@@jethrol1731 I reviewed the Elac in my last video if you want to check that out here: ua-cam.com/video/lHMBobWJoMA/v-deo.html to draw your own conclusion but If it were me I certainly would go for the Chora at $600 as that would be a fine upgrade.
@@NemoPropaganda Thanks! I also plan to use the speakers primarily w a turntable, if that information is of any use. I'll check out your video right now :) Thanks again for your input and all your content thus far
@@jethrol1731 anytime. Unfortunately I don't have any turn table experience so I can't comment on that.
are these good for near listening?
I don't know, I don't do nearfield and these are discontinued now.
Hi, How do you think they will work with stereo T/5xs????
REL & Focal is an awesome mix!! 100% do it!!
Brother, how would you compare Focal Choras to Wharfedale Evo line? I know you reviewed both and it was so helpful. I am trying to avoid any hint of bright/ harsh presentation in my choice. I will probably be pairing them with a Rhytmik F12SE subwoofer for 2 channel only purpose.
oooof, this is hard, both can become harsh with the wrong equipment, if upstream gear is bright, lacks refinement, etc... then either speaker will come across as bright/harsh. The Wharfedale is the most picky. You really have to work hard to get the Wharfedale to sound good and you better be sitting in the perfect spot but if you can get them to sound good they are awesome!!! The chora on the other hand is pretty easy. F12SE is a wonderful option.
@@NemoPropaganda Thank you brother! You are the best!
Just heard them - superb. Big though, but crucially not too deep. Front port means they may be able go nearer a wall. Very true what he said about low volume sound.
Yeah they certainly are a bit tall, not a desktop speaker, that's for sure.
Thanks for your comment. I don't have a lot of watts. Do you think these speakers are power hungry?
@@robertmarshall7712 no, total opposite, they are very easy to drive!
@@NemoPropaganda Great! One more question for you: my room is not small but can't afford much space from wall behind the speakers, max 12 inches. How would this be?
@@robertmarshall7712 that's a good amount of space, I think they will sound lovely.
dude,,,, honest,,, direct,,,, thanx
Hey Nemo, excellent video. I had the 806, and the stands do make a difference. But now the price is +$1200 speakers. So I returned them because for the price overall I found I could get “$1200” speakers that sound good on “normal stands”. Anyways, try and move your equipment off the rack to a vertical rack so equipment is lower to ground. I think you’ll find that it will help with imaging and soundstage. It made a difference in my listening space.
My speakers are in front of my rack and my front wall is treated so I'm not sure if it will make a big difference for me honestly, plus I love my rack :D. Yeah the added cost of stands are a bummer but that's always the case with bookshelf speakers so for someone who has nothing it's okay but for guys that already have stands it's kind of annoying. What speakers did you end up getting instead?
@@NemoPropaganda I had the Buchartd S400 but they were kind of an eye sore. So I went with the 806 (home trial). I ended with Klipsch Heresy 4. (They look and sound great in my living room) looking back. The 806 are good enough...I should have kept them.
@@Staybrown11 ah yes the S400 and Klipsch Heresy 4 are totally different looks indeed. Personally I love the modern look but if the room itself is not modern/Scandinavian it could certainly be odd looking in the mix. The Klipsch Heresy 4 are great from what I've heard, congrats on finding a speaker you're happy with. That's the ultimate goal :)
how many degrees,,, the stands,,, pls tell us
4 or 5, I can't remember. They're discontinued now anyway.
Hey Nemo :) Fantastic channel. I'm thinking of these as I have the IOTA stack but I also love Monitor Audio and was thinking of the gold 100. Have you heard these or anyone else? wonder how they compare?
Many thanks
The Gold 100 are more than double the price, I don't think that would be a fair comparison. You should be looking at silver 100 vs chora or gold 100 vs Aria.
@@NemoPropaganda Yeah I got the Silver8s I love them but using them for home theater now and want some stand mounts for a small bedroom playing at low volumes. Just hard to audition anything right now 🙂
@@soopy1975 Ah I see, it's been awhile since I've heard the MA Gold speakers so I can't really comment on them with any confidence but I know for sure the Focal Chora is a low volume champion so I would save my money and go with that.
How would you compare these with the PSB imagine mini?
Imagine Mini really shined at higher volumes which was shocking for the size. Imagine Mini was more balanced from top to bottom with stronger and more articulate bass and especially mid bass. Imagine Mini also had stronger imaging. Chora has more detail, larger sound stage, and the best low volume listening I have ever heard. Chora sense of scale is overall larger and it's soundstage is more densely packed with information.
Right now the KEF LS50 Meta is my dream speaker, will you be reviewing them?
Probably not, I find the shape very ugly and the price is high too!
@@NemoPropaganda I get it. Personally if they sound good then I don’t care how they look but I actually like the looks. Not that I could afford it but they are only $500 more than what you just reviewed. Lol, in my dream world $500 is not a lot of money but that is why I am pretty sure the KEF LS50 Metas are my dream speakers. In a COVID world while being furloughed, dreams are all I have, Thank you again for the great and helpful content. If I win money in the lottery, I will loan you a pair of Metas to review and a blindfold so you don’t have to look at them. Is it bad I made myself laugh at the blindfold bit?
@@davdidit6 A wise man once told me if you can't make yourself laugh you're not living :D. Yes they are only $500 more than what I reviewed today but since I spend my own money for this channel I can't really afford to take requests unless it's something I'm personally curious about :)
@@NemoPropaganda my bad, maybe I missed it, I thought some times you got review samples. Thank you again.
I do sometimes but most of the stuff i’m buying :D
Correct me if I'm wrong but it sounds to me that these aren't particularly 'rock' friendly speakers and won't be forgiving of lesser recordings, OTOH if one likes well-recorded, refined (acoustic) music without a lot of low end, these could be the ticket for that. Not to say they won't play rock music AT ALL, but if I were predominantly a rock/metal listener, I'd probably look elsewhere.
Mmmm, you're not wrong but you could also pair these with an amp that's rolled off a bit or highly refined and they'd sound great for rock so it's more the system overall. I listen to plenty of metal but my amps top end is extremely refined so I didn't have any issues with the top end. I honestly don't know what speakers would be good with bad recordings since I don't listen to too much poorly recorded stuff. Sorry I can't be more helpful here my man...
Great review buddy. Do you sale of any of your stuff that you review
Yes I do :) My channel is pretty small so I usually just sell them locally but I was thinking maybe I should start posting about it on my youtube community page so my subscribers get first pick :)
@@NemoPropaganda are you near NY. I would buy from you. Endless you don’t mind shipping. I would cover it.
@@felixlaboy1453 I don't mind shipping, I'm in southern California, the next items I'm selling are the dynaudio m10, B&W asw608 sub, and maybe the revel concerta2 m16, and possibly even the silverline minuet supreme plus as they don't get any use these days. The Chora I'm really loving right now so that's a keeper for now :D
@@NemoPropaganda oh nice gear. What color are the day audio m10
@@felixlaboy1453 I have them in white with the gray grill.
Focal or elac, I have Celestion speakers now.
which focal, which elac?
would a Marantz pm6007 or Denon pma600ne be good enough?
around that price I would go for the IotaVX SA3 or Emotiva TA1.
@@NemoPropaganda from where I'm from those ones cost 2-3x as much as the Marantz. I was wondering if they would sound ok right against the wall like only 4-6 inches? Thank you!
@@LisaL. yes, the speaker is front proted so you can use it close to a wall.
@@NemoPropaganda Thank you!
Does anyone know what angle of degree the speaker should be tilted by?
Seems to be 4° based on a cellphone app i used that measured my walls flat at 0° so that should be pretty accurate.
I own the focal area 906 and I love it
The Aria 906 are beautiful speakers, I'm jealous :)
I just bought the FOCAL 826s and matching center for my home theater.
That's an excellent choice, loads of detail!!
@@NemoPropaganda waiting for them to arrive.... listened to them at my local store thought they were amazing. Had better imaging than B&Ws I listened to that day too.
@@Paranimal86 Oh yeah, the Chora image well, it's one of those speakers I'm surprised isn't talked about more, it was one of the biggest surprises for me when I reviewed it.
@@NemoPropaganda their tweeter design really impressed me because the speakers were detailed without being fatiguing or harsh... hard to explain but I think you nailed it in this review they just sounded airy and detailed. I played a wide range of music on them, and was just overall really impressed. I think at the price point of the 826 towers give many more expensive speakers a run for their money. Like I said it outperformed other speakers in many ways and impressed me more that were more expensive. Can’t wait for them to arrive, I guess these speakers have bit of a break in period. Hope to have them this week! 7 to 10 days according to my speaker shop. I hope they do become more popular, all I ever see is Klipsch in the home theater forums, these will make for some fantastic home theater speakers and music listening. I’m about 50/50... I upgraded my front stage with the Choras, I’ll do my surrounds next. When I listen to music I do pure stereo plus my subs.
@@Paranimal86 Honestly mine didn't break-in or change one bit. I did buy them second hand but the previous owner was a friend who only put about 5-6 hours on them. I say just hook them up and start enjoying them :)
pls recommend more class act treble spkrs,,, would like to buy new,,, now our king is martin logan esl,,, but even then... need to buy new spkrs for smaller room
budget?
yes... less than 1500 dollars per pair...
@@NemoPropaganda
@@kaybhee6 Dynaudio EMIT, Heco Celan, Focal Aria 906 (depending on region),
Definately could use more low end punch. Bass not rich enough at low volumes. I like a brighter sound but in my personal opinion needs more low end.
yeah, Focal bookshelves are not known for strong bass, more clean & light bass.
@@NemoPropaganda any ideas how I can improve this without going down the subwoofer route.
@@gabiosis You can experiment with moving them back against the wall more, at some point imaging will suffer but try moving them into the corners little by little, once you start to lose imaging or staging pull them slightly forward and stop there. If that's not enough just use tone controls and crank up that bass!
Im a newb and this is killing me. It was between these and the Elac unifi Reference ubr62 for my apartment. I'm looking for a bigger soundstage and I wanted the Focals but the mixed reviews had me freaked out. My Elacs will be here in a couple days, hope I made the right choice.
Hey Drew, welcome to the hobby, we have a free discord and the link is in my newest video if you want to join. I have not heard the UBR62 but I did really like the DBR62 so I'm sure it's great. The UBR will need a bit more power to drive properly than the Chora so as long as you have good quality power you should be fine, if not you may prefer the Chora 806 as they are easier to drive and have outstanding low volume performance.
How do you like your elac ubr62?
@@krblgc I really like em! The soundstage, clarity and detail are a lot better than the Klipsch rp6000s they replaced. These speakers are definitely way less fatiguing that the Klipsch as well. The Klipsch only beats them in bass, but they are tower speakers so to be expected.
@@drewpknutz1410 nice. Glad you liked them. I also replaced a klipsch rp-5000f with the UBR62 and so far loving it. I did paired it with a sub. Loving the fact that i can now control bass via the sub.
Great review, still waiting for you to review the revel concerta M16
okay, sorry, i will move that to the top of my list :D
That's funny to see that speaker reviewed outside of France. The Chora lineup is considered underwhelming by most resellers here. Mine told me he will sell his expo pair and doesn't want to sell it anymore (mostly because the finish is too plastic and not high quality)
I listened to the Chora towers and thought it was ok but previous Focal model was much better. Even at 600€ for the bookshelf /1200 for the towers in France.
The finish is a bit under par considering the price but I see that very often and can say the same for many speakers like the Elac DBR62. These speakers are indeed excellent, they just require proper setup and care with system matching. It sounds like your dealer (and many others) are just upset that they do not have the typical Focal sharp & bright top end sound but that's why I like them.
@@NemoPropaganda I'll listen to them again, because I heard them in a home theater setup, not the best to evaluate the sound.
Ah, yeah some HT amps are crappy, i will admit the bass was disappointing though :(.
@@NemoPropaganda yes the amps were pretty basics, Marantz / Denon. We compared Triangle BR08, Focal Chora 816, Focal 948, BW 603 S2, Klipsch rp260.
I was most convinced by the BW and Klipsch. 948 were great but too big 😁
@@guillaumeSONY I'm embarrassed to say this but I still have never heard any Klipsch speaker, like never in my life lol.
I heard rumours. amphion argon 3s is also good on low volume. Who can confirm that?
I emailed them for a review sample, just waiting to hear back.
And don’t compromise on connection leads.
Time alignment is a huge problem (for most speakers especially some B&Ws ) that keeps a good sound from being an incredible sound.
I’m not super familiar with the topic but I have noticed some speakers sound better raked back around 4-5°.
hahaaa, I know this is older review but news it is not so i coment on it, ....seing you with smile discribing entry level focal makes me wonder to try them, especial as actually I have nice naim amplifier which is suposed to be good match recomended by naim and viceversa,....I never got guts to try them, but your reviews make me think about it,
I had chance to listen sopras, those were , I think best what I have ever heard, and I did audition different expensive staff on expos....but yeah $ :),
Focal makes great stuff, it's a bit over priced in the US these days but it's a great sound.
@@NemoPropagandathx for reply, there will be something on that , I can have a bit of bias because of some that speak about their brightness, which they consider to be bed thing, but why it shuld be by the rule, many as you say exactly oposite that it is amazing sound. I am now thinking about to give them audition
@@janulik9535 bright isn't bad, a lot of people like the brighter sound :)
Got them for 250 euros in good condition. They are so big, I should have listened better to you review! Speakers are really good
great deal!
It's ridiculous to need to buy specific stands to get the best out of the speaker.
I agree but you could always put a small piece of isolation foam underneath the front of the speaker to accomplish the same thing with other stands so since the solution is easy enough I'd say it's not a deal breaker but they should have at minimum included something like that, just a small wedge would have been very cheap and easy to include in the box.
I hope the aria doesnt get much better than this, this Is quiet affordable where I live and the aria Is nearly on the expensive side, Lets say 60 % More expensive than chora
In the video I do answer the question "should current Chora owners upgrade" and the answer is meh... if you can buy the Aria at a good price on the used market then yes, otherwise no because the Chora is fantastic. A lot of the difference you're paying for is cosmetic.
@@NemoPropaganda Great!! thanks thanks
Just one more question, I can get the books but the stands are not avalaible here, do they make a lot of difference? I have a pair o good stands filled with sand but I wont be able to tilt the speakers back , is it a night day difference? thanks in advance
@@rafaelalberto5051 Really? Where are you located? So the stands while they help the difference is very minor and they should really only be bought if you like the way they look as you can simply tilt yours back 4-5 degrees to accomplish the same thing. Do keep in mind you'll need them to be lower to the ground to get the same effect as the Chora stands are 22" high.
@@NemoPropaganda Good explanation, thanks, I am from Argentina lol so you can imagine we dont have a lot of brands you usually review for instance: no triangle borea, no elacs, wharfadales just in pictures haha and the subwoofers you are currently reviewing cost a fortune here if you happen to find one, for the price of a relatively good quality subwoofer I can get dynaudio evoke 20 for instance and I will have extra money to spend in another gear, there is a rel t9i here and for that money I can get four pairs of these focals or two pairs of kef ls50 (four bookshelves) for you to have an idea
Or pair with a more powerful amp
Hello, assuming both are similarly priced, which is better, the Focal Chora 806 or the Sonus Faber Lumina II?
Hi jay, I have not heard the lumina II
@@NemoPropaganda oooh alright, thank you!