Short answer: the Focal Aria Evo X N°2. It ranks #165 of 228 floorstanding speakers by sound quality, rated 3.7/5, at $4,158; the Børresen X3 ranks #207, rated 3.0/5, and costs $11,000, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
The Focal Aria Evo X N°2 is the more accurate choice. An easy to drive tower with a deliberate mid-bass bump for extra thump, low distortion at high volume, and wide dispersion. Its measured preference score, a predictor of how neutral it sounds, is 4.88 against 2.38 for the Børresen X3. The catch: Sounds very bright pointed directly at the listener: the tweeter comes in 5-6dB above the midrange with an unusually wide, roughly two-octave dip (1kHz-4kHz) leading into it, giving a laid-back, low-attack character even after toeing out ~20 degrees.
The case for the Børresen X3: Floorstanding speakers with a ribbon tweeter, very wide dispersion for an expansive soundstage, and a punchy bass that is easy to drive. The tradeoff: A significant midrange suckout centered around 200-300Hz measures 8-11dB below the mean SPL, creating an audible hole in the mid-range that multiple independent listeners also flagged unprompted.
Buy the Focal Aria Evo X N°2. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Børresen X3 and costs less, which makes it the one to get unless you need something the other one does better.
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Measured Differences
- Bass depth: the Børresen X3 reaches 25 Hz (10 dB down) against 38 Hz for the Focal Aria Evo X N°2, about half an octave deeper. You hear more of the lowest bass notes and kick drums.
- Tonal accuracy above the bass: with a subwoofer taking the low end, the Focal Aria Evo X N°2 scores 6.8 against 3.5 for the Børresen X3 on the Spinorama preference scale. Its frequency response and off-axis sound are smoother, so voices and instruments sound closer to the recording.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Focal Aria Evo X N°2 | Børresen X3 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $4,158 per pair | $11,000 per pair |
| Ranked | #165 of 228 in Large Size Floorstanding Speakers | #207 of 228 in Large Size Floorstanding Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 38Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 25Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 50Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 50Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Impedance | 8 ohms nominal (2.9 ohms minimum, Manufacturer specified; 3.4 ohms minimum measured by Erin’s Audio Corner) | 4 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 88.2dB (2.83V/1m, measured by Erin’s Audio Corner; 91.5dB Manufacturer specified) | 88dB |
| Drivers | Aluminum-magnesium inverted dome tweeter with waveguide, 6.5” flax midrange, dual 6.5” flax midbass woofers | Planar ribbon tweeter, 4.5” mid-range driver, dual 4.5” bass drivers |
| Weight | 55.1 lbs (25 kg) each | 121.3 lbs (55 kg) |
| Dimensions | 40.7”H x 14.6”W x 11.6”D (1035 x 371 x 294 mm) | 50.8”H x 13.6”W x 23.9”D (1290.0 x 345.0 x 607.0 mm) |
| Woofer Cabinet | 3-way, bass reflex (bottom-firing port, requires plinth) | - |
| Frequency Response | 45Hz - 30kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 35Hz - 50kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Recommended Power | 40-250W | 50W minimum |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 4.88 | 2.38 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.82 | 3.50 |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
| Country | - | Denmark |
Where the Ratings Come From
- Focal Aria Evo X N°2: Spinorama.org measurements and reviews by Erin’s Audio Corner.
- Børresen X3: Spinorama.org measurements and reviews by Erin’s Audio Corner.
This comparison is generated from the ratings, specifications and measurements on each product’s own page, and it updates when that data changes. How we rank explains how each rating is decided.
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