Short answer: the Focal Aria Evo X N2, despite its own brightness. Its solid bass carries a deliberate mid-bass bump from 80-120Hz and extends to about 40-50Hz in-room, though the tweeter comes in 5-6dB above the midrange with a roughly two-octave dip from 1kHz-4kHz, so toe it out about 20 degrees. The Bose 901 Series V uses eight rear-firing and one front-firing full-range drivers, but even with the required EQ Erin measured only about 81dB sensitivity, grossly non-flat response and very high distortion.
Buy the Focal Aria Evo X N°2. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the Bose 901 Series V is discontinued, so it is only available used.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Passive Home rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Focal Aria Evo X N°2 | Bose 901 Series V | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $4,798 per pair | Discontinued |
| Ranked | #67 of 89 in Large Size Floorstanding Speakers | #88 of 89 in Large Size Floorstanding Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 38Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 34.5Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 50Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 55.8Hz (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) | 6.2 ohms minimum (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | 88.2dB (2.83V/1m, measured by Erin’s Audio Corner; 91.5dB Manufacturer specified) | Approximately 81dB/2.83V/1m with tested EQ setting (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Drivers | Aluminum-magnesium inverted dome tweeter with waveguide, 6.5” flax midrange, dual 6.5” flax midbass woofers | Nine full-range drivers: eight rear-firing, one front-firing |
| Weight | 55.1 lbs (25 kg) each | 35.3 lbs (16 kg) each |
| Dimensions | 40.7”H x 14.6”W x 11.6”D (1035 x 371 x 294 mm) | 21”H x 21”W x 12.6”D (533.4 x 533.4 x 320.7 mm) |
| Woofer Cabinet | 3-way, bass reflex (bottom-firing port, requires plinth) | - |
| Frequency Response | 45Hz - 30kHz (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| Recommended Power | 40-250W | - |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 4.88 | 0.43 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.82 | 2.11 |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
| Bass Extension | - | Strongly dependent on supplied active equalizer and room (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| DSP | - | External analog active equalizer required |
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The Two Speakers In Full
Focal Aria Evo X N°2: $4,798 per pair Amazon eBay
Smaller model: the Focal Aria Evo X N°1 (estimated 3.5/5).
Pros: Solid bass with a deliberate mid-bass bump (80-120Hz) that gives extra thump and weight, extending to about 40-50Hz in-room. High sensitivity (measured 88.2dB) makes it easy to drive, and distortion is low throughout the range even at high output: the reviewer found only a minor compression “glare” around 4.5kHz at very high volumes, not a real concern. Directivity components (mid-range and tweeter) transition smoothly rather than abruptly, and the overall soundstage is wide and enveloping. Measured bass extension of 50Hz (-3dB), with a measured sensitivity of 88.2dB.
Cons: 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. Fixing this properly requires real EQ (a mini DSP or similar), not just toe-out or absorption alone; without EQ, expect it to sound bright for stereo listening. A mild dip around 200Hz makes male vocals sound slightly subdued. Narrow vertical directivity (about +/-15 degrees) means you need to stay close to tweeter-axis height. Impedance dips to 3.4 ohms (EPDR 1.4 ohms), so it wants a 4-ohm-capable amplifier, and requires a plinth for floor clearance since it’s bottom-ported.
Full Focal Aria Evo X N°2 review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 38Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 50Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| DIY Kit | No |
| Dimensions | 40.7”H x 14.6”W x 11.6”D (1035 x 371 x 294 mm) |
| Drivers | Aluminum-magnesium inverted dome tweeter with waveguide, 6.5” flax midrange, dual 6.5” flax midbass woofers |
| Frequency Response | 45Hz - 30kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Impedance | 8 ohms nominal (2.9 ohms minimum, Manufacturer specified; 3.4 ohms minimum measured by Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Recommended Power | 40-250W |
| Sensitivity | 88.2dB (2.83V/1m, measured by Erin’s Audio Corner; 91.5dB Manufacturer specified) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 4.88 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.82 |
| Weight | 55.1 lbs (25 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | 3-way, bass reflex (bottom-firing port, requires plinth) |
- Links
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Bose 901 Series V Discontinued Amazon eBay
Pros: Historically distinctive direct/reflecting architecture uses eight rear-firing and one front-firing full-range drivers to create a very large, room-filling presentation. Erin measured a benign 6.2-ohm minimum impedance, so the raw electrical load is easier than many modern four-ohm speakers. The supplied active equalizer offers user-adjustable tonal balance and is integral to obtaining usable bandwidth. Measured bass extension of 55.8Hz (-3dB), with a measured sensitivity of 81dB.
Cons: Even with the required EQ, Erin measured only about 81dB sensitivity, grossly non-flat response, numerous impedance/resonance irregularities and very high distortion. Output above roughly 90-95dB at his seat became audibly poor; multitone testing reached only about 98dB before the distortion limit. The reflection-dominant radiation prevents precise imaging and makes results strongly room-dependent. It requires the proprietary equalizer and substantial amplifier power despite its benign impedance. Discontinued.
Full Bose 901 Series V review and specifications →
| Bass Extension | Strongly dependent on supplied active equalizer and room (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 34.5Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 55.8Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| DIY Kit | No |
| DSP | External analog active equalizer required |
| Dimensions | 21”H x 21”W x 12.6”D (533.4 x 533.4 x 320.7 mm) |
| Drivers | Nine full-range drivers: eight rear-firing, one front-firing |
| Impedance | 6.2 ohms minimum (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | Approximately 81dB/2.83V/1m with tested EQ setting (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 0.43 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 2.11 |
| Weight | 35.3 lbs (16 kg) each |
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