Short answer: the Focal Aria Evo X N°2 for better sound quality, the JBL Studio 590 for the lower price. The Focal Aria Evo X N°2 ranks #46 of 56 floorstanding speakers at $2399. The JBL Studio 590 ranks #54 at $2000, $399 cheaper.
What the Focal Aria Evo X N°2 offers: Solid bass with a deliberate mid-bass bump (80-120Hz) that gives extra thump and weight, extending to about 40-50Hz in-room. Watch for: 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.
The case for the JBL Studio 590: Pretty deep bass. The tradeoff: 3dB peak at 1.7khz, about a 4dB peak from 8k to 13k, going to be bright up top.
Buy the Focal Aria Evo X N°2 if sound quality matters more than the price. Buy the JBL Studio 590 if the price matters more than sound quality.
If sound quality matters at all to you, skip both of these and look higher up the 56 floorstanding speakers instead.
Specifications Side By Side
| Focal Aria Evo X N°2 | JBL Studio 590 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $2399 | $2000 Discontinued |
| Ranked | #46 of 56 in Large Size Floorstanding Speakers | #54 of 56 in Large Size Floorstanding Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 38Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 32Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 50Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 48Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Impedance | 8 ohms nominal (2.9 ohms minimum, Manufacturer specified; 3.4 ohms minimum measured by Erin’s Audio Corner) | 6 ohms nominal (5 ohms measured minimum, Audio Science Review) |
| Sensitivity | 88.2dB (2.83V/1m, measured by Erin’s Audio Corner; 91.5dB Manufacturer specified) | 90.3dB (2.83V/1m, measured by Audio Science Review) |
| Drivers | Aluminum-magnesium inverted dome tweeter with waveguide, 6.5" flax midrange, dual 6.5" flax midbass woofers | 2x 8" (200mm) PolyPlas cone woofers, 1x 1" (25mm) Teonex dome tweeter on Bi-Radial horn (2.5-way) |
| Weight | 55.1 lbs / 25 kg (55 lbs) each | 107.8 lbs / 48.9 kg |
| Dimensions | 40.7"H x 14.6"W x 11.6"D (1035 x 371 x 294 mm) (40.25 x 14.62 x 11.56 in) | 49.7"H x 12.7"W x 16.3"D (1263.0 x 322.0 x 413.0 mm) |
| Woofer Cabinet | 3-way, bass reflex (bottom-firing port, requires plinth) | ported, rear |
| Frequency Response | 45Hz - 30kHz (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| Recommended Power | 40-250W | - |
| Discontinued | - | Yes |
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The Two Speakers In Full
Focal Aria Evo X N°2: $2399 Music Direct
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.
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) |
| Dimensions | 40.7"H x 14.6"W x 11.6"D (1035 x 371 x 294 mm) (40.25 x 14.62 x 11.56 in) |
| 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) |
| Weight | 55.1 lbs / 25 kg (55 lbs) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | 3-way, bass reflex (bottom-firing port, requires plinth) |
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- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Focal Aria Evo X N°2 vs Sony SS-CS3
- Focal Aria Evo X N°2 vs Polk T50
- Focal Aria Evo X N°2 vs Klipsch RP-6000F II
- Focal Aria Evo X N°2 vs Infinity Reference 253
- Focal Aria Evo X N°2 vs Dynaudio Emit 30
- Focal Aria Evo X N°2 vs JBL Stage 2 280F
- Focal Aria Evo X N°2 vs Klipsch RP-8000F II
- Focal Aria Evo X N°2 vs Magnepan LRS+
- See all 14 comparisons
JBL Studio 590: $2000 Discontinued
Pros: Pretty deep bass. CEA2034 spinorama is flat on-axis at a high level, with high sensitivity around 89-90dB. Predicted in-room response is good aside from a dip between 800Hz-1.5kHz. Distortion at 86dB SPL/1m is good outside of the 8.5kHz resonance.
Cons: 3dB peak at 1.7khz, about a 4dB peak from 8k to 13k, going to be bright up top. Just okay vertical off axis. Really bad resonance at 8.5khz, which shows up as a sharp distortion spike at both 86dB and 96dB SPL/1m. Cumulative spectral decay (waterfall) reveals many fine resonances across the midrange and treble. At 96dB SPL/1m the midrange and treble get notably messier, with broad distortion elevation from 2-8kHz. Discontinued.
Full JBL Studio 590 review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 32Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 48Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Dimensions | 49.7"H x 12.7"W x 16.3"D (1263.0 x 322.0 x 413.0 mm) |
| Discontinued | Yes |
| Drivers | 2x 8" (200mm) PolyPlas cone woofers, 1x 1" (25mm) Teonex dome tweeter on Bi-Radial horn (2.5-way) |
| Impedance | 6 ohms nominal (5 ohms measured minimum, Audio Science Review) |
| Sensitivity | 90.3dB (2.83V/1m, measured by Audio Science Review) |
| Weight | 107.8 lbs / 48.9 kg |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- JBL Studio 590 vs Triangle Esprit Antal Ez
- JBL Studio 590 vs Bose 901 Series V
- JBL Studio 590 vs Magnepan LRS+
- JBL Studio 590 vs JBL Stage 2 280F
- JBL Studio 590 vs Infinity Reference 253
- JBL Studio 590 vs Sony SS-CS3
- JBL Studio 590 vs Polk T50
- JBL Studio 590 vs Klipsch RP-6000F II
- See all 9 comparisons