Short answer: the Focal Aria Evo X N°2 for better sound quality, the Sony SS-CS3 for the lower price. The Focal Aria Evo X N°2 ranks #46 of 56 floorstanding speakers at $2399. The Sony SS-CS3 ranks #47 at $450, $1949 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.
On the Sony SS-CS3 side: Affordable entry-level floorstanding tower offering solid sensitivity (88.6dB SPL at 2.83V/1m), making it easy to power with standard budget AVRs. Set against that: Severe cabinet and driver resonances plague the passband between 100Hz and 600Hz, imparting audible coloration and chesty resonances to male vocals and acoustic instruments.
Buy the Focal Aria Evo X N°2 if sound quality matters more than the price. Buy the Sony SS-CS3 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 | Sony SS-CS3 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $2399 | $450.00 Discontinued |
| Ranked | #46 of 56 in Large Size Floorstanding Speakers | #47 of 56 in Large Size Floorstanding Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 38Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 39Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 50Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 72Hz (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 ohms nominal |
| Sensitivity | 88.2dB (2.83V/1m, measured by Erin’s Audio Corner; 91.5dB Manufacturer specified) | 88.6dB (measured average, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Drivers | Aluminum-magnesium inverted dome tweeter with waveguide, 6.5" flax midrange, dual 6.5" flax midbass woofers | 0.75 in. supertweeter, 0.98 in. polyester main tweeter, dual 5.12 in. MRC woofers |
| Weight | 55.1 lbs / 25 kg (55 lbs) each | 25.4 lbs / 11.5 kg each |
| 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) | 36.3"H x 9.1"W x 10.2"D (922 x 230 x 260 mm) |
| Woofer Cabinet | 3-way, bass reflex (bottom-firing port, requires plinth) | ported, front |
| Frequency Response | 45Hz - 30kHz (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| Recommended Power | 40-250W | - |
| Discontinued | - | Yes |
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More useful head-to-heads from the same speaker class:
- Infinity Reference 253 vs JBL Studio 590
- Polk T50 vs JBL Studio 590
- Klipsch RP-8000F II vs Infinity Reference 253
- Focal Aria Evo X N°2 vs Infinity Reference 253
- Focal Aria Evo X N°2 vs JBL Stage 2 280F
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 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+
- Focal Aria Evo X N°2 vs Dali Rubikore 6
- See all 14 comparisons
Sony SS-CS3: $450.00 Discontinued
Pros: Affordable entry-level floorstanding tower offering solid sensitivity (88.6dB SPL at 2.83V/1m), making it easy to power with standard budget AVRs. Harmonic distortion remains reasonably low at moderate listening levels (86dB SPL) when high-pass filtered above 80-100Hz with a dedicated subwoofer. Front-ported design allows relatively close placement to front boundaries without excessive port occlusion.
Cons: Severe cabinet and driver resonances plague the passband between 100Hz and 600Hz, imparting audible coloration and chesty resonances to male vocals and acoustic instruments. Irregular frequency response peaks and dips make automated receiver room correction difficult to equalize effectively. Poor low-frequency extension (F3 of 72Hz, F10 of 39Hz) for a floorstander, combined with rapid distortion escalation below 80Hz at higher SPLs (96dB+). Supertweeter driver adds crossover complexity without providing audible high-frequency benefit within the human hearing spectrum. Discontinued.
Full Sony SS-CS3 review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 39Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 72Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Dimensions | 36.3"H x 9.1"W x 10.2"D (922 x 230 x 260 mm) |
| Discontinued | Yes |
| Drivers | 0.75 in. supertweeter, 0.98 in. polyester main tweeter, dual 5.12 in. MRC woofers |
| Impedance | 6 ohms nominal |
| Sensitivity | 88.6dB (measured average, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Weight | 25.4 lbs / 11.5 kg each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, front |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons