Short answer: the Focal Theva N°2, if you are buying new. The Focal Chora 816 ranks higher than the Dynaudio Emit 30 (#26 vs #114 of 188 floorstanding speakers) but is discontinued; its replacement, the Focal Theva N°2, is rated 4.4/5 at $999 and is still sold new.
The Focal Chora 816 is the better-sounding choice. CEA2034 spinorama shows a generally even on-axis response with nice bass extension and high sensitivity. Watch for: Some messiness appears between 500Hz-2kHz on-axis, including a dip around 550Hz.
The Dynaudio Emit 30 is the deeper-bass choice. A 2.5-way floorstander: two 5.25” mid-woofers paired with a roughly 1” dome tweeter, driven through dual rear bass-reflex ports. Its bass reaches about 44Hz before falling 3dB, against 60Hz for the Focal Chora 816. Watch for: A dip and inconsistency in the lower-treble presence region (roughly 2-5kHz) makes the top end sound uneven (sometimes soft, sometimes forward) depending on the specific instrument or frequency being reproduced; male vocals can lack presence and cymbals can lack sizzle as a result.
Buy the Focal Theva N°2, the replacement for the discontinued Focal Chora 816; it is rated higher for sound quality than the Dynaudio Emit 30.
Still deciding? The full Passive Home rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| Focal Chora 816 | Dynaudio Emit 30 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $900 per pair used, Discontinued | $1,274.25 per pair |
| Ranked | #26 of 188 in Large Size Floorstanding Speakers | #114 of 188 in Large Size Floorstanding Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 35Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) | 36Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 60Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) | 44Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Dimensions | 40.7”H x 11.8”W x 15.3”D (1033.8 x 299.7 x 388.6 mm) | 35.4”H x 6.7”W x 10.7”D (900.0 x 170.0 x 272.0 mm) |
| Impedance | 8 ohms nominal (3.9 ohms minimum, measured, Audio Science Review) | 4 ohms |
| Drivers | 6.5” (16.5cm) Slatefiber woofer, 6.5” (16.5cm) Slatefiber midrange, 1” (25mm) TNF Al/Mg inverted dome tweeter | Dual 5.25” mid-woofers, 1” soft dome tweeter |
| Sensitivity | 91dB (measured, Audio Science Review) | 87dB |
| Weight | 40.8 lbs (18.5 kg) each | 34.2 lbs (15.5 kg) |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, front | ported, rear (dual) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 4.30 | 3.84 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.37 | 5.69 |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
| Frequency Response | - | 44Hz - 25kHz (±3dB, manufacturer specified) |
| Power Handling | - | 180W (IEC rated) |
| Country | - | Denmark |
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How Focal Chora 816 compares with other leading options:
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- KEF R5 Meta vs Focal Chora 816
- Revel F226Be vs Focal Chora 816
Prices on this page were last checked October 7, 2026 at 9:25 PM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
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The Two Speakers In Full
Focal Chora 816: $900 per pair used Discontinued eBay
Newer model: the Focal Theva N°2, ranked lower, estimated 4.4/5.
Pros: CEA2034 spinorama shows a generally even on-axis response with nice bass extension and high sensitivity. Predicted in-room response is very good aside from a peak around 8kHz. Horizontal beamwidth of about ±60 degrees is typical and fairly controlled. Distortion is very low at 86dB SPL/1m and still usable at 96dB SPL/1m. Measured bass extension of 60Hz (-3dB), with a measured sensitivity of 91dB.
Cons: Some messiness appears between 500Hz-2kHz on-axis, including a dip around 550Hz. Vertical directivity narrows a little, so listening height matters more than with a coincident design. Cumulative spectral decay (waterfall) shows a fair bit of resonances lingering across the midrange. Distortion rises substantially in the 1-2kHz region at 96dB SPL/1m. Minimum impedance dips to about 3.9 ohms. Discontinued.
Full Focal Chora 816 review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 35Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 60Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| DIY Kit | No |
| Dimensions | 40.7”H x 11.8”W x 15.3”D (1033.8 x 299.7 x 388.6 mm) |
| Drivers | 6.5” (16.5cm) Slatefiber woofer, 6.5” (16.5cm) Slatefiber midrange, 1” (25mm) TNF Al/Mg inverted dome tweeter |
| Impedance | 8 ohms nominal (3.9 ohms minimum, measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Sensitivity | 91dB (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 4.30 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.37 |
| Weight | 40.8 lbs (18.5 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, front |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Dynaudio Emit 30: $1,274.25 per pair Amazon eBay
Same family: the Dynaudio Emit 10 (smaller bookshelf, estimated 3.2/5), the Dynaudio Emit 20 (larger bookshelf, rated 3.6/5), the Dynaudio Emit 50 (larger floorstanding, ranked higher, estimated 4.2/5) and the Dynaudio Emit 25C (center, estimated 3.7/5).
Pros: A 2.5-way floorstander: two 5.25” mid-woofers paired with a roughly 1” dome tweeter, driven through dual rear bass-reflex ports. The two woofers hand off at staggered crossover points (around 1kHz and 3.5kHz) rather than sharing one, which avoids the acoustic lobing a shared crossover point would cause between the tweeter and the lower woofer, and adds a few dB of sensitivity in the process. Genuinely deep bass for a speaker around this price: measured F3 near 44Hz and extends audibly down to about 40Hz in-room without much difficulty. Harmonic distortion measures clean and low at both 86dB and 96dB SPL/1m. Good CTA-2034 sound power and uniform directivity mean the speaker takes EQ correction well if a listener wants to dial in its one tonal weak point. Dynamic range and compression performance are strong overall, with only a minor, high-Q compression artifact tied to a cone-edge resonance that’s unlikely to be audible. Wide, consistent horizontal dispersion around ±70° with just a small ~10° narrowing between 1-3kHz, and a reasonably forgiving ±20° vertical window centered on the tweeter axis. Measured bass extension of 44Hz (-3dB).
Cons: A dip and inconsistency in the lower-treble presence region (roughly 2-5kHz) makes the top end sound uneven (sometimes soft, sometimes forward) depending on the specific instrument or frequency being reproduced; male vocals can lack presence and cymbals can lack sizzle as a result. A cone-edge surround resonance shows up around 1-1.3kHz in burst-decay measurements (a trait the reviewer has also seen on other Dynaudio models) and lines up with elevated multitone distortion across roughly 600Hz-1.5kHz. An enclosure resonance appears around 350Hz in the impedance curve. Placed too close to a rear wall, the dual ports make the bass noticeably boomy: pulling the speaker out is needed to keep the low end from overloading the room. Fully resolving the top-end inconsistency needs a modest EQ correction (roughly +2dB with a Q of about 1, centered 3-6kHz), so out-of-the-box tonal accuracy in that band isn’t quite class-leading despite otherwise strong measured performance.
Full Dynaudio Emit 30 review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 36Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 44Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Country | Denmark |
| DIY Kit | No |
| Dimensions | 35.4”H x 6.7”W x 10.7”D (900.0 x 170.0 x 272.0 mm) |
| Drivers | Dual 5.25” mid-woofers, 1” soft dome tweeter |
| Frequency Response | 44Hz - 25kHz (±3dB, manufacturer specified) |
| Impedance | 4 ohms |
| Power Handling | 180W (IEC rated) |
| Sensitivity | 87dB |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 3.84 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 5.69 |
| Weight | 34.2 lbs (15.5 kg) |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear (dual) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
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