Short answer: the Arendal 1961 Tower has been measured and ranked among floorstanding speakers; the Focal Theva N°2 has not been independently measured yet, so until it is, this comes down to features and price.
What the Focal Theva N°2 offers: A slim three-way bass reflex tower with a 1” aluminium-magnesium inverted dome tweeter, a 5” Slatefiber midrange and two 5” Slatefiber woofers.
What the Arendal 1961 Tower brings: Exceptional output cleanliness for a slim tower: Erin measured under 1% THD to about 100Hz at 96dB/1m and only crossed 3% near 80Hz, while compression was better than several physically larger competitors.
On paper: The Focal Theva N°2 is more sensitive, 90dB against 86.5dB, so it needs less amplifier power to play loud.
Price: the Focal Theva N°2 lists at $1,998 and the Arendal 1961 Tower at $1,900.
Buy the Arendal 1961 Tower if you want a speaker whose sound quality has been measured and ranked.
Buy the Focal Theva N°2 if you want higher sensitivity, and you can wait for measurements to confirm how it sounds.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Passive Home rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Focal Theva N°2 | Arendal 1961 Tower | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1,998 per pair | $1,900 per pair |
| Ranked | - | #27 of 73 in Large Size Floorstanding Speakers |
| Drivers | 1” (25mm) Al/Mg inverted dome tweeter, 5” (13cm) Slatefiber midrange, 2x 5” (13cm) Slatefiber woofers | Four 5.5-inch woofers; 28mm waveguided soft dome |
| Frequency Response | 53Hz-28kHz ±3dB (manufacturer specified) | - |
| Sensitivity | 90dB (manufacturer specified) | 86.5dB/2.83V/1m (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Impedance | 8 ohms nominal, 2.9 ohms minimum (manufacturer specified) | 4 ohms nominal; dips below 4 ohms (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Recommended Power | 40-200W | - |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear | - |
| Dimensions | 931H x 191W x 352D mm | 33”H x 6.4”W x 11.2”D (837.5 x 163 x 285 mm) (without feet) |
| Weight | 17 kg each | 39.5 lbs (17.9 kg) each |
| Cabinet Color | light wood, black, dark wood | - |
| Country | France | - |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | - | 62Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 43Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Enclosure | - | Sealed HDF |
| Spinorama Preference Score | - | 4.83 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | - | 7.25 |
| DIY Kit | - | No |
Prices on this page were last checked September 29, 2026 at 3:43 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 Theva N°2: $1,998 per pair Amazon eBay
Older model: the Focal Chora 816 (rated 4.5/5).
Pros: A slim three-way bass reflex tower with a 1” aluminium-magnesium inverted dome tweeter, a 5” Slatefiber midrange and two 5” Slatefiber woofers. Focal rates it at 53Hz to 28kHz (±3dB) with a high 90dB sensitivity, so it gets loud from a small amplifier.
Cons: No independent measurements yet, so its tonal balance and directivity can’t be compared with ranked speakers. Impedance drops to 2.9 ohms, a demanding load that calls for an amplifier comfortable with low impedances. Sold individually, so a pair costs twice the listed price.
Full Focal Theva N°2 review and specifications →
| Cabinet Color | light wood, black, dark wood |
|---|---|
| Country | France |
| Dimensions | 931H x 191W x 352D mm |
| Drivers | 1” (25mm) Al/Mg inverted dome tweeter, 5” (13cm) Slatefiber midrange, 2x 5” (13cm) Slatefiber woofers |
| Frequency Response | 53Hz-28kHz ±3dB (manufacturer specified) |
| Impedance | 8 ohms nominal, 2.9 ohms minimum (manufacturer specified) |
| Recommended Power | 40-200W |
| Sensitivity | 90dB (manufacturer specified) |
| Weight | 17 kg each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- These figures are manufacturer-specified rather than independently measured.
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Arendal 1961 Tower: $1,900 per pair Arendal Sound eBay
Pros: Exceptional output cleanliness for a slim tower: Erin measured under 1% THD to about 100Hz at 96dB/1m and only crossed 3% near 80Hz, while compression was better than several physically larger competitors. The response and listening window are broadly neutral, early-reflections and sound-power directivity are well controlled, and the waveguided dome supports stable imaging. A sealed HDF cabinet, four 5.5-inch woofers and a ten-year warranty provide serious theater-grade engineering in a tiny footprint. Measured bass extension of 62Hz (-3dB), with a measured sensitivity of 86.5dB.
Cons: Erin measured F3 at 62Hz and F10 at 43Hz, so the four woofers prioritize clean output over deep extension; a subwoofer remains necessary. Sensitivity is a moderate 86.5dB and impedance dips below four ohms, which may challenge budget AVRs even though a competent power amplifier has no issue. The optimal axis is roughly 5° above the tweeter and radiation begins narrowing around 1.3kHz, so seat height and toe-in deserve attention.
Full Arendal 1961 Tower review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 43Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 62Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| DIY Kit | No |
| Dimensions | 33”H x 6.4”W x 11.2”D (837.5 x 163 x 285 mm) (without feet) |
| Drivers | Four 5.5-inch woofers; 28mm waveguided soft dome |
| Enclosure | Sealed HDF |
| Impedance | 4 ohms nominal; dips below 4 ohms (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | 86.5dB/2.83V/1m (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 4.83 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.25 |
| Weight | 39.5 lbs (17.9 kg) each |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons