Short answer: the Focal Theva N°3. It ranks #51 of 226 floorstanding speakers by sound quality, rated 4.4/5, at $2,598. The Polk Audio Reserve R700 ranks #65, rated 4.3/5, at $2,398, $200 cheaper, a saving that is not big enough to make up the sound-quality gap.
The case for the Focal Theva N°3: Flagship 3-way floorstander in the Theva range equipped with dual 6.5-inch Slatefiber woofers, a dedicated 6.5-inch Slatefiber midrange, and a 1-inch TNF inverted dome tweeter. The catch: Rating estimated based on Theva series sibling testing.
The case for the Polk Audio Reserve R700: Three-way design with a 1” ring radiator tweeter, 6.5” mid-range, and dual 8” mid-bass drivers in a ported, down-firing cabinet. The tradeoff: Compression in the high frequencies rises sharply between 96dB and 102dB output: a real limitation only at very high volumes (around 100dB at 3 meters), but a clear step down from pricier ($5,000+) towers.
Buy the Focal Theva N°3. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the $200 you would save on the Polk Audio Reserve R700 does not close the gap.
Worth knowing: the Focal Theva N°3 has not been measured yet. Its rating is estimated from related models, with a likely range of 4.2 to 4.6, so treat this verdict as provisional.
Still deciding? The full Passive Home rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| Focal Theva N°3 | Polk Audio Reserve R700 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $2,598 per pair | $2,398 per pair |
| Ranked | #51 of 226 in Large Size Floorstanding Speakers Estimated | #65 of 226 in Large Size Floorstanding Speakers |
| Drivers | 1” (25mm) TNF Al/Mg inverted dome tweeter, 6.5” (16.5cm) Slatefiber midrange, 2 x 6.5” (16.5cm) Slatefiber woofers | 2x 8” polypropylene cone woofers, 1x 6.5” turbine cone midrange, 1x 1” Pinnacle ring radiator tweeter |
| Frequency Response | 48Hz - 28kHz (±3dB, manufacturer specified) | - |
| Sensitivity | 91dB (2.83V/1m, manufacturer specified) | 87.5dB (measured average 300Hz-3kHz @ 2.83V/1m, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Impedance | 8 ohms nominal, 2.9 ohms minimum (manufacturer specified) | 4 ohms nominal, 3.5 ohms minimum (measured above 80Hz, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 48Hz (manufacturer specified) | 40Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-6dB) | 39Hz (manufacturer specified) | - |
| Dimensions | 38.9”H x 8.3”W x 14.6”D (989 x 212 x 371 mm) | 45”H x 12.6”W x 16.9”D (1143.8 x 320.7 x 428.3 mm) |
| Weight | 44.1 lbs (20.0 kg) each | 102.1 lbs (46.3 kg) |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 31Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Woofer Cabinet | - | ported, down-firing |
| Spinorama Preference Score | - | 6.38 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | - | 7.83 |
Related Speaker Comparisons
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- Focal Theva N°3 vs ELAC Uni-Fi Reference UFR52
- Focal Theva N°3 vs Q Acoustics 3050c
- ELAC Uni-Fi Reference UFR52 vs Polk Audio Reserve R700
- Polk Audio Reserve R700 vs KEF Q11 Meta
- Polk Audio Reserve R700 vs PSB Imagine T65
Prices on this page were last checked October 11, 2026 at 4:59 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°3: $2,598 per pair Estimated Amazon eBay
Same family: the Focal Theva N°1 (bookshelf, estimated 4/5), the Focal Theva N°2 (smaller floorstanding, ranked higher, estimated 4.4/5) and the Focal Theva Center (center, estimated 3.5/5). See every Focal Chora and Theva generation.
Pros: Flagship 3-way floorstander in the Theva range equipped with dual 6.5-inch Slatefiber woofers, a dedicated 6.5-inch Slatefiber midrange, and a 1-inch TNF inverted dome tweeter. Produces higher maximum acoustic output, lower intermodulation distortion, and extended bass down to 48Hz with refined directivity.
Cons: Rating estimated based on Theva series sibling testing. Minimum impedance dips to 2.9 ohms at bass frequencies, requiring an amplifier stable into 4-ohm and 3-ohm loads.
Full Focal Theva N°3 review and specifications →
| Released | Apr 2023 (3 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 48Hz (manufacturer specified) |
| Bass Extension (-6dB) | 39Hz (manufacturer specified) |
| DIY Kit | No |
| Dimensions | 38.9”H x 8.3”W x 14.6”D (989 x 212 x 371 mm) |
| Drivers | 1” (25mm) TNF Al/Mg inverted dome tweeter, 6.5” (16.5cm) Slatefiber midrange, 2 x 6.5” (16.5cm) Slatefiber woofers |
| Frequency Response | 48Hz - 28kHz (±3dB, manufacturer specified) |
| Impedance | 8 ohms nominal, 2.9 ohms minimum (manufacturer specified) |
| Sensitivity | 91dB (2.83V/1m, manufacturer specified) |
| Weight | 44.1 lbs (20.0 kg) each |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- No independent measurement review is linked for this model; it is ranked from hands-on listening and comparison against similarly priced speakers.
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Polk Audio Reserve R700: $2,398 per pair Amazon eBay
Same family: the Polk Reserve R100 (smaller bookshelf, rated 3.4/5), the Polk R200 (larger bookshelf, rated 3.2/5), the Polk Reserve R500 (smaller floorstanding, ranked lower, rated 4.2/5), the Polk Reserve R600 (smaller floorstanding, ranked lower, estimated 4.2/5), the Polk Audio Reserve R300 (smallest center, estimated 3.6/5), the Polk Audio Reserve R350 (center, rated 3.7/5) and the Polk Audio Reserve R400 (largest center, estimated 3.8/5).
Pros: Three-way design with a 1” ring radiator tweeter, 6.5” mid-range, and dual 8” mid-bass drivers in a ported, down-firing cabinet. On-axis frequency response holds within about ±2dB across most of its range, with genuinely deep bass extension (F3 40Hz) reaching into the mid-30s Hz in-room. Wide horizontal radiation of about ±70°, giving a strong, enveloping stereo width and stage-extension effect on well-recorded tracks. Good low-level dynamics: solid bass thump at quiet listening volumes without over-accentuation. Strong distortion and compression control through the bass and midrange. Real nominal impedance closer to 4 ohms than the marketed 8 ohms, so with the right amplifier it can be driven hard: a $3,000 two-channel integrated brought out significantly more life than a budget $300 unit could. Excellent value at its roughly $1199/pair, ranking among the reviewer’s top picks under $2,500; outperforms the similarly-priced Klipsch RP-8000F II in bass extension and overall smoothness. Measured bass extension of 40Hz (-3dB), with a measured sensitivity of 87.5dB.
Cons: Compression in the high frequencies rises sharply between 96dB and 102dB output: a real limitation only at very high volumes (around 100dB at 3 meters), but a clear step down from pricier ($5,000+) towers. Horizontal directivity mismatch around 4-5kHz, where the tweeter flares wider than the midrange, can sound a bit forward, especially noticeable when toed out further into the room; sidewall absorption or curtains help tame it. Harmonic distortion crosses the reviewer’s 3% threshold around 7kHz at 96dB output, possibly contributing to that same forward quality at high volume. Narrow vertical sweet spot (about ±15° from the tweeter axis), typical of non-coaxial tower designs: more of a consideration for multi-row home theater seating than single-row listening. The ring-radiator tweeter narrows noticeably above about 7-8kHz, and toeing the speaker out more than about 20° causes the top end to fall off quickly. Needs at least 2 feet of clearance from the rear wall to avoid boomy, exaggerated bass, since it lacks the bass-shelf tuning some rivals use to allow closer wall placement. Compared to the pricier KEF R5 Meta, has narrower horizontal (and much narrower vertical) directivity, so seating flexibility is more limited.
Full Polk Audio Reserve R700 review and specifications →
| Released | 2021 (5 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 31Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 40Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| DIY Kit | No |
| Dimensions | 45”H x 12.6”W x 16.9”D (1143.8 x 320.7 x 428.3 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 8” polypropylene cone woofers, 1x 6.5” turbine cone midrange, 1x 1” Pinnacle ring radiator tweeter |
| Impedance | 4 ohms nominal, 3.5 ohms minimum (measured above 80Hz, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | 87.5dB (measured average 300Hz-3kHz @ 2.83V/1m, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 6.38 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.83 |
| Weight | 102.1 lbs (46.3 kg) |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, down-firing |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Polk Audio Reserve R700 vs PSB Imagine T65
- Polk Audio Reserve R700 vs JBL HDI-3600
- Polk Audio Reserve R700 vs JBL Studio 698
- Polk Audio Reserve R700 vs ELAC Uni-Fi Reference UFR52
- Polk Audio Reserve R700 vs Focal Theva N°2
- Polk Audio Reserve R700 vs Emotiva Airmotiv T2+
- Polk Audio Reserve R700 vs ELAC Debut 3.0 DF63
- Polk Audio Reserve R700 vs KEF R11 Meta
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