Short answer: the KEF R5 for off-axis consistency, the Focal Chora 816 for sensitivity and bass extension. The Focal is generally even on-axis with nice bass extension and high sensitivity, but messy between 500Hz-2kHz, including a dip around 550Hz. The KEF’s slim three-way tower uses a coincident Uni-Q midrange and tweeter that track the direct sound smoothly, though its 77Hz F3 against a 33Hz F10 wants a subwoofer and roughly 80Hz high-pass.
Buy the Focal Chora 816 only if you find one used in good condition; both are discontinued, and it is the better rated of the two.
Still deciding? The full Passive Home rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| KEF R5 | Focal Chora 816 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $2,999 per pair Discontinued | $900 per pair used, Discontinued |
| Ranked | #22 of 74 in Large Size Floorstanding Speakers | #15 of 74 in Large Size Floorstanding Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 77Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 60Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 33Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 35Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Sensitivity | Approximately 86dB/2.83V/1m (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 91dB (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Impedance | Approximately 3.5 ohms minimum near 150Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 8 ohms nominal (3.9 ohms minimum, measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Drivers | 1” aluminum tweeter coaxial with 5” midrange; dual 5.25” woofers | 6.5” (16.5cm) Slatefiber woofer, 6.5” (16.5cm) Slatefiber midrange, 1” (25mm) TNF Al/Mg inverted dome tweeter |
| Dimensions | 40.4”H x 6.9”W x 13.5”D | 40.7”H x 11.8”W x 15.3”D (1033.8 x 299.7 x 388.6 mm) |
| Weight | 59.5 lbs (27 kg) each | 40.8 lbs (18.5 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear | ported, front |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 5.78 | 4.30 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.40 | 6.37 |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
Related Speaker Comparisons
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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 2, 2026 at 10:18 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
KEF R5: $2,999 per pair Discontinued eBay
Pros: Slim three-way tower with the acoustic advantages of KEF’s coincident Uni-Q midrange/tweeter: horizontal and vertical off-axis responses track the direct sound smoothly, producing stable imaging and a well-behaved directivity index. Erin measured deep low-frequency reach for the cabinet width (77Hz F3 but 33Hz F10) and less than 1% harmonic distortion at 86dB. At 96dB it remains clean when high-passed, and its mild response deviations are suitable for equalization because the radiation pattern stays orderly. Measured bass extension of 77Hz (-3dB), with a measured sensitivity of 86dB.
Cons: The unusual gap between 77Hz F3 and 33Hz F10 indicates a gradual bass contour rather than flat deep-bass output; a subwoofer and roughly 80Hz high-pass are recommended for high-level playback. Erin measured a minimum near 3.5 ohms around 150Hz, although most of the curve remains above 4 ohms, so amplifier quality still matters. Sensitivity is approximately 86dB/2.83V/1m. At 102dB, compression reaches roughly 1dB around 150Hz, showing the limits of the twin 5.25-inch woofers. This original model lacks the Meta version’s MAT rear-wave absorption. Discontinued.
Full KEF R5 review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 33Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 77Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| DIY Kit | No |
| Dimensions | 40.4”H x 6.9”W x 13.5”D |
| Drivers | 1” aluminum tweeter coaxial with 5” midrange; dual 5.25” woofers |
| Impedance | Approximately 3.5 ohms minimum near 150Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | Approximately 86dB/2.83V/1m (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 5.78 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.40 |
| Weight | 59.5 lbs (27 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Focal Chora 816: $900 per pair used Discontinued eBay
Newer model: the Focal Theva N°2. It’s likely to perform similarly, though we don’t have measurements to confirm that yet.
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