Short answer: the Natural Sound NS17. It ranks #138 of 214 bookshelf speakers by sound quality, rated 3.6/5, at $2,300; the Focal Aria Evo X N°1 ranks #139, rated 3.5/5, and costs $2,398, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
The case for the Natural Sound NS17: A Chinese two-way with a 6.5” solid wood diaphragm woofer and a 1” silk dome tweeter, in a heavy cabinet. The tradeoff: The on-axis response is less even (0.55 average deviation).
What the Focal Aria Evo X N°1 does well: Two-way bass reflex design with a 6.5” flax mid-bass driver and Focal’s 1” aluminium-magnesium TAM inverted dome tweeter. The tradeoff: No independent measurements yet, so its tonal balance and directivity can’t be compared with ranked speakers.
Buy the Natural Sound NS17. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Focal Aria Evo X N°1 and costs less, which makes it the one to get unless you need something the other one does better.
Worth knowing: the Focal Aria Evo X N°1 has not been measured yet. Its rating is estimated from related models, with a likely range of 3.3 to 3.7, so treat this verdict as provisional.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Passive Home rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Natural Sound NS17 | Focal Aria Evo X N°1 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $2,300 per pair | $2,398.00 per pair |
| Ranked | #138 of 214 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers | #139 of 214 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers Estimated |
| Drivers | 6.5” solid wood woofer, 1” silk dome tweeter | 6.5” (165mm) flax mid-bass, 1” (25mm) Al/Mg TAM inverted dome tweeter |
| Sensitivity | 87dB (manufacturer specified) | 89.5dB (manufacturer specified) |
| Impedance | 6 ohms | 8 ohms nominal, 4.6 ohms minimum (manufacturer specified) |
| Weight | 26.5 lbs (12 kg) each | 18.7 lbs (8.5 kg) each |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 60.1Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) | - |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | about 35.6Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) | - |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 4.87 | - |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.75 | - |
| DIY Kit | No | - |
| Frequency Response | - | 55Hz-30kHz ±3dB (manufacturer specified) |
| Recommended Power | - | 25-120W |
| Woofer Cabinet | - | ported |
| Dimensions | - | 15.4”H x 8.9”W x 11”D (390 x 225 x 280 mm) |
| Cabinet Color | - | black high gloss, prime walnut, moss green high gloss |
| Country | - | France |
Related Speaker Comparisons
How Natural Sound NS17 compares with other leading options:
- Aoshida Audio Musician Knight I V2 vs Natural Sound NS17
- Natural Sound NS17 vs Philharmonic BMR Monitor
- Focal Aria Evo X N°1 vs Focal Aria 906
- Focal Aria Evo X N°1 vs KEF R3 Meta
- Focal Aria Evo X N°1 vs MoFi SourcePoint 8
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
Natural Sound NS17: $2,300 per pair Aoshida Audio eBay
Pros: A Chinese two-way with a 6.5” solid wood diaphragm woofer and a 1” silk dome tweeter, in a heavy cabinet. Sensitivity is 87dB. Audio Science Review measured a preference score of 4.87 that reaches 6.75 with an ideal subwoofer, with 0.42 listening window deviation. Measured bass extension of 60.1Hz (-3dB).
Cons: The on-axis response is less even (0.55 average deviation). It is sold mainly through importers such as Aoshida Audio. Bass reaches 60.1Hz (-3dB) and about 36Hz (-10dB).
Full Natural Sound NS17 review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | about 35.6Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 60.1Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| DIY Kit | No |
| Drivers | 6.5” solid wood woofer, 1” silk dome tweeter |
| Impedance | 6 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 87dB (manufacturer specified) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 4.87 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.75 |
| Weight | 26.5 lbs (12 kg) each |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Focal Aria Evo X N°1: $2,398.00 per pair Estimated Amazon eBay
Older model: the Focal Aria 906 (ranked lower, rated 3.3/5). See every Focal Aria generation.
Same family: the Focal Aria Evo X N°2 (smallest floorstanding, rated 3.7/5), the Focal Aria Evo X N°3 (floorstanding, estimated 4.3/5), the Focal Aria Evo X N°4 (largest floorstanding, estimated 4.4/5) and the Focal Aria Evo X Center (center, estimated 3.7/5).
Pros: Two-way bass reflex design with a 6.5” flax mid-bass driver and Focal’s 1” aluminium-magnesium TAM inverted dome tweeter. Focal rates it at 55Hz to 30kHz (±3dB) with 89.5dB sensitivity and an 8 ohm nominal load that dips only to 4.6 ohms, so it is easy to drive from a modest amplifier.
Cons: No independent measurements yet, so its tonal balance and directivity can’t be compared with ranked speakers. Its sibling, the Focal Aria Evo X N°2 tower, measured only mid-pack in Erin’s independent testing. Rated bass stops at 55Hz, so a subwoofer helps for full-range listening.
Full Focal Aria Evo X N°1 review and specifications →
| Released | Feb 2024 (2 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Cabinet Color | black high gloss, prime walnut, moss green high gloss |
| Country | France |
| Dimensions | 15.4”H x 8.9”W x 11”D (390 x 225 x 280 mm) |
| Drivers | 6.5” (165mm) flax mid-bass, 1” (25mm) Al/Mg TAM inverted dome tweeter |
| Frequency Response | 55Hz-30kHz ±3dB (manufacturer specified) |
| Impedance | 8 ohms nominal, 4.6 ohms minimum (manufacturer specified) |
| Recommended Power | 25-120W |
| Sensitivity | 89.5dB (manufacturer specified) |
| Weight | 18.7 lbs (8.5 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported |
- 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