Short answer: the Polk Audio XT60. It ranks #36 of 59 floorstanding speakers by sound quality at $229; the Focal Aria Evo X N°2 ranks #49 and costs $2399, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
What the Polk Audio XT60 offers: Passive-radiator-loaded design (6.5” woofer plus two 6.5” passive radiators) gives deeper bass than the driver size alone would suggest - 43.9Hz at -3dB / 38.1Hz at -10dB, genuinely competitive extension for a budget tower. Watch for: Bass alignment Q is the highest, least-controlled figure in this entire batch, consistent with owner reports of a slightly loose, boomy low end at higher volumes.
On the Focal Aria Evo X N°2 side: Solid bass with a deliberate mid-bass bump (80-120Hz) that gives extra thump and weight, extending to about 40-50Hz in-room. Set against that: Sounds very bright pointed directly at the listener - the tweeter comes in 5-6dB above the midrange with an unusually wide, roughly two-octave dip (1kHz-4kHz) leading into it, giving a laid-back, low-attack character even after toeing out ~20 degrees.
Buy the Polk Audio XT60. It ranks higher for sound quality than the Focal Aria Evo X N°2 and costs less, so there is no real case for the other one.
If sound quality matters at all to you, skip the Focal Aria Evo X N°2. It ranks near the bottom of the 59 floorstanding speakers, so look higher up the list instead.
Specifications Side By Side
| Polk Audio XT60 | Focal Aria Evo X N°2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $229 | $2399 |
| Ranked | #36 of 59 in Large Size Floorstanding Speakers | #49 of 59 in Large Size Floorstanding Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 38.1Hz (measured, spinorama.org) | 38Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 43.9Hz (measured, spinorama.org) | 50Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Impedance | 4/8-ohm compatible | 8 ohms nominal (2.9 ohms minimum, Manufacturer specified; 3.4 ohms minimum measured by Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | 86dB (1W/1m) | 88.2dB (2.83V/1m, measured by Erin’s Audio Corner; 91.5dB Manufacturer specified) |
| Drivers | 1" Terylene dome tweeter, 6.5" bilaminate polypropylene woofer, 2x 6.5" passive radiators | Aluminum-magnesium inverted dome tweeter with waveguide, 6.5" flax midrange, dual 6.5" flax midbass woofers |
| Weight | 20 lbs / 9.07 kg (20 lb) each | 55.1 lbs / 25 kg (55 lbs) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | Passive radiator-loaded | 3-way, bass reflex (bottom-firing port, requires plinth) |
| Dimensions | 19.05 x 92.5 x 23.09cm (7.5 x 36.4 x 9.09 in) each | 40.7"H x 14.6"W x 11.6"D (1035 x 371 x 294 mm) (40.25 x 14.62 x 11.56 in) |
| Frequency Response | - | 45Hz - 30kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Recommended Power | - | 40-250W |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More useful head-to-heads from the same speaker class:
- Sony SS-CS3 vs JBL Studio 590
- Klipsch RP-8000F II vs Sony SS-CS3
- Polk T50 vs JBL Studio 590
- Polk T50 vs Focal Aria Evo X N°2
- Focal Aria Evo X N°2 vs Infinity Reference 253
The Two Speakers In Full
Polk Audio XT60: $229 Amazon Bhphotovideo Crutchfield
Pros: Passive-radiator-loaded design (6.5” woofer plus two 6.5” passive radiators) gives deeper bass than the driver size alone would suggest - 43.9Hz at -3dB / 38.1Hz at -10dB, genuinely competitive extension for a budget tower. Hi-Res Audio certified, Dolby Atmos/DTS:X compatible, and works with either 4- or 8-ohm amplifier outputs.
Cons: Bass alignment Q (lfq 0.96) is the highest, least-controlled figure in this entire batch, consistent with owner reports of a slightly loose, boomy low end at higher volumes. On-axis deviation (nbd_on_axis 0.512) is also the roughest measured figure in the batch. The vinyl-wrapped (not wood veneer) cabinet reads as budget up close per owner reviews, and at least one owner reported blowing a driver under sustained heavy bass - some caution is warranted with bass-heavy source material at volume.
Full Polk Audio XT60 review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 38.1Hz (measured, spinorama.org) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 43.9Hz (measured, spinorama.org) |
| Dimensions | 19.05 x 92.5 x 23.09cm (7.5 x 36.4 x 9.09 in) each |
| Drivers | 1" Terylene dome tweeter, 6.5" bilaminate polypropylene woofer, 2x 6.5" passive radiators |
| Impedance | 4/8-ohm compatible |
| Sensitivity | 86dB (1W/1m) |
| Weight | 20 lbs / 9.07 kg (20 lb) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | Passive radiator-loaded |
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Focal Aria Evo X N°2: $2399 Music Direct
Pros: Solid bass with a deliberate mid-bass bump (80-120Hz) that gives extra thump and weight, extending to about 40-50Hz in-room. High sensitivity (measured 88.2dB) makes it easy to drive, and distortion is low throughout the range even at high output - the reviewer found only a minor compression “glare” around 4.5kHz at very high volumes, not a real concern. Directivity components (mid-range and tweeter) transition smoothly rather than abruptly, and the overall soundstage is wide and enveloping.
Cons: Sounds very bright pointed directly at the listener - the tweeter comes in 5-6dB above the midrange with an unusually wide, roughly two-octave dip (1kHz-4kHz) leading into it, giving a laid-back, low-attack character even after toeing out ~20 degrees. Fixing this properly requires real EQ (a mini DSP or similar), not just toe-out or absorption alone; without EQ, expect it to sound bright for stereo listening. A mild dip around 200Hz makes male vocals sound slightly subdued. Narrow vertical directivity (about +/-15 degrees) means you need to stay close to tweeter-axis height. Impedance dips to 3.4 ohms (EPDR 1.4 ohms), so it wants a 4-ohm-capable amplifier, and requires a plinth for floor clearance since it’s bottom-ported.
Full Focal Aria Evo X N°2 review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 38Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 50Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Dimensions | 40.7"H x 14.6"W x 11.6"D (1035 x 371 x 294 mm) (40.25 x 14.62 x 11.56 in) |
| Drivers | Aluminum-magnesium inverted dome tweeter with waveguide, 6.5" flax midrange, dual 6.5" flax midbass woofers |
| Frequency Response | 45Hz - 30kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Impedance | 8 ohms nominal (2.9 ohms minimum, Manufacturer specified; 3.4 ohms minimum measured by Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Recommended Power | 40-250W |
| Sensitivity | 88.2dB (2.83V/1m, measured by Erin's Audio Corner; 91.5dB Manufacturer specified) |
| Weight | 55.1 lbs / 25 kg (55 lbs) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | 3-way, bass reflex (bottom-firing port, requires plinth) |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
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