Short answer: the Wharfedale Linton 85. It ranks #36 of 222 bookshelf speakers by sound quality (rated 4.3/5) at $1,699 and is still sold new; the Focal Aria 906 ranks #164 (rated 3.3/5) and is discontinued, so it is only an option used. The Focal Aria 906’s replacement, the Focal Aria Evo X N°1, is rated 3.5/5 at $2,598.
The Wharfedale Linton 85 is the more accurate, deeper-bass option. A retro styled bookshelf speaker with an 8 inch woofer, very neutral sound, and good bass extension for its size. Its measured preference score, a predictor of how neutral it sounds, is 6.07 against 4.64 for the Focal Aria 906. Its bass reaches about 52Hz before falling 3dB, against 63Hz for the Focal Aria 906. The catch: The spacing of the drivers makes the vertical off axis not very good.
Why pick the Focal Aria 906: A discontinued Focal bookshelf speaker with flat bass, wide even dispersion and low woofer distortion at moderate volume. The tradeoff: 3dB dip around 2.8kHz.
Buy the Wharfedale Linton 85. It is rated higher for sound quality; the Focal Aria 906 is no longer sold new.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Passive Home rankings.
Measured Differences
- Bass depth: the Wharfedale Linton 85 reaches 35 Hz (10 dB down) against 47 Hz for the Focal Aria 906, about half an octave deeper. You hear more of the lowest bass notes and kick drums.
- Tonal accuracy above the bass: with a subwoofer taking the low end, the Wharfedale Linton 85 scores 7.9 against 7.0 for the Focal Aria 906 on the Spinorama preference scale. Its frequency response and off-axis sound are smoother, so voices and instruments sound closer to the recording.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Wharfedale Linton 85 | Focal Aria 906 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1,699.00 per pair | $2,199.00 per pair used, Discontinued |
| Ranked | #36 of 222 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers | #164 of 222 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 35Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 47Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 52Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 63Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Dimensions | 22.2”H x 11.8”W x 13”D (563.9 x 299.7 x 330.2 mm) | 15.4”H x 8.9”W x 11”D (390.0 x 225.0 x 280.0 mm) |
| Impedance | 6 ohms nominal, 3.5 ohms minimum (measured above 80Hz, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 4 ohms nominal (4.8 ohms minimum above 80Hz, measured by Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Drivers | 8”(200mm) black woven Kevlar® cone woofer, 5”(135mm) black woven Kevlar® cone midrange, 1” (25mm) soft dome tweeter | 26mm tweeter + 165mm mid-woofer |
| Sensitivity | 85.1dB (measured average 300Hz-3kHz @ 2.83V/1m, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 86.5dB (measured average, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Weight | 40.6 lbs (18.4 kg) each | 39.9 lbs (18.1 kg) |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear | ported, front |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 6.07 | 4.64 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.87 | 7.00 |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
Where the Ratings Come From
- Wharfedale Linton 85: Spinorama.org measurements and reviews by Erin’s Audio Corner.
- Focal Aria 906: Spinorama.org measurements and reviews by Erin’s Audio Corner and Audio Science Review.
This comparison is generated from the ratings, specifications and measurements on each product’s own page, and it updates when that data changes. How we rank explains how each rating is decided.
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