📍*GET IT HERE: bit.ly/3nQWOZF* ★ *QOTD: What do you think of brand’s releasing special editions of existing products?* ★ *CLICK 🔝 “SHOW MORE” in the description for answers to many of your questions* ★ *RULES: Please be respectful. NO OUTSIDE LINKS, URLs, email addresses, etc.*
I really like the look of the paradigm founder series that they introduced this year . They look wayyy better than the focal's and no yellow for drivers lol and about the same price point as the focal's ! So yes if a special edition is done right , why not!
I am a focal guy from the heart. The color on the elements is a tribute to focals history in car audio. They have always topped the quality in the car audio perspective. I have the low end chora 826 and they are very lovable. Focal also sells a limited edition set for cars with yellow elements😀 they started with car audio. And progressed to home HiFi. So the collor is an homage to where they started😉
I upgraded from KEF Q950s to this speaker, it’s a night and day difference! The body is sooo much more full and music is so much more detailed, really glad you guys got to showcase these, I really think they’re hidden gems for those uninitiated to Focal.
I do believe the yellow was taken from a more traditional version of the Focal drivers and this being a limited edition... the color is paying homage to that tradition. You nailed it when you stated " this has to be a speaker you specifically want "
Kevlar is yellow period. This speaker can be no other color. This is a special edition because its using classic kevlar speakers that made focal famous. The yellow speaker is the point of the speaker.
Kevlar is is a dated material that take advantage of people not understanding that composite paper blend and poly are infinitely more versatile. Kevlar on a speaker makes as much sense as Kevlar on a music instrument. Paper composite and poly can be anything and can do much more than something that is a fancy way of a product of the silk road. It's like csbasse using force canceled subs and pretending they're mains. This all reminds me of people pretending to be disabled to win the special Olympics. I know there are very few hands behind the scenes of audio but at least other companies can be something you can take apart and learn from.
@@linkeddevices the lighter and more rigid the cone material is the better. I like the way Kevlar sounds. Focal spend alot of time developing their materials. Their Kevlar cones are a sandwich of materials not just Kevlar.
@@linkeddevices i have found that kevlar speakers produce a lot more accurate and louder bass. Yeah, you still need a dedicated subwoofer, i'm not saying that they can replace one but they feel to me like the bass they provide is sharper and less muddy than paper speakers. They do lose some warmth but you can always add that with some EQ.
I paired my 936 K2s with the Hegel H390 - big power, handles 2ohm loads with ease. Perfect combo in my opinion. Very happy with the (very European) pairing.
Me too, I love the look and after reading/watching loads of options and not really finding anything other than the looks as a negative, which are subjective anyway. I bought some from PT for £1424 bargain.
I have the Aria 926 speakers for my stereo. You are correct about having a good amp. I had the Adcom 555 amp and the bass was good. It took a couple of weeks for the bass to open up and get the best bass experience. Once I upgraded my amp to a Macintosh 152 amp, I no longer needed a sub with my speakers. They have a smooth clear sound with great detail and good bass.
The Aria line from Focal is voiced to sound natural, mature and warm with a touch of Focal detailed and smooth top end extension. And I like the Aria sound compared to the Chora.
Focal has always been my favorite car audio line. I understand you don't like the colour of the Aria K2's. This is just my opinion. Aramid fiber is a yellow fiber naturally and i'm not sure if trying to change the colour of Aramid fiber would alter the properties. The K2 name is taken from their car audio line which was introduced in 2008. The K2 car audio line has been the only focal speaker line to use the yellow aramid fiber cone, so they really could not market that speaker as the Aria "K2" without keeping the yellow cones. As far as I know this is the first time any home speaker line has used the aramid driver used in the K2 line. PS this is by far the best home speaker review channel on TH-cam!!! You two have done a fantastic job.
They’ve used their K2 cones in Home Audio before, but always in a Special Edition. Before this they had the Spectral 40th towers that also had the Kevlar tweeter in the K2 Power car audio line, but they were $10,000 a pair.
I have lived with the original Aria for about a yr. Everything you describe about the new version is exactly how I would describe the original. But I like the walnut finish and look of flax drivers on the original. The Aria have always been very detailed yet laid back speaker.
@Gary_J it's quick and clear.. not boomy.. but the speakers need to be as far from walls as possible and spread apart. But...they are not deep. I'd recommend getting a pair of subs to integrate with them. I have a pair of rel t5s.. they are nice and integrated really well. If I had the room.. I'd suggest the t7s.
Like others have said focal k2 speakers are top tier legendary speakers in the car audio world. It’s cool to see focal blending the two with introducing them into home audio. Also what others might not know is that real true Kevlar is always yellow. So the name k2 is a hint towards the Kevlar cones which is also why it’s yellow. Function > form kinda thing. Love seeing you review any focal speakers, one of my favorite brands that I can’t really afford so it’s great to see you review them!
I have the regular 936s that I run with my McIntosh and I find the 936s very enjoyable. I find that they are easy to drive and the level of detail I hear coming from them is simply incredible with as little as 2 watts. I do agree that a sub would be a bonus - as is with most towers that used smaller mid bass type drivers. I did a back to back against several speakers (KEF, B&W, Klipsch) awhile back and I find the Focals good bang for the buck with solid build quality. I'd like to see wood veneer rather than painted finish or vinyl wrap. Great review.
As a Kanta no3 owner, now paired with a NAD M33, do not underestimate the Flax cones from the "normal" Aria. Kanta's got the Flax cones first, then this was shared with the Aria lineup. Flax cones sound way better compared to the V cones from the former Chorus product line. ( and IMHO better/more warm compared to the W cones from the Sopra/Electra series ) Focal is known also from car audio, and the K2 cones have a big heritage in car tuning scene in Europe in the 90's. So that's why they still use them in that yellow color, it's a tribute to what the K2 cones did for Focal pre-2000.
Love your reviews Mr. Andrew and I am a big fan of the way you treat your wife, is amazing the respect you have between you two and the way you talk to each other, congrats!!! Wish you both the best!!!
Wow... you just saved me from making a HUGE mistake... I thought these (more interested in the regular 936) would sound like a "typical" Focal... Like Kristi, I like the "livelier" Focal sound - I do not like "neutral" or "laid-back" sounding speakers...So, thanks as usual!
For my Division III system, I paired the FOCAL 936 K2s with the Uniti Nova and the Planar Rega 6 and LOVE, Love, love the sound. They give life to my Blue Note vinyl.
@@stephen254 A basement recreation room that's roughly 400 s.f. w/9 ft. ceilings. They are staged 36 in. from the rear and side walls. You're very welcome.
I'm with Kristi, rip my face off. Just bought the Klipsch RB81ii's. No sub needed. Glad I bought them. Use sub since I already have but lower volume. I'm older going for fun factor not so much for accuracy. They are brand new still some left at dealers here in Europe. They are not so bright, maybe my ears. As you know they first came out about ten years ago. 8 inch woofers on bookshelves. Love it. Thanks for the great 👍 review. I like Focal too !
I listened to a few different speakers, r series Kef and some Dali options and these had such an amazing soundstage, it's huge! And they just play anything effortlessly. I had some kef r3 metas and once I heard these I just couldn't enjoy the r3 in the same way. I'd love to hear the utopias, I can't imagine how good they must be!
Yeah the K2 are from the automotive line, yellow and legendary... So a special version makes sense (if you have them in your car and you want them in your home as well). I also prefer the regular Aria look personally, but it would be interesting to compare side by side on the audio quality as the Aria has the newer Flax which should be "better" and thus K2's should be cheaper..? What would make me buy them is the inclusion of the Beryllium Tweeter... That would make them a steal.
If they had the Beryllium tweeter that would be sweet, but I fear that would make them virtually indistinguishable from the costlier Utopia line with aspects of their performance.
Rockin my Aria 936 for a few years and must say I am super happy with them. I also like the look of the flax membranes way more than those yellow ones.
I’ve owned a pair of FOCAL Chorus 728 Towers for 3 years. They sound absolutely amazing in my small opinion. I’ll never sell them. I use a Cambridge Audio AX100 Amp - pure, clean power.
I had occasion to look at one of your videos from 2+ years ago to see a review of a particular product. I must say all aspects of your presentations have improved dramatically, including your demeanor, production quality, and of course adding Kristi to the mix. Well done!
Loved the review and been looking forward to this one. I just setup my new concept 500s this week and was hoping to hear them come up in the comparison but that’s ok. Based on this review I feel confident I picked the best speakers for my tastes as I was cross shopping them.
I do agree on the 702 s2. I have the regular version. They are very picky on the amp and the recording you play, very revealing and transparent speakers, i love them, have not heard those focals. But if i decided to go with focal in future i think i would go with kanta no3
I think most special edition speakers are just a new coat of paint and minor tweaks to the sound. But I think it is cool. It gives you something to get excited about. Wish you would review the KEF Reference bookshelf. They might be a great value.
Special Edition most of the time means same speakers in a nicer dress! Concerning the yellow drivers, 20 years ago I asked a retailer what was that all about. His answer was this : true kevlar is product manufactured by Dupont and they made it exclusively in yellow. I don't know if it is still true today, but since they hold the patent for it, they are the one to determine the color. Also, in the past I own a pair of Focal and I found them to be fatiguing during long listening sessions. After a few years I sold them for a third of the original price. Maybe it is time I gave Focal a listen again...
Dupont still owns the trademark of “Kevlar” which is why these and other kevlar speakers are listed as “aramid fiber” cones. As far as newer Focals, they more laid back since they ditched titanium for their tweeters.
I bought the 936 and while the sound is impressive, they did not work that well in the small living room of my flat. I replaced them with KEF Q750s, a smaller tower speaker, and I'm much happier with the liveliness, extended sound stage and general sound. it was only later I came across a review saying that "these need lots of space to give off their best" That sums up my experience very well.
You should went with the 926 that is smaller (20mt2 rooms). I did that. I was in a smaller room before and they sounded really well but now spectacular. When I moved to my new apartment and got a lot more space in my listening room....they absolute shine. The space and correct size of tower is totally key in these kind of decitions. Even the smaller tower of the line needs space.
I kinda want a Focal to sound like a Focal. Otherwise I can get another brand with a bit less definition & liveliness in the treble. Maybe they just decided to tune this one differently. The Aria 948s are worth a look too. A bit more presence in the bass and mids than the regular 936. Not heard the k2. I'm not sure about special editions tbh as there's always the question of whether to just go up the range. Fyne Audio do some SP which are genuinely a significant step up from their non special edition brethren.
Yellow is a positive and powerful, modern colour. It’s a classy choice reminds me of Bauhaus. Still for a speaker I’d go with something less exaggerated, and spare the colour for the paintings. Cheers for the vid.
Having spent time with the regular flax aria and the k2 aria I can say the k2 is superior. Keep in mind the modern k2 cones are identical to utopia W cones just different a different color. The k2 has far more drive and sheer hit in the bass than the flax variant, the sound is overall a bit more capable especially at higher volumes. I agree however typical focal lovers probably won’t love the aria k (or the new chora range) as they have really softened the sound a lot. For me I ended up with kanta no 2, still laid back but couldn’t live without BE.
Hi ackley i apareciste your contribution, im planning on buying the arias k2 936. But i come to this conclussion by just listening at the traditional 926 aria (not k2) and i really liked them, so i assume 936 k2 will sound a lot better. Anyway, im a little worried about this "laid back" do you think i need to worry about this? Im choosing the k2 almost eyes closed by listening the 926. I dont have the chance to make an audition with the k2s here in spain
Just ordered the K2s for a great deal. Never heard them and orderd them blindly in faith that I will lile them. I have kX2's in my car and I love how they sound so I asume the sound will be similar. Thank you for sharing your knowledge with is about the K2 cones. Now I just need to pair it with a good tube amp
After seeing your review (and several other) and reading the comments to see if anyone had compared the 936 to the 936 k2. I decided to go for the 926 K2 (more practical for my room size). I have to say that I am extremely pleased. I actually like the yellow cones, they contrast well with the grey and I haven't put the covers on. What is great though is the sound. I don't have the ideal location but they deal with this very well and whilst the sound stage isn't the best (only 4.5ft apart), the rest of the sound is great and I really don't find I need a subwoofer.
More Focal pls! Sopra and Scala Utopia 🤩 I’m on the fence, having your take you be awesome but I know they are heavy beasts to pull in and out for a review 😁
@@MCP101 I went from my Triangles to Sopra it was a big jump in cost but also a big jump on the sound I was looking for. I don’t see myself ever get getting rid of them. So happy.
Regarding the question of the day, I don’t really mind special editions as they simply offer another option over the current line up. But releasing a special edition much later on can be a bit annoying if you already own the product but prefer the new look. I think KEF got it right when they release the royal blue special edition LS50 Meta at launch, along with the other colour options.
I'm really glad that Kristi made the comment that for their size, it's a little odd that they really do require a subwoofer. I'm not trying to say that aspect of the speaker makes me unimpressed, or even uninterested, but it does make me wonder what Focal is doing with those three 6 inch bass drivers. Also, just wondering if you have any interest in trying out vintage speakers? I'll admit that I really love new speakers, I think the technology and design in modern day speakers is astounding. However, a friend of mine owns a pair of Kenwood speakers LS-660's, hooked up to a very entry level Sony AV Receiver, and I'm always blown away at how fantastic those old speakers sound. This is coming from someone who owns Beolab Penta's (mechanically restored), and Paradigm Monitor 11's. I grew up listening to Bang & Olufsen Beovox S45-2 speakers running off a Pioneer SX-828, and I can tell you that combination is glorious at times. So maybe it's something worth considering?
@@KristiWright I have always wanted a pair of Focals since your first Chora Review. So after that, any review of the brand I have been super excited to check out. I went to my local shop and checked out the Chora’s, Aria’s and Kanta’s. Obviously I want the Kanta’s but realistically I’ll probably be going with some Aria’s when I get the extra cash. Great job with the review you two! :D
I agree that yellow cones doesn't look "good" at home. But when you're in the car audio business as I am, you KNOW when a Focal is Yellow, it's a K2 speaker. And it's high end :)
You have to hear the Kanta 2. Definitely a big step up from the Aria series. Really their whole lineup from aria to utopia is stellar, I have no experience with Chora.
They may have been stuck with the driver color as a result of the aramid fiber selected. The "K" in the name suggests Kevlar and that stuff is formulated yellow.
So glad to see this review come through! I have the original Aria 936 (flax) and, largely, I love them, but I struggle with bass/midbass impact on them... they just sound a little thin and voices don't have much heft. I'm powering them with an Anthem MCA325 amp, which should be good down to 4ohms without a problem, but I'm not satisfied with the end result.
I feel you. I'm running the exact same speakers with the Anthem A5 amp and a Marantz processor. And at times I wish they were a little bit more forward and more presence. But I do still enjoy them.
You would get more impact with the Aria 936 K2's. Yellow stands for "K2 Power" more punch! Not saying you wont want a sub but I think what you are looking for is in the Yellow Cones💯👍
Yeah, that yellow driver color is a no-go for me. Also, nice used sets of Focal Kanta 2 are becoming available for not too much higher than the near $6000 asking price of the 936 K2.
My room consists of the Aria flax 926 towers, center and surrounds run by a NuForce MCH300SE C7 and Emotiva XMC-1. Incredible musicality even with class D.
This is like watching that kid that had all the best toys talk about how awesome it is to play with them...envious probably isn't strong enough of a word here
I agree Speakers first, I use the Sonus Faber Aida. Second thing for me is cables as I tested and made a huge difference after testing various brands like Audio quest , Van Dame silver, etc and the thing that I change always and I mean always is the power cables. good program. Thanks
I use the 948's (45m2 room so felt more appropriate than the 938's) and it's one of the most "easy going" speakers I've owned. Pleasant thru the register with a detailed and soft treble and a gut punching fast base. Used them with Bladelius Thor but currently using a Rotel 1592. Two very different amps that have both worked fine.
What I like about this review is the discussion of the interaction of amplifier and speakers. This is such an important thing to realize. I do wish that the Rotel Tribute was still hanging out because it would have been nice to hear what you thought of that combination. A little to the side of the main topic is my frustration with the industry and market embracing powered speakers. With powered speakers I see the problem of interaction as something one must wholly rely on the manufacturer to sort out .
"Phenomenal" "Jaw Dropping" "Hits like a sledgehammer" All terms you used to describe B&W 702 Signatures. I didn't hear any terms like that here. Sorry, ha ha. As a proud 702 Signatures owner I couldn't help pointing that out. So thanks Kristi, for the validation. 🤣 I'm only kidding around. 😀 Thanks for another wonderful & informative review guys! As for special editions, I like them as long as there is an appreciable difference to reflect the extra cost.
I demo'd the standard Arias and.. they didn't really impress. They were okay, but didn't image very well or have the wow factor. It might have been the receiver they were plugged in to, if they needed lots of power. What I decided on instead? Fyne Audio 501SP - so much energy and super fun! Sensitive, and easy to drive, too.
I auditioned the Aria line intensively before buying my current speakers, they were my second favourite. The dealer had them hooked up to a cayin tube amp, which was a very nice match. also for the "non-K2" model I'm sure you can get a pretty good deal. I personally liked the Aria more than the BW 702, but I can see where some might prefer the BW.
And what did you buy? I have obly audiotioned the aria 926 normal versión ajd i liked it soo much that i decided the 936 k2 would be mind blowing and im about to buy them with eyes closed. Sadly i dont have the chance to audition any k2 versión. Any suggestion.? Are the k2 better than the non k2's?
@@santinonn I personally can't speak for the k2 model, as I haven't heard them. I ended up with a pair of Magnepan 1.7i. While for me this was definetly the right choise, it'ts hard to recommend them, as they have many drawbacks (room requirement, positioning, power requirement, tiny sweetspot, suboptimal imaging...). That being said, listening to music with the maggies does not sound like listening to a loudspeaker, but the music itself.
I couldn’t care less about how a speaker looks, I know that’s important to some, and that’s fine…but not to me. I concern myself with how they sound, and if they do sound great, then that’s all that matters. To me, it’s just a speaker, but that’s just me. 😜 Great video as always Andrew!
As always, this is a great review! You guys are the best. I am with Kristi in that I don’t mind the yellow woofers. They don’t look like anything at all special to me with the grilles on. For that kind of money I think I would want them to look a little more special.
I love the way these look, and almost bought a pair this summer. But after I heard the speed and textured flax drivers i had to go with the Kantas, nice review!
Once again I'm in Kristie's camp. As far as Focal are concern, the Kanta line and below can come across as bright and lean. The Aria line is more a home theater speaker ( somewhat over priced) than a high end Hi-fi speaker. I can guarantee that Krisie would love the Sopra no.2 in the right color (her choice). The Hint 6 and the Cantor likely smoothed out a bit the top end of the K2
I respectfully disagree that it’s overpriced. If you look at its direct competition (e.g. KEF R11 and B&W 702 s2) you’re getting a well built speaker that is made in France in house from start to finish, not outsourced to China.
I really enjoy your laid back but informative style. I have the 936's and think your review really sums them up nicely. I got them on a sell out deal and had concerns about the bright ness. With a Vintage Marantz amp they are a beautiful sounding speaker, however the amp needs to be able to drop down to low ohms to really drive them properly. Great speaker and great review.
I would love to see how these would compare against the Sonus faber Sonettos. I was torn between the two and ended up getting the Sonus faber just because of the trade up program.
oooh that may be a bit harsh, but hey, I appreciate you sharing because at the end of the day were you the customer, you're the one that has to be happy with your decision.
Another teriffic review! I'm torn on the yellow...one moment I like it and the next I feel that I agree with Andrew; I think I'd have to see what they look like in natural light to decide. Different colour options would be a nice option. Happy Holidays!!
It's nice that Focal is making good speakers now. Everything improves over years. By the way, back in the day when people started using kevlar driver materials it invariably showed up with a yellow color. The yellows color is a nod to the old days when Focal used yellow Kevlar drivers. I used to display my cable goods at CES in Vegas years ago along with a good electronics company, and a speaker company. One year we had Focal speakers in our room. We couldn't get them to disappear and it sounded like the drivers were not particularly cohesive. Again, this was 35 years ago and it's obvious that things have improved, and it's also given that setting up an audio system in a stripped Vegas hotel room is far from ideal (Ben there and suffered with that) Things change and we progress.
I'm really enjoying my aria 906's (so i'm pretty sure I agree with Kristi rip my face off lol) so its interesting to hear about other focals. I definitely wouldn't have been as interested in the brand if I had to pay the USA prices. I prefer the normal colour of the drivers compared to that yellow as its a bit much.
@@saltaormina9404 naim uniti atom wanted an all in one system and was impressed by all the positive mentions on here. Also got a great deal on the combination which was a major bonus
@@Dmu_girl-2008 sweet system!! Mine is all vinyl with a Rega P6 table. But if I went digital yours is the way I would do it. Any maybe still will add it later :)
One thing you could try to address is the difference in price USA vs EU (in general). In this case, these can be had for 3000 EUR per pair, but in US they are commonly sold for 6000 USD per pair which is close to double the price!!
I love the yellow drivers lol. It is very Nordic looking...very clean but nice contrasting color with the grey. I am not seeing them in person though so that is what I think I would say, but who knows.
I have to go with Kristi on the yellow drivers, I thought they looked good. I would have to see the Gray in person. And I'm going use the phrase "monkey's Breakfast " that was awesome, I've never heard that before. That was a chuckle, lol. Keep up the good work.
Just got back to audition the MA Silver 500 7G and Focal 826. I started with the Focal and there was a pair of Focal Aria 936 next to them. I brought my own media. Initially the 826 sounds good, but lacked low end. The sales person then put on the Aria 936. Night and day different, the 826 came around bright an harsh compared to the 936 which had smooth highs and deep bass, although it seemed boomy. The Sales person said we should listen to the Monitor Audio as their 936 competitor will be better both top and bottom. Well he brought me to the Monitor Gold 300. It was substantially more expensive than the 2 Focals, but it sounded amazing. Smooth clean highs better than either Focal and the bass was deep, clean and tight. While I did not hear the Monitor Gold 200 (closer comparable to the 936) I suspect it will sound very close to the Gold 300. The 936 mids and highs were good, but the lows just came across too loose and boomy.
I heard the Golds and in comparison to even the cheapest Chora range, the Golds lack details and transparency in the mids and highs. When you go up to the floorstanding 826/926/936/948, they are power hungry and dips down to 2 ohms in the lower spectrum, so a powerful amp capable of handling a 2 ohm load is a must. The Golds have better bass and arent as demanding, so it would make a great buy and play type of speaker. Totally missing the detail retrieval capability of the Focals though.
@@AbsoluteFidelity My opinion when comparing them is the Focals sound more detailed because of the brighter highs. Even the MA Silver 500 had brighter highs than the Golds. The Golds to me seemed smoother and easier to listen to. To me the better tighter bass on both the MA Golds and Silvers made them come across as more balanced, while the 826 in an open space with no sub under load just sounded hookworm, likely cabinet resonance and just bad bass. The 936 just felt lop sided the other way, over abuncof bass that swallowed the highs, there were there, but the bass just pulled too much attention from the highs. My thinking is go back and have them out the 936, Gold 200 and Silver 500 side by side and face off with them.
@@hdtvkeith1604 every reliable measurement Ive seen of the Chora/Aria/Kanta do not show a tilted top end, in fact they are recessed from 2khz - 15khz relatively to 1khz. It is the ultra wide dispersion that makes up for the recessed mids and highs and they come out real good in the PIR. The choras/arias hold 60 degrees all the way till nearly 12khz, hence contributing to that huge soundstage only found on focals. Give them a go again, and make sure there theap is capable enough.
If you find Focal Aria 936 has too much bass, why not try the Focal Aria 926 with two bass drivers instead of three? You might find the overall presentation more balanced across the frequency range.
@@connorduke4619 I started listening to the 826 and at first sounded great, but when pushed hard just had a hollow sound and the entire low end fell out, could have been a lot of cabinet resonance. I may go listen again, but I am really focused on Monitor Audio and Arendale right now.
Loved the review and Kristi’s brightness appeal :). Agree it’s too bad at this size and price a sub is required. I have the Aria 906 driven by a Rega Elex-R and REL T5x Subwoofer. Great setup :) maybe the regular Aria line in a future review?
Just ordered these at a steal!!! This is gonna be the most expensive and best speaker Ive ever had😎Havent been this excited in a long time💯💯 I have the Arcam SA20. Is this a good amp for these speakers?
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★ *QOTD: What do you think of brand’s releasing special editions of existing products?*
★ *CLICK 🔝 “SHOW MORE” in the description for answers to many of your questions*
★ *RULES: Please be respectful. NO OUTSIDE LINKS, URLs, email addresses, etc.*
If special edition is real improvement like Marantz did with their KI series, than I'm 100% for it, if it just to grab more money no thanks
@@sokrebis good point. Appreciate you answering the QOTD.
I really like the look of the paradigm founder series that they introduced this year . They look wayyy better than the focal's and no yellow for drivers lol and about the same price point as the focal's ! So yes if a special edition is done right , why not!
@@michelfagan4891 Appreciate you weighing in.
I am a focal guy from the heart. The color on the elements is a tribute to focals history in car audio. They have always topped the quality in the car audio perspective. I have the low end chora 826 and they are very lovable. Focal also sells a limited edition set for cars with yellow elements😀 they started with car audio. And progressed to home HiFi. So the collor is an homage to where they started😉
I upgraded from KEF Q950s to this speaker, it’s a night and day difference! The body is sooo much more full and music is so much more detailed, really glad you guys got to showcase these, I really think they’re hidden gems for those uninitiated to Focal.
Appreciate you sharing your personal experience!
My guess is that the Focal is more forward/brighter than the KEFs.
I do believe the yellow was taken from a more traditional version of the Focal drivers and this being a limited edition... the color is paying homage to that tradition. You nailed it when you stated " this has to be a speaker you specifically want "
Kevlar is yellow period. This speaker can be no other color. This is a special edition because its using classic kevlar speakers that made focal famous. The yellow speaker is the point of the speaker.
In person, the K2s reminded me of the Ferrari 360 Modena in yellow/ grey.
Yes ☝🏻
Kevlar is is a dated material that take advantage of people not understanding that composite paper blend and poly are infinitely more versatile.
Kevlar on a speaker makes as much sense as Kevlar on a music instrument.
Paper composite and poly can be anything and can do much more than something that is a fancy way of a product of the silk road. It's like csbasse using force canceled subs and pretending they're mains. This all reminds me of people pretending to be disabled to win the special Olympics.
I know there are very few hands behind the scenes of audio but at least other companies can be something you can take apart and learn from.
@@linkeddevices the lighter and more rigid the cone material is the better. I like the way Kevlar sounds. Focal spend alot of time developing their materials. Their Kevlar cones are a sandwich of materials not just Kevlar.
@@linkeddevices i have found that kevlar speakers produce a lot more accurate and louder bass. Yeah, you still need a dedicated subwoofer, i'm not saying that they can replace one but they feel to me like the bass they provide is sharper and less muddy than paper speakers.
They do lose some warmth but you can always add that with some EQ.
I paired my 936 K2s with the Hegel H390 - big power, handles 2ohm loads with ease. Perfect combo in my opinion. Very happy with the (very European) pairing.
Call me crazy but I love the contrast of the grey sides with the yellow drivers. A good looking speaker not trying to be furniture :)
Me too.
Me too, I love the look and after reading/watching loads of options and not really finding anything other than the looks as a negative, which are subjective anyway. I bought some from PT for £1424 bargain.
I have the Aria 926 speakers for my stereo. You are correct about having a good amp. I had the Adcom 555 amp and the bass was good. It took a couple of weeks for the bass to open up and get the best bass experience. Once I upgraded my amp to a Macintosh 152 amp, I no longer needed a sub with my speakers. They have a smooth clear sound with great detail and good bass.
The Aria line from Focal is voiced to sound natural, mature and warm with a touch of Focal detailed and smooth top end extension. And I like the Aria sound compared to the Chora.
Focal has always been my favorite car audio line. I understand you don't like the colour of the Aria K2's. This is just my opinion. Aramid fiber is a yellow fiber naturally and i'm not sure if trying to change the colour of Aramid fiber would alter the properties. The K2 name is taken from their car audio line which was introduced in 2008. The K2 car audio line has been the only focal speaker line to use the yellow aramid fiber cone, so they really could not market that speaker as the Aria "K2" without keeping the yellow cones. As far as I know this is the first time any home speaker line has used the aramid driver used in the K2 line. PS this is by far the best home speaker review channel on TH-cam!!! You two have done a fantastic job.
They’ve used their K2 cones in Home Audio before, but always in a Special Edition. Before this they had the Spectral 40th towers that also had the Kevlar tweeter in the K2 Power car audio line, but they were $10,000 a pair.
I have lived with the original Aria for about a yr. Everything you describe about the new version is exactly how I would describe the original. But I like the walnut finish and look of flax drivers on the original. The Aria have always been very detailed yet laid back speaker.
@Gary_J it's quick and clear.. not boomy.. but the speakers need to be as far from walls as possible and spread apart. But...they are not deep. I'd recommend getting a pair of subs to integrate with them. I have a pair of rel t5s.. they are nice and integrated really well. If I had the room.. I'd suggest the t7s.
@@Gary_J 2.5m - 3m
Like others have said focal k2 speakers are top tier legendary speakers in the car audio world. It’s cool to see focal blending the two with introducing them into home audio. Also what others might not know is that real true Kevlar is always yellow. So the name k2 is a hint towards the Kevlar cones which is also why it’s yellow. Function > form kinda thing. Love seeing you review any focal speakers, one of my favorite brands that I can’t really afford so it’s great to see you review them!
I have the regular 936s that I run with my McIntosh and I find the 936s very enjoyable. I find that they are easy to drive and the level of detail I hear coming from them is simply incredible with as little as 2 watts. I do agree that a sub would be a bonus - as is with most towers that used smaller mid bass type drivers.
I did a back to back against several speakers (KEF, B&W, Klipsch) awhile back and I find the Focals good bang for the buck with solid build quality. I'd like to see wood veneer rather than painted finish or vinyl wrap.
Great review.
Do you have any input on how the Original 936's compare with the K2's? Thanks
As a Kanta no3 owner, now paired with a NAD M33, do not underestimate the Flax cones from the "normal" Aria. Kanta's got the Flax cones first, then this was shared with the Aria lineup. Flax cones sound way better compared to the V cones from the former Chorus product line. ( and IMHO better/more warm compared to the W cones from the Sopra/Electra series ) Focal is known also from car audio, and the K2 cones have a big heritage in car tuning scene in Europe in the 90's. So that's why they still use them in that yellow color, it's a tribute to what the K2 cones did for Focal pre-2000.
I'm all for special editions. The manufacturers can appeal to varied decor tastes, which is a good thing.
Love your reviews Mr. Andrew and I am a big fan of the way you treat your wife, is amazing the respect you have between you two and the way you talk to each other, congrats!!! Wish you both the best!!!
Wow... you just saved me from making a HUGE mistake... I thought these (more interested in the regular 936) would sound like a "typical" Focal... Like Kristi, I like the "livelier" Focal sound - I do not like "neutral" or "laid-back" sounding speakers...So, thanks as usual!
For my Division III system, I paired the FOCAL 936 K2s with the Uniti Nova and the Planar Rega 6 and LOVE, Love, love the sound. They give life to my Blue Note vinyl.
Im thinking of doing the same… next year I’m going to purchase the k2s and pair it with a nova. Can’t wait! Bet the sound is fantastic.
What size room do you have this set up in and how close to the walls and corners are the speakers? Thanks so much.
@@stephen254 A basement recreation room that's roughly 400 s.f. w/9 ft. ceilings. They are staged 36 in. from the rear and side walls. You're very welcome.
I'm with Kristi, rip my face off. Just bought the Klipsch RB81ii's. No sub needed. Glad I bought them. Use sub since I already have but lower volume. I'm older going for fun factor not so much for accuracy. They are brand new still some left at dealers here in Europe. They are not so bright, maybe my ears. As you know they first came out about ten years ago. 8 inch woofers on bookshelves. Love it. Thanks for the great 👍 review. I like Focal too !
😁
I listened to a few different speakers, r series Kef and some Dali options and these had such an amazing soundstage, it's huge! And they just play anything effortlessly.
I had some kef r3 metas and once I heard these I just couldn't enjoy the r3 in the same way.
I'd love to hear the utopias, I can't imagine how good they must be!
Yeah the K2 are from the automotive line, yellow and legendary... So a special version makes sense (if you have them in your car and you want them in your home as well). I also prefer the regular Aria look personally, but it would be interesting to compare side by side on the audio quality as the Aria has the newer Flax which should be "better" and thus K2's should be cheaper..?
What would make me buy them is the inclusion of the Beryllium Tweeter... That would make them a steal.
If they had the Beryllium tweeter that would be sweet, but I fear that would make them virtually indistinguishable from the costlier Utopia line with aspects of their performance.
Rockin my Aria 936 for a few years and must say I am super happy with them. I also like the look of the flax membranes way more than those yellow ones.
Yellow Stand for "K2 POWER" more punch!!
I was a teen in the 90s, I love them yellow drivers.
👍 for the yellow drivers. Now we see what others think.
I’ve owned a pair of FOCAL Chorus 728 Towers for 3 years. They sound absolutely amazing in my small opinion. I’ll never sell them. I use a Cambridge Audio AX100 Amp - pure, clean power.
I agree with Kristi about shouldn't need a sub with this level of speaker.
I had occasion to look at one of your videos from 2+ years ago to see a review of a particular product. I must say all aspects of your presentations have improved dramatically, including your demeanor, production quality, and of course adding Kristi to the mix. Well done!
Best audio reviewer on TH-cam. Very much enjoy your content Andrew. Thank you for your hard work and dedication!
So nice of you to say!
@Jeff Wilson Thank you! We appreciate you saying that. It means a lot to us.
Loved the review and been looking forward to this one. I just setup my new concept 500s this week and was hoping to hear them come up in the comparison but that’s ok. Based on this review I feel confident I picked the best speakers for my tastes as I was cross shopping them.
Bought a pair of 926's earlier this year. Very happy with them, first real 'audiophile' purchase for me.
Which amp / receiver do you use?
That's awesome!
@@nes036 A very basic Yamaha HTR 4072 which I bought wayy back with my first speakers. Lacks 4k HDR so in for an AVR upgrade.
I do agree on the 702 s2. I have the regular version. They are very picky on the amp and the recording you play, very revealing and transparent speakers, i love them, have not heard those focals. But if i decided to go with focal in future i think i would go with kanta no3
I think most special edition speakers are just a new coat of paint and minor tweaks to the sound. But I think it is cool. It gives you something to get excited about. Wish you would review the KEF Reference bookshelf. They might be a great value.
The review was absolutely top notch on content and execution, but the open dialogue at the end was invaluable. Great job you two!!
Much appreciated!
Hope the holidays are good to you Andrew!
Same to you!
Special Edition most of the time means same speakers in a nicer dress! Concerning the yellow drivers, 20 years ago I asked a retailer what was that all about. His answer was this : true kevlar is product manufactured by Dupont and they made it exclusively in yellow. I don't know if it is still true today, but since they hold the patent for it, they are the one to determine the color. Also, in the past I own a pair of Focal and I found them to be fatiguing during long listening sessions. After a few years I sold them for a third of the original price. Maybe it is time I gave Focal a listen again...
Dupont still owns the trademark of “Kevlar” which is why these and other kevlar speakers are listed as “aramid fiber” cones. As far as newer Focals, they more laid back since they ditched titanium for their tweeters.
I bought the 936 and while the sound is impressive, they did not work that well in the small living room of my flat. I replaced them with KEF Q750s, a smaller tower speaker, and I'm much happier with the liveliness, extended sound stage and general sound. it was only later I came across a review saying that "these need lots of space to give off their best" That sums up my experience very well.
You should went with the 926 that is smaller (20mt2 rooms). I did that. I was in a smaller room before and they sounded really well but now spectacular. When I moved to my new apartment and got a lot more space in my listening room....they absolute shine. The space and correct size of tower is totally key in these kind of decitions. Even the smaller tower of the line needs space.
I like the yellow drivers, because back in the car audio days, the yellow drivers were the top performers and usually expensive 👌 12:27
I kinda want a Focal to sound like a Focal. Otherwise I can get another brand with a bit less definition & liveliness in the treble. Maybe they just decided to tune this one differently. The Aria 948s are worth a look too. A bit more presence in the bass and mids than the regular 936. Not heard the k2. I'm not sure about special editions tbh as there's always the question of whether to just go up the range. Fyne Audio do some SP which are genuinely a significant step up from their non special edition brethren.
Yellow is a positive and powerful, modern colour. It’s a classy choice reminds me of Bauhaus. Still for a speaker I’d go with something less exaggerated, and spare the colour for the paintings. Cheers for the vid.
I like it when a brand releases special editions of products. I think it can be fun. For instance the Mofi / Fender turntable looks pretty sweet.
That turntable looks AWESOME!
Having spent time with the regular flax aria and the k2 aria I can say the k2 is superior. Keep in mind the modern k2 cones are identical to utopia W cones just different a different color. The k2 has far more drive and sheer hit in the bass than the flax variant, the sound is overall a bit more capable especially at higher volumes. I agree however typical focal lovers probably won’t love the aria k (or the new chora range) as they have really softened the sound a lot. For me I ended up with kanta no 2, still laid back but couldn’t live without BE.
Hi ackley i apareciste your contribution, im planning on buying the arias k2 936. But i come to this conclussion by just listening at the traditional 926 aria (not k2) and i really liked them, so i assume 936 k2 will sound a lot better. Anyway, im a little worried about this "laid back" do you think i need to worry about this? Im choosing the k2 almost eyes closed by listening the 926. I dont have the chance to make an audition with the k2s here in spain
I have the Aria and Chora. They both sound different, the Chora sounds livelier and more energetic, the Aria is definitely warmer.
@@santinonn did you get your K2's? What do you think? You like them?
Just ordered the K2s for a great deal. Never heard them and orderd them blindly in faith that I will lile them. I have kX2's in my car and I love how they sound so I asume the sound will be similar. Thank you for sharing your knowledge with is about the K2 cones. Now I just need to pair it with a good tube amp
After seeing your review (and several other) and reading the comments to see if anyone had compared the 936 to the 936 k2. I decided to go for the 926 K2 (more practical for my room size).
I have to say that I am extremely pleased. I actually like the yellow cones, they contrast well with the grey and I haven't put the covers on.
What is great though is the sound. I don't have the ideal location but they deal with this very well and whilst the sound stage isn't the best (only 4.5ft apart), the rest of the sound is great and I really don't find I need a subwoofer.
More Focal pls! Sopra and Scala Utopia 🤩
I’m on the fence, having your take you be awesome but I know they are heavy beasts to pull in and out for a review 😁
I have the Aria line and really looking to move to Sopra. A good review would be awesome.
@@MCP101 I went from my Triangles to Sopra it was a big jump in cost but also a big jump on the sound I was looking for. I don’t see myself ever get getting rid of them. So happy.
I think the Focal Chora series look so much better and are honestly the way I think I'm leaning for a home theater purchase.
The Chora is a dynamite line of loudspeakers. In my opinion, they're not going to do you wrong. Thanks for tuning in this morning!
@@andrewrobinsonreviews your review is the main reason I intend to purchase. Keep up the absolutely excellent content!
I drive my 936's with a Naim Supernait3 and it sounds awesome
Regarding the question of the day, I don’t really mind special editions as they simply offer another option over the current line up. But releasing a special edition much later on can be a bit annoying if you already own the product but prefer the new look.
I think KEF got it right when they release the royal blue special edition LS50 Meta at launch, along with the other colour options.
Good point!
I'm really glad that Kristi made the comment that for their size, it's a little odd that they really do require a subwoofer. I'm not trying to say that aspect of the speaker makes me unimpressed, or even uninterested, but it does make me wonder what Focal is doing with those three 6 inch bass drivers.
Also, just wondering if you have any interest in trying out vintage speakers? I'll admit that I really love new speakers, I think the technology and design in modern day speakers is astounding. However, a friend of mine owns a pair of Kenwood speakers LS-660's, hooked up to a very entry level Sony AV Receiver, and I'm always blown away at how fantastic those old speakers sound. This is coming from someone who owns Beolab Penta's (mechanically restored), and Paradigm Monitor 11's. I grew up listening to Bang & Olufsen Beovox S45-2 speakers running off a Pioneer SX-828, and I can tell you that combination is glorious at times. So maybe it's something worth considering?
My dream Focal speakers are Kanta No3 towers! So pretty. Great review as always!
I’ve been so excited for this day to come!!!
Are you a big Focal fan? Thanks for watching?
@@KristiWright I have always wanted a pair of Focals since your first Chora Review. So after that, any review of the brand I have been super excited to check out. I went to my local shop and checked out the Chora’s, Aria’s and Kanta’s. Obviously I want the Kanta’s but realistically I’ll probably be going with some Aria’s when I get the extra cash. Great job with the review you two! :D
I agree that yellow cones doesn't look "good" at home. But when you're in the car audio business as I am, you KNOW when a Focal is Yellow, it's a K2 speaker. And it's high end :)
Yellow Stands For "K2 POWER"
Well said man!
You have to hear the Kanta 2. Definitely a big step up from the Aria series.
Really their whole lineup from aria to utopia is stellar, I have no experience with Chora.
Definitely would be a very good choice to audition Kanta 2
They may have been stuck with the driver color as a result of the aramid fiber selected. The "K" in the name suggests Kevlar and that stuff is formulated yellow.
You may be right, but I've seen grey, black and other color Kevlar from other manufacturers in the past.
I keep the grills on my older B&W CM9s2 because of the yellow Kevlar midrange 😆.
So glad to see this review come through!
I have the original Aria 936 (flax) and, largely, I love them, but I struggle with bass/midbass impact on them... they just sound a little thin and voices don't have much heft.
I'm powering them with an Anthem MCA325 amp, which should be good down to 4ohms without a problem, but I'm not satisfied with the end result.
I feel you. I'm running the exact same speakers with the Anthem A5 amp and a Marantz processor. And at times I wish they were a little bit more forward and more presence. But I do still enjoy them.
You would get more impact with the Aria 936 K2's. Yellow stands for "K2 Power" more punch! Not saying you wont want a sub but I think what you are looking for is in the Yellow Cones💯👍
Also you might need a different amp!
I definitely appreciate the look of this speaker. Im not usually a fan of reflective finishes. But it seems to work on these.
Yeah, that yellow driver color is a no-go for me. Also, nice used sets of Focal Kanta 2 are becoming available for not too much higher than the near $6000 asking price of the 936 K2.
The Kanta is a wonderful speaker. It's worth saving for & I'd definitely buy a used one if well maintained.
I'm with Kristi......."They call me Mellow Yellow~quite Wright-ly".......The Look instantly brought thoughts of Klipsch. 🎶
The yellow coloured cone it's not a decorative choice , the material it's called Polykevlar , and YES , it's only yellow !!
I love to live vicariously through you as I keep hoping someday I can afford these setups 🤣
Thanks for watching!
My room consists of the Aria flax 926 towers, center and surrounds run by a NuForce MCH300SE C7 and Emotiva XMC-1. Incredible musicality even with class D.
Another great 💎. The 700 series from Bowers & Wilkins are amazing. Dope video.
yes B&W with the right amp lookout .
Good morning! Be good humans!
Great sentiment. Yes, please be good humans!
Great morning and yes, let's all be good humans today!
This is like watching that kid that had all the best toys talk about how awesome it is to play with them...envious probably isn't strong enough of a word here
Cant wait to watch this after work
Let us know what you think once you're able to circle back.
I agree Speakers first, I use the Sonus Faber Aida. Second thing for me is cables as I tested and made a huge difference after testing various brands like Audio quest , Van Dame silver, etc and the thing that I change always and I mean always is the power cables. good program. Thanks
I use the 948's (45m2 room so felt more appropriate than the 938's) and it's one of the most "easy going" speakers I've owned. Pleasant thru the register with a detailed and soft treble and a gut punching fast base. Used them with Bladelius Thor but currently using a Rotel 1592. Two very different amps that have both worked fine.
What I like about this review is the discussion of the interaction of amplifier and speakers. This is such an important thing to realize. I do wish that the Rotel Tribute was still hanging out because it would have been nice to hear what you thought of that combination. A little to the side of the main topic is my frustration with the industry and market embracing powered speakers. With powered speakers I see the problem of interaction as something one must wholly rely on the manufacturer to sort out .
good god man, when r we gonna get the review for those lintons love the channel. expanded my horizons. ty
{Morgan Freeman - He's right you know}
Great review (as usual). When will we see a review of the Wharfedale Linton Anniversary (which appears in the background of this and previous videos)?
"Phenomenal"
"Jaw Dropping"
"Hits like a sledgehammer"
All terms you used to describe B&W 702 Signatures. I didn't hear any terms like that here.
Sorry, ha ha.
As a proud 702 Signatures owner I couldn't help pointing that out. So thanks Kristi, for the validation. 🤣
I'm only kidding around. 😀
Thanks for another wonderful & informative review guys!
As for special editions, I like them as long as there is an appreciable difference to reflect the extra cost.
I demo'd the standard Arias and.. they didn't really impress. They were okay, but didn't image very well or have the wow factor. It might have been the receiver they were plugged in to, if they needed lots of power. What I decided on instead? Fyne Audio 501SP - so much energy and super fun! Sensitive, and easy to drive, too.
for special edition speakers, the Fyne F500 SP were quite nice.
I auditioned the Aria line intensively before buying my current speakers, they were my second favourite. The dealer had them hooked up to a cayin tube amp, which was a very nice match. also for the "non-K2" model I'm sure you can get a pretty good deal.
I personally liked the Aria more than the BW 702, but I can see where some might prefer the BW.
sonically I prefer the Arias as well. Visually the 702 Signatures are a bit more arresting.
And what did you buy? I have obly audiotioned the aria 926 normal versión ajd i liked it soo much that i decided the 936 k2 would be mind blowing and im about to buy them with eyes closed. Sadly i dont have the chance to audition any k2 versión. Any suggestion.? Are the k2 better than the non k2's?
@@santinonn I personally can't speak for the k2 model, as I haven't heard them. I ended up with a pair of Magnepan 1.7i. While for me this was definetly the right choise, it'ts hard to recommend them, as they have many drawbacks (room requirement, positioning, power requirement, tiny sweetspot, suboptimal imaging...). That being said, listening to music with the maggies does not sound like listening to a loudspeaker, but the music itself.
@@santinonn Did you end up buying the K2's? If so, how do you like them?
I would love for you to review the Focal Kanta No. 2 and give your thoughts vs. Aria 936, Chora 826, and others
I couldn’t care less about how a speaker looks, I know that’s important to some, and that’s fine…but not to me. I concern myself with how they sound, and if they do sound great, then that’s all that matters. To me, it’s just a speaker, but that’s just me. 😜
Great video as always Andrew!
Totally agree with you . I mostly listen to music in a dark room. Not seeing speakers improves the ear brain mechanism of the sound.
@@aussierob7177
I agree.
@phantasm1004
Well said phantasm1004, well said indeed.
As always, this is a great review! You guys are the best. I am with Kristi in that I don’t mind the yellow woofers. They don’t look like anything at all special to me with the grilles on. For that kind of money I think I would want them to look a little more special.
Many, many years ago I had a pair of MBL 311e speakers in black piano finish, I loved the inset yellow woofer from Davis. 😀
I love the way these look, and almost bought a pair this summer. But after I heard the speed and textured flax drivers i had to go with the Kantas, nice review!
Once again I'm in Kristie's camp. As far as Focal are concern, the Kanta line and below can come across as bright and lean. The Aria line is more a home theater speaker ( somewhat over priced) than a high end Hi-fi speaker. I can guarantee that Krisie would love the Sopra no.2 in the right color (her choice). The Hint 6 and the Cantor likely smoothed out a bit the top end of the K2
I respectfully disagree that it’s overpriced. If you look at its direct competition (e.g. KEF R11 and B&W 702 s2) you’re getting a well built speaker that is made in France in house from start to finish, not outsourced to China.
😍
Interesting, because I really like the polykevlar color. Clearly not for everyone, but it's cool. Its the cost I don't like.
Yeah the cost is usually the ugly part of a lot of audio components!
Loved the content! and as always love listening to you Andrew! (and you Kristi!)
Thanks so much!
Focal is known for the yellow Kevlar drivers for many years. So these are kind of a throw back.
Andrew look at The Saphires M3? End all speakers for $5k. Comes with a 15" woofer. Great Review as always!
15” woofers aren’t always a good thing, lots of distortion.
Can't wait for the Parasound Hint and the Wharfedale Linton review!
I really enjoy your laid back but informative style. I have the 936's and think your review really sums them up nicely. I got them on a sell out deal and had concerns about the bright ness. With a Vintage Marantz amp they are a beautiful sounding speaker, however the amp needs to be able to drop down to low ohms to really drive them properly. Great speaker and great review.
Do you have the Original 936 Flax or the 936 K2's? Wondering of there is a significant improvment with the K2's. Thanks
I would love to see how these would compare against the Sonus faber Sonettos. I was torn between the two and ended up getting the Sonus faber just because of the trade up program.
Love the two person review format. I own and love the special edition Triangle 40th Anniversary Comete speakers.
Kristi’s takes remain undefeated.
🙌
I agree the yellow cheapens the product's looks, they remind me of cheap Best buy speakers
oooh that may be a bit harsh, but hey, I appreciate you sharing because at the end of the day were you the customer, you're the one that has to be happy with your decision.
It reminds me of the older B&W speakers, since that was my introduction to Kevlar drivers back in the day.
Yellow stands for "K2 Power"
Andrew, we NEED the review of sopra!
Another teriffic review! I'm torn on the yellow...one moment I like it and the next I feel that I agree with Andrew; I think I'd have to see what they look like in natural light to decide. Different colour options would be a nice option.
Happy Holidays!!
It's nice that Focal is making good speakers now. Everything improves over years. By the way, back in the day when people started using kevlar driver materials it invariably showed up with a yellow color. The yellows color is a nod to the old days when Focal used yellow Kevlar drivers. I used to display my cable goods at CES in Vegas years ago along with a good electronics company, and a speaker company. One year we had Focal speakers in our room. We couldn't get them to disappear and it sounded like the drivers were not particularly cohesive. Again, this was 35 years ago and it's obvious that things have improved, and it's also given that setting up an audio system in a stripped Vegas hotel room is far from ideal (Ben there and suffered with that) Things change and we progress.
I'm really enjoying my aria 906's (so i'm pretty sure I agree with Kristi rip my face off lol) so its interesting to hear about other focals. I definitely wouldn't have been as interested in the brand if I had to pay the USA prices. I prefer the normal colour of the drivers compared to that yellow as its a bit much.
What amp are you using? I also have the 906 :)
What amp are you using? I also have the 906 :)
@@saltaormina9404 naim uniti atom wanted an all in one system and was impressed by all the positive mentions on here. Also got a great deal on the combination which was a major bonus
@@Dmu_girl-2008 sweet system!! Mine is all vinyl with a Rega P6 table. But if I went digital yours is the way I would do it. Any maybe still will add it later :)
One thing you could try to address is the difference in price USA vs EU (in general). In this case, these can be had for 3000 EUR per pair, but in US they are commonly sold for 6000 USD per pair which is close to double the price!!
I love the yellow drivers lol. It is very Nordic looking...very clean but nice contrasting color with the grey. I am not seeing them in person though so that is what I think I would say, but who knows.
In person, the K2s reminded me of the Ferrari 360 Modena in yellow/ grey.
Take lock at: B&W signature diamond 2006 marble edition :)
I have to go with Kristi on the yellow drivers, I thought they looked good. I would have to see the Gray in person. And I'm going use the phrase "monkey's Breakfast " that was awesome, I've never heard that before. That was a chuckle, lol.
Keep up the good work.
Just got back to audition the MA Silver 500 7G and Focal 826. I started with the Focal and there was a pair of Focal Aria 936 next to them. I brought my own media. Initially the 826 sounds good, but lacked low end. The sales person then put on the Aria 936. Night and day different, the 826 came around bright an harsh compared to the 936 which had smooth highs and deep bass, although it seemed boomy. The Sales person said we should listen to the Monitor Audio as their 936 competitor will be better both top and bottom. Well he brought me to the Monitor Gold 300. It was substantially more expensive than the 2 Focals, but it sounded amazing. Smooth clean highs better than either Focal and the bass was deep, clean and tight. While I did not hear the Monitor Gold 200 (closer comparable to the 936) I suspect it will sound very close to the Gold 300. The 936 mids and highs were good, but the lows just came across too loose and boomy.
I heard the Golds and in comparison to even the cheapest Chora range, the Golds lack details and transparency in the mids and highs. When you go up to the floorstanding 826/926/936/948, they are power hungry and dips down to 2 ohms in the lower spectrum, so a powerful amp capable of handling a 2 ohm load is a must. The Golds have better bass and arent as demanding, so it would make a great buy and play type of speaker. Totally missing the detail retrieval capability of the Focals though.
@@AbsoluteFidelity My opinion when comparing them is the Focals sound more detailed because of the brighter highs. Even the MA Silver 500 had brighter highs than the Golds. The Golds to me seemed smoother and easier to listen to. To me the better tighter bass on both the MA Golds and Silvers made them come across as more balanced, while the 826 in an open space with no sub under load just sounded hookworm, likely cabinet resonance and just bad bass. The 936 just felt lop sided the other way, over abuncof bass that swallowed the highs, there were there, but the bass just pulled too much attention from the highs. My thinking is go back and have them out the 936, Gold 200 and Silver 500 side by side and face off with them.
@@hdtvkeith1604 every reliable measurement Ive seen of the Chora/Aria/Kanta do not show a tilted top end, in fact they are recessed from 2khz - 15khz relatively to 1khz. It is the ultra wide dispersion that makes up for the recessed mids and highs and they come out real good in the PIR. The choras/arias hold 60 degrees all the way till nearly 12khz, hence contributing to that huge soundstage only found on focals. Give them a go again, and make sure there theap is capable enough.
If you find Focal Aria 936 has too much bass, why not try the Focal Aria 926 with two bass drivers instead of three? You might find the overall presentation more balanced across the frequency range.
@@connorduke4619 I started listening to the 826 and at first sounded great, but when pushed hard just had a hollow sound and the entire low end fell out, could have been a lot of cabinet resonance. I may go listen again, but I am really focused on Monitor Audio and Arendale right now.
Loved the review and Kristi’s brightness appeal :). Agree it’s too bad at this size and price a sub is required. I have the Aria 906 driven by a Rega Elex-R and REL T5x Subwoofer. Great setup :) maybe the regular Aria line in a future review?
These speakers are beautiful.
Agreed… they look fantastic.
Not a fan of those yellow drivers either, makes them look like my focal car speakers..a white tower would have looked insane!
Just ordered these at a steal!!! This is gonna be the most expensive and best speaker Ive ever had😎Havent been this excited in a long time💯💯 I have the Arcam SA20. Is this a good amp for these speakers?
How did the K2 936 and SA20 combo turn out for you? Thinking of getting the same myself, or possibly the A25.
@@Chris-hy6jy love these speakers! Plan on keeping them for a Long time✨️😁
@@edwinsprojects7039 great, thanks. And you still have the SA20? Did you try any other amps with them?