Floorstanding loudspeakers — Focal ARIA EVO X N°2

The Aria Evo X N°2 is the smallest floorstanding loudspeaker in Focal's Aria Evo X range, the French manufacturer's mid-range series designed and built in France with drive units developed and manufactured in-house. It combines Focal's Flax sandwich cones with an aluminium/magnesium inverted-dome tweeter in a slim three-way cabinet sized for living rooms rather than dedicated listening spaces.

Key specs that matter

The N°2 is a three-way bass-reflex design with two 6.5-inch Flax bass drivers, a 6.5-inch Flax midrange with Focal's patented TMD (Tuned Mass Damper) surround and an aluminium/magnesium M-shaped inverted dome TAM tweeter in a wide-dispersion waveguide. Crossover points are 290Hz and 2,400Hz. Frequency response is 45Hz to 30kHz (+/-3dB), reaching 37Hz at -6dB. Sensitivity is 91.5dB, nominal impedance is 8 ohms with a minimum of 2.9 ohms, and recommended amplification is 40 to 250W. Each speaker measures 103.5 x 29.4 x 37.1cm and weighs 25kg.

Engineering and use context

The Flax cone is a sandwich of French flax fibres between two thin glass-fibre skins. Flax combines low mass with high stiffness and good natural damping, so the cone resists break-up without needing heavy damping compounds. The TMD surround on the midrange adds small tuned masses to the suspension to absorb its own resonance, a common source of midrange distortion in conventional surrounds. The M-shaped inverted dome tweeter uses an aluminium/magnesium alloy formed into an M profile, which spreads its break-up above the audible band, while the waveguide widens horizontal dispersion so tonal balance holds up away from the central seat. Each cabinet stands on a decoupling aluminium-alloy base that stabilises the tall, narrow enclosure on the floor. Focal recommends the N°2 for rooms of about 20 m2 and a listening distance of around 3 metres. Finishes are Black High Gloss, Prime Walnut and Moss Green High Gloss, each with a leather-effect front panel and magnetic grilles.

Pairing

The 91.5dB sensitivity allows moderate-power amplifiers to reach good levels, while the 2.9-ohm impedance minimum means the amplifier must be stable into low impedances, which favours solid-state designs over small tube amplifiers. Integrated amplifiers and AV receivers in the recommended 40 to 250W range suit it, and it can serve as the front pair in a Focal Aria Evo X home cinema system.

Alternatives

Focal's own larger Aria Evo X floorstanders offer more bass extension and headroom for bigger rooms, using the same Flax and TAM driver technologies.