Floorstanding loudspeakers — Focal ARIA EVO X N°4

The Aria Evo X N°4 is the largest floorstander in Focal's Aria Evo X range and the only model in the line with 8-inch bass drivers. The Evo X generation updated the long-running Aria series by bringing Focal's Flax cone technology to the bass drivers and by replacing the earlier TNF tweeter with the TAM unit developed for the Vestia line. Focal designs and manufactures the drive units in France.

Key specs that matter

This three-way bass-reflex tower uses two 8-inch (21 cm) Flax bass drivers, a 6.5-inch (16.5 cm) Flax midrange with a TMD surround and an M-profile TAM tweeter in aluminium/magnesium, with crossover points at 280 Hz and 2,600 Hz. Frequency response is 37 Hz to 30 kHz (+/-3 dB), reaching 31 Hz at -6 dB. Sensitivity is 92.5 dB at 2.83 V/1 m, and nominal impedance is 8 ohms with a 2.5-ohm minimum. Focal recommends amplifiers of 40 to 350 W. Each speaker measures 37.1 x 115 x 42 cm and weighs 35 kg. Focal offers it in Black High Gloss, Moss Green High Gloss or Prime Walnut, and every version has a front panel in leather effect.

Engineering and use context

The smaller Aria Evo X towers use 6.5-inch bass units, so the pair of 8-inch drivers adds roughly 50% more cone area in the bass band, giving the N°4 extra low-frequency extension and output for larger rooms. The bass drivers also got a revised magnet system in this generation. A Flax cone sandwiches natural fibres between thin glass-fibre skins, which makes it light, stiff and self-damping, so the material itself rather than added mass controls cone resonances. Small tuned masses in the TMD midrange surround cancel the surround's own resonance. The inverted M-shaped dome of the TAM tweeter extends the treble with wide dispersion, and Focal reworked the crossovers with higher-grade components. An aluminium-alloy base keeps the tall cabinet stable, and magnetic grilles are included. Focal specifies the N°4 for rooms of at least 30 m2 and a listening distance of 3 to 5 metres.

Pairing

High sensitivity lets moderately powered amplifiers reach high levels, but the low impedance minimum means the amplifier must remain stable with very low loads and deliver plenty of current. In a home cinema the N°4 forms the front pair, joined by the Aria Evo X centre and bookshelf models that share the same drivers.

Alternatives

The Focal Aria Evo X N°3 is the mid-size tower of the range, intended for smaller rooms.