Напольная акустика — Focal ARIA EVO X N°3

The Aria Evo X N°3 is the mid-size floorstander of Focal's Aria Evo X range, below the N°4, from the French loudspeaker maker whose drivers are developed and manufactured in its own workshops in France. The Aria line is built around Focal's patented flax-sandwich cone, which in the Evo X generation is used for both midrange and bass drivers, together with the TAM inverted-dome tweeter. The N°3 differs from the smaller Aria Evo X N°2 in having three bass drivers, which gives it greater bass output for large rooms and home cinema use.

Key specs that matter

This ported three-way uses three 16.5cm (6.5-inch) flax bass drivers, a 16.5cm flax midrange with a TMD surround and Focal's 25mm TAM tweeter, whose inverted alloy dome has an M-section profile. Crossover points are 260Hz and 3.1kHz. Frequency response is 39Hz to 30kHz (+/-3dB), reaching 32Hz at -6dB. Sensitivity is 92dB, nominal impedance 8 ohms and minimum impedance 2.8 ohms, with amplifiers of 40 to 300W recommended. Each speaker measures 294 x 1,150 x 371mm wide, tall and deep, at 29kg. Focal suggests rooms of at least 25 m2 with a listening distance of 3 to 4m. The front baffle has a leather-effect finish and the grille attaches magnetically.

Engineering and use context

Each flax driver sandwiches a core of woven French linen fibre between two glass-fibre skins. The glass skins give rigidity, while the flax core is light and has high internal damping, so the cone stays stiff enough to act as a piston yet absorbs its own resonances instead of ringing. The midrange driver adds Focal's TMD (Tuned Mass Damper) surround, which includes small masses tuned to cancel the surround's own resonance in the midrange. Folding the tweeter dome into that M profile stiffens the diaphragm and extends its range to 30kHz while giving wide dispersion, and a decompression chamber behind it absorbs the rear wave. The magnets in the bass drivers were revised for greater bass output. The cabinet combines 18mm and 24mm controlled-density HDF with non-parallel side walls and bracing at strategic points to limit standing waves and panel vibration. Bass reflex loading comes through Focal's Powerflow multi-port system, using a front port and a floor-facing port so air velocity in each is lower, reducing compression and turbulence. An aluminium-alloy stand with built-in height-adjustable spikes supports the floor-firing port.

Pairing

High sensitivity lets the Aria Evo X N°3 play loudly from moderate amplifiers, yet the impedance falls low enough to need an amplifier stable into low loads. It suits both stereo systems and the front channels of large home cinemas.

Alternatives

The Aria Evo X N°2 from Focal is the smaller floorstander of the series, with fewer bass drivers for medium-sized rooms.