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Focal Aria 936 vs 926 bass response

I am looking at a couple of Focal Aria speakers in the same model line, and trying to decide on which will work best in my room. The listening area is 14 x 25 x 8.5, but it opens up into another room of the same size (open concept with a half wall between them). Listening distance is 8-9 feet. I have listened to the 936 and liked it, but am a little concerned that it could be too much bass for my room. Also, I have very limited placement options where these are going. My dealer does not have the 926 in stock so I have not listened to it; I assume it will sound very similar to the 936, but with less bass, so I’m wondering if I can get away with the 926. The 926 is also a little smaller so it has better WAF. There is a return policy at the dealer but ideally I’d like to make the right choice initially.

The frequency response of the speakers is as follows. How much bass will I be missing in practical terms between the two? I know the replies may well be “nobody can tell until you get them into YOUR room” but I thought I’d throw it out for comment anyway.

Focal Aria 936:
Frequency response: (+/- 3dB) 39Hz - 28kHz
Low frequency point: 6 dB 32Hz
Sensitivity: (2.83V / 1m) 92dB
Nominal impedance: 8 Ohms

Focal Aria 926:
Frequency response: (+/- 3dB) 45Hz - 28kHz
Low frequency point: 6 dB 37Hz
Sensitivity: (2.83V / 1m) 91.5dB
Nominal impedance: 8 Ohms
braudio7
contuzzi
295 posts
 
I don’t recommend the 948 because they are extremely difficult to get to sound right.  You likely heard a bad setup, but I don’t blame them — they’re extremely hard to set up.

I think the 936 is an absolutely superior sounding speaker.
Post removed 
wakethetown
38 posts
 
The room had some issues for certain, but the setup was top notch. Other Focals—Kantas  and Sopras 1 and 3–sounded terrific with the same gear. I realize they are at a different price point but just to say that the 948s were a big disappointment. The amplification was Primaluna HP amp and Dialogue Preamp and source was EAT C-major TT .
helomech
766 posts
 
Both Revels and Focals can be found heavily discounted. I'm not a huge fan of either, but my opinion, having extensively auditioned both, was that the 936s were overpriced at their MSRP and belong in the $2.5K segment. In contrast, the Revel 208 was a bargain at its MSRP. 
kosst_amojan
2,095 posts
 
The 948's, with their hideous impedance low point of 2.5 ohm compounded by some phase angle, aren't easy to drive. The Kanta and all the Sopra's are easier to drive than the 948's. The thing I like about the 936's is they're not the most politely voiced speakers out there. They have a smooth, meaty, physicality to the sound from top to bottom that I think a lot of other speakers are voiced to avoid in the interest of sounding more polite. They attack from all angles when it's called for and they lay back and chill when it's not. 

As far as an update to the 900 series, I'm not sure what they'd change. Maybe the TMD driver from the Kanta? 
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