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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
 
Use the Yamaha for now, and get a Peachtree nova 150 or 300 (depending on how loud you listen and how much bass content your average choice of music has) to run the front two in Home Theater Bypass mode.  That way you have a simple two channel dedicated rig (that sounds amazing and has more than enough grunt to power them), as well as an external amp for home theater that will relieve a lot of stress off the Yamaha during movie watching.

If you have a sub or subs, the external amp will likely have no effect during movie watching as long as you have all speakers crossed over to the sub as you should.  Unless you are in a large room and listen painfully loud.
pascalino
8 posts
 
Thanks for feedback. Problem is in belgium peachtree isn't easy to demo in shops i know...  Ideally i should test demo this in my home right  in existing setup ... 

I was planning on sub in later stage. Concerning sub what would you advise for focal aria surround ? The sub from focal aria itself should be frequency wise a good idea ? i cannot find easily reviews of people who have experienced this sub... My favorite is a rel but i'm not sure which one to test demo

Kind regards
kosst_amojan
2,095 posts
 
I auditioned my 936's with a Cambridge amp. Not bad, but nothing like my F5. It simply didn't grip those speakers with the same authority. What's more, we're talking about speakers with a 2.8 oh low point right in the middle of the mid-bass. No AV receiver is going to drive them competently and many won't drive them for long. An option with considering would be Naim. I'm obviously a big fan of Pass though. 
pascalino
8 posts
 
Pass Labs INT-60 should be enough for focal Aria 936 ? Or should i go higher up in the range Looks very very nice those amplifiers Strange i never heard about them and peachtree,parasound,cambridge is all over the net etc 
reading some very good reviews of this INT 60
Seems you have a good point !
Just hope its easy to find dealers in belgium which let met try this out at home
kosst_amojan
2,095 posts
 
The INT-60 would drive them well. I'm currently sitting in a vibrating chair compliments of a 32 watt F5, 936's, and some Bassnectar. I mentioned Naim because Focal owns them and uses their amps to voice their speakers. 

Bottom line is these speakers are well known for letting the amp speak with it's own character. I built my amp and tweaked it to sound the way I want. You really should do some listening and see what you like best. 
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