• The move to the new server is done. There are some software and database maintenance updates in process. This has us passing the hat around to help out. We appreciate any donations. Seriously, even a dollar helps. The payment page may be found here - https://www.audiokarma.org/support.html

Focal Aria 905

M

mlb

New Member
Needing to purchase speakers for my first system which will be in our small family room. Currently have a Yamaha A-S501 and recently restored Pioneer PL 630 Turntable, Placement options of the speakers are limited up near a wall. Was doing some research online and found that MusicDirect has the Focal Aria 905 on sale for $599.00. Talked with Jon, a store rep, and informed that the is a great speaker at this price. Unfortunately no dealers in the area to go listen to this speaker. Looking for some opinions on the Focal Aria 905 or other options for speakers. MusicDirect has the Whaferdale Denton, 10.2 and 10.1 as well on clearance. Just do not know if the Whaferdale would deliver good sound up aganist a wall? If so how far from the wall do they have to be to maximize their sound.
 
Register to hide this ad
Those "Whaferdale" (it's actually Wharfedale) speakers are rear ported speakers and should not be blocked off by wall or bookshelf. While the Focal 905's are more expensive even at the massively reduced price of $599, they are far superior to the Wharfedale entry level speakers that you mention. I would hazard to forecast that the Focal's would fall into the "one and done" category, meaning that you would not suffer from lingering feelings of self-doubt and regret over the purchase.
 
I own a pair of Focal Aria 906 and have heard the 905. It is a high quality speaker. Beautiful midrange and airy highs. Doesn't go overly deep but has nice definition on what it handles. For $600 it is a very good deal.
 
listened to several Focal models, mainly the upper end Sopras. I have considered the Arias for a more prudent $$ outlay. My local dealer in Va has a guy named Jon there. If its the same place, I do recommend their advice.
 
jbailey930 said:
listened to several Focal models, mainly the upper end Sopras. I have considered the Arias for a more prudent $$ outlay. My local dealer in Va has a guy named Jon there. If its the same place, I do recommend their advice.
Click to expand...
Man those Sopras are sweet indeed, too bad I'm dirt poor otherwise they would be mine.:( Even though I have speakers in excess right now I'm toying with getting a pair of the 905's at $599.
 
Thank everyone for their input,very helpful for someone not familiar with the different brands of speakers available out there. Seems like for speakers price does not necessarily reflect sound quality or reliability. What would be a good stand to mount the 905's? Does Focal make a stand specific to the 905?
 
Any good quality steel stand with columns that can be filled with sand or steel shop would be good. You should determine what the best height would be for your application before committing to a pair of stands. They should come with both carpet spikes and pads for hard floors. Focal does sell stands designed to match visually but IMHO they are overpriced. Whatever you do do not get cheap stands or ones made with MDF.
 
mlb said:
Thank everyone for their input,very helpful for someone not familiar with the different brands of speakers available out there. Seems like for speakers price does not necessarily reflect sound quality or reliability. What would be a good stand to mount the 905's? Does Focal make a stand specific to the 905?
Click to expand...

I have a pair of Chorus 806V and a pair of S 700 stands. I would say Focal offers stands for the 905. I bought my speakers from Music Direct last year, but I had to purchase the stands from another dealer.

Upon further review, the speaker stands for the Aria are Focal S 900.
 
$299 for a speaker stand!!!! Gee I could buy a pair of Wharfedale 10.2 on sale for the price of stands.
 
If you are getting the 905s, the stands are worth the price. You get a perfect fit for the speakers as they are screwed to the stands.
 
If I'm doing my metric conversions properly, these are only 13" H X8 1/2" W X 9 3/4 D. Is this correct??? If so, they're about half as tall as my B&W 601 which are 24" hi
 
tnmike1 said:
If I'm doing my metric conversions properly, these are only 13" H X8 1/2" W X 9 3/4 D. Is this correct??? If so, they're about half as tall as my B&W 601 which are 24" hi
Click to expand...
Yes, your math is correct.
 
Last edited:
Should i consider a Tower speaker as well as a stand mount speaker. Would a Tower speaker work in a small room and against a wall? Any advantage/disadvantage of a Tower speaker vs a stand mounted speaker. Just thinking are their good sounding tower speakers for around $800-$900.00 about the cost for Focal Aria 905 + the stand?
 
mlb said:
Would a Tower speaker work in a small room and against a wall?
Click to expand...
Perhaps but then perhaps not. Depends on the individual speaker in question.
mlb said:
Any advantage/disadvantage of a Tower speaker vs a stand mounted speaker.
Click to expand...
Stand mount speakers are inherently more flexible in placement option than are floorstanders. While floorstanders usually provide lower bass they also can suffer from poor bass response due to room nodes. Stand mounts with separate subwoofers can correct this problem. Quite often stand mount speakers can provide better imaging and soundstaging than their floorstanding counterparts.
mlb said:
are their good sounding tower speakers for around $800-$900.00 about the cost for Focal Aria 905 + the stand?
Click to expand...
Yes, there are good sounding floorstanders in that price range, however few if any that are anywhere near as good as the Focal Aria 905's are. The 905's big brothers cost in excess of $2000. You do not need to buy the Focal brand stands for $239, good quality steel stands can be had for half of that.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom