Focal ARIA 936 tower speakers

The Focal Aria 936 tower speakers are the second tower speakers of the AIRA range that offers three models, completed with the Aria 906 bookshelf speaker.

The Focal Aria 936 has all the DNA of the manufacturer in terms of design, manufacturing quality and restitution.

FOCAL ARIA 936: DESIGN

This huge 3-way speaker is very elegant and its look inspires quality.

The cabinetwork is made of ultra rigid MDF. For limiting vibrations and internal stationary waves, and keep maximum neutrality, the walls are assembled so that they are not parallel.

The finish is superb with the front panel and back covered in leather, as well as the top which gives a very high-end look.

The Focal Aria 936 rest on an aluminium alloy base equipped with four height-adjustable spikes. This stand ensures great stability on the floor by lowering the gravity centre of the Hi-Fi speaker.

FOCAL ARIA 936: TWEETER

The high frequencies are entrusted to a superb TNF tweeter.

The suspension that connects the dome to its support uses a shape memory material, called “Poron.” This one is directly derivative from the famous Utopia Beryllium tweeter. This technology divides the distortion by 3 in an area that is particularly sensitive to the ear, between 2000 Hz and 3000 Hz.

The 25 mm diameter inverted aluminium and magnesium dome is fixed to an Urethane plate. It has a waveguide that significantly enables horizontal directivity and allows an excellent sound scene and more accurate performer placement.

FOCAL ARIA 936: SPEAKERS

The mid-range is entrusted to a superb Flax membrane woofer. This membrane is obtained by compressing a Flax fibre sheet placed between two thin sheets of fibreglass. Since 2013, it is exclusively manufactured in Focal’s factory based in St Etienne.

Its original design is fully and only dedicated to acoustic performance. This flax fibre allows you to have very natural restitution, precise and without additional coloration.

The bass is also entrusted to 3 Flax membrane woofers of 16.5mm. They are associated to a Bass reflex load that opens on the front panel via two circular ports as well as on the underside of the Hi-Fi speaker. This technology has several bass/reflex tuning and is called “PowerFlow”.

FOCAL ARIA 936: TERMINAL BLOCK

At the back of the Aria 936 speaker, there is a simple but high quality terminal block that allows you to connect bare wire, banana plugs or forks.

FOCAL ARIA 936: SET UP

The set up of these Focal speakers remains very easy.

They will be perfect for a listening room between 25 and 35 m².

They do not require a lot of electronics, even if we recommend a good source and an 80 watt quality amplifier.

FOCAL ARIA 936: TEST AND LISTENING

The restitution is both informative and precise. However, there is no hardness and aggressiveness.

The bass is a great success. It goes very low with surprising articulation and dynamics. It remains very neutral and not invasive like some competing models. By the way, it knows how to let himself totally forgotten when the work does not have it.

Of course, it has huge influence on the depth and width of the sound scene, that are also strong points of this tower speaker.

We find the dynamics and mid-range opening, important to Focal. We notice an excellent balance, even at low level. These Hi-Fi speakers can process important levels.

The Aria 936 is unrivalled on Jazz or Rock concerts. But their neutrality makes them multitask and will delight opera or orchestra lovers.

The Focal Aria 936 tower speakers are worthy representatives of French acoustics (the real!). They have an excellent quality/musicality/price ratio!

Highly recommended!

AWARDS:

Stereophile - Best Buy - 2014

Stereoplay - Highlight - 2014

Stereoo *****