Focal

Focal Aria Evo X Centre Speaker

The Aria Evo X Centre is a 2-way centre speaker. It blends in seamlessly with the speakers from the same range, for an optimal home cinema configuration. When designing the centre speaker, particular attention was paid to adjusting the timbres to guarantee uniformity and sonic coherence in all configurations. It is recommended for rooms from 20m², with a listening distance of 3 metres or more.

This centre speaker is the perfect complement to the Aria Evo X line of speakers for a home theatre installation. Focal innovations, compactness and elegant finishes come together in this speaker that's as discreet as it is powerful.

Made in France, Aria Evo X Centre features an ultra-rigid MDF cabinet for enhanced neutrality. In addition to its performance, the loudspeaker is meticulously designed, blending classicism and modernity for perfect integration into any interior. Its Gloss Black, Walnut and Moss Green finishes combine with a leather-effect front panel and glass top to offer even greater refinement.

Feature

Flax Membrane: As the key component of a loudspeaker, the membrane is at the heart of Focal's acoustic research. After more than five years of research and development, in 2013 Focal unveiled an exclusive membrane made from flax. Patented, this flax cone is a sandwich made of very high quality French flax fibre placed between two thin sheets of glass fibre. It satisfies all the criteria of a high-fidelity membrane: lightness to offer good dynamics, rigidity to control the bass and damping to deliver a neutral, natural, uncoloured sound. It is an emblematic Focal innovation in many hi-fi products.

TMD Suspension: While Focal's engineers are experts in the development of exclusive diaphragms, they also innovate in all the components that make up the loudspeakers, such as the surround that connects the diaphragm to the frame, the performance of which must be mastered. Introduced in 2015, Tuned Mass Damper (TMD) technology with harmonic damping consists of the addition of finely positioned toroidal weights to stabilize the surround for even greater sonic neutrality. This technology enhances the midrange and the erratic behaviour of the surround between 1 kHz and 2 kHz.

TAM Tweeter: Membrane shape and materials are essential for high-fidelity reproduction. Focal engineers have designed the TAM tweeter. Manufactured in Focal's workshops in France, it boasts a number of advantages, particularly in terms of wide-angle diffusion. Comprising an aluminium/magnesium inverted dome cone with an "M" profile for even greater rigidity, it delivers flawless harmonic balance and detailed treble. The presence of a decompression chamber limits disturbances caused by rear waves, for even greater sonic clarity.

Perfectionists' Cabinet-Work: Great drivers mounted in poorly designed enclosures will, sadly, sound like poor drivers. That is why the Aria Evo X Centre's cabinet is constructed from controlled density MDF (Medium Density Fibreboard) with bracing at strategic points. The Evo X Centre incorporates dual rear-firing bass ports which help greatly with bass impact.

The Aria Evo X Centre is available in Walnut, Moss Green or Gloss Black. The cabinet has a glass top and leather-effect finished front highlighted with brushed gunmetal trim rings. It exudes style and quality and will fit perfectly with both traditional and contemporary decors.

The Search for Excellence: The Aria Evo X Centre's crossover is carefully designed using an expert combination of science and art. Given today's measurement and design tools, it is easy to produce a good loudspeaker (if one has the capacity to design them and build them consistently, of course). So, if one is content with the merely "good", the job is done and small corrections can be left to the crossovers. But for Focal, only the best will do and for the best, problems have to be resolved at source with exceptional loudspeakers that limit the role of the crossover to that of a frequency "signalman". Great loudspeakers take significantly longer to design and require marrying the art of listening with that of subtly modifying the crossover to give that extra something that makes a good loudspeaker great. These small "somethings" are what bring music to life, what make it so expressive.

Specifications

• Design: 3-Driver, 2-Way Centre Channel Speaker
• Aluminium/Magnesium 'M'-Shaped Inverted Dome TAM Tweeter - Precision and softness
• Urethane Tweeter Plate with Waveguide - Improved horizontal directivity and a better sound image
• 2 x Flax Cone Bass/Midrange - Midrange neutrality and bass presence
• Mid/Bass Driver Magnets increased by 40% over previous Aria series
• Dual Rear-Firing Ports – No dynamic compression
• Magnetic Grille
• Leather-Effect covered Front Panel
• Glass Top
• Ultra-Rigid MDF Construction - Non-parallel side panels ensure very low vibration and sonic neutrality

Technical

• 1" (25mm) Aluminium/Magnesium 'M'-shaped Inverted Dome TAM Tweeter
• 2 x 6.5" (165mm) Flax Glass Fibre Sandwich Bass/Midrange
• Sensitivity: 91dB (2.83V/1m)
• Frequency Response: 57Hz – 30kHz (+/-3dB)
• Low Frequency Point: 50Hz (-6dB)
• Nominal Impedance: 8 Ohms
• Minimum Impedance: 4.3 Ohms
• Recommended Amplifier Power: 40 - 200W
• Crossover Frequency: 2,800Hz
• Magnetic Grille
• Available Finishes: Gloss Black, Moss Green, Walnut
• Dimensions (WxHxD) 533 x 200 x 245mm
• Weight: 10.5 kg
• Manufacturer's Warranty: 5 Years
• Designed, Engineered & Manufactured in France

Review

"It's like an all-encompassing beautiful sound, and you can just kind of close your eyes and get lost in it."

Watch full review here