Tower Speaker Reviews

Performance
Build Quality
Value

AT A GLANCE
Plus
Truly excellent audio fidelity
Attractive
Easy to assemble
Minus
Expensive relative to capability
No Atmos speakers or dedicated surrounds
Center channel model is a 2-way

THE VERDICT
The Focal Aria Evo X No. 2 towers blend stunning design with powerful, detailed sound, making them a standout in high-end audio.

Focal, the French audio manufacturer with roots in professional and consumer speaker design, has seamlessly blended technical prowess with stylish aesthetics in its products. Their Aria Evo X series continues this tradition, featuring an organic Moss Green finish and flax drivers that not only perform exceptionally but also offer a unique, natural look.

To avoid the logistical challenges of reviewing a massive speaker system, I opted for a pragmatic three-speaker setup: the smallest towers in the lineup (No.2) to assess two-channel performance and an Aria Evo X Center to evaluate multichannel integration.

The No.2 tower is a three-way bass-reflex floor-standing speakers with an 8-ohm impedance that dips to 2.9 ohms, demanding a robust amplifier—especially considering their 250-watt power rating.

With a sensitivity of 92.5 dB, these speakers can deliver approximately 116 dB peak output at 1 meter with 250 watts, and around 107 dB at a typical listening distance of 3 meters—comparable to the front row of a concert hall during an orchestral crescendo. I powered them with a Marantz AV10 and bridged AMP10 system, delivering 400 watts per channel into 8 ohms and providing ample headroom. While my review units were Moss Green, Focal also offers Aria Evo X speakers in Black High Gloss as well as Prime Walnut finishes.

Running the towers full-range in pure two-channel mode, the No. 2s performed admirably up to their mechanical limits. They deliver impactful bass that moves air and adds visceral depth to music and movie effects—even without a subwoofer. Pair them with a powerful integrated amp featuring HDMI ARC, and you've got a stellar system that can handle AV as well.

These are the smallest towers in the Evo X lineup, yet they offer powerful performance and sophisticated design.

Setup
Setup is straightforward: attach the mandatory metal base (due to the down-firing port), and adjust the feet for leveling. The rear-ported center channel is designed for a shelf or stand and shouldn't be placed directly against a wall. These models do not support bi-wiring or bi-amplification, there is only one set of speaker wire terminals.

Though I typically prefer a phantom center channel, I tested the Aria Evo X center to ensure seamless dialogue anchoring, which it accomplished flawlessly. It matches the towers in aesthetics and timbre but if pushed, may run out of headroom before the No. 2 towers—and certainly before the larger No. 3 and No. 4 models.

Performance
I was genuinely surprised by these speakers' seamless and engaging sound. With music, they make every album feel fresh and enthralling, maintaining consistent, pleasing audio without causing listener fatigue. Even at high volumes suited for live music enthusiasts and home cinema fans, the sound remains fluid and seductive.

These towers excel as a standalone 2.0 stereo system, delivering dynamic performance ideal for modern living rooms seeking simplicity. They're an excellent match for two-channel streaming integrated amplifiers with HDMI ARC. Yet, the Aria Evo X line also supports building multichannel surround systems, offering a compact and attractive center channel for lifestyle setups.

Adding a quality subwoofer enhances the experience. I paired the towers and center with an 18-inch Perlisten R18s subwoofer, which extended the system's response into the infrasonic realm and blended seamlessly. While the No. 2 towers have impressive bass, a top-tier sub complements them, ensuring seamless integration—especially since you want speakers that play down to about 40Hz in order that their crossover slope aligns symmetrically with the sub when using a typical 80Hz crossover point.

Switching from Tidal to Qobuz led me to revisit favorite albums like New Order's Substance and Coil's Love's Secret Domain. The No. 2 towers rendered these albums beautifully, revealing every detail and nuance with confident clarity. "Substance" needed no subwoofer, while "Love's Secret Domain" and bass-heavy tracks like Meat Beat Manifesto's Answers Come in Dreams benefited from the sub.

Using my standby test track, "Disc Wars" from the Tron Legacy soundtrack, the combination of the Focals and the subwoofer delivered goosebumps at concert volumes—a grandeur rarely experienced due to the track's demanding nature. It takes a great stereo system to do it justice.

Adding the center channel for movies exceeded expectations. Concerns about comb filtering in horizontal mid-tweeter-mid (MTM) designs seem overblown; what's crucial is matching timbre and clarity with the other speakers. The center channel is surprisingly powerful for its size so long as you delegate deep bass to the subwoofer or at least to the towers.

The front soundstage was seamless, whether sitting centered or off to the side. Films like Alien Romulus, Deadpool & Wolverine, Bad Boys Ride or Die, and Transformers One sounded fantastic, with crystal-clear dialogue.

Conclusion
These speakers aren't cheap, but they offer high performance and striking design that justify their premium over less refined towers lacking in style. Despite the plethora of excellent speakers available today, the Focal Aria Evo X No. 2 towers stand out with their easygoing yet revealing sound. They deliver the detail, finesse, depth, holographic imaging, and dynamics expected from a premium speaker—and they look fantastic.

Aesthetic touches like the metal base, textured front, brushed aluminum rings, flax cones, and distinctive inverted dome tweeter reflect a thoughtful design where form follows function. The glass top with logo adds a stylish touch, resulting in a cohesive and attractive speaker that expresses technology and philosophy through its aesthetics.

The Focal Aria Evo X series is a powerful, stylish line engineered to impress both aurally and visually—a testament to Focal's ability to blend performance with design excellence.

For more information and specifications, visit Focal's official site by clicking here.