Focal - Aria 905 Bookshelf Speakers (Black) (NEW)

The Focal Aria 905 bookshelf loudspeakers certainly aren't the largest or flashiest bookshelf unit on the market. But size and fashion don't count for much in audio, and the exceptional-value Aria 905 – available for a limited time for $450 off – excels in the areas that really matter. Specifically, musicality, balance, imaging, and the all-important midrange. Many listeners also crave speakers that perform like champions when placed closer to the walls. Like any loudspeaker, the two-way Aria 905 functions best when given a little room to breathe, but these compact powerhouses won't wilt if space constraints dictate they get a bit cozy with your room partitions. Featuring a host of unique materials, technology, and construction that yield countless musical benefits (see detailed list and explanations below), Aria 905 bedazzles with abundant detail, authoritative control, and timing that Switch watchmakers would prize. Taut, rhythmic, and versatile, Aria 905 plays every type of music with snap-to-attention precision and noticeable confidence. At the end of the day, however, you'll likely come back to raving about the imaging and balance – qualities Aria 905 handles as well as any speaker in its class. It all owes to Aria 905's truly distinctive construction, engineering, and materials, including:

Inverted Dome Tweeters: The inverted metal-dome tweeter physically matches the wave-launch characteristics of the woofer, improving integration of the two drive units.

TNFAl/Mg Tweeter Material: The high-stiffness aluminum-magnesium blend offers excellent transient performance and outstanding damping characteristics that virtually eliminate ringing. Combined with the inverted dome technology, it allows the voice coil to be affixed closer to the center of the tweeter, greatly reducing moving mass, improving control, and canceling distortion.

Poron Tweeter Suspension: Directly derived from Focal's world-famous Utopia beryllium tweeter, Poron is an incredibly soft, malleable type of rubber. Much more pliable than other types of rubber, it features a very unique characteristic in that is has shape memory – meaning it's always trying to get back to its original form. As the tweeter makes its tiny movements, the surround constantly keeps those movements as precise and centered as possible. Poron's high pliability also improves sensitivity since the motor doesn't have to work as hard pushing against the surround. Poron tweeter suspension is one of the reasons Aria 905 touts such sweet, airy, and extended highs.

Urethane Waveguide: The best way to ensure Focal's in-depth work with its tweeters doesn't go to waste is to guarantee that the energy created by the tweeter goes where it's intended. Aria 905's urethane waveguide focuses the energy of the tweeter by directing its output towards the listening position, throwing a huge soundstage with precise imaging.

Flax Drivers: Flax is lightweight, very strong, and, most importantly, a natural fiber. The woven flax drivers in Aria 905 are lighter than paper drivers, less resonant than plastic drivers, and as stiff as metal drivers. Yet they boast an organic, lively sound that's much more natural than any of the aforementioned driver types. To give flax rigidity, Focal uses the same technique developed for its "W" cone drivers and sandwiches the flax between layers of glass that are literally baked into shape. The method gives the flax drivers their unique speed and drive as well as an incredibly sexy visual appeal that makes the weave clearly visible and showcases the technology underneath.

Magnetic Front Grilles: Everyone knows speakers sound better without the grilles. But taking them off usually reveals multiple grille-peg holes in the front baffle. Magnetic front grilles allow the speakers to look stunning without the grilles. It's as if Aria 905 is designed not to have grilles in the first place. Put the grilles on when you want to protect Aria 905 and take ‘em off when you want to listen to them. No visual penalties here.

Powerflow Port System: The biggest drawback to any bookshelf speaker is that when they get going, especially at low frequencies, you can hear the port "chuffing" along with the music while air desperately tries to flow in and out of the cabinet through a relatively small tube. Focal's Powerflow Port System cuts by half the air speed in the tube, virtually eliminating the pesky artifact as well as annoying bass compression.

To sum up, Focal's exclusive Flax sandwich cones and updated TNF aluminum/magnesium inverted-dome tweeters with Poron suspension remain the keys to Aria 905's enticing sound. Flax's inherent properties – lightness, carbon-like elongation properties, self-damping abilities – make it a fantastic choice for the 5-inch drivers, sandwiched by glass fiber that possesses low elasticity and high stiffness. Focal has always been renowned for its tweeters, and the TNF type are no exception, given they're graced with a new horizontal waveguide and responsible for much of Aria 905's commanding punctuality. Top the innards off with solid, sturdy cabinets, leather-esque front and rear panels, and a glass top plate, and Aria 905 arrives to the dance as the belle of the ball. Don't pass up this extraordinary deal on an extraordinary French-made speaker that promises years of listening pleasure. 100% Music Direct Money-Back Guaranteed.

"Crisp, clear and precise, the Focal 905s are a hugely accomplished pair of speakers. Detail is abundant, and delivered with unerring control. The Focals are ruthlessly efficient – they know exactly how each instrument should sound, how to convey a vocal nuance, how far the dynamics are allowed to soar, and how tightly controlled the entire rhythm needs to be."
– What Hi-Fi?

"At heart this is a very good two-way. It has a rightness of timing and coherence that can only be achieved with a near minimum of drive units, and it combines this with a lack of coloration that means you rarely think about the speaker."
– Hi-Fi+

"Something seems to have changed in R&D and the results are a big bonus for Focal. These little gems deliver performance that most affordable speakers can only dream of. They sound good with a small amp like a Micromega MyAmp, they sound better with an all-in-one Naim system, they sound amazing with a powerful amp that keeps them on track."
– The Ear, Best Buy Award

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