Focal Aria Evo X No3

Big, refined and composed-sounding floorstanders

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If speakers were judged simply on material content for the money, then Focal's Aria Evo X No3 floorstanding speakers would be considered a knockout. Just look at them: a tall yet elegantly styled cabinet packing a formidable array of drive units and enough in the way of high-tech engineering to make most of the competition look hopelessly under-equipped. The No3 is the middle of three floorstanding models in the French company's new Aria Evo X range, which also includes a small standmounter, centre, surround and subwoofer options.

Our review subject is a three-way design with Focal's favoured inverted metal tweeter mated to a 16.5cm flax midrange and a trio of 16.5cm flax bass drivers. The use of flax in the driver diaphragms is interesting and unusual. Focal claims that the material offers a great balance of low weight, rigidity and self-damping, but also admits the distinctive appearance is a positive too. The reflex porting isn't quite as straightforward as it appears initially either, with the two forward-firing ports on the front panel being tuned for impact, leaving a third, hidden, downward-facing port to deliver more in terms of low-end weight.

The engineers have taken a great deal of care over the shape of the urethane tweeter faceplate in a bid to optimise dispersion and stereo imaging. The tweeter itself uses a diaphragm made of aluminium and magnesium to, you've guessed it, combine rigidity with good damping. Elsewhere, the flax midrange’s surround has strategically added mass to control and minimise unwanted movement. The aim? A more accurate sound.