The 900 Series in an upgrade of the Older 800 Series. I heard the 800 Series and they were STUNNING. Very life-like with clear articulated bass. When I listened, I literally heard Bass GUITAR not just generic bass drone.

I believe the 948 have 2x8" Bass Driver each with a Bass Rating of -

• 37hz at -3db
• 31hz at -6dB
• With 92.5dB Sensitivity

That is not crazy deep bass, but I think we are too obsessed with Bass Depth today. There is something called the Bass Presence Range which is where you here most of the bass in music - that is in roughly the 80hz to 120hz range. The lowest note on a Bass Guitar doesn’t even reach 40hz. So, if you are down in the 30’s with stunning clarity, you are going pretty good.

Stunningly clear with great sound stage. Though, not exactly cheap at $3200/pair.

They are somewhat forward, so if you use them in an otherwise Bright Room, it might be a bit too much, but still very clear speakers based on my audition of the 800 Series.

I guess I’d say growing acceptance of class D amplifiers, built-in DSP, and similar digital response linearization techniques are new. Especially studio monitor space is nowadays looking a lot like it’s just a computer with transducers built-in into its box.

The epitome of that design is the Genelec The Ones series which are a concentric point source technology, just completely uniform directivity whether vertical or horizontal. Completely digital inside, analog is now an afterthought and no longer preferred way to input audio to these speakers.

Figuring out how to make designs properly work where the tweeter is inside the midrange is also somewhat new, concentric drivers tend to have discontinuity and waveguide’s motion related irregularities which cause warbling or modulation distortion. But 3-way concentrics could have done that for some time.

Bought some 936 a few months ago when they just went 40% off. Like them very much, and on the nights I am overly critical, I take comfort in the steal of a value. Buy em. REL S510 really makes they expand too.

I have the opportunity to buy the 948s at €1900. Is that a good price or should I be looking at alternatives?

Revel PerformaBe F226Be - https://www.crutchfield.com/p_265F226WH/Revel-PerformaBe-F226Be-White-Gloss.html?tp=185

I got the 948 a couple of months ago. I’d say that if I hadn’t gotten these I would have waited and gone for the Kanta 3.

Listen to them first and make up your own mind. My speakers are 20 years old and still sound great to me. Come to think of it my amps are probably 30 years old and I wouldn’t change them.

I’m loving the Aria 948 for 5 years now. The clearance price they have everywhere is a steal.

I like my Klipsch at least 60 years old. Don’t buy the BS and it’s all BS.

Crutchfield is having a massive sale on all things Focal. I got an info email about an hour ago.

Speakers have changed remarkably little over the years. The the most notable improvements in speakers have been centered around the vast improvements in the quality of crossover parts.

Driver construction and design in contrast, has changed little.

They have neither technology nor quality. Pick something that sounds good instead.

I am professionally acquainted with the 948 and while I like it, I don’t consider it a strong value for the retail price. Their newer Vestia line seems very nearly as good, for quite a bit less. The Revel Performa3 F208 is very competitive as well.