In this review, we will be comparing Carina BS243.4 and SX-50, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from ELAC and Cambridge Audio. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of ELAC Carina BS243.4 and Cambridge SX-50 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the ELAC Carina BS243.4 and Cambridge SX-50 speakers good for?
The size of the room in which you are planning to use these loudspeakers is an important decision factor. Here we have compared their suitability to various sizes of environments considering their size and max power parameters:
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the ELAC Carina BS243.4 and Cambridge SX-50 compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these loudspeakers is the better choice for you.
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Drivers
Both Carina BS243.4 and SX-50 are 2-way speakers.
Driver |
ELAC Carina BS243.4 |
Cambridge SX-50 |
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
Woofer
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
Carina BS243.4 features a 1" JET AMT (Ribbon) Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" Aluminum Woofer . On the other hand, the SX-50 features a 1" Silk Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" Treated paper Woofer .
Frequency Response
Carina BS243.4 has a frequency range of 46-30k Hz whereas SX-50 has a frequency range of 50-22k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 46Hz, the Carina BS243.4 can go slightly deeper then the SX-50's min frequency of 50Hz.
Below graphs depict how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average values of the Min and Max Frequencies of other speakers in the Bookshelf class in our database.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
High Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
None of these speakers achieves full range experience which is commonly agreed as 20Hz-20kHz. In order to achieve lower lows / deeper bass, we recommend you pair these with a subwoofer. Visit our Powered Subwoofers section to find out more about the available options.
Impedance and Sensitivity
Carina BS243.4 is a 6 ohms speaker compared to the SX-50 which has a nominal impedance of 8 ohms.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Carina BS243.4 sensitivity is rated at 85 dB and the SX-50's is rated at 90 dB. This 5 dB difference makes the Cambridge SX-50 a more sensitive speaker compared to ELAC Carina BS243.4, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Bookshelf Speakers
Power Range
Power
range is the range of input power in watts RMS that a loudspeaker is designed to handle. While using an amplifier within this range ensures the nominal performance , inputting a power that is higher than the max wattage can result in a damaged speaker.
Keep in mind that a higher max power handling value doesn't necessarily make that a louder speaker
compared to a lower max handling speaker. Loudness or the sound level is also impacted by parameters
such as Impedance, sensitivity and system efficiencies.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
Carina BS243.4 features Post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. SX-50 has a 5-way post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Carina BS243.4 has a bottom firing port whereas SX-50 has a rear firing ports. ELAC Carina BS243.4's bottom-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to Cambridge SX-50 with its rear-firing port.
Physical Specs
Size of a speaker can sometimes become an important decision factor due to space constraints or in some cases purely for esthetic reasons. In this section, we are going to compare ELAC Carina BS243.4's and Cambridge SX-50's external dimensions. ELAC Carina BS243.4 has external dimensions of 321.0 x 205.0 x 247.0mm ( 12-5/8 x 8-1/16 x 9-11/16inch) whereas Cambridge SX-50 has external dimensions of 225.0 x 161.0 x 240.0mm ( 8.8 x 6.3 x 9.4inch) .
ELAC Carina BS243.4 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 44mm wider, 96mm taller and 7mm deeper than Cambridge SX-50.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of ELAC Carina BS243.4 and Cambridge SX-50 in scale.
Base Surface Area Comparison
Base surface area of a loudspeaker may become a determining factor when the space in your room or desk is limited.
The base surface area of the ELAC Carina BS243.4 is approximately 506.4cm2 / 78.5inch2 and base area of the Cambridge SX-50 is approximately 386.4cm2 / 59.9inch2. The Carina BS243.4 requires 31% more surface area than the SX-50 which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.
Here is an another comparison that shows both speakers on a BDI Octave Media Cabinet, next to a standard size amplifier and turntable in scale:
Weight Comparison The weight of a loudspeaker can become an important factor if you need to move and reposition the unit often. Weight of a speaker can also "sometimes" be an indicator of the rigidity of the enclosure and the quality of the internal components used. The ELAC Carina BS243.4 weighs 6.70kg / 14.7lbs and the Cambridge SX-50 weighs 3.00kg / 6.6lbs. This makes the Carina BS243.4 123% heavier than the SX-50.
Here is a comparison of how Carina BS243.4 and SX-50's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
What's in the Box of ELAC Carina BS243.4?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Carina BS243.4:
2 Bookshelf loudspeakers 4 Jumper straps (pre-intalled) Operating Instructions
What's in the Box of Cambridge SX-50?
Here are the items that come with the SX-50:
2 Bookshelf loudspeakers 2 Grilles 8 Self-adhesive feet 2 Foam port inserts Installation Guide
Low Frequency Response |
46 Hz
vs
50 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
High Frequency Response |
30k Hz
vs
22k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
Sensitivity |
90 dB
vs
85 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
6 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
Height |
225mm
vs
321mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
Base Surface Area |
386cm2 (161x240mm)
vs
506cm2 (205x247mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
Price per pair* |
199USD
vs
1500USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
General |
ELAC Carina BS243.4 |
Cambridge Audio SX-50 |
Brand |
ELAC |
Cambridge Audio |
Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
Power Range |
30-100 watts |
10-100 watts |
Sensitivity |
85 dB |
90 dB |
Impedance |
6 ohms |
8 ohms |
Frequency Response |
46-30k Hz |
50-22k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
Woofer Size |
5.25" |
5.25" |
Woofer Composition |
Aluminum |
Treated paper |
Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
Tweeter Type |
JET AMT (Ribbon) |
Dome |
Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
Firing Direction |
bottom |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
Height |
321.0mm (12.6") |
225.0mm (8.9") |
Width |
205.0mm (8.1") |
161.0mm (6.3") |
Depth |
247.0mm (9.7") |
240.0mm (9.4") |
Weight |
6.70kg (14.7lbs) |
3.00kg (6.6lbs) |
Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
Finish |
MDF/Polymer |
MDF/Woodgrain vinyl |
Available Colors |
Satin Black,Satin White |
Black |
Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
Recommended Stand Height |
24-28" |
28-31" |
Grille |
n/a |
Yes |
Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
No |
Other |
|
|
Parts Warranty |
3 Years |
5 Years |
Labor Warranty |
3 Years |
5 Years |