In this review, we will be comparing Carina BS243.4 and M106, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from ELAC and Revel. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of ELAC Carina BS243.4 and Revel M106 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the ELAC Carina BS243.4 and Revel M106 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 Revel M106 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 M106 are 2-way speakers.
Driver |
ELAC Carina BS243.4 |
Revel M106 |
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
Woofer
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
Carina BS243.4 features a 1" JET AMT (Ribbon) Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" Aluminum Woofer . On the other hand, the M106 features a 1" aluminum Hard-Dome with Acoustic Lens Waveguide Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Aluminum Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2300Hz.
Frequency Response
Carina BS243.4 has a frequency range of 46-30k Hz whereas M106 has a frequency range of 59Hz- 20kHz. With a minimum frequency of 46Hz, the Carina BS243.4 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the M106's min frequency of 59Hz.
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 M106 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 M106's is rated at 87 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the Revel M106 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.
Carina BS243.4 can handle a max power of 150 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Carina BS243.4 has a max power handling value of 100 watts RMS , 50 watts less than the M106.
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. M106 has a Binding post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Carina BS243.4 has a bottom firing port whereas M106 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 Revel M106 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 Revel M106'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 Revel M106 has external dimensions of 383.0 x 210.0 x 280.0mm ( 15-1/16 x 8-1/4 x 11inch) .
Revel M106 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 5mm wider, 62mm taller and 33mm deeper than ELAC Carina BS243.4.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of ELAC Carina BS243.4 and Revel M106 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 Revel M106 is approximately 588.0cm2 / 91.1inch2. The Carina BS243.4 requires 14% less surface area than the M106 which gives it a small advantage 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 Revel M106 weighs 8.41kg / 18.5lbs. This makes the M106 26% heavier than the Carina BS243.4.
Here is a comparison of how Carina BS243.4 and M106'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 Revel M106?
Here are the items that come with the M106:
Bookshelf loudspeakerGrilleFoam port plugOwners Manual
Low Frequency Response |
46 Hz
vs
59 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
High Frequency Response |
30k Hz
vs
20k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
Height |
321mm
vs
383mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
Base Surface Area |
506cm2 (205x247mm)
vs
588cm2 (210x280mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
Price per pair* |
1500USD
vs
2200USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
Max Input Power |
150 watts
vs
100 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
Sensitivity |
87 dB
vs
85 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
6 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
5.25 inches
|
Larger woofer |
General |
ELAC Carina BS243.4 |
Revel Performa3 M106 |
Brand |
ELAC |
Revel |
Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
Power Range |
30-100 watts |
50-150 watts |
Sensitivity |
85 dB |
87 dB |
Impedance |
6 ohms |
8 ohms |
Frequency Response |
46-30k Hz |
59Hz- 20kHz |
Drivers |
|
|
Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
Woofer Size |
5.25" |
6.5" |
Woofer Composition |
Aluminum |
Aluminum |
Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
Tweeter Type |
JET AMT (Ribbon) |
Hard-Dome with Acoustic Lens Waveguide |
Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
Crossover Frequency |
n/a |
2300Hz |
Firing Direction |
bottom |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
Height |
321.0mm (12.6") |
383.0mm (15.1") |
Width |
205.0mm (8.1") |
210.0mm (8.3") |
Depth |
247.0mm (9.7") |
280.0mm (11") |
Weight |
6.70kg (14.7lbs) |
8.41kg (18.5lbs) |
Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
Finish |
MDF/Polymer |
Wood/Lacquer |
Available Colors |
Satin Black,Satin White |
Gloss Walnut,Piano Black |
Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
Recommended Stand Height |
24-28" |
24-25" |
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 |