In this review, we will be comparing Carina CC241.4 and Ultra Center, two Passive Center Channel speakers from ELAC and SVS.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of ELAC Carina CC241.4 and SVS Ultra Center first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | ELAC Carina CC241.4 | SVS Ultra Center |
|---|
| Brand | ELAC
Germany · founded 1926 | SVS
United States · founded 1998 |
|---|
| Design | 3-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | JET folded ribbon | 1" Dome |
|---|
| Midrange | 5-1/4" | 4" |
|---|
| Woofer | 5.25" aluminum-cone | 2 x 6.5" composite glass-fiber |
|---|
| Frequency response | 50-30k Hz | 45-32k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 87 dB | 87 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 6 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 30-120 watts | 20-225 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 10.20kg / 22.4lbs | 14.09kg / 31lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 8-1/16" x 24-7/16" x 9-9/16"
205.0 x 621.0 x 243.0mm | 8-1/8" x 22-1/16" x 11-3/16"
207.0 x 561.0 x 285.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the ELAC Carina CC241.4 and SVS Ultra Center 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:
| Listening Environment* |
ELAC Carina CC241.4 |
SVS Ultra Center |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Average |
Poor |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Good |
| Large Room |
Average |
Good |
| Very Large Room |
Poor |
Average |
(* Approximate Room sizes: Small < 100sq. ft / 9 m2,
Mid-size: 100-220 sq. ft / 9-20 m2, Large 220-400 sq. ft / 20-36 m2, Very Large: >
400 sq. ft / 36 m2.
Average Floor Height: 9" / 2.7m. Typical room sizes differ from country to country, and the actual
listening experience changes depending on floor height, room shape, surface materials, listening
position, speaker locations, etc.)
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
Both Carina CC241.4 and Ultra Center are 3-way speakers.
ELAC Carina CC241.4SVS Ultra Center
TweeterMidrangeWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
ELAC Carina CC241.4 |
SVS Ultra Center |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 5-1/4-inch |
1 x 4-inch |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
Carina CC241.4 features a " JET folded ribbon Tweeter, a 5-1/4" Midrange and 1 x 5.25" aluminum-cone Woofer. On the other hand, the Ultra Center features a 1" aluminum Dome Tweeter, a 4" Midrange and 2 x 6.5" composite glass-fiber Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 500Hz and 2200Hz.
Frequency Response
Carina CC241.4 has a frequency range of 50-30k Hz whereas Ultra Center has a frequency range of 45-32k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 45Hz, the Ultra Center can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Carina CC241.4's min frequency of 50Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Center Channel class in our database.
Low Frequency
Center Channel Speakers
Neither pair reaches down to 20Hz, the usual definition of full-range, which is normal for speakers of this size. If you want the bottom octave for movies or bass-heavy music, add a subwoofer to whichever you choose. Visit our Powered Subwoofers section to find out more about the available options.
Impedance and Sensitivity
Carina CC241.4 is a 6 ohms speaker compared to the Ultra Center which has a nominal impedance of 8 ohms.
On the other hand, they have the same sensitivity of 87 dBdB.
Sensitivity
Center Channel Speakers
Power Range
Power
range is the range of input power in watts RMS that a loudspeaker is designed to handle. Staying
within that range gives nominal performance; driving the speaker beyond its maximum wattage can damage it.
Ultra Center can handle a max power of 225 watts RMS, whereas Carina CC241.4 has a max power handling value of 120 watts RMS, 105 watts less than the Ultra Center.
Note that higher power handling does not make a speaker louder: that depends mainly on
sensitivity and impedance. The calculator below shows how loud each of these actually plays
on a real amplifier.
Which plays louder on your amplifier?
Starting with a popular amplifier - change it to the one you own, or any you are
considering, and watch both numbers move.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
Ultra Center features 5-Way post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. Carina CC241.4 has a Binding post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
ELAC Carina CC241.4's Binding post terminals
SVS Ultra Center's 5-Way post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both Carina CC241.4 and Ultra Center have rear firing ports. Rear ported speakers generally need more room between the backside of the speaker and the wall compared to sealed and front/bottom ported speakers. Placing the speakers too close to the walls may cause the bass to sound boomy.
If you are limited in space and can't get the speakers away from the backwall, check our Speakers with Front Firing Ports page.
Physical Specs
The size of a speaker can sometimes be 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 CC241.4's and SVS Ultra Center's external dimensions. ELAC Carina CC241.4 has external dimensions of 205.0 x 621.0 x 243.0mm (8-1/16 x 24-7/16 x 9-9/16inch) whereas SVS Ultra Center has external dimensions of 207.0 x 561.0 x 285.0mm (8-1/8 x 22-1/16 x 11-3/16inch).
ELAC Carina CC241.4 is 2mm shorter and 42mm less deeper than SVS Ultra Center but it is also 60mm wider.
Size, drawn to scale
Both speakers and both views share one scale, so everything here is directly comparable. Hover a box for its dimensions.
One scale for both, standing on the same surface and pushed back to the same wall, so the deeper one visibly sticks out further.
Near-identical footprints. SVS Ultra Center is 42mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall.
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 CC241.4 is approximately 1509.0cm2 / 233.9inch2 and base area of the SVS Ultra Center is approximately 1598.9cm2 / 247.8inch2. The Carina CC241.4 requires 6% less surface area than the Ultra Center which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.
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 CC241.4 weighs 10.20kg / 22.4lbs and the SVS Ultra Center weighs 14.09kg / 31lbs. This makes the Ultra Center 38% heavier than the Carina CC241.4.
Here is a comparison of how Carina CC241.4 and Ultra Center's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Center Channel class.
Weight
All Center Channel Speakers
What's in the Box of ELAC Carina CC241.4?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Carina CC241.4:
- Center-channel loudspeaker
- 2 Jumper straps (pre-installed)
- Operating Instructions
What's in the Box of SVS Ultra Center?
Here are the items that come with the Ultra Center:
- Center channel loudspeaker
- Grille
- 2 Terminal jumpers (pre-installed)
- 4 Rubber feet
- Owners Manual
- SVS brochure
- Online Product Registration Card
 Height |
205mm
vs
207mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
1509cm2
vs
1598cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Max Input Power |
225 watts
vs
120 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
6 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
5.25 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Number of Woofers |
2
vs
1
|
More woofers |
|
Low Frequency Response |
45 Hz
vs
50 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
32k Hz
vs
30k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Price per pair* |
799USD
vs
1000USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
ELAC Carina CC241.4 |
SVS Ultra Center |
| Brand |
ELAC |
SVS |
| Speaker Type |
Center channel speaker |
Center channel speaker |
| Power Range |
30-120 watts |
20-225 watts |
| Sensitivity |
87 dB |
87 dB |
| Impedance |
6 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
50-30k Hz |
45-32k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
5.25" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
aluminum-cone |
composite glass-fiber |
| Woofer Surround Material |
n/a |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
JET folded ribbon |
Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
5-1/4" |
4" |
| Crossover Frequency |
n/a |
500Hz and 2200Hz |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
205.0mm (8.1") |
207.0mm (8.1") |
| Width |
621.0mm (24.4") |
561.0mm (22.1") |
| Depth |
243.0mm (9.6") |
285.0mm (11.2") |
| Weight |
10.20kg (22.4lbs) |
14.09kg (31lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Available Colors |
Black |
Black Oak,Piano Gloss Black,Piano Gloss White |
| Grille |
n/a |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
n/a |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
3 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
3 Years |
5 Years |
A generation apart: ELAC Carina CC241.4 is the newer design, against a 2013 model. Newer is not automatically better, but the older one is more likely to be discounted or near run-out.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | B | SVS Ultra Center digs deeper - 45Hz against 50Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (87dB vs 87dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Amplifier match | B | SVS Ultra Center is the easier load at 8 ohms. |
| Headroom | B | SVS Ultra Center takes more power (225W vs 120W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Similar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit. |
| Expandability | B | SVS Ultra Center: bi-amping. |
| Price | B | SVS Ultra Center is cheaper - $799 against $1,000, about 20% less. |
A ELAC Carina CC241.4 B SVS Ultra Center
depends neither is better in the abstract - it turns on your room, your system or how you will use them. Only specs published for both speakers are judged; anything missing on either side is left out rather than guessed.
Which should you choose?
SVS Ultra Center is the easier recommendation: it leads on most of the measured areas and costs less. Take ELAC Carina CC241.4 if its size, looks or fit in your room suit you better. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 50Hz anyway, so judge these on the other rows instead. Match it to your room: we rate ELAC Carina CC241.4 the better fit for a small room, and SVS Ultra Center for a large room and a very large room.
And remember what a spec sheet cannot show: how each looks in your room and whether the finish suits it, what dealer support and warranty are like where you live, and how they actually sound to you. If you can hear them first - ideally with your own music - that will tell you more than any number above.