In this review, we will be comparing BS312.2 and BS305, two Passive Bookshelf speakers by ELAC.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of ELAC Elegant BS312.2 and ELAC Elegant BS305 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | ELAC Elegant BS312.2 | ELAC Elegant BS305 |
|---|
| Brand | ELAC
Germany · founded 1926 | ELAC
Germany · founded 1926 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | JET 6 AMT | 1" Soft-Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 4.5" AS-XR aluminium sandwich | 4.5" Aluminium sandwich (AS) |
|---|
| Frequency response | 42-50k Hz | 42-23k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 87 dB | 86 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 4 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 50-150 watts | 50-150 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 7.20kg / 15.8lbs | 5.50kg / 12.1lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 8-3/16" x 4-13/16" x 10-5/8"
208.0 x 122.0 x 270.0mm | 8-3/16" x 4-13/16" x 10-5/8"
208.0 x 123.0 x 270.0mm |
|---|
BS312.2 and BS305 are members of ELAC's Elegant series of speakers. Below you can find the loudspeakers from this series.
ELAC Elegant Series
History
What size room are the ELAC Elegant BS312.2 and ELAC Elegant BS305 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 Elegant BS312.2 |
ELAC Elegant BS305 |
| Near-field |
Average |
Average |
| Small Room |
Good |
Good |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Average |
| Large Room |
Poor |
Poor |
| Very Large Room |
Bad |
Bad |
(* 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.
**This post contains affiliate links, and we will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking
through our links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Drivers
Both BS312.2 and BS305 are 2-way speakers.
ELAC Elegant BS312.2ELAC Elegant BS305
TweeterWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
ELAC Elegant BS312.2 |
ELAC Elegant BS305 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 4.5-inch
|
1 x 4.5-inch
|
BS312.2 features a " Folded ribbon foil JET 6 AMT Tweeter and 1 x 4.5" AS-XR aluminium sandwich Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 3200Hz. On the other hand, the BS305 features a 1" Fabric Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 4.5" Aluminium sandwich (AS) Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 3500Hz.
Frequency Response
BS312.2 has a frequency range of 42-50k Hz whereas BS305 has a frequency range of 42-23k Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Bookshelf class in our database.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf 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
BS312.2 and BS305 have the same Impedance of 4 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. BS312.2 sensitivity is rated at 87 dB and the BS305's is at 86 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the ELAC Elegant BS312.2 a more sensitive speaker compared to ELAC Elegant BS305, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
One thing to keep in mind that the lower impedance speakers, especially the ones that are rated at 4 ohms may put more pressure on the amplifier unit comared to higher impedance speakers especially at high volume levels, so make sure the amp you pair with the BS312.2 and the BS312.2 can provide this impedance level.
Sensitivity
Bookshelf 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.
BS312.2 and BS305 have the same power range of 50-150 watts.
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
BS312.2 features Binding posts posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. BS305 has a 5-way post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both BS312.2 and BS305 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 Elegant BS312.2's and ELAC Elegant BS305's external dimensions. ELAC Elegant BS312.2 has external dimensions of 208.0 x 122.0 x 270.0mm (8-3/16 x 4-13/16 x 10-5/8inch) whereas ELAC Elegant BS305 has external dimensions of 208.0 x 123.0 x 270.0mm (8-3/16 x 4-13/16 x 10-5/8inch).
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 Elegant BS312.2 is approximately 329.4cm2 / 51.1inch2 and base area of the ELAC Elegant BS305 is approximately 332.1cm2 / 51.5inch2. The BS312.2 requires 1% less surface area than the BS305 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 Elegant BS312.2 weighs 7.20kg / 15.8lbs and the ELAC Elegant BS305 weighs 5.50kg / 12.1lbs. This makes the BS312.2 31% heavier than the BS305.
Here is a comparison of how BS312.2 and BS305's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
 Sensitivity |
87 dB
vs
86 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 High Frequency Response |
50k Hz
vs
23k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
 Base Surface Area |
329cm2
vs
332cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Max Input Power |
120 watts
vs
100 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Price per pair* |
1099USD
vs
2099USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
ELAC Elegant BS 312.2 |
ELAC Elegant BS 305 |
| Brand |
ELAC |
ELAC |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
50-150 watts |
50-150 watts |
| Sensitivity |
87 dB |
86 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
4 ohms |
| Impedance |
3.4 ohms |
n/a |
| Frequency Response |
42-50k Hz |
42-23k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
4.5" |
4.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
AS-XR aluminium sandwich |
Aluminium sandwich (AS) |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
JET 6 AMT |
Soft-Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
3200Hz |
3500Hz |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
208.0mm (8.2") |
208.0mm (8.2") |
| Width |
122.0mm (4.8") |
123.0mm (4.8") |
| Depth |
270.0mm (10.6") |
270.0mm (10.6") |
| Weight |
7.20kg (15.8lbs) |
5.50kg (12.1lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass reflex |
Bass reflex |
| Finish |
Aluminium |
Aluminium |
| Available Colors |
White High Gloss, Black High Gloss |
High Gloss Black, High Gloss White |
| Mounting Bracket |
|
|
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
3 Years |
3 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
3 Years |
3 Years |
Siblings in ELAC's Elegant series, so they share a family sound. It comes down to size, output and price.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | evenly matched | Much the same reach (42Hz vs 42Hz). |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (87dB vs 86dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Headroom | evenly matched | Similar power handling (100W vs 120W). |
| Size | depends | Similar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit. |
| Expandability | A | ELAC Elegant BS312.2: bi-amping. |
| Price | B | ELAC Elegant BS305 is cheaper - $1,099 against $2,099, about 48% less; arguably a different class. |
A ELAC Elegant BS312.2 B ELAC Elegant BS305
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?
ELAC Elegant BS312.2 is ahead, but only on 1 of the measured areas, and it costs about 91% more. That is a lot of money for a narrow margin on paper - ELAC Elegant BS305 looks like the sensible buy unless something else about the ELAC Elegant BS312.2 appeals to you. Think about the whole system, not just the speakers: the roughly $1,000 saved by taking the cheaper pair would buy a subwoofer or a better amplifier, and either usually does more for the sound than the difference between these two.
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.