In this review, we will be comparing two different types of speakers by ELAC. ELAC VELA BS 403 is a Bookshelf speaker whereas the VELA FS 409 is a Floor-standing speaker.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of ELAC VELA BS 403 and ELAC VELA FS 409 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | ELAC VELA BS 403 | ELAC VELA FS 409 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | handmade JET 5 folded ribbon tweeter | handmade JET 5 folded ribbon |
|---|
| Midrange | — | 6" |
|---|
| Woofer | 6" Aluminum/Paper | 2 x 7" Aluminum/Paper |
|---|
| Frequency response | 41-50k Hz | 28-50k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 86 dB | 89 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 4 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 40-100 watts | 40-200 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 7.10kg / 15.6lbs | 32.18kg / 70.8lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 14-3/16" x 7-1/2" x 9-3/8"
361.0 x 191.0 x 239.0mm | 52-3/8" x 10-15/16" x 13-9/16"
1331.0 x 278.0 x 345.0mm |
|---|
VELA BS 403 and VELA FS 409 are members of ELAC's VELA series of speakers. Below you can find the loudspeakers from this series.
What size room are the ELAC VELA BS 403 and ELAC VELA FS 409 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 VELA BS 403 |
ELAC VELA FS 409 |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Bad |
| Small Room |
Average |
Poor |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Good |
| Large Room |
Average |
Good |
| Very Large Room |
Poor |
Poor |
(* 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.
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Drivers
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that VELA BS 403 is a 2-way design whereas the VELA FS 409 is a 3-way speaker. 3-way designs utilize a midrange driver in addition to the tweeter and woofer on 2-way designs. Designing a crossover for a 3-way speaker is a complicated process and generally increases the overall cost of the speaker.
ELAC VELA BS 403ELAC VELA FS 409
MidrangeWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
ELAC VELA BS 403 |
ELAC VELA FS 409 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
-inch
|
-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
1 x 6-inch |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 6-inch
|
2 x 7-inch
|
VELA BS 403 features a " handmade JET 5 folded ribbon tweeter Tweeter and 1 x 6" Aluminum/Paper Woofer. On the other hand, the VELA FS 409 features a " handmade JET 5 folded ribbon Tweeter, a 6" Midrange and 2 x 7" Aluminum/Paper Woofer.
Frequency Response
VELA BS 403 has a frequency range of 41-50k Hz whereas VELA FS 409 has a frequency range of 28-50k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 28Hz, the VELA FS 409 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the VELA BS 403's min frequency of 41Hz.
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
VELA BS 403 and VELA FS 409 have the same Impedance of 4 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. VELA BS 403 sensitivity is rated at 86 dB and the VELA FS 409's is at 89 dB. This 3 dB difference makes the ELAC VELA FS 409 a more sensitive speaker compared to ELAC VELA BS 403, 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 VELA BS 403 and the VELA BS 403 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.
VELA FS 409 can handle a max power of 200 watts RMS, whereas VELA BS 403 has a max power handling value of 100 watts RMS, 100 watts less than the VELA FS 409.
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
Both VELA BS 403 and VELA FS 409 features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.
ELAC VELA BS 403's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
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 VELA BS 403's and ELAC VELA FS 409's external dimensions. ELAC VELA BS 403 has external dimensions of 361.0 x 191.0 x 239.0mm (24-28inch x 7-1/2inch x 9-3/8inch) whereas ELAC VELA FS 409 has external dimensions of 1331.0 x 278.0 x 345.0mm (52-3/8 x 10-15/16 x 13-9/16inch).
ELAC VELA FS 409 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 87mm wider, 970mm taller and 106mm deeper than ELAC VELA BS 403.
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 VELA BS 403 is approximately 456.5cm2 / 70.8inch2 and base area of the ELAC VELA FS 409 is approximately 959.1cm2 / 148.7inch2. The VELA BS 403 requires 52% less surface area than the VELA FS 409 which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.
What's in the Box of ELAC VELA BS 403?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of VELA BS 403:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 4 Jumper straps (pre-installed)
- Operating And Safety Instructions
What's in the Box of ELAC VELA FS 409?
Here are the items that come with the VELA FS 409:
- Floorstanding loudspeaker
- Base plate
- 2 Jumper straps (pre-installed)
- 4 Spikes
- 4 Pucks
- 4 Rubber pads
- 4 Machine screws
- 4 Washers
- Hex-key
- Operating And Safety Instructions