In this review, we will be comparing Solano 2.0 CC281.2-GB and VELA CC 401, two Passive Center Channel speakers by ELAC.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Elac Solano 2.0 CC281.2-GB and ELAC VELA CC 401 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Elac Solano 2.0 CC281.2-GB | ELAC VELA CC 401 |
|---|
| Brand | ELAC
Germany · founded 1926 | ELAC
Germany · founded 1926 |
|---|
| Design | 3-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | JET 6 AMT | JET 5 folded ribbon |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 6" AS XR cone | 2 x 6" aluminum/paper sandwich |
|---|
| Frequency response | 34-50k Hz | 30-50k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 87.5 dB | 88 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 4 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | Up to 160 watts | 40-120 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 12.00kg / 26.4lbs | 19.14kg / 42.1lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 7.5" x 20" x 9.8"
190 x 500 x 248 mm | 7-9/16" x 25-9/16" x 9-7/16"
193.0 x 650.0 x 240.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Elac Solano 2.0 CC281.2-GB and ELAC VELA CC 401 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 Solano 2.0 CC281.2-GB |
ELAC VELA CC 401 |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Average |
Average |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Good |
| Large Room |
Average |
Average |
| 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.
Drivers
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that Solano 2.0 CC281.2-GB is a 3-way design whereas the VELA CC 401 is a 2-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 Solano 2.0 CC281.2-GBELAC VELA CC 401
Woofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
Elac Solano 2.0 CC281.2-GB |
ELAC VELA CC 401 |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
-inch
|
-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 6-inch
|
2 x 6-inch
|
Solano 2.0 CC281.2-GB features a " JET 6 AMT Tweeter and 2 x 6" AS XR cone Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 450Hz and 2400 Hz. On the other hand, the VELA CC 401 features a " JET 5 folded ribbon Tweeter and 2 x 6" aluminum/paper sandwich Woofer.
Frequency Response
Solano 2.0 CC281.2-GB has a frequency range of 34-50k Hz whereas VELA CC 401 has a frequency range of 30-50k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 30Hz, the VELA CC 401 can go slightly deeper then the Solano 2.0 CC281.2-GB's min frequency of 34Hz.
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
Solano 2.0 CC281.2-GB and VELA CC 401 have the same Impedance of 4 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Solano 2.0 CC281.2-GB sensitivity is rated at 87.5 dB and the VELA CC 401's is at 88 dB.
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 Solano 2.0 CC281.2-GB and the Solano 2.0 CC281.2-GB can provide this impedance level.
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.
Solano 2.0 CC281.2-GB can handle a max power of 160 watts RMS, whereas VELA CC 401 has a max power handling value of 120 watts RMS, 40 watts less than the Solano 2.0 CC281.2-GB.
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.
Elac Solano 2.0 CC281.2-GB
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Solano 2.0 CC281.2-GB has a bottom firing port whereas VELA CC 401 has a rear firing ports. Elac Solano 2.0 CC281.2-GB's bottom-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to ELAC VELA CC 401 with its rear-firing port.
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 Solano 2.0 CC281.2-GB's and ELAC VELA CC 401's external dimensions. Elac Solano 2.0 CC281.2-GB has external dimensions of 190 x 500 x 248 mm (7.5 x 20 x 9.76 inches) whereas ELAC VELA CC 401 has external dimensions of 193.0 x 650.0 x 240.0mm (7-9/16 x 25-9/16 x 9-7/16inch).
Elac Solano 2.0 CC281.2-GB is 150mm narrower and 3mm shorter than ELAC VELA CC 401 but it is also 8mm deeper.
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 Solano 2.0 CC281.2-GB is approximately 1240.0cm2 / 192.2inch2 and base area of the ELAC VELA CC 401 is approximately 1560.0cm2 / 241.8inch2. The Solano 2.0 CC281.2-GB requires 21% less surface area than the VELA CC 401 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 Solano 2.0 CC281.2-GB weighs 12.00kg / 26.4lbs and the ELAC VELA CC 401 weighs 19.14kg / 42.1lbs. This makes the VELA CC 401 60% heavier than the Solano 2.0 CC281.2-GB.
Here is a comparison of how Solano 2.0 CC281.2-GB and VELA CC 401's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Center Channel class.
Weight
All Center Channel Speakers
Elac Solano 2.0 CC281.2-GB
What's in the Box of ELAC VELA CC 401?
Here are the items that come with the VELA CC 401:
- 1 Center channel speaker
- 2 Jumper straps (pre-installed)
- Operating And Safety Instructions
 Max Input Power |
160 watts
vs
120 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
 Height |
190mm
vs
193mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
1240cm2
vs
1560cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
1199USD
vs
2300USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Low Frequency Response |
30 Hz
vs
34 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
| General |
Elac Solano 2.0 CC281.2-GB |
ELAC VELA CC 401 |
| Brand |
ELAC |
ELAC |
| Speaker Type |
Center channel speaker |
Center channel speaker |
| Power Range |
Up to 160 watts |
40-120 watts |
| Sensitivity |
87.5 dB |
88 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
4 ohms |
| Impedance |
3.6 ohms |
n/a |
| Frequency Response |
34-50k Hz |
30-50k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
6" |
6" |
| Woofer Composition |
AS XR cone |
aluminum/paper sandwich |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
n/a |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
- |
| Tweeter Type |
JET 6 AMT |
JET 5 folded ribbon |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
450Hz and 2400 Hz |
n/a |
| Firing Direction |
bottom |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
190.0mm (7.5") |
193.0mm (7.6") |
| Width |
500.0mm (19.7") |
650.0mm (25.6") |
| Depth |
248.0mm (9.8") |
240.0mm (9.4") |
| Weight |
12.00kg (26.4lbs) |
19.14kg (42.1lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Available Colors |
Black High Gloss, White High Gloss |
Gloss Black |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
|
3 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
|
3 Years |
These sit in different price classes - ELAC VELA CC 401 costs roughly 1.9x what Elac Solano 2.0 CC281.2-GB does. Expect it to lead on paper; the question is whether the gap is audible enough in your room to be worth it.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | B | ELAC VELA CC 401 digs deeper - 30Hz against 34Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (88dB vs 88dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Headroom | A | Elac Solano 2.0 CC281.2-GB takes more power (160W vs 120W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Elac Solano 2.0 CC281.2-GB is easier to place; ELAC VELA CC 401 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Price | A | Elac Solano 2.0 CC281.2-GB is cheaper - $1,199 against $2,300, about 48% less; arguably a different class. |
A Elac Solano 2.0 CC281.2-GB B ELAC VELA CC 401
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?
Neither runs away with it - they trade advantages. Let the "depends" rows and your own room settle it. Think about the whole system, not just the speakers: the roughly $1,101 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.