In this review, we will be comparing Vela 2.0 VBS403-GB and R200 50th Anniversary Edition, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from ELAC and Polk Audio.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Elac Vela 2.0 VBS403-GB and Polk R200 50th AE first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Elac Vela 2.0 VBS403-GB | Polk R200 50th AE |
|---|
| Brand | ELAC
Germany · founded 1926 | Polk Audio
United States · founded 1972 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | JET 6 AMT | 1" Ring Radiator |
|---|
| Woofer | 7" AS XR cone | 6.5" Polypropylene |
|---|
| Frequency response | 41-50k Hz | 51-38k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 86 dB | 86 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | Up to 100 watts | 30-200 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 7.10kg / 15.6lbs | 8.80kg / 19.4lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 14.25" x 7.5" x 9.4"
362 × 191 × 240 mm | 14-1/16" x 7-9/16" x 13-15/16"
358.0 x 193.0 x 355.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Elac Vela 2.0 VBS403-GB and Polk R200 50th AE 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 2.0 VBS403-GB |
Polk R200 50th AE |
| Near-field |
Average |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Good |
Poor |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Good |
| Large Room |
Poor |
Good |
| Very Large Room |
Bad |
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.
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Drivers
Both Vela 2.0 VBS403-GB and R200 50th Anniversary Edition are 2-way speakers.
Elac Vela 2.0 VBS403-GBPolk R200 50th AE
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 Vela 2.0 VBS403-GB |
Polk R200 50th AE |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 7-inch
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
Vela 2.0 VBS403-GB features a " JET 6 AMT Tweeter and 1 x 7" AS XR cone Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2400 Hz. On the other hand, the R200 50th Anniversary Edition features a 1" ring radiator Pinnacle with an integrated waveguide Ring Radiator Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Polypropylene Woofer.
Frequency Response
Vela 2.0 VBS403-GB has a frequency range of 41-50k Hz whereas R200 50th Anniversary Edition has a frequency range of 51-38k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 41Hz, the Vela 2.0 VBS403-GB can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the R200 50th Anniversary Edition's min frequency of 51Hz.
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
R200 50th Anniversary Edition
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 2.0 VBS403-GB is a 4 ohms speaker compared to the R200 50th Anniversary Edition which has a nominal impedance of 8 ohms. Lower impedance speakers, especially the ones that are rated at 4 ohms may put more pressure on the amplifier unit especially when played at high volume levels, so make sure the amp you pair with the Vela 2.0 VBS403-GB can provide this impedance level.
On the other hand, they have the same sensitivity of 86 dBdB.
Sensitivity
Bookshelf Speakers
R200 50th Anniversary Edition
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.
R200 50th Anniversary Edition can handle a max power of 200 watts RMS, whereas Vela 2.0 VBS403-GB has a max power handling value of 100 watts RMS, 100 watts less than the R200 50th Anniversary Edition.
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.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Vela 2.0 VBS403-GB has a bottom firing port whereas R200 50th Anniversary Edition has a rear firing ports. Elac Vela 2.0 VBS403-GB's bottom-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to Polk R200 50th AE 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 Vela 2.0 VBS403-GB's and Polk R200 50th AE's external dimensions. Elac Vela 2.0 VBS403-GB has external dimensions of 362 × 191 × 240 mm (14.25 x 7.52 x 9.4 inches) whereas Polk R200 50th AE has external dimensions of 358.0 x 193.0 x 355.0mm (24-28inch x 7-9/16inch x 13-15/16inch).
Elac Vela 2.0 VBS403-GB is 2mm narrower and 115mm less deeper than Polk R200 50th AE but it is also 4mm taller.
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 2.0 VBS403-GB is approximately 458.4cm2 / 71.1inch2 and base area of the Polk R200 50th AE is approximately 685.2cm2 / 106.2inch2. The Vela 2.0 VBS403-GB requires 33% less surface area than the R200 50th Anniversary Edition 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 Vela 2.0 VBS403-GB weighs 7.10kg / 15.6lbs and the Polk R200 50th AE weighs 8.80kg / 19.4lbs. This makes the R200 50th Anniversary Edition 24% heavier than the Vela 2.0 VBS403-GB.
Here is a comparison of how Vela 2.0 VBS403-GB and R200 50th Anniversary Edition's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
What's in the Box of Polk R200 50th AE?
Here are the items that come with the R200 50th Anniversary Edition:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Grilles
- Owners Manual
- Online Registration
- Certificate Of Aunthenticity
 Woofer Size |
7 inches
vs
6.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
41 Hz
vs
51 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
50k Hz
vs
38k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Base Surface Area |
458cm2
vs
685cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Max Input Power |
200 watts
vs
100 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Minimum Impedance |
3.8 ohms
vs
3.2 ohms
|
Very low impedance levels puts more pressure on amplifier |
 Height |
358mm
vs
362mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Price per pair* |
1249USD
vs
2999USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Elac Vela 2.0 VBS403-GB |
Polk Audio Reserve R200 50th Anniversary Edition |
| Brand |
ELAC |
Polk Audio |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
Up to 100 watts |
30-200 watts |
| Sensitivity |
86 dB |
86 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
3.2 ohms |
3.8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
41-50k Hz |
51-38k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
7" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
AS XR cone |
Polypropylene |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
JET 6 AMT |
Ring Radiator |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
2400 Hz |
n/a |
| Firing Direction |
bottom |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
362.0mm (14.3") |
358.0mm (14.1") |
| Width |
191.0mm (7.5") |
193.0mm (7.6") |
| Depth |
240.0mm (9.4") |
355.0mm (14") |
| Weight |
7.10kg (15.6lbs) |
8.80kg (19.4lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
n/a |
MDF/Wood veneer |
| Available Colors |
Black High Gloss, White High Gloss |
Cherry |
| Mounting Bracket |
|
No |
| Recommended Stand Height |
n/a |
24-28" |
| Grille |
n/a |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
n/a |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
|
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
|
5 Years |
These sit in different price classes - Elac Vela 2.0 VBS403-GB costs roughly 2.4x what Polk R200 50th AE 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 | A | Elac Vela 2.0 VBS403-GB digs deeper - 41Hz against 51Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (86dB vs 86dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Amplifier match | B | Polk R200 50th AE is the easier load at 8 ohms; the other is 4 ohms and wants an amplifier rated for it. |
| Headroom | B | Polk R200 50th AE takes more power (200W vs 100W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Elac Vela 2.0 VBS403-GB is easier to place; Polk R200 50th AE is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | depends | Neither adds bi-amping, a sub output or height drivers. Polk R200 50th AE sits in a wider range (10 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | B | Polk R200 50th AE is cheaper - $1,249 against $2,999, about 58% less; arguably a different class. |
A Elac Vela 2.0 VBS403-GB B Polk R200 50th AE
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?
Polk R200 50th AE has the edge on paper, though the margin is not large. The rows marked "depends" may matter more to you than the score does. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 51Hz anyway, which makes the cheaper Polk R200 50th AE much easier to justify. Match it to your room: we rate Elac Vela 2.0 VBS403-GB the better fit for near-field listening and a small room, and Polk R200 50th AE for a mid-size room, 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.