In this review, we will be comparing Vela 2.0 VBS404.2-GB and R3 Meta, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from ELAC and KEF.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Elac Vela 2.0 VBS404.2-GB and KEF R3 Meta first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Elac Vela 2.0 VBS404.2-GB | KEF R3 Meta |
|---|
| Brand | ELAC
Germany · founded 1926 | KEF
United Kingdom · founded 1961 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Uni-Q driver | — | 12th Generation Uni-Q |
|---|
| Tweeter | JET 6 AMT | 1" Hard-Dome |
|---|
| Midrange | — | 5" |
|---|
| Woofer | 6" AS XR cone | 6.5" Hybrid Aluminum |
|---|
| Frequency response | 38-50k Hz | 58-28k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 87 dB | 87 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 4 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | Up to 120 watts | 15-180 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 9.70kg / 21.3lbs | 12.41kg / 27.3lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 16.2" x 10.9" x 13"
412 x 276 x 332 mm | 16-5/8" x 7-15/16" x 13-1/4"
423.0 x 202.0 x 337.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Elac Vela 2.0 VBS404.2-GB and KEF R3 Meta 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 VBS404.2-GB |
KEF R3 Meta |
| 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
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that Vela 2.0 VBS404.2-GB is a 2-way design whereas the R3 Meta 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 2.0 VBS404.2-GBKEF R3 Meta
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 Vela 2.0 VBS404.2-GB |
KEF R3 Meta |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
1 x 5-inch |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 6-inch
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
Vela 2.0 VBS404.2-GB features a " JET 6 AMT Tweeter and 1 x 6" AS XR cone Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2400 Hz. On the other hand, the R3 Meta features a 1" Aluminum with MAT absorber Hard-Dome Tweeter, a 5" Midrange and 1 x 6.5" Hybrid Aluminum Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 420Hz and 2300Hz.
Frequency Response
Vela 2.0 VBS404.2-GB has a frequency range of 38-50k Hz whereas R3 Meta has a frequency range of 58-28k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 38Hz, the Vela 2.0 VBS404.2-GB can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the R3 Meta's min frequency of 58Hz.
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 2.0 VBS404.2-GB and R3 Meta have the same Impedance of 4 ohms and their sensitivity is also same at 87 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 Vela 2.0 VBS404.2-GB and the Vela 2.0 VBS404.2-GB 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.
R3 Meta can handle a max power of 180 watts RMS, whereas Vela 2.0 VBS404.2-GB has a max power handling value of 120 watts RMS, 60 watts less than the R3 Meta.
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 Vela 2.0 VBS404.2-GB
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Vela 2.0 VBS404.2-GB has a bottom firing port whereas R3 Meta has a rear firing ports. Elac Vela 2.0 VBS404.2-GB's bottom-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to KEF R3 Meta 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 VBS404.2-GB's and KEF R3 Meta's external dimensions. Elac Vela 2.0 VBS404.2-GB has external dimensions of 412 x 276 x 332 mm (16.22 x 10.87 x 13.07 inches) whereas KEF R3 Meta has external dimensions of 423.0 x 202.0 x 337.0mm (16-5/8-inch x 7-15/16-inch x 13-1/4-inch).
Elac Vela 2.0 VBS404.2-GB is 11mm shorter and 5mm less deeper than KEF R3 Meta but it is also 74mm 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.
Elac Vela 2.0 VBS404.2-GB needs about 35% more floor or shelf area.
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 VBS404.2-GB is approximately 916.3cm2 / 142.0inch2 and base area of the KEF R3 Meta is approximately 680.7cm2 / 105.5inch2. The Vela 2.0 VBS404.2-GB requires 35% more surface area than the R3 Meta which gives it a small disadvantage 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 VBS404.2-GB weighs 9.70kg / 21.3lbs and the KEF R3 Meta weighs 12.41kg / 27.3lbs. This makes the R3 Meta 28% heavier than the Vela 2.0 VBS404.2-GB.
Here is a comparison of how Vela 2.0 VBS404.2-GB and R3 Meta's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
Elac Vela 2.0 VBS404.2-GB
What's in the Box of KEF R3 Meta?
Here are the items that come with the R3 Meta:
- 1 pair of R3 Meta loudspeakers
- 1 pair of microfiber grilles
- Rubber feet
- Port bungs
- User manual and warranty information
 Low Frequency Response |
38 Hz
vs
58 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
50k Hz
vs
28k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
412mm
vs
423mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Max Input Power |
180 watts
vs
120 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
|
Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
6 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 Base Surface Area |
680cm2
vs
916cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
2199USD
vs
2499USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Elac Vela 2.0 VBS404.2-GB |
KEF R3 Meta |
| Brand |
ELAC |
KEF |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
Up to 120 watts |
15-180 watts |
| Sensitivity |
87 dB |
87 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
4 ohms |
| Impedance |
3.2 ohms |
3.2 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
38-50k Hz |
58-28k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
6" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
AS XR cone |
Hybrid Aluminum |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
JET 6 AMT |
Hard-Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
5" |
| Crossover Frequency |
2400 Hz |
420Hz and 2300Hz |
| Firing Direction |
bottom |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
412.0mm (16.2") |
423.0mm (16.7") |
| Width |
276.0mm (10.9") |
202.0mm (8") |
| Depth |
332.0mm (13.1") |
337.0mm (13.3") |
| Weight |
9.70kg (21.3lbs) |
12.41kg (27.3lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Available Colors |
Black High Gloss, White High Gloss, Walnut High Gloss |
Black Gloss, White Gloss, Walnut, Indigo Gloss Special Edition |
| Mounting Bracket |
|
No |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
n/a |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
|
5 years |
| Labor Warranty |
|
5 years |
No single best speaker here - they are built to different priorities, and the right one depends on your room, your amplifier and what you listen to.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | A | Elac Vela 2.0 VBS404.2-GB digs deeper - 38Hz against 58Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (87dB vs 87dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Headroom | B | KEF R3 Meta takes more power (180W vs 120W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | KEF R3 Meta is easier to place; Elac Vela 2.0 VBS404.2-GB is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | B | KEF R3 Meta: bi-amping. |
| Price | B | KEF R3 Meta is cheaper - $2,199 against $2,499, about 12% less. |
A Elac Vela 2.0 VBS404.2-GB B KEF R3 Meta
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?
KEF R3 Meta 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 58Hz anyway, which makes the cheaper KEF R3 Meta much easier to justify. Match it to your room: we rate Elac Vela 2.0 VBS404.2-GB the better fit for a small room, and KEF R3 Meta 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.