In this review, we will be comparing two different types of speakers by ELAC. Elac Vela 2.0 VFS407.2-GB is a Floor-standing speaker whereas the Vela 2.0 VBS403-GB is a Bookshelf speaker.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Elac Vela 2.0 VFS407.2-GB and Elac Vela 2.0 VBS403-GB first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Elac Vela 2.0 VFS407.2-GB | Elac Vela 2.0 VBS403-GB |
|---|
| Brand | ELAC
Germany · founded 1926 | ELAC
Germany · founded 1926 |
|---|
| Design | 3-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | JET 6 AMT | JET 6 AMT |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 6" AS XR cone | 7" AS XR cone |
|---|
| Frequency response | 30-50k Hz | 41-50k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 88 dB | 86 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 4 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | Up to 170 watts | Up to 100 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 19.10kg / 42lbs | 7.10kg / 15.6lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 39.4" x 9" x 10.5"
1000 x 229 x 266 mm | 14.25" x 7.5" x 9.4"
362 × 191 × 240 mm |
|---|
Vela 2.0 VFS407.2-GB and Vela 2.0 VBS403-GB are members of ELAC's Vela 2.0 series of speakers. Below you can find the loudspeakers from this series.
ELAC Vela 2.0 Series
History
What size room are the Elac Vela 2.0 VFS407.2-GB and Elac Vela 2.0 VBS403-GB 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 VFS407.2-GB |
Elac Vela 2.0 VBS403-GB |
| Near-field |
Bad |
Average |
| Small Room |
Poor |
Good |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Average |
| Large Room |
Good |
Poor |
| Very Large Room |
Average |
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.
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Drivers
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that Vela 2.0 VFS407.2-GB is a 3-way design whereas the Vela 2.0 VBS403-GB 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 Vela 2.0 VFS407.2-GBElac Vela 2.0 VBS403-GB
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 Vela 2.0 VFS407.2-GB |
Elac Vela 2.0 VBS403-GB |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
-inch
|
-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 6-inch
|
1 x 7-inch
|
Vela 2.0 VFS407.2-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 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.
Frequency Response
Vela 2.0 VFS407.2-GB has a frequency range of 30-50k Hz whereas Vela 2.0 VBS403-GB has a frequency range of 41-50k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 30Hz, the Vela 2.0 VFS407.2-GB can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Vela 2.0 VBS403-GB'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 Floor-standing class in our database.
Low Frequency
Floor-standing 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 VFS407.2-GB and Vela 2.0 VBS403-GB have the same Impedance of 4 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Vela 2.0 VFS407.2-GB sensitivity is rated at 88 dB and the Vela 2.0 VBS403-GB's is at 86 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the Elac Vela 2.0 VFS407.2-GB a more sensitive speaker compared to Elac Vela 2.0 VBS403-GB, 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 2.0 VFS407.2-GB and the Vela 2.0 VFS407.2-GB can provide this impedance level.
Sensitivity
Floor-standing 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 2.0 VFS407.2-GB can handle a max power of 170 watts RMS, whereas Vela 2.0 VBS403-GB has a max power handling value of 100 watts RMS, 70 watts less than the Vela 2.0 VFS407.2-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 Vela 2.0 VFS407.2-GB
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both Vela 2.0 VFS407.2-GB and Vela 2.0 VBS403-GB have bottom firing ports.
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 VFS407.2-GB's and Elac Vela 2.0 VBS403-GB's external dimensions. Elac Vela 2.0 VFS407.2-GB has external dimensions of 1000 x 229 x 266 mm (40 x 9 x 10.47 inches) whereas Elac Vela 2.0 VBS403-GB has external dimensions of 362 × 191 × 240 mm (14.25 x 7.52 x 9.4 inches).
Elac Vela 2.0 VFS407.2-GB is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 38mm wider, 638mm taller and 26mm deeper than Elac Vela 2.0 VBS403-GB.
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 VFS407.2-GB is approximately 609.1cm2 / 94.4inch2 and base area of the Elac Vela 2.0 VBS403-GB is approximately 458.4cm2 / 71.1inch2. The Vela 2.0 VFS407.2-GB requires 33% more surface area than the Vela 2.0 VBS403-GB which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.