In this review, we will be comparing Vela 2.0 VFS407.2-GB and R5 Meta, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from ELAC and KEF.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Elac Vela 2.0 VFS407.2-GB and KEF R5 Meta first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Elac Vela 2.0 VFS407.2-GB | KEF R5 Meta |
|---|
| Brand | ELAC
Germany · founded 1926 | KEF
United Kingdom · founded 1961 |
|---|
| Design | 3-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Uni-Q driver | — | 12th Generation Uni-Q |
|---|
| Tweeter | JET 6 AMT | 1" Vented dome |
|---|
| Midrange | — | 5" |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 6" AS XR cone | 2 x 5.25" Hybrid Aluminum |
|---|
| Frequency response | 30-50k Hz | 52-28k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 88 dB | 87 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 4 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | Up to 170 watts | 15-200 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 19.10kg / 42lbs | 24.55kg / 54lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 39.4" x 9" x 10.5"
1000 x 229 x 266 mm | 42-1/4" x 10-3/4" x 13-1/2"
1074.0 x 274.0 x 343.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Elac Vela 2.0 VFS407.2-GB and KEF R5 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 VFS407.2-GB |
KEF R5 Meta |
| Near-field |
Bad |
Bad |
| Small Room |
Poor |
Poor |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Average |
| Large Room |
Good |
Good |
| Very Large Room |
Average |
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
Both Vela 2.0 VFS407.2-GB and R5 Meta are 3-way speakers.
Elac Vela 2.0 VFS407.2-GBKEF R5 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 VFS407.2-GB |
KEF R5 Meta |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
1 x 5-inch |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 6-inch
|
2 x 5.25-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 R5 Meta features a 1" Aluminum with MAT absorber Vented dome Tweeter, a 5" Midrange and 2 x 5.25" Hybrid Aluminum Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 400Hz and 2700Hz.
Frequency Response
Vela 2.0 VFS407.2-GB has a frequency range of 30-50k Hz whereas R5 Meta has a frequency range of 52-28k 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 R5 Meta's min frequency of 52Hz.
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 R5 Meta 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 R5 Meta's is at 87 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the Elac Vela 2.0 VFS407.2-GB a more sensitive speaker compared to KEF R5 Meta, 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.
R5 Meta can handle a max power of 200 watts RMS, whereas Vela 2.0 VFS407.2-GB has a max power handling value of 170 watts RMS, 30 watts less than the R5 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 VFS407.2-GB
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Vela 2.0 VFS407.2-GB has a bottom firing port whereas R5 Meta has a rear firing ports. Elac Vela 2.0 VFS407.2-GB's bottom-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to KEF R5 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 VFS407.2-GB's and KEF R5 Meta'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 KEF R5 Meta has external dimensions of 1074.0 x 274.0 x 343.0mm (42-1/4-inch x 10-3/4-inch x 13-1/2-inch).
KEF R5 Meta is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 45mm wider, 74mm taller and 77mm deeper than Elac Vela 2.0 VFS407.2-GB.
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.
KEF R5 Meta needs about 54% more floor or shelf area. KEF R5 Meta is 77mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. KEF R5 Meta is 74mm 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 VFS407.2-GB is approximately 609.1cm2 / 94.4inch2 and base area of the KEF R5 Meta is approximately 939.8cm2 / 145.7inch2. The Vela 2.0 VFS407.2-GB requires 35% less surface area than the R5 Meta 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 VFS407.2-GB weighs 19.10kg / 42lbs and the KEF R5 Meta weighs 24.55kg / 54lbs. This makes the R5 Meta 29% heavier than the Vela 2.0 VFS407.2-GB.
Here is a comparison of how Vela 2.0 VFS407.2-GB and R5 Meta's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Floor-standing class.
Weight
All Floor-standing Speakers
Elac Vela 2.0 VFS407.2-GB
What's in the Box of KEF R5 Meta?
Here are the items that come with the R5 Meta:
- R5 Meta
- Microfiber grille
- Plinth and spike accessories
- Port bungs
- User manual and warranty information
 Sensitivity |
88 dB
vs
87 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Woofer Size |
6 inches
vs
5.25 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
30 Hz
vs
52 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
50k Hz
vs
28k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
1000mm
vs
1074mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
609cm2
vs
939cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Max Input Power |
200 watts
vs
170 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Price per pair* |
3998USD
vs
5999USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Elac Vela 2.0 VFS407.2-GB |
KEF R5 Meta |
| Brand |
ELAC |
KEF |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
Up to 170 watts |
15-200 watts |
| Sensitivity |
88 dB |
87 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
4 ohms |
| Impedance |
3.2 ohms |
3.2 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
30-50k Hz |
52-28k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
6" |
5.25" |
| Woofer Composition |
AS XR cone |
Hybrid Aluminum |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
JET 6 AMT |
Vented dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
5" |
| Crossover Frequency |
450Hz and 2400 Hz |
400Hz and 2700Hz |
| Firing Direction |
bottom |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
1000.0mm (39.4") |
1074.0mm (42.3") |
| Width |
229.0mm (9") |
274.0mm (10.8") |
| Depth |
266.0mm (10.5") |
343.0mm (13.5") |
| Weight |
19.10kg (42lbs) |
24.55kg (54lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Available Colors |
Black High Gloss, White High Gloss, Walnut High Gloss |
Black Gloss, White Gloss, Walnut |
| 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 VFS407.2-GB digs deeper - 30Hz against 52Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (88dB vs 87dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Headroom | evenly matched | Similar power handling (170W vs 200W). |
| Size | depends | Elac Vela 2.0 VFS407.2-GB is easier to place; KEF R5 Meta is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | B | KEF R5 Meta: bi-amping. |
| Price | B | KEF R5 Meta is cheaper - $3,998 against $5,999, about 33% less. |
A Elac Vela 2.0 VFS407.2-GB B KEF R5 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?
Neither runs away with it - they trade advantages. Let the "depends" rows and your own room settle it. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 52Hz anyway, which makes the cheaper KEF R5 Meta much easier to justify. In a large or open-plan room, KEF R5 Meta has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, Elac Vela 2.0 VFS407.2-GB is the easier speaker to get right.
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.