In this review, we will be comparing Vela 2.0 VFS408.2-GB and ESL 9, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from ELAC and MartinLogan.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Elac Vela 2.0 VFS408.2-GB and MartinLogan ESL 9 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
Elac Vela 2.0 VFS408.2-GB Key Specs
- 3-way Design
- " JET 6 AMT Tweeter
- 2 x 7" AS XR cone Woofer
- 28-50k Hz Frequency Response
- 88.5 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 4ohms
- Power Range:Up to 220watts
- Weight:27.10kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 1142.0" x 10.9" x 13"( 1142 x 276 x 332 mm )
MartinLogan ESL 9 Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 9.2 x 44" curved electrostatic transducer Tweeter
- 2 x 8" high-excursion paper cone Woofer
- 34-23k Hz Frequency Response
- 90 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 4ohms
- Power Range:20-400watts
- Weight:35.45kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 1520.0" x 10-7/16" x 25-7/16"( 1520.0 x 266.0 x 647.0mm )
What size room are the Elac Vela 2.0 VFS408.2-GB and MartinLogan ESL 9 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 VFS408.2-GB |
MartinLogan ESL 9 |
| Near-field |
Are you nuts? |
Are you nuts? |
| Small Room |
Poor |
Poor |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Average |
| Large Room |
Good |
Good |
| Very Large Room |
Good |
Good |
(* 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.)
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Elac Vela 2.0 VFS408.2-GB and MartinLogan ESL 9 compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these loudspeakers is the better choice for you.
**This post contains affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking
through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Drivers
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that Vela 2.0 VFS408.2-GB is a 3-way design whereas the ESL 9 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.
| Driver |
Elac Vela 2.0 VFS408.2-GB |
MartinLogan ESL 9 |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
-inch
|
9.2 x 44-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 7-inch
|
2 x 8-inch
|
Vela 2.0 VFS408.2-GB features a " JET 6 AMT Tweeter and 2 x 7" AS XR cone Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 450Hz and 2550 Hz. On the other hand, the ESL 9 features a 9.2 x 44" curved electrostatic transducer Tweeter and 2 x 8" high-excursion paper cone Woofer .
Frequency Response
Vela 2.0 VFS408.2-GB has a frequency range of 28-50k Hz whereas ESL 9 has a frequency range of 34-23k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 28Hz, the Vela 2.0 VFS408.2-GB can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the ESL 9's min frequency of 34Hz.
Below graphs depict how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average values of the Min and Max Frequencies of other speakers in the Floor-standing class in our database.
Low Frequency
Floor-standing Speakers
High Frequency
Floor-standing Speakers
Elac Vela 2.0 VFS408.2-GB
None of these speakers achieves full range experience which is commonly agreed as 20Hz-20kHz. In order to achieve lower lows / deeper bass, we recommend you pair these with a subwoofer. Visit our Powered Subwoofers section to find out more about the available options.
Impedance and Sensitivity
Vela 2.0 VFS408.2-GB and ESL 9 have the same Impedance of 4 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Vela 2.0 VFS408.2-GB sensitivity is rated at 88.5 dB and the ESL 9's is at 90 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the MartinLogan ESL 9 a more sensitive speaker compared to Elac Vela 2.0 VFS408.2-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 VFS408.2-GB and the Vela 2.0 VFS408.2-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. While using
an amplifier within this range ensures the nominal performance , inputting a power that is higher than the
max wattage can result in a damaged speaker.
Vela 2.0 VFS408.2-GB can handle a max power of 400 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Vela 2.0 VFS408.2-GB has a max power handling value of 220 watts RMS , 180 watts less than the ESL 9.
Keep in mind that a higher max power handling value doesn't necessarily make that a louder speaker
compared to a lower max handling speaker. Loudness or the sound level is also impacted by parameters
such as Impedance, sensitivity and system efficiencies.
Physical Specs
Size of a speaker can sometimes become 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 VFS408.2-GB's and MartinLogan ESL 9's external dimensions. Elac Vela 2.0 VFS408.2-GB has external dimensions of 1142 x 276 x 332 mm ( 44.96 x 10.87 x 13.07 inches) whereas MartinLogan ESL 9 has external dimensions of 1520.0 x 266.0 x 647.0mm ( 59-13/16 x 10-7/16 x 25-7/16inch) .
Elac Vela 2.0 VFS408.2-GB is 378mm shorter and 315mm less deeper than MartinLogan ESL 9 but it is also 10mm wider.
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 VFS408.2-GB is approximately 916.3cm2 / 142.0inch2 and base area of the MartinLogan ESL 9 is approximately 1721.0cm2 / 266.8inch2. The Vela 2.0 VFS408.2-GB requires 47% less surface area than the ESL 9 which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.
What's in the Box of MartinLogan ESL 9?
Here are the items that come with the ESL 9:
Floorstanding hybrid electrostatic loudspeakerAC power adapter (w/ attached 10-feet DC cord)Grille4 Spike FeetUsers ManualProduct Registration Card