In this review, we will be comparing Vela 2.0 VFS409.2-GB and Vela 2.0 VFS408.2-GB, two Passive Floor-standing speakers by ELAC.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Elac Vela 2.0 VFS409.2-GB and Elac Vela 2.0 VFS408.2-GB first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Elac Vela 2.0 VFS409.2-GB | Elac Vela 2.0 VFS408.2-GB |
|---|
| Brand | ELAC
Germany · founded 1926 | ELAC
Germany · founded 1926 |
|---|
| Design | 4-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | JET 6 AMT | JET 6 AMT |
|---|
| Midrange | 6" | — |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 7" AS XR cone | 2 x 7" AS XR cone |
|---|
| Frequency response | 28-50k Hz | 28-50k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 89 dB | 88.5 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 4 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | Up to 280 watts | Up to 220 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 32.10kg / 70.6lbs | 27.10kg / 59.6lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 51.5" x 10.9" x 13"
1307 x 276 x 332 mm | 45" x 10.9" x 13"
1142 x 276 x 332 mm |
|---|
Vela 2.0 VFS409.2-GB and Vela 2.0 VFS408.2-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 VFS409.2-GB and Elac Vela 2.0 VFS408.2-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 VFS409.2-GB |
Elac Vela 2.0 VFS408.2-GB |
| 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.)
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 VFS409.2-GB is a 4-way design whereas the Vela 2.0 VFS408.2-GB 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 VFS409.2-GBElac Vela 2.0 VFS408.2-GB
MidrangeWoofer
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 VFS409.2-GB |
Elac Vela 2.0 VFS408.2-GB |
|
Driver Setup
|
4-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
-inch
|
-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 6-inch |
- |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 7-inch
|
2 x 7-inch
|
Vela 2.0 VFS409.2-GB features a " JET 6 AMT Tweeter, a 6" Midrange and 2 x 7" AS XR cone Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 140 Hz, 360 Hz, 2700 Hz. On the other hand, the 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.
Frequency Response
Vela 2.0 VFS409.2-GB and Vela 2.0 VFS408.2-GB has exactly the same frequency range of 28-50k Hz.
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 VFS409.2-GB and Vela 2.0 VFS408.2-GB have the same Impedance of 4 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Vela 2.0 VFS409.2-GB sensitivity is rated at 89 dB and the Vela 2.0 VFS408.2-GB's is at 88.5 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 VFS409.2-GB and the Vela 2.0 VFS409.2-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 VFS409.2-GB can handle a max power of 280 watts RMS, whereas Vela 2.0 VFS408.2-GB has a max power handling value of 220 watts RMS, 60 watts less than the Vela 2.0 VFS409.2-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 VFS409.2-GB
Elac Vela 2.0 VFS408.2-GB
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both Vela 2.0 VFS409.2-GB and Vela 2.0 VFS408.2-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 VFS409.2-GB's and Elac Vela 2.0 VFS408.2-GB's external dimensions. Elac Vela 2.0 VFS409.2-GB has external dimensions of 1307 x 276 x 332 mm (51.5 x 10.9 x 13 inches) whereas 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).
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.
Near-identical footprints. Elac Vela 2.0 VFS409.2-GB is 165mm 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 VFS409.2-GB is approximately 916.3cm2 / 142.0inch2 and base area of the Elac Vela 2.0 VFS408.2-GB is approximately 916.3cm2 / 142.0inch2.
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 VFS409.2-GB weighs 32.10kg / 70.6lbs and the Elac Vela 2.0 VFS408.2-GB weighs 27.10kg / 59.6lbs. This makes the Vela 2.0 VFS409.2-GB 18% heavier than the Vela 2.0 VFS408.2-GB.
Here is a comparison of how Vela 2.0 VFS409.2-GB and Vela 2.0 VFS408.2-GB's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Floor-standing class.
Weight
All Floor-standing Speakers
Elac Vela 2.0 VFS409.2-GB
Elac Vela 2.0 VFS408.2-GB
 Max Input Power |
280 watts
vs
220 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Driver Setup |
4-way
vs
3-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
 Minimum Impedance |
3.4 ohms
vs
3.2 ohms
|
Very low impedance levels puts more pressure on amplifier |
 Height |
1142mm
vs
1307mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Price per pair* |
6999USD
vs
7999USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Elac Vela 2.0 VFS409.2-GB |
Elac Vela 2.0 VFS408.2-GB |
| Brand |
ELAC |
ELAC |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
Up to 280 watts |
Up to 220 watts |
| Sensitivity |
89 dB |
88.5 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
4 ohms |
| Impedance |
3.4 ohms |
3.2 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
28-50k Hz |
28-50k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
7" |
7" |
| Woofer Composition |
AS XR cone |
AS XR cone |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
- |
| Tweeter Type |
JET 6 AMT |
JET 6 AMT |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
6" |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
140 Hz, 360 Hz, 2700 Hz |
450Hz and 2550 Hz |
| Firing Direction |
bottom |
bottom |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
1307.0mm (51.5") |
1142.0mm (45") |
| Width |
276.0mm (10.9") |
276.0mm (10.9") |
| Depth |
332.0mm (13.1") |
332.0mm (13.1") |
| Weight |
32.10kg (70.6lbs) |
27.10kg (59.6lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Available Colors |
Black High Gloss, White High Gloss, Walnut High Gloss |
Black High Gloss, White High Gloss, Walnut High Gloss |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
|
|
| Labor Warranty |
|
|
Siblings in ELAC's Vela 2.0 series, so they share a family sound. It comes down to size, output and price.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | evenly matched | Much the same reach (28Hz vs 28Hz). |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (89dB vs 89dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Headroom | A | Elac Vela 2.0 VFS409.2-GB takes more power (280W vs 220W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Similar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit. |
| Price | B | Elac Vela 2.0 VFS408.2-GB is cheaper - $6,999 against $7,999, about 13% less. |
A Elac Vela 2.0 VFS409.2-GB B Elac Vela 2.0 VFS408.2-GB
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?
The usual trade-off: Elac Vela 2.0 VFS409.2-GB measures better, Elac Vela 2.0 VFS408.2-GB costs about about 14% more% less. Whether that gap is worth the money is the call only you can make - and in a normal room it is often smaller than the numbers suggest.
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.