In this review, we will be comparing Chorus 706 and Carina BS243.4, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Focal and ELAC. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Focal Chorus 706 and ELAC Carina BS243.4 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the Focal Chorus 706 and ELAC Carina BS243.4 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:
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Focal Chorus 706 and ELAC Carina BS243.4 compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these loudspeakers is the better choice for you.
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Drivers
Both Chorus 706 and Carina BS243.4 are 2-way speakers.
Driver |
Focal Chorus 706 |
ELAC Carina BS243.4 |
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
Woofer
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
Chorus 706 features a 1" TNV2 AI/Mg inverted dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Polyglass Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 3000Hz. On the other hand, the Carina BS243.4 features a 1" JET AMT (Ribbon) Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" Aluminum Woofer .
Frequency Response
Chorus 706 has a frequency range of 55-28k Hz whereas Carina BS243.4 has a frequency range of 46-30k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 46Hz, the Carina BS243.4 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Chorus 706's min frequency of 55Hz.
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 Bookshelf class in our database.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
High Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
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
Chorus 706 is a 8 ohms speaker compared to the Carina BS243.4 which has a nominal impedance of 6 ohms.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Chorus 706 sensitivity is rated at 90 dB and the Carina BS243.4's is rated at 85 dB. This 5 dB difference makes the Focal Chorus 706 a more sensitive speaker compared to ELAC Carina BS243.4, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Bookshelf 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.
Chorus 706 can handle a max power of 120 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Carina BS243.4 has a max power handling value of 100 watts RMS, 20 watts less than the Chorus 706.
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.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
Carina BS243.4 features Post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. Chorus 706 has a Binding post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Chorus 706 has a front firing port whereas Carina BS243.4 has a bottom firing ports. Focal Chorus 706's front-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to ELAC Carina BS243.4 with its rear-firing port.
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 Focal Chorus 706's and ELAC Carina BS243.4's external dimensions. Focal Chorus 706 has external dimensions of 390.0 x 220.0 x 263.0mm ( 15.4 x 8.7 x 10.4inch) whereas ELAC Carina BS243.4 has external dimensions of 321.0 x 205.0 x 247.0mm ( 12-5/8 x 8-1/16 x 9-11/16inch) .
Focal Chorus 706 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 15mm wider, 69mm taller and 16mm deeper than ELAC Carina BS243.4.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Focal Chorus 706 and ELAC Carina BS243.4 in scale.
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 Focal Chorus 706 is approximately 578.6cm2 / 89.7inch2 and base area of the ELAC Carina BS243.4 is approximately 506.4cm2 / 78.5inch2. The Chorus 706 requires 14% more surface area than the Carina BS243.4 which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.
Here is an another comparison that shows both speakers on a BDI Octave Media Cabinet, next to a standard size amplifier and turntable in scale:
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 Focal Chorus 706 weighs 8.20kg / 18lbs and the ELAC Carina BS243.4 weighs 6.70kg / 14.7lbs. This makes the Chorus 706 22% heavier than the Carina BS243.4.
Here is a comparison of how Chorus 706 and Carina BS243.4's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
What's in the Box of Focal Chorus 706?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Chorus 706:
2 Bookshelf loudspeakers 2 Cloth grilles (attached) User manual
What's in the Box of ELAC Carina BS243.4?
Here are the items that come with the Carina BS243.4:
2 Bookshelf loudspeakers 4 Jumper straps (pre-intalled) Operating Instructions
Max Input Power |
120 watts
vs
100 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
Sensitivity |
90 dB
vs
85 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
6 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
5.25 inches
|
Larger woofer |
Low Frequency Response |
46 Hz
vs
55 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
High Frequency Response |
30k Hz
vs
28k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
Height |
321mm
vs
390mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
Base Surface Area |
506cm2 (205x247mm)
vs
578cm2 (220x263mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
General |
Focal Chorus 706 |
ELAC Carina BS243.4 |
Brand |
Focal |
ELAC |
Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
Power Range |
25 - 120 watts |
30-100 watts |
Sensitivity |
90 dB |
85 dB |
Impedance |
8 ohms |
6 ohms |
Impedance |
3.6 ohms |
n/a |
Frequency Response |
55-28k Hz |
46-30k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
Woofer Size |
6.5" |
5.25" |
Woofer Composition |
Polyglass |
Aluminum |
Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
Tweeter Type |
inverted dome |
JET AMT (Ribbon) |
Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
Crossover Frequency |
3000Hz |
n/a |
Firing Direction |
front |
bottom |
Physical Specs |
|
|
Height |
390.0mm (15.4") |
321.0mm (12.6") |
Width |
220.0mm (8.7") |
205.0mm (8.1") |
Depth |
263.0mm (10.4") |
247.0mm (9.7") |
Weight |
8.20kg (18lbs) |
6.70kg (14.7lbs) |
Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
Finish |
Lacquer/Leatherette |
MDF/Polymer |
Available Colors |
Rosewood, Walnut, Black |
Satin Black,Satin White |
Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
Recommended Stand Height |
24-26" |
24-28" |
Grille |
Yes |
n/a |
Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Biamp Inputs |
No |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
Parts Warranty |
5 |
3 Years |
Labor Warranty |
5 |
3 Years |