In this review, we will be comparing Kanta Center and VELA CC 401, two Passive Center Channel speakers from Focal and ELAC.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Focal Kanta Center and ELAC VELA CC 401 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Focal Kanta Center | ELAC VELA CC 401 |
|---|
| Brand | Focal
France · founded 1979 | ELAC
Germany · founded 1926 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1.1" Hard-Dome | JET 5 folded ribbon |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 6.5" flax cone with TMD (Tuned Mass Damping) suspension | 2 x 6" aluminum/paper sandwich |
|---|
| Frequency response | 55-44k Hz | 30-50k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 92 dB | 88 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 4 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 40-200 watts | 40-120 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 18.00kg / 39.6lbs | 19.14kg / 42.1lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 9-11/16" x 22-1/8" x 15-1/2"
247.0 x 562.0 x 394.0mm | 7-9/16" x 25-9/16" x 9-7/16"
193.0 x 650.0 x 240.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Focal Kanta Center and ELAC VELA CC 401 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* |
Focal Kanta Center |
ELAC VELA CC 401 |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Average |
Average |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Good |
| Large Room |
Average |
Average |
| Very Large Room |
Poor |
Poor |
(* 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 Kanta Center and VELA CC 401 are 2-way speakers.
Focal Kanta CenterELAC VELA CC 401
TweeterWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
Focal Kanta Center |
ELAC VELA CC 401 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1.1-inch
|
-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
2 x 6-inch
|
Kanta Center features a 1.1" IAL3 Beryllium Hard-Dome Tweeter and 2 x 6.5" flax cone with TMD (Tuned Mass Damping) suspension Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2400 Hz. On the other hand, the VELA CC 401 features a " JET 5 folded ribbon Tweeter and 2 x 6" aluminum/paper sandwich Woofer.
Frequency Response
Kanta Center has a frequency range of 55-44k Hz whereas VELA CC 401 has a frequency range of 30-50k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 30Hz, the VELA CC 401 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Kanta Center's min frequency of 55Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Center Channel class in our database.
Low Frequency
Center Channel 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
Kanta Center is a 8 ohms speaker compared to the VELA CC 401 which has a nominal impedance of 4 ohms. Lower impedance speakers, especially the ones that are rated at 4 ohms may put more pressure on the amplifier unit especially when played at high volume levels, so make sure the amp you pair with the VELA CC 401 can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Kanta Center sensitivity is rated at 92 dB and the VELA CC 401's is rated at 88 dB. This 4 dB difference makes the Focal Kanta Center a more sensitive speaker compared to ELAC VELA CC 401, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Center Channel 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.
Kanta Center can handle a max power of 200 watts RMS, whereas VELA CC 401 has a max power handling value of 120 watts RMS, 80 watts less than the Kanta Center.
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.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
Kanta Center features Binding post type posts and VELA CC 401 has a Binding post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Focal Kanta Center's Binding post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both Kanta Center and VELA CC 401 have rear firing ports. Rear ported speakers generally need more room between the backside of the speaker and the wall compared to sealed and front/bottom ported speakers. Placing the speakers too close to the walls may cause the bass to sound boomy.
If you are limited in space and can't get the speakers away from the backwall, check our Speakers with Front Firing Ports page.
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 Focal Kanta Center's and ELAC VELA CC 401's external dimensions. Focal Kanta Center has external dimensions of 247.0 x 562.0 x 394.0mm (9-11/16inch x 22-1/8inch x 15-1/2inch) whereas ELAC VELA CC 401 has external dimensions of 193.0 x 650.0 x 240.0mm (7-9/16 x 25-9/16 x 9-7/16inch).
ELAC VELA CC 401 is 54mm shorter and 154mm less deeper than Focal Kanta Center but it is also 88mm 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 Focal Kanta Center is approximately 2214.3cm2 / 343.2inch2 and base area of the ELAC VELA CC 401 is approximately 1560.0cm2 / 241.8inch2. The Kanta Center requires 42% more surface area than the VELA CC 401 which gives it a small disadvantage 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 Focal Kanta Center weighs 18.00kg / 39.6lbs and the ELAC VELA CC 401 weighs 19.14kg / 42.1lbs. This makes the VELA CC 401 6% heavier than the Kanta Center.
Here is a comparison of how Kanta Center and VELA CC 401's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Center Channel class.
Weight
All Center Channel Speakers
What's in the Box of Focal Kanta Center?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Kanta Center:
- Center-channel loudspeaker
- 2 Grilles
- 4 Slicone pads
- User Manual
What's in the Box of ELAC VELA CC 401?
Here are the items that come with the VELA CC 401:
- 1 Center channel speaker
- 2 Jumper straps (pre-installed)
- Operating And Safety Instructions
 Max Input Power |
200 watts
vs
120 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Sensitivity |
92 dB
vs
88 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
6 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
30 Hz
vs
55 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
50k Hz
vs
44k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
193mm
vs
247mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
1560cm2
vs
2214cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
2300USD
vs
3999USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Focal Kanta Center |
ELAC VELA CC 401 |
| Brand |
Focal |
ELAC |
| Speaker Type |
Center channel speaker |
Center channel speaker |
| Power Range |
40-200 watts |
40-120 watts |
| Sensitivity |
92 dB |
88 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
4 ohms |
| Impedance |
3.5 ohms |
n/a |
| Frequency Response |
55-44k Hz |
30-50k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
6" |
| Woofer Composition |
flax cone with TMD (Tuned Mass Damping) suspension |
aluminum/paper sandwich |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
n/a |
| Tweeter Size |
1.1" |
- |
| Tweeter Type |
Hard-Dome |
JET 5 folded ribbon |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
2400 Hz |
n/a |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
247.0mm (9.7") |
193.0mm (7.6") |
| Width |
562.0mm (22.1") |
650.0mm (25.6") |
| Depth |
394.0mm (15.5") |
240.0mm (9.4") |
| Weight |
18.00kg (39.6lbs) |
19.14kg (42.1lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
Multi-ply/Polymer/Veneer |
n/a |
| Available Colors |
High-Gloss Carrara White,High-Gloss Black/Deep Black,Matte Walnut/Dark Grey,Matte Walnut/Ivory |
Gloss Black |
| Grille |
Yes |
n/a |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
No |
n/a |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
3 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
3 Years |
These sit in different price classes - Focal Kanta Center costs roughly 1.7x what ELAC VELA CC 401 does. Expect it to lead on paper; the question is whether the gap is audible enough in your room to be worth it.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | B | ELAC VELA CC 401 digs deeper - 30Hz against 55Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | A | Focal Kanta Center is more sensitive (92dB vs 88dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Amplifier match | A | Focal Kanta Center is the easier load at 8 ohms; the other is 4 ohms and wants an amplifier rated for it. |
| Headroom | A | Focal Kanta Center takes more power (200W vs 120W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | ELAC VELA CC 401 is easier to place; Focal Kanta Center is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Price | B | ELAC VELA CC 401 is cheaper - $2,300 against $3,999, about 42% less; arguably a different class. |
A Focal Kanta Center B ELAC VELA CC 401
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: Focal Kanta Center measures better, ELAC VELA CC 401 costs about about 74% 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. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 55Hz anyway, so judge these on the other rows instead. In a large or open-plan room, Focal Kanta Center has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, ELAC VELA CC 401 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.