In this review, we will be comparing Genelec G Four and Navis ARB-51, two Powered Bookshelf speakers from Genelec and ELAC. Being Powered speakers, they both have built-in amplifiers so you don't need an external power amp or an integrated amp to power them. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Genelec G Four and ELAC Navis ARB-51 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Genelec G Four and ELAC Navis ARB-51 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
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that Genelec G Four is a 2-way design whereas the Navis ARB-51 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.
| Driver |
Genelec G Four |
ELAC Navis ARB-51 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
0.75-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
1 x 4-inch |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
Genelec G Four features a 0.75" Dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Cone Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 3000Hz. On the other hand, the Navis ARB-51 features a 1" Fabric Soft-Dome Tweeter , a 4" Midrange and 1 x 5.25" Aluminum Woofer .
Frequency Response
Genelec G Four has a frequency range of 48-20k Hz whereas Navis ARB-51 has a frequency range of 44-28k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 44Hz, the Navis ARB-51 can go slightly deeper then the Genelec G Four's min frequency of 48Hz.
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.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both Genelec G Four and Navis ARB-51 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
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 Genelec G Four's and ELAC Navis ARB-51's external dimensions. Genelec G Four has external dimensions of 365 x 237 x 223 mm ( 13.8 x 9.3 x 8.8) whereas ELAC Navis ARB-51 has external dimensions of 350.8 x 192.1 x 287.3mm ( 13.8125 x 7.5625 x 11.3125inch) .
ELAC Navis ARB-51 is 44.9mm narrower and 14.2mm shorter than Genelec G Four but it is also 64.3mm deeper.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Genelec G Four and ELAC Navis ARB-51 in scale.
Comparison image of Genelec G Four and ELAC Navis ARB-51 Size and External Dimensions
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 Genelec G Four is approximately 528.5cm2 / 81.9inch2 and base area of the ELAC Navis ARB-51 is approximately 551.9cm2 / 85.5inch2. The Genelec G Four requires 4% less surface area than the Navis ARB-51 which gives it a small advantage 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:
Size Comparison image of Genelec G Four and ELAC Navis ARB-51 on a Media Console
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 Genelec G Four weighs 8.60kg / 18.9lbs and the ELAC Navis ARB-51 weighs 8.10kg / 17.8lbs. This makes the Genelec G Four 6% heavier than the Navis ARB-51.
Here is a comparison of how Genelec G Four and Navis ARB-51's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Powered Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
What's in the Box of Genelec G Four?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Genelec G Four:
Genelec G Four 2-Way Powered Bookshelf Speaker (Polar White, Single)Iso-Pod Stand5.9-feet Power Cable
What's in the Box of ELAC Navis ARB-51?
Here are the items that come with the Navis ARB-51:
2 Powered bookshelf loudspeakersTwo 8-feet AC power cordsOperating Instructions
 Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
5.25 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 Base Surface Area |
528cm2 (237x223mm)
vs
551cm2 (192x287mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
 XLR Connection |
Yes
vs
No
|
Connection via XLR input |
 Subwoofer Output |
vs
No
|
Pair your speakers with external subwoofer |
 Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
| Low Frequency Response |
44 Hz
vs
48 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
28k Hz
vs
20k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
350mm
vs
365mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Price per pair* |
1998USD
vs
2300USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 RCA Connection |
Yes
vs
No
|
Connection via RCA input |
| General |
Genelec G Four |
ELAC Navis ARB-51 |
| Brand |
Genelec |
ELAC |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Stereo Speakers |
Powered Stereo Speakers |
| Frequency Response |
48-20k Hz |
44-28k Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
180-watt RMS |
300-watt RMS |
| Watts Peak (Max) |
n/a |
600-watt RMS |
| Max Bit Depth |
N/A |
n/a |
| Max Sample Rate |
N/A |
n/a |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
5.25" |
| Woofer Composition |
Cone |
Aluminum |
| Tweeter Size |
0.75" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Dome |
Soft-Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
4" |
| Crossover Frequency |
3000Hz |
n/a |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
365.0mm (14.4") |
350.8mm (13.8") |
| Width |
237.0mm (9.3") |
192.1mm (7.6") |
| Depth |
223.0mm (8.8") |
287.3mm (11.3") |
| Weight |
8.60kg (18.9lbs) |
8.10kg (17.8lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
Aluminum |
n/a |
| Available Colors |
White,Black,Raw(Aluminum) |
n/a |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Aux Inputs |
RCA,XLR |
XLR, RCA |
| USB Port |
No |
No |
| Phone Input |
No |
No |
| Subwoofer Output |
n/a |
No |
| Digital Input |
No |
No |
| HDMI Input |
No |
No |
| Headphone Jack |
No |
No |
| Ethernet Port |
No |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
3 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
3 Years |