In this review, we will be comparing 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.
| Key Specs | Genelec G Four | ELAC Navis ARB-51 |
|---|
| Brand | Genelec
Finland · founded 1978 | ELAC
Germany · founded 1926 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Built-in amplifier | 180-watt RMS | 300-watt RMS (600-watt peak) |
|---|
| Tweeter | 0.75" Dome | 1" Soft-Dome |
|---|
| Midrange | — | 4" |
|---|
| Woofer | 6.5" Cone | 5.25" Aluminum |
|---|
| Frequency response | 48-20k Hz | 44-28k Hz |
|---|
| Bluetooth | No | Optional |
|---|
| Weight | 8.60kg / 18.9lbs | 8.10kg / 17.8lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 14.4" x 9.3" x 8.8"
365 x 237 x 223 mm | 13.8125" x 7.5625" x 11.3125"
350.8 x 192.1 x 287.3mm |
|---|
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 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.
Genelec G FourELAC Navis ARB-51
TweeterMidrangeWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| 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
|
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
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 G Four's min frequency of 48Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Bookshelf class in our database.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf 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.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both 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
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 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 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 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 G Four 6% heavier than the Navis ARB-51.
Here is a comparison of how 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 G Four:
- Genelec G Four 2-Way Powered Bookshelf Speaker (Polar White, Single)
- Iso-Pod Stand
- 5.9-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 loudspeakers
- Two 8-feet AC power cords
- Operating Instructions
 Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
5.25 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 Base Surface Area |
528cm2
vs
551cm2
|
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 |
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 |
A generation apart: ELAC Navis ARB-51 is the newer design, against a 2013 model. Newer is not automatically better, but the older one is more likely to be discounted or near run-out.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | B | ELAC Navis ARB-51 digs deeper - 44Hz against 48Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Built-in power | B | ELAC Navis ARB-51 has the bigger amplifier (300W vs 180W RMS). |
| Connections | B | ELAC Navis ARB-51 adds Bluetooth. |
| Size | depends | Similar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit. |
| Expandability | depends | Neither adds bi-amping, a sub output or height drivers. Genelec G Four sits in a wider range (5 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | B | ELAC Navis ARB-51 is cheaper - $1,998 against $2,300, about 13% less. |
A Genelec G Four B ELAC Navis ARB-51
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?
ELAC Navis ARB-51 is the easier recommendation: it leads on most of the measured areas and costs less. Take Genelec G Four if its size, looks or fit in your room suit you better.
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.