In this review, we will be comparing G Three 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 Three and ELAC Navis ARB-51 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Genelec G Three | ELAC Navis ARB-51 |
|---|
| Brand | Genelec
Finland · founded 1978 | ELAC
Germany · founded 1926 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Built-in amplifier | 100-watt RMS | 300-watt RMS (600-watt peak) |
|---|
| Tweeter | 0.75" Dome | 1" Soft-Dome |
|---|
| Midrange | — | 4" |
|---|
| Woofer | 5.1" Cone | 5.25" Aluminum |
|---|
| Frequency response | 54-20k Hz | 44-28k Hz |
|---|
| Bluetooth | No | Optional |
|---|
| Weight | 5.00kg / 11lbs | 8.10kg / 17.8lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 11.8" x 7.4" x 7"
299 x 189 x 178 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 Three 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 ThreeELAC 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 Three |
ELAC Navis ARB-51 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
0.75-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
1 x 4-inch |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 5.1-inch
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
G Three features a 0.75" Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5.1" 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 Three has a frequency range of 54-20k 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 significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the G Three's min frequency of 54Hz.
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 Three 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 Three's and ELAC Navis ARB-51's external dimensions. Genelec G Three has external dimensions of 299 x 189 x 178 mm (11.8 x 7.4 x 7) 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 clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 3.1mm wider, 51.8mm taller and 109.3mm deeper than Genelec G Three.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Genelec G Three and ELAC Navis ARB-51 in scale.
Comparison image of Genelec G Three 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 Three is approximately 336.4cm2 / 52.1inch2 and base area of the ELAC Navis ARB-51 is approximately 551.9cm2 / 85.5inch2. The G Three requires 39% 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 Three 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 Three weighs 5.00kg / 11lbs and the ELAC Navis ARB-51 weighs 8.10kg / 17.8lbs. This makes the Navis ARB-51 62% heavier than the G Three.
Here is a comparison of how G Three 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 Three?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of G Three:
- Genelec G Three 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
 Height |
299mm
vs
350mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
336cm2
vs
551cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
1390USD
vs
1998USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 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 |
 Woofer Size |
5.25 inches
vs
5.1 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
44 Hz
vs
54 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
28k Hz
vs
20k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 RCA Connection |
Yes
vs
No
|
Connection via RCA input |
| General |
Genelec G Three |
ELAC Navis ARB-51 |
| Brand |
Genelec |
ELAC |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Stereo Speakers |
Powered Stereo Speakers |
| Frequency Response |
54-20k Hz |
44-28k Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
100-watt RMS |
300-watt RMS |
| Watts Peak (Max) |
n/a |
600-watt RMS |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
5.1" |
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 |
299.0mm (11.8") |
350.8mm (13.8") |
| Width |
189.0mm (7.4") |
192.1mm (7.6") |
| Depth |
178.0mm (7") |
287.3mm (11.3") |
| Weight |
5.00kg (11lbs) |
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 54Hz. |
| Built-in power | B | ELAC Navis ARB-51 has the bigger amplifier (300W vs 100W RMS). |
| Connections | B | ELAC Navis ARB-51 adds Bluetooth. |
| Size | depends | Genelec G Three is easier to place; ELAC Navis ARB-51 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | depends | Neither adds bi-amping, a sub output or height drivers. Genelec G Three sits in a wider range (5 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | A | Genelec G Three is cheaper - $1,390 against $1,998, about 30% less. |
A Genelec G Three 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?
The usual trade-off: ELAC Navis ARB-51 measures better, Genelec G Three costs about about 44% 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 54Hz anyway, which makes the cheaper Genelec G Three much easier to justify. In a large or open-plan room, ELAC Navis ARB-51 has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, Genelec G Three 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.