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KEF R7 vs ELAC VELA FS 409 Comparison

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KEF R7

Passive Floor-standing | 48-28k Hz

KEF R7
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ELAC VELA FS 409

Passive Floor-standing | 28-50k Hz

ELAC VELA FS 409
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KEF R7 KEF R7
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ELAC VELA FS 409 ELAC VELA FS 409
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KEF R7
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ELAC VELA FS 409
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KEF R7 vs ELAC VELA FS 409 Speaker Comparison

In this review, we will be comparing R7 and VELA FS 409, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from KEF and ELAC.

Let's have a brief look at the main features of KEF R7 and ELAC VELA FS 409 first before getting into our more detailed comparison.

KEF R7 Key Specs

  • 3-way Design
  • 1" Dome Tweeter
  • 5" Midrange
  • 2 x 6.5" Hybrid Aluminum Woofer
  • 48-28k Hz Frequency Response
  • 88 dB Sensitivity
  • Impedance: 8ohms
  • Power Range:15-250watts
  • Weight:31.40kg
  • Dimensions (H x W x D): 1113.0" x 8" x 15-5/16"( 1113.0 x 200.0 x 389.0mm )

ELAC VELA FS 409 Key Specs

  • 3-way Design
  • ---" handmade JET 5 folded ribbon Tweeter
  • 6" Midrange
  • 2 x 7" Aluminum/Paper Woofer
  • 6" Midrange
  • 28-50k Hz Frequency Response
  • 89 dB Sensitivity
  • Impedance: 4ohms
  • Power Range:40-200watts
  • Weight:32.18kg
  • Dimensions (H x W x D): 1331.0" x 10-15/16" x 13-9/16"( 1331.0 x 278.0 x 345.0mm )

What size room are the KEF R7 and ELAC VELA FS 409 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* KEF R7 ELAC VELA FS 409
Near-field Bad Bad
Small Room Poor Poor
Mid-size Room Average Good
Large Room Good Good
Very Large Room Average 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.)

In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the KEF R7 and ELAC VELA FS 409 compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these loudspeakers is the better choice for you.


**This post contains affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.


Drivers

Both R7 and VELA FS 409 are 3-way speakers.

Driver KEF R7 ELAC VELA FS 409
Driver Setup 3-way 3-way
Tweeter 1-inch ----inch
Midrange 1 x 5-inch 1 x 6-inch
Woofer 2 x 6.5-inch 2 x 7-inch

R7 features a 1" aluminum Dome Tweeter , a 5" Midrange and 2 x 6.5" Hybrid Aluminum Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 400Hz and 2900Hz. On the other hand, the VELA FS 409 features a ---" handmade JET 5 folded ribbon Tweeter , a 6" Midrange and 2 x 7" Aluminum/Paper Woofer .

Frequency Response

R7 has a frequency range of 48-28k Hz whereas VELA FS 409 has a frequency range of 28-50k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 28Hz, the VELA FS 409 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the R7'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 Floor-standing class in our database.

Low Frequency

Floor-standing Speakers

R7
VELA FS 409
Min
Average
Max
High Frequency

Floor-standing Speakers

KEF R7
ELAC VELA FS 409
Min
Average
Max

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

R7 is a 8 ohms speaker compared to the VELA FS 409 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 FS 409 can provide this impedance level.

These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. R7 sensitivity is rated at 88 dB and the VELA FS 409's is rated at 89 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the ELAC VELA FS 409 a more sensitive speaker compared to KEF R7, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.

Sensitivity

Floor-standing Speakers

R7
VELA FS 409
Min
Average
Max

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.

R7 can handle a max power of 250 watts RMS from the amp the whereas VELA FS 409 has a max power handling value of 200 watts RMS, 50 watts less than the R7.

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

Both R7 and VELA FS 409 features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.

KEF R7 Terminals
KEF R7's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring

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 KEF R7's and ELAC VELA FS 409's external dimensions. KEF R7 has external dimensions of 1113.0 x 200.0 x 389.0mm ( 43-13/16 x 8 x 15-5/16inch) whereas ELAC VELA FS 409 has external dimensions of 1331.0 x 278.0 x 345.0mm ( 52-3/8 x 10-15/16 x 13-9/16inch) .

KEF R7 is 78mm narrower and 218mm shorter than ELAC VELA FS 409 but it is also 44mm deeper.

Below you can see the front view size comparison of KEF R7 and ELAC VELA FS 409 in scale.

KEF R7 vs ELAC VELA FS 409 Size Comparison - Front View
Comparison image of KEF R7 and ELAC VELA FS 409 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 KEF R7 is approximately 778.0cm2 / 120.6inch2 and base area of the ELAC VELA FS 409 is approximately 959.1cm2 / 148.7inch2. The R7 requires 19% less surface area than the VELA FS 409 which gives it a small advantage 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 KEF R7 weighs 31.40kg / 69.1lbs and the ELAC VELA FS 409 weighs 32.18kg / 70.8lbs. This makes the VELA FS 409 2% heavier than the R7.

Here is a comparison of how R7 and VELA FS 409's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Floor-standing class.

Weight
All Floor-standing Speakers
KEF R7
ELAC VELA FS 409
Min
Average
Max

What's in the Box of KEF R7?

Here are the items that are included inside the box of R7:
  • Floorstanding loudspeaker
  • Grille
  • 2 Foam port plugs
  • 4 Outrigger feet
  • 4 Spikes
  • 4 Protective discs
  • 4 Screws
  • 4 Washers
  • Wrench
  • Hex-key
  • User Manual
  • Warranty Information
  • What's in the Box of ELAC VELA FS 409?

    Here are the items that come with the VELA FS 409:
  • Floorstanding loudspeaker
  • Base plate
  • 2 Jumper straps (pre-installed)
  • 4 Spikes
  • 4 Pucks
  • 4 Rubber pads
  • 4 Machine screws
  • 4 Washers
  • Hex-key
  • Operating And Safety Instructions

  • Reasons to choose KEF R7 over ELAC VELA FS 409
    Max Input Power 250 watts vs 200 watts Handle more power from your amplifier
    Nominal Impedance 8 ohms vs 4 ohms Less selective with amplifiers
    Height 1113mm vs 1331mm Easier to fit in smaller spaces
    Base Surface Area 778cm2 vs 959cm2 Takes less floor space
    Price per pair* 4500USD vs 7400USD costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time)

    Reasons to choose ELAC VELA FS 409 over KEF R7

    Sensitivity 89 dB vs 88 dB Play louder with same amount of amplification power
    Woofer Size 7 inches vs 6.5 inches Larger woofer
    Low Frequency Response 28 Hz vs 48 Hz Generates deeper bass
    High Frequency Response 50k Hz vs 28k Hz Generates higher frequency
    KEF R7 vs ELAC VELA FS 409 Specs Table
    Detailed comparison of specifications
    General KEF R7 ELAC VELA FS 409
    Brand KEF ELAC
    Speaker Type Floor-standing speaker Floor-standing speaker
    Power Range 15-250 watts 40-200 watts
    Sensitivity 88 dB 89 dB
    Impedance 8 ohms 4 ohms
    Impedance 3.2 ohms n/a
    Frequency Response 48-28k Hz 28-50k Hz
    Drivers
    Woofer Quantity 2 2
    Woofer Size 6.5" 7"
    Woofer Composition Hybrid Aluminum Aluminum/Paper
    Woofer Surround Material Rubber Rubber
    Tweeter Size 1" ---"
    Tweeter Type Dome handmade JET 5 folded ribbon
    Aimable Tweeter No No
    Midrange Driver 5" 6"
    Crossover Frequency 400Hz and 2900Hz n/a
    Firing Direction rear n/a
    Physical Specs
    Height 1113.0mm (43.8") 1331.0mm (52.4")
    Width 200.0mm (7.9") 278.0mm (10.9")
    Depth 389.0mm (15.3") 345.0mm (13.6")
    Weight 31.40kg (69.1lbs) 32.18kg (70.8lbs)
    Enclosure Bass Reflex Bass Reflex
    Finish MDF/Lacquer MDF/Aluminum
    Available Colors Black Gloss, White Gloss, Walnut Gloss Black
    Grille Yes n/a
    Moisture Resistancy No No
    Connections
    Biamp Inputs Yes Yes
    Other
    Parts Warranty 5 Years 3 Years
    Labor Warranty 5 Years 3 Years

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