In this review, we will be comparing RC-64 III and VELA CC 401, two Passive Center Channel speakers from Klipsch and ELAC.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Klipsch RC-64 III and ELAC VELA CC 401 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Klipsch RC-64 III | ELAC VELA CC 401 |
|---|
| Brand | Klipsch
United States · founded 1946 | ELAC
Germany · founded 1926 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1-3/4" Tractrix horn | JET 5 folded ribbon |
|---|
| Woofer | 4 x 6.5" Cerametallic cone | 2 x 6" aluminum/paper sandwich |
|---|
| Frequency response | 57-24k Hz | 30-50k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 99 dB | 88 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 4 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | up to 200 watts | 40-120 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 25.00kg / 55lbs | 19.14kg / 42.1lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 8" x 35-3/4" x 15-1/4"
204.0 x 909.0 x 388.0mm | 7-9/16" x 25-9/16" x 9-7/16"
193.0 x 650.0 x 240.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Klipsch RC-64 III 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* |
Klipsch RC-64 III |
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 RC-64 III and VELA CC 401 are 2-way speakers.
Klipsch RC-64 IIIELAC VELA CC 401
Woofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
Klipsch RC-64 III |
ELAC VELA CC 401 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-3/4-inch
|
-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
4 x 6.5-inch
|
2 x 6-inch
|
RC-64 III features a 1-3/4" titanium Tractrix horn Tweeter and 4 x 6.5" Cerametallic cone Woofer. 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
RC-64 III has a frequency range of 57-24k 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 RC-64 III's min frequency of 57Hz.
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
RC-64 III 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. RC-64 III sensitivity is rated at 99 dB and the VELA CC 401's is rated at 88 dB. This 11 dB difference makes the Klipsch RC-64 III 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.
RC-64 III 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 RC-64 III.
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
RC-64 III features Binding post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. VELA CC 401 has a Binding post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Klipsch RC-64 III's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
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 Klipsch RC-64 III's and ELAC VELA CC 401's external dimensions. Klipsch RC-64 III has external dimensions of 204.0 x 909.0 x 388.0mm (8 x 35-3/4 x 15-1/4inch) 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).
Klipsch RC-64 III is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 259mm wider, 11mm taller and 148mm deeper than ELAC VELA CC 401.
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 Klipsch RC-64 III is approximately 3526.9cm2 / 546.7inch2 and base area of the ELAC VELA CC 401 is approximately 1560.0cm2 / 241.8inch2. The RC-64 III requires 126% 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 Klipsch RC-64 III weighs 25.00kg / 55lbs and the ELAC VELA CC 401 weighs 19.14kg / 42.1lbs. This makes the RC-64 III 31% heavier than the VELA CC 401.
Here is a comparison of how RC-64 III 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 Klipsch RC-64 III?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of RC-64 III:
- Center channel loudspeaker
- Grille
- 6 Self-adhesive rubber feet
- 2 Jumpers (pre-installed)
- Owners 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 |
99 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 |
|
Number of Woofers |
4
vs
2
|
More woofers |
 Price per pair* |
1829USD
vs
2300USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
|
Low Frequency Response |
30 Hz
vs
57 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
50k Hz
vs
24k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
193mm
vs
204mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
1560cm2
vs
3526cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
| General |
Klipsch RC-64 III |
ELAC VELA CC 401 |
| Brand |
Klipsch |
ELAC |
| Speaker Type |
Center channel speaker |
Center channel speaker |
| Power Range |
up to 200 watts |
40-120 watts |
| Sensitivity |
99 dB |
88 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
4 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
57-24k Hz |
30-50k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
4 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
6" |
| Woofer Composition |
Cerametallic cone |
aluminum/paper sandwich |
| Tweeter Size |
1-3/4" |
- |
| Tweeter Type |
Tractrix horn |
JET 5 folded ribbon |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
204.0mm (8") |
193.0mm (7.6") |
| Width |
909.0mm (35.8") |
650.0mm (25.6") |
| Depth |
388.0mm (15.3") |
240.0mm (9.4") |
| Weight |
25.00kg (55lbs) |
19.14kg (42.1lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Passive Radiator |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
furniture grade veneer |
n/a |
| Available Colors |
Walnut |
Gloss Black |
| Grille |
Yes |
n/a |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
n/a |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
3 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
3 Years |
No single best speaker here - they are built to different priorities, and the right one depends on your room, your amplifier and what you listen to.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | B | ELAC VELA CC 401 digs deeper - 30Hz against 57Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | A | Klipsch RC-64 III is more sensitive (99dB vs 88dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Amplifier match | A | Klipsch RC-64 III is the easier load at 8 ohms; the other is 4 ohms and wants an amplifier rated for it. |
| Headroom | A | Klipsch RC-64 III takes more power (200W vs 120W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | ELAC VELA CC 401 is easier to place; Klipsch RC-64 III is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Cabinet | depends | Passive Radiator vs Ported. |
| Expandability | A | Klipsch RC-64 III: bi-amping. |
| Price | A | Klipsch RC-64 III is cheaper - $1,829 against $2,300, about 20% less. |
A Klipsch RC-64 III 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?
Klipsch RC-64 III is the easier recommendation: it leads on most of the measured areas and costs less. Take ELAC VELA CC 401 if its size, looks or fit in your room suit you better. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 57Hz anyway, which makes the cheaper Klipsch RC-64 III much easier to justify. In a large or open-plan room, Klipsch RC-64 III 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.