In this review, we will be comparing The Sevens and Navis ARB-51, two Powered Bookshelf speakers from Klipsch 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 Klipsch The Sevens and ELAC Navis ARB-51 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Klipsch The Sevens | ELAC Navis ARB-51 |
|---|
| Brand | Klipsch
United States · founded 1946 | ELAC
Germany · founded 1926 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Built-in amplifier | 200-watt RMS (400-watt peak) | 300-watt RMS (600-watt peak) |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Tractrix Horn | 1" Soft-Dome |
|---|
| Midrange | — | 4" |
|---|
| Woofer | 6.5" Fiber-composite | 5.25" Aluminum |
|---|
| Frequency response | 39-25k Hz | 44-28k Hz |
|---|
| Max depth / sample rate | 24-bit / 192 kHz | — |
|---|
| Bluetooth | Built-in 5.0 | Optional |
|---|
| App control | Yes | — |
|---|
| Weight | 9.03kg / 19.9lbs | 8.10kg / 17.8lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 16.375" x 8.125" x 13.1875"
416.0 x 207.0 x 335.0mm | 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 The Sevens 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.
Klipsch The SevensELAC 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 |
Klipsch The Sevens |
ELAC Navis ARB-51 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
1 x 4-inch |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
The Sevens features a 1" Titanium Tractrix Horn Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Fiber-composite Woofer. 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
The Sevens has a frequency range of 39-25k Hz whereas Navis ARB-51 has a frequency range of 44-28k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 39Hz, The Sevens can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Navis ARB-51's min frequency of 44Hz.
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 The Sevens 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 Klipsch The Sevens's and ELAC Navis ARB-51's external dimensions. Klipsch The Sevens has external dimensions of 416.0 x 207.0 x 335.0mm (16.375inch x 8.125inch x 13.1875inch) 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).
Klipsch The Sevens is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 14.9mm wider, 65.2mm taller and 47.7mm deeper than ELAC Navis ARB-51.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Klipsch The Sevens and ELAC Navis ARB-51 in scale.
Comparison image of Klipsch The Sevens 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 Klipsch The Sevens is approximately 693.5cm2 / 107.5inch2 and base area of the ELAC Navis ARB-51 is approximately 551.9cm2 / 85.5inch2. The Sevens requires 26% more surface area than the Navis ARB-51 which gives it a small disadvantage 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 Klipsch The Sevens 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 Klipsch The Sevens weighs 9.03kg / 19.9lbs and the ELAC Navis ARB-51 weighs 8.10kg / 17.8lbs. This makes The Sevens 11% heavier than the Navis ARB-51.
Here is a comparison of how The Sevens 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 Klipsch The Sevens?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of The Sevens:
- Powered speaker (Primary)
- Passive speaker (Secondary)
- 2 Grilles (pre-installed)
- 6.5-feet AC power cord
- 13-feet Proprietary speaker cable
- 6.5-feet Proprietary extension cable
- 58-inch HDMI cable
- 5-feet USB-B to USB-A cable
- Remote control
- 2 AAA batteries
- Instruction Booklet
- Need Help? Card
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 |
|
Low Frequency Response |
39 Hz
vs
44 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Handheld Remote |
Yes
vs
No
|
Control the speaker by the included RC |
 App-Based Control |
Apple iOS, Android
vs
None
|
Control the speaker via an app |
 Price per pair* |
1299USD
vs
1998USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 USB Port |
USB-B
vs
No
|
USB port adds flexibility |
 3.5mm Connection |
Yes
vs
No
|
Connection via 3.5mm AUX input |
 Phono Input |
Yes
vs
No
|
Connect your turntable directly |
 Digital Input |
Optical, HDMI
vs
No
|
Connect digital inputs directly |
 HDMI Input |
ARC
vs
No
|
Connect HDMI sources directly |
 Subwoofer Output |
mono-RCA
vs
No
|
Pair your speakers with external subwoofer |
 Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
 High Frequency Response |
28k Hz
vs
25k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
350mm
vs
416mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
551cm2
vs
693cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 RCA Connection |
Yes
vs
No
|
Connection via RCA input |
 XLR Connection |
Yes
vs
No
|
Connection via XLR input |
| General |
Klipsch The Sevens |
ELAC Navis ARB-51 |
| Brand |
Klipsch |
ELAC |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Stereo Speakers |
Powered Stereo Speakers |
| Frequency Response |
39-25k Hz |
44-28k Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
200-watt RMS |
300-watt RMS |
| Watts Peak (Max) |
400-watt RMS |
600-watt RMS |
| Max Bit Depth |
24-bit |
n/a |
| Max Sample Rate |
192 kHz |
n/a |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
5.25" |
| Woofer Composition |
Fiber-composite |
Aluminum |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Tractrix Horn |
Soft-Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
4" |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
416.0mm (16.4") |
350.8mm (13.8") |
| Width |
207.0mm (8.1") |
192.1mm (7.6") |
| Depth |
335.0mm (13.2") |
287.3mm (11.3") |
| Weight |
9.03kg (19.9lbs) |
8.10kg (17.8lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF with genuine wood veneer |
n/a |
| Available Colors |
Black,Walnut |
n/a |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Grille |
Yes |
n/a |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Aux Inputs |
3.5mm |
XLR, RCA |
| USB Port |
USB-B |
No |
| Phone Input |
Yes |
No |
| Subwoofer Output |
mono-RCA |
No |
| Digital Input |
Optical, HDMI |
No |
| HDMI Input |
ARC |
No |
| Headphone Jack |
No |
No |
| Ethernet Port |
No |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
1 Year |
3 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
1 Year |
3 Years |
A generation apart: Klipsch The Sevens is the newer design, against a 2018 model. Newer is not automatically better, but the older one is more likely to be discounted or near run-out.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | A | Klipsch The Sevens digs deeper - 39Hz against 44Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Built-in power | B | ELAC Navis ARB-51 has the bigger amplifier (300W vs 200W RMS). |
| Connections | A | Klipsch The Sevens adds HDMI, phono and digital inputs. |
| Size | depends | ELAC Navis ARB-51 is easier to place; Klipsch The Sevens is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | A | Klipsch The Sevens: a sub output. |
| Price | A | Klipsch The Sevens is cheaper - $1,299 against $1,998, about 35% less. |
A Klipsch The Sevens 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?
Klipsch The Sevens is the easier recommendation: it leads on most of the measured areas and costs less. Take ELAC Navis ARB-51 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 44Hz anyway, so judge these on the other rows instead. In a large or open-plan room, Klipsch The Sevens has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, ELAC Navis ARB-51 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.