In this review, we will be comparing SS-CS8 and VELA CC 401, two Passive Center Channel speakers from Sony and ELAC. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Sony SS-CS8 and ELAC VELA CC 401 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the Sony SS-CS8 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:
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Sony SS-CS8 and ELAC VELA CC 401 compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these loudspeakers is the better choice for you.
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Drivers
Both SS-CS8 and VELA CC 401 are 2-way speakers.
| Driver |
Sony SS-CS8 |
ELAC VELA CC 401 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 4-inch
|
2 x 6-inch
|
SS-CS8 features a 1" polyester fiber Soft-Dome Tweeter and 2 x 4" Mica Reinforced Cellular (MRC) 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
SS-CS8 has a frequency range of 55-25k 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 SS-CS8's min frequency of 55Hz.
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 Center Channel class in our database.
Low Frequency
Center Channel Speakers
High Frequency
Center Channel Speakers
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
SS-CS8 is a 6 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. SS-CS8 sensitivity is rated at 86 dB and the VELA CC 401's is rated at 88 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the ELAC VELA CC 401 a more sensitive speaker compared to Sony SS-CS8, 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. 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.
SS-CS8 can handle a max power of 145 watts RMS from the amp the whereas VELA CC 401 has a max power handling value of 120 watts RMS, 25 watts less than the SS-CS8.
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
SS-CS8 features Binding post type posts and VELA CC 401 has a Binding post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Sony SS-CS8's Post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both SS-CS8 and VELA CC 401 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
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 Sony SS-CS8's and ELAC VELA CC 401's external dimensions. Sony SS-CS8 has external dimensions of 146.0 x 430.0 x 220.0mm ( 5.75 x 16.93 x 8.66inch) 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) .
ELAC VELA CC 401 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 220mm wider, 47mm taller and 20mm deeper than Sony SS-CS8.
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 Sony SS-CS8 is approximately 946.0cm2 / 146.6inch2 and base area of the ELAC VELA CC 401 is approximately 1560.0cm2 / 241.8inch2. The SS-CS8 requires 39% less surface area than the VELA CC 401 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 Sony SS-CS8 weighs 5.00kg / 11lbs and the ELAC VELA CC 401 weighs 19.14kg / 42.1lbs. This makes the VELA CC 401 283% heavier than the SS-CS8.
Here is a comparison of how SS-CS8 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 ELAC VELA CC 401?
Here are the items that come with the VELA CC 401:
1 Center channel speaker2 Jumper straps (pre-installed)Operating And Safety Instructions
 Max Input Power |
145 watts
vs
120 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Nominal Impedance |
6 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Height |
146mm
vs
193mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
946cm2 (430x220mm)
vs
1560cm2 (650x240mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
169USD
vs
2300USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Sensitivity |
88 dB
vs
86 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Woofer Size |
6 inches
vs
4 inches
|
Larger woofer |
| Low Frequency Response |
30 Hz
vs
55 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
50k Hz
vs
25k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
| General |
Sony SS-CS8 |
ELAC VELA CC 401 |
| Brand |
Sony |
ELAC |
| Speaker Type |
Center Channel |
Center channel speaker |
| Power Range |
up to 145 watts |
40-120 watts |
| Sensitivity |
86 dB |
88 dB |
| Impedance |
6 ohms |
4 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
55-25k Hz |
30-50k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
4" |
6" |
| Woofer Composition |
Mica Reinforced Cellular (MRC) |
aluminum/paper sandwich |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
n/a |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
- |
| Tweeter Type |
Soft-Dome |
JET 5 folded ribbon |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
146.0mm (5.7") |
193.0mm (7.6") |
| Width |
430.0mm (16.9") |
650.0mm (25.6") |
| Depth |
220.0mm (8.7") |
240.0mm (9.4") |
| Weight |
5.00kg (11lbs) |
19.14kg (42.1lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Wood-veneer |
n/a |
| Available Colors |
Black |
Gloss Black |
| Grille |
Yes |
n/a |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
No |
n/a |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
2 years |
3 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
2 years |
3 Years |