In this review, we will be comparing Sony Signature Series SA-Z1 and Navis ARB-51, two Powered Bookshelf speakers from Sony 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 Sony Signature Series SA-Z1 and ELAC Navis ARB-51 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Sony Signature Series SA-Z1 and ELAC Navis ARB-51 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
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that Sony Signature Series SA-Z1 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.
Driver |
Sony Signature Series SA-Z1 |
ELAC Navis ARB-51 |
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
3-way
|
Tweeter
|
0.75, 0.5 (2)-inch
|
1-inch
|
Midrange
|
- |
1 x 4-inch |
Woofer
|
2 x 4-inch
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
Sony Signature Series SA-Z1 features a 0.75, 0.5 (2)" Titanium Hard-Dome Tweeter and 2 x 4" 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
Sony Signature Series SA-Z1 has a frequency range of 51-100k 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 Sony Signature Series SA-Z1's min frequency of 51Hz.
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 Bookshelf class in our database.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
Sony Signature Series SA-Z1
High Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
Sony Signature Series SA-Z1
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.
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 Signature Series SA-Z1's and ELAC Navis ARB-51's external dimensions. Sony Signature Series SA-Z1 has external dimensions of 209.5 x 200.0 x 327.0mm ( 8.25 x 7.875 x 12.875inch) 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 7.9mm narrower and 39.7mm less deeper than Sony Signature Series SA-Z1 but it is also 141.3mm taller.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Sony Signature Series SA-Z1 and ELAC Navis ARB-51 in scale.
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 Signature Series SA-Z1 is approximately 654.0cm2 / 101.4inch2 and base area of the ELAC Navis ARB-51 is approximately 551.9cm2 / 85.5inch2. The Sony Signature Series SA-Z1 requires 18% more surface area than the Navis ARB-51 which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.
Here is an another comparison that shows both speakers on a BDI Octave Media Cabinet, next to a standard size amplifier and turntable in scale:
What's in the Box of Sony Signature Series SA-Z1?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Sony Signature Series SA-Z1:
2 Desktop monitor speakers2 AC power cordsDigital sync cableWalkman cableUSB-C to USB-B cableRemote control2 AAA batteriesInstruction Manual
What's in the Box of ELAC Navis ARB-51?
Here are the items that come with the Navis ARB-51:
2 Powered bookshelf loudspeakersTwo 8-feet AC power cordsOperating Instructions