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  1. Home
  2. ELAC Speakers
  3. Passive Bookshelf Speakers
  4. ELAC Elegant BS 305
ELAC BS305 Review
ELAC Elegant BS305 - Front View

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Main Features

  • 1" Soft-Dome Tweeter
  • 4.5" Aluminium sandwich (AS) Woofer
  • 42-23k Hz Frequency Response
  • 86 dB Sensitivity
  • Impedance: 4ohms
  • Power Range: 50-150 watts
  • Weight: 12.13 lbs / 5.50 kg
  • Dimensions(HxWxD): 8-3/16"x4-13/16"x10-5/8" / 208.0 x 123.0 x 270.0mm
MSRP: $1,099 (list price)
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ELAC Elegant BS305 Review
ELAC Elegant BS305 ELAC Elegant BS305
Check price atAmazon›

Made by ELAC · Germany · since 1926 · sold through dealers

ELAC Elegant BS 305 is a 2-way Passive Bass reflex Bookshelf speaker by ELAC. It was released in 2024. It features a 1" Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 4.5" Aluminium sandwich (AS) Woofer.

Aluminium cabinet with no conventional baffle; a 25 mm fabric dome tweeter over a 115 mm aluminium-sandwich woofer, rear ported.

The speaker has a frequency range of 42-23k Hz and a sensitivity of 86 dB. ELAC Elegant BS305 has an MSRP of 1099$ per pair.

Room Size Suitability

The size of the room where you plan to use the ELAC Elegant BS305 is a crucial factor in your decision. We have assessed its suitability for various room sizes based on its dimensions and maximum power output:

Listening Environment* Suitability
Near-fieldAverage
Small RoomGood
Mid-size RoomAverage
Large RoomPoor
Very Large RoomBad

(* 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.)

ELAC's Elegant Series of Loudspeakers

BS305 is a member of ELAC's Elegant series of Passive speakers. Below you can see the main specs of these speakers.

ELAC Elegant Series Speakers
Model Frequency SensitivityImpedance Woofer
ELAC Elegant BS312.2
Compare
42-50k Hz 87 dB4Ω 1 x 4.5"
ELAC Elegant BS305
42-23k Hz 86 dB4Ω 1 x 4.5"


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

Frequency Response of the ELAC Elegant BS305 Speaker

ELAC Elegant BS305 has a Frequency response range of 42-23k Hz and Power Range of 50-150 watts. With a minimum frequency of 42 Hz, BS305 delivers deep bass that will likely satisfy most listeners, especially those who enjoy music. However, movie enthusiasts and music fans who prefer a full range of sound may still benefit from adding a subwoofer.

Here we have a comparison of how BS305's Low frequency value compares with the average, max and min Low frequency values in its class.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
ELAC Elegant BS305
Min
Average
Median
Thinking about a subwoofer for the ELAC Elegant BS305?
  • Work out the crossover setting - it follows from this speaker's 42 Hz low end
  • Powered subwoofers under $1,500 - a similar price range to these speakers
  • Every powered subwoofer we cover, whatever the budget

Crossover frequency of the ELAC Elegant BS305?

The crossover frequency of the BS305 is set to 3500Hz. This is the threshold frequency where the higher frequency signals over this level are sent to the tweeter and the lower-frequency signals are sent to the woofer by the crossover component.

ELAC Elegant BS305 driver frequency bands42-3.5kWoofer 4.5"3.5k-23kTweeter 1"20501002005001k2k5k10k20k40kHz, log scale

Impedance and Sensitivity

ELAC Elegant BS305's nominal impedance level is 4 ohms and has a sensitivity of 86 dB.

Sensitivity
Bookshelf Speakers
ELAC Elegant BS305
Min
Average
Median

Nominal Impedance of the 4 Ohms means that the ELAC Elegant BS 305 is a difficult to drive speaker from nominal Impedance perspective, make sure that you choose an amplifier than can provide 4 Ohms for this speaker.

Many AVRs (audio/video receiver) in the market may have difficulty when the speakers dip below the 4 Ohms levels (this may cause clipping or even physical damage), so we recommend to not pair the ELAC Elegant BS 305 with an AVR but use an Integrated Amplifier instead.

Sensitivity

With a sensitivity level of only 86 dB, ELAC Elegant BS 305 is a difficult to drive speaker from Sensitivity perspective, make sure to choose an amplifier with a high output if you like listening to your music at high volume levels. You may especially have a hard time using Tube amplifiers which are traditionally very low power compared to Class A/B or Class D amps. Work out how loud the ELAC Elegant BS305 plays in your room →

Running more than one pair from a single amplifier? Check the load it would present →

What amplifier does the ELAC Elegant BS305 need?

At normal listening levels in a medium room, about 38–120 W per channel into 4 ohms. Set your own conditions and we will rank every amplifier we cover.

We check power, impedance safety and current delivery - not just watts.

Prefer to browse? Integrated amplifiers under $1,500, or every amplifier we cover.

Input Type

BS305 features 5-way post type connectors. Bi-amping and Bi-wiring are not possible.

Work out what gauge speaker cable this run needs →

ELAC Elegant BS305 External Dimensions and Weight

ELAC Elegant BS305 has external dimensions of (Height x Width x Depth) 8-3/16 x 4-13/16 x 10-5/8inch (208.0 x 123.0 x 270.0mm ).

Base Surface Area
Base surface area of a loudspeaker may become a determining factor when the space in your room or desk is limited. The base area of ELAC Elegant BS305 is approximately 332.1cm2 / 51.5inch2.

Find speakers that fit your shelf or alcove →  ·  Work out where they should sit in the room →

Weight

The ELAC Elegant BS305 weighs 5.50kg / 12.1lbs per piece. Here is a comparison of how BS305's weight compares with the average, max and min weights in its class.

Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
ELAC Elegant BS305
Min
Average
Median
Weight
Bookshelf Speakers under $1500
ELAC Elegant BS305
Min
Average
Max

Cabinet type and Materials

ELAC Elegant BS305 has a Bass reflex type cabinet and a Aluminium finish.

Port Position

ELAC Elegant BS305 is a rear-firing port speaker so you have to make sure you leave enough space between the back of the speaker and wall or bookshelf so that it has room to breathe.

Available colors

ELAC Elegant BS305 is available in High Gloss Black and High Gloss White.

Wall Mounting

BS305 doesn't sport any built-in mounting bracket, so you need an external structure to mount it on walls.

Recommended Accessories

Here is a list of accessories that we think you may need for the ELAC Elegant BS 305.

  • Speaker Cable and Connectors
    • Speaker Cables with Banana Plugs: If you know the lenght of the cable you need, this is the easier option to connect your speakers with your amp.
    • Speaker Cables without Connectors: If you are not sure about the lenght or need longer than standard cables with plugs, choose this option.
    • Banana Connectors and Plugs: If you chose the cables without connectors option or already have some cable around, pick the banana plugs separately.
  • Vibration Isolators: IsoAcoustics isolators are our favorite isolators but you may find more affordable options too.
  • Acoustic Panels and Treatments: Your room is as important as your stereo equipment so acoustic treatments goes a long way in improving the overall performance.
  • Speaker Stands: Stands bring your bookshelf speakers to ideal height (rule of thumb is to have the tweeter level with your ear in your listening position), helps stability and acoustical isolation.

Official Product Page

Official manufacturer's product page for the ELAC Elegant BS 305 speaker can be found below:
Official Product Page for ELAC Elegant BS305

Warranty

3 Years of parts warranty and 3 Years of labor warranty is generally provided by the manufacturer.

ELAC Elegant BS 305 Alternatives in Passive Bookshelf Speakers
Model Type Sensitivity Impedance Frequency
ELAC Elegant BS312.2
Compare
2-way 87 dB 4 ohms 42-50k Hz
Frequently Asked Questions about ELAC Elegant BS 305

What amplifier do you need for the ELAC Elegant BS305?

ELAC rates the ELAC Elegant BS305 for 50-150 watts of amplifier power. It is a 4-ohm speaker, a demanding load that wants an amplifier rated to drive 4 ohms - many budget receivers are not.

Is the ELAC Elegant BS305 easy to drive?

The ELAC Elegant BS305 has a sensitivity of 86 dB. That is on the low side, so it needs more amplifier power than average to reach the same volume.

Does the ELAC Elegant BS305 need a subwoofer?

The ELAC Elegant BS305 reaches down to 42Hz (full range 42-23k Hz). That is deep enough that many listeners will not feel the need for a subwoofer with music.

What drivers does the ELAC Elegant BS305 use?

The ELAC Elegant BS305 is a 2-way design using a 1" Soft-Dome tweeter and a 4.5" Aluminium sandwich (AS) woofer.

Is the ELAC Elegant BS305 sealed or ported?

The ELAC Elegant BS305 uses a Ported enclosure. A ported design uses a tuned vent to get more low-end output from the same driver, but it wants some breathing room behind it.

Can the ELAC Elegant BS305 be bi-wired or bi-amped?

No. The ELAC Elegant BS305 has a single pair of terminals, so bi-wiring and bi-amping are not possible. It uses 5-way post terminals.

How big and heavy is the ELAC Elegant BS305?

The ELAC Elegant BS305 weighs 5.50kg / 12.1lbs each and measures 8-3/16 x 4-13/16 x 10-5/8inch (HxWxD).

How much does the ELAC Elegant BS305 cost?

The ELAC Elegant BS305 has a manufacturer's list price (MSRP) of $1,099 per pair.


ELAC Elegant BS305 Detailed Specifications

General
BrandELAC
Full Model NameELAC Elegant BS 305
Speaker Type2-way Bookshelf
Power Range50-150 watts
Sensitivity86 dB
Impedance4 ohms
Frequency Response42-23k Hz
Release Date2024
DRIVERS
Woofer Size4.5-inch
Woofer CompositionAluminium sandwich (AS)
Tweeter Size1-inch
Tweeter TypeSoft-Dome
Crossover freq3500Hz
Port Positionrear

CONNECTIONS
Connector Type5-way post
Biamp InputsNo
Port Positionrear
PHYSICAL SPECS
Height208.0mm ( 8-3/16-inch)
Width123.0mm ( 4-13/16-inch)
Depth270.0mm ( 10-5/8-inch)
Height208.0mm ( 8-3/16-inch)
Weight5.5 kg (12.1 lbs)
EnclosureBass reflex
FinishAluminium
Available ColorsHigh Gloss Black, High Gloss White
Moisture ResistanceNo
OTHER
Handheld RemoteNo
Parts Warranty3 Years
Labor Warranty3 Years
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