Stereo Guide Review: Elac Navis ARB-51
+ natural, warm sound image
+ Room imaging and transparency High End
+ adult sound, rich, round bass
+ Simple, practical room adjustment
- could have more bite for impulsive music and action cinema
- Wireless and streaming only with add-on module, few functions
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Sound Bass/Dynamics9
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Sound spatial imaging10
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Practice/Connectivity8
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Sound naturalness9.8
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Price/Performance9.3
Although the Elac Navis ARB-51 is listed as a wireless product, like the entire Navis series of the Kiel-based manufacturer, and is compatible with two different signal transmitters. In terms of concept, however, it remains a completely classic active speaker. The analog signals from the input jacks are not digitized, but distributed analog to the 3 ways. Only 2 drivers are really visible on the baffle, because the fabric tweeter is installed centrally in the midrange.
The 3-way principle has a technical advantage, especially with such small speakers, because the woofer can really relieve the midrange below 250 Hz here. However, the midrange and tweeter together work as a point source and can be correspondingly small. The Kiel-based speaker manufacturer does without switching power amplifiers. The woofers and midrange drivers use a hybrid power amplifier with a dynamic voltage supply, while the tweeter uses a classic A/B MOSFET power amplifier. A full 160, 100 and 40 watts are available per speaker for the woofer, midrange and tweeter, respectively. The resulting waste heat, which should not be underestimated, is dissipated to the outside via the dark gray, solid aluminum base.
The bass driver is equipped with an aluminum sandwich cone and measures only 13 centimeters, in the bass range supports a rear reflex tube. The coaxial driver provides a stronger directivity towards higher frequencies. This reduces room acoustic problems. In combination with the spatial filters (see below), it also provides amazing flexibility in placement even without digital adjustment.
Analog concept, digital wirelss hub
Music signals are usually fed in analog, unbalanced RCA or balanced XLR input can be activated alternatively. There is no level control. The Elac Navis ARB-51 provides only a rough adjustment of the signal gain to the optimal output voltage of the preamplifier. But it may also be a DAC or streamer with adjustable output. The receiver for digital wireless signals receives the music either from a simple feed transmitter with A/D converter, or via a digital multi-room hub, the 500 euro “Discovery Connect”. This first turns the Navis into a streaming set with compatibility to Roon, Bluetooth and Airplay 2. In both cases, however, the music data stream remains limited to a resolution of 44/16. This raises questions about dynamics and sound quality, especially in view of the volume control before the transmission.
Numerous switches on the back of the box allow adjustment to room acoustics and placement. To achieve this, the levels of the 3 drivers can be raised or lowered in different steps. This is especially practical for the bass driver, which adapts to almost near-wall placement in the -4dB position. An additional high-pass crossover enables operation with optional subwoofer.
Practical test and connectivity
As expected, there were no problems with the analog wiring of the Elac Navis ARB-51. For most preamps and controllable sources, the insensitive gain setting is the correct one. Otherwise, background noise from the source becomes noticeable quite quickly.
The wireless connection also succeeded without problems thanks to the pairing button. However, a too loud, annoying background noise was noticed in the practical test with the analog fed transmitter. It is therefore at best suitable for optional party mode for terrace sound reinforcement. The digital hub called Elac Discovery Connect does not know this problem.
High-end sound from the Elac Navis ARB-51
The low frequency range of the Elac Navis ARB-51 is rich to powerful. The bass should be set to position “-4” via a switch in many situations and rooms, as soon as the speaker should be closer than 75 cm to a rear wall or even corner. The bass boost, on the other hand, is only needed in extremely bass-attenuating environments such as many lightweight walls. If the placement tends to drone, for example in a corner or on a shelf, the high-pass crossover can even be activated for one speaker of the pair. If the room acoustics are rather center-heavy, it is recommended to lower the midrange. The height switch seems less practical in practice. This is because it lowers or raises the tweeter evenly. But this way it can hardly correct an unevenness in the high frequency distribution of the reverberation. Approximate alignment of the tweeter with the listener is advisable. In terms of listening distance and size of the stereo triangle, the Elac is extremely flexible.
The timbres initially seemed a bit warm, combining a warm base tone with a rather fine-silky high frequency. The Elac does not know hissing S sounds and annoying ringing. Listeners of techno, metal and co. might therefore lack bite and aggressiveness in the high frequencies. Although dynamics and impulsiveness seem outstanding even in such music, there just isn’t the final bite. The low frequency does not reach the lowest octave below 40 Hz, but sounds very substantial and adapts excellently musically. Even at low listening levels, it does not go down, but if necessary, it can also pull more than is possible in any rented apartment.
Transparency Commitment
The most outstanding strength of the Elac Duo, besides its silky transparency, is its imaging. What comes out of the two small speakers in terms of room width, depth and localization accuracy can compete with the best point sources of the high-end class, which usually cost several times as much. Even in difficult recordings, voices remain stable in space with the impression of natural “air” around the singers. Sibilants and consonants also remain stable in space without the image tearing. Polyphonic arrangements and choirs offer a very silky, completely pressure-free plasticity. However, the Elac makes even difficult and shrill recordings a pleasurable experience and is therefore less suitable as a studio monitor.
In acoustic recordings with complex arrangements, the Elac also achieves top marks and shines with a consistently ultra-fine, transparent to silky audibility that extends through all frequency ranges. The high frequencies sometimes lack a bit of sparkle, but the ARB-51 also sounds impressively natural and playful in terms of fine dynamics.
Together with the quite rich bass foundation, the Elac reaches amazing levels and impulse peaks. Although the Navis ARB-51 can’t hold a candle to significantly larger speakers, it remains very clean and clear even until the performance limit is reached.
Elac Navis ARB-51: Conclusion and alternatives
There are many active compact speakers on the market for 2000 euros, even from the professional sector. Besides the intended use – the Elac still needs the wireless hub for streaming – the sound preferences are the most important factor. If you want a bit more crisp bass and treble brilliance, you’ll be happier with the significantly larger Nubert Nupro X-4000, for example. The Elac will, however, with room imaging, perfect locatability and very relaxed listen-through, especially with acoustic music or rather audiophile demands, rather meet the taste than others. Only the KEF LS50 Wireless II comes up with similar strengths and additional integrated wireless streaming options. However, the English sound is not quite as mature and rich in substance at higher levels as the Navis from the far north.
Elac Navis ARB-51: Technical specifications
- Manufacturer’s suggested retail price: 2,100 euros
- Dimensions (W x H x D): 19 x 38.5 x 24.5 cm
- Weight: 8.1 kg
- Features: 3-way, coaxial speaker, analog inputs, Air-X2 compatible, wireless hub optional
- More at www.elac.com
