Полочная акустика — ELAC Carina BS 243.4

The Carina BS243.4 is the compact two-way member of ELAC's Carina series, designed by Andrew Jones and presented at the 2019 High End exhibition in Munich. The series has three models - this two-way compact, the 2.5-way FS247.4 floorstanding speaker and the three-way CC241.4 centre channel. The US list price at introduction was USD 1,199 per pair.

Key specs that matter

ELAC describes the enclosure as a two-way vented box. ELAC quotes a frequency range of 46 Hz to 30,000 Hz measured to IEC 268-5, with sensitivity of 85 dB at 2.83 V and 1 m. Nominal impedance is 6 ohm, and the minimum falls to 4.8 ohm. Crossover frequency between the two drivers is 2.7 kHz. Peak power handling is 100 W. Each cabinet measures 319 mm high, 216 mm wide and 245 mm deep and weighs 6.7 kg. Two finishes are listed, Satin White and Satin Black.

Engineering and use context

The tweeter is ELAC's JET folded ribbon, based on the Air-Motion Transformer principle developed by Dr. Oskar Heil and fitted here with a new neodymium magnet system. ELAC credits the JET design with fast response, wide dynamic range, low distortion, ample headroom and a wider frequency range than conventional dome tweeters. Below it sits a single 5.25-inch (133 mm) aluminium inverted-cone woofer with a large voice coil and an oversized magnet. Its compound curvature profile controls cone breakup and is engineered for extended response, piston-like motion and a smooth hand-off to the JET. The one-piece enclosure has non-parallel side walls, softly radiused edges and a keel-shaped bottom. An integral metal plinth attached underneath lifts the cabinet, and the flared bass reflex port is aimed down at the speaker plinth. According to ELAC, the downward port reduces ventilation noise and allows installation in a bookshelf or against a wall, since neither the baffle nor the back panel carries a port opening. The rear panel carries bi-wiring terminals, letting the low-pass and high-pass crossover halves take their own cable runs.

Pairing

ELAC recommends amplifiers rated at 30 to 150 W per channel. The CC241.4 centre, listed at USD 919, and the FS247.4 towers, listed at USD 2,398 per pair, can extend a pair of BS243.4 speakers into a matched home theatre front stage built entirely around JET tweeters.

Alternatives

The ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2 is a bookshelf speaker from the Debut 2.0 series, which Andrew Jones also designed, built around a 6.5-inch woofer and a soft dome tweeter whose surround has a wide roll.