Полочная акустика — Eltax ELTAX MONITOR III BT

The Monitor III BT is a self-powered pair of bookshelf speakers by Eltax, whose roots are in Denmark. It follows the acoustic formula of the passive Monitor III and adds a 2 x 25 W stereo amplifier, an audio DAC and a Bluetooth receiver, so a pair works as a complete system with no separate amplifier.

Key specs that matter

Every enclosure is a 2-way bass-reflex design with a front-facing port. It carries a 130 mm mid-bass driver and a 25 mm soft dome tweeter. Eltax quotes a frequency response of 50 Hz to 20 kHz within plus or minus 4 dB, and power consumption of 50 W. Each speaker measures 195 mm wide, 330 mm high and 230 mm deep, and the pair weighs 13.2 kg. The list price at Eltax is EUR 349.

Engineering and use context

The built-in DAC accepts CD-quality streams, and an integrated DSP handles the signal inside the active speaker. Digital inputs take coaxial or optical S/PDIF, which allows a direct link to an HDTV, a CD player or any other source with those connectors. Two analogue stereo inputs are also provided, one on RCA sockets and one on a 3.5 mm mini jack, so a turntable preamp or a portable player can stay connected alongside the digital sources. A subwoofer output lets a powered sub be added for low bass below the reach of the mid-bass driver. A USB port supplies charging current for a phone or tablet, and a voltage switch sets the unit for 115 V or 230 V mains. The supplied remote control selects inputs and manages paired Bluetooth devices. Compared with the passive model, the cabinet is 30 mm taller, which leaves space for the electronics, while the width and depth are unchanged. The treble limit is also slightly lower than on the passive version. Each active cabinet weighs about 6.6 kg, some 1.6 kg more than a passive Monitor III, which reflects the added amplifier, power supply and input board.

Pairing

With amplifier and DAC on board, the Monitor III BT only has to be fed by sources. A TV connects through the optical input, a CD transport or streamer through coaxial, and phones stream over Bluetooth. Adding a compact powered subwoofer through the sub output is the main expansion path. A desk or shelf setup in a room of about 20 m2 suits the size of the cabinets, and the front port means the speakers can sit nearer the wall behind them than a back-ported box.

Alternatives

The Eltax Monitor V is a larger passive bookshelf model from the same brand, with an 8 inch mid-bass woofer and a quoted low limit of 42 Hz.