Напольная акустика — ELAC Carina FS 247.4

The ELAC Carina FS 247.4 is the floorstanding model in the Carina series, which ELAC developed under the influence of Andrew Jones, whose earlier career included KEF, TAD, Pioneer and Infinity. The Carina line blends German and American design approaches and also includes the BS 243.4 bookshelf and the CC 241.4 centre channel. The FS 247.4 is a passive 2.5-way vented design with three drivers. Buyers pick satin black or satin white paint for the cabinet, which is produced in the US.

Key specs that matter

A JET folded ribbon tweeter sits above two 5.25 inch woofers with aluminium cones. ELAC quotes a frequency response of 34 Hz to 30 kHz and sensitivity of 87 dB at 2.83 V and 1 m. Nominal impedance is 6 ohm, with a minimum of 4.8 ohm. The crossover points are 1 kHz and 2.7 kHz, peak power handling is 120 W. ELAC suggests amplifiers delivering between 30 and 250 W per channel. Each speaker weighs 16.41 kg, and the list price was about USD 3,062.

Engineering and use context

In the 2.5-way layout both woofers share the lowest octaves, while a low-pass filter at the first crossover point rolls off the lower driver so that only the upper unit carries the range up to the tweeter. The aluminium diaphragms of both woofers have a compound curvature profile, a shape ELAC arrived at through computer modelling of driver behaviour during development. The JET tweeter uses a folded ribbon diaphragm in the manner of an air motion transformer. The bass reflex port is led downward and exits through the bottom of the cabinet, and a rear-firing port of large diameter and length is also part of the design. The box is supplied with binding post straps, outrigger feet, spikes and discs.

Pairing

The moderate impedance curve presents no unusual demand on an amplifier, and the broad recommended power window covers modest and powerful designs alike. The supplied straps link the terminals for single wiring, and removing them opens the way to bi-wiring. For home cinema, the CC 241.4 centre, a three-way with two 5.25 inch aluminium drivers, a JET tweeter, crossover points at 100 Hz and 3 kHz and a weight of 10.17 kg, completes a Carina front stage, with the BS 243.4, a 6.7 kg two-way with one 5.25 inch aluminium driver and a JET tweeter, as a surround option.

Alternatives

The ELAC Debut Reference DFR52 is a three-way tower from ELAC's lower-priced Debut family, rated at 42 Hz to 35 kHz with three 5.25 inch aramid fibre woofers.