Напольная акустика — ELAC Vela 2.0 FS407.2

The Vela 2.0 FS407.2 is a passive 2.5-way floorstanding loudspeaker from ELAC, designed and engineered in Kiel, Germany, where its JET 6 tweeter is also handcrafted. It is the smallest of three towers in the Vela 2.0 range, next to the FS408.2 and FS409.2, and the series also includes the BS403.2 and BS404.2 stand-mounts and the CC401.2 centre. In the US it arrived in early May 2024 at USD 2,999.98 for the black and white lacquers and USD 3,199.98 in gloss walnut.

Key specs that matter

ELAC fits one JET 6 Air Motion Transformer tweeter above two 150 mm AS-XR woofers. Crossover points sit at 450 Hz and 2,400 Hz. ELAC rates the frequency range at 30 Hz to 50,000 Hz and the sensitivity at 88 dB for 2.83 V at 1 m. Nominal impedance is 4 ohm, with a minimum of 3.2 ohm at 200 Hz. Power handling is 130 W nominal and 170 W peak, and ELAC recommends amplifiers of 40 to 300 W per channel that are specified for 4 to 8 ohm loads. Each tower stands 1,000 mm tall, 229 mm wide and 266 mm deep and weighs 19.1 kg. The cabinet has no magnetic shielding.

Engineering and use context

The JET 6 is the newest version of the ELAC Air Motion Transformer and is the main change in the second Vela generation, with response reaching up to 50 kHz. The AS-XR cones use a faceted aluminium-sandwich membrane that ELAC calls crystal, aimed at higher stiffness and less unwanted resonance, and XR stands for an extended frequency range with a smooth roll-off. Behind the cone, a larger voice coil and an extra magnet ring are intended to raise efficiency and thermal resilience. The trapezoid enclosure has MDF outer walls, internal bracing placed at chosen points and a convex baffle to reduce reflections, all under a gloss paint finish. Bass reflex loading is handled by a port that opens downward from the base, which ELAC says gives cleaner airflow. A plate with spikes and washers comes in the box, while grilles are an optional extra, and the speaker is sold as a single unit.

Pairing

The terminals are bi-wire and bi-amp capable, so the woofers and the tweeter can be connected with two separate cable sets or powered by two amplifier channels each. An amplifier chosen for this tower should be stable into low loads, given the low impedance minimum.

Alternatives

The ELAC Vela 2.0 VFS409.2 is the 3.5-way Vela 2.0 model, fitted with two 180 mm woofers, a 150 mm midrange, 89 dB sensitivity and a 28 Hz lower limit in a 32.1 kg cabinet.