ELAC Navis ARB-51 are active bookshelf speakers that can form the basis of a compact stereo system with powerful and dynamic sound. These speakers only require a signal source, which can be connected either via cable or wirelessly using proprietary Discovery Connect technology. The wireless signal receiver is already built into the ELAC Navis ARB-51 housing, and they only need to be supplemented with a corresponding signal transmitter. Switching is provided by Discovery Connect, its capabilities are as follows: analog input, optical input and output, coaxial input and output, from wireless interfaces – Bluetooth, Airplay, Spotify Connect, Roon and DLNA. On the back panel of the speakers themselves there are several tone controls and tuning functions; there are balanced XLRs and unbalanced RCAs. This provides good flexibility for incorporating the ELAC Navis ARB-51 into different systems.
Despite their relatively small size, the speakers have a three-way configuration. This became possible thanks to the use of concentrically located midrange and tweeters. In addition to saving front panel space, this also gave the ELAC Navis ARB-51 a more coherent and focused sound.
The ELAC Navis ARB-51 features a 4″ aluminum cone midrange driver and a 1″ soft dome tweeter. The woofer in the ELAC Navis ARB-51 has a diameter of 5.25 inches and is also equipped with an aluminum cone. The woofer is loaded onto a bass reflex, the output hole of which is located on the rear panel.
All emitters in the speaker are connected to separate amplifiers, which made it possible to abandon the use of a passive crossover and eliminate the associated sound distortion. For the bass and midrange speakers, this model uses BASH amplifier modules, which have noticeable sound advantages over class D circuits. And for the tweeter in the ELAC Navis ARB-51, a class A/B amplifier is used, which provides the most comfortable sound. On the rear panel of the speakers there are switches for the sound level in the bass, mid and high frequency ranges, the frequency of the input low-pass filter, and the gain. Here you can select the channel (left or right) in which the speaker is used when turned on wirelessly. The acoustics are made in damped MDF enclosures and are available in three luxurious exterior finishes.
Characteristics of ELAC Navis ARB-51
Number of bands 3
Number of speakers 3
Housing type bass reflex, port on the rear panel
Tweeter 1 inch, soft dome, installed in the center of the midrange speaker
4″ midrange speaker, aluminum
cone 5.25″ woofer. aluminum cone
Frequency range 44 Hz – 28 kHz
Amplifiers 160 W BASH (LF), 100 W BASH (MF), 40 W A/V (HF)
Crossover frequencies 260 Hz, 2.2 kHz kHz
Frequency response control -1 dB /0/+ 1 dB (LF, MF, HF), input filter (80 Hz / 60 Hz / not used)
Inputs RCA, XLR, AirX2
Dimensions (WxHxD) 189x343x240 mm
Weight 8 kg
