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<\/p>\nELAC is the oldest German audio company, which will soon be 100 years old.\u00a0There was nothing particularly noteworthy, except for a few but important patents.\u00a0In 2015, an important event took place for the company, the distinguished engineer Andrew Jones transferred from Pioneer to ELAC.\u00a0This event became a jackpot for ELAC.\u00a0By the way, it was Jones who left a significant mark on the KEF company in the 80s.\u00a0Jones’ arrival at ELAC, a change in personnel, course and strategy led the company to success.\u00a0Working diligently not only with their elbows, but also with their heads, trying to avoid overpricing, ELAC have gained a solid place in the budget hi-fi market with their Debut line.\u00a0If you look at tons of different audio magazines and articles over the past 7 years, you’ll notice that every second or third one features ELAC, mostly the Debut line.\u00a0What made this series so popular?\u00a0It’s simple – the price for sound quality.<\/p>\n
Like all companies today, ELAC adds electronics, wireless technology to existing models, making them wireless and multi-functional.\u00a0All In One – such devices are most in demand today.\u00a0Speakers that do not need massive amplifiers, receivers, DACs and other junk.\u00a0The review will be about such a system –\u00a0Debut ConneX DCB41\u00a0.\u00a0The speakers are small shelves weighing only 7 kg per pair and with a total power of 100 W.\u00a0This model is one of the most affordable wireless shelves on the market that claim to be in the Hi-Fi category.<\/p>\n
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There is an HDMI input, which has recently been a rarity in such systems, it accepts a digital signal (PCM only) as well as any other digital input, such as optical.\u00a0My TV does not have the ability to transmit audio via HDMI for some reason, despite the presence of HDMI ARC.\u00a0My TV can only output sound via optical, so I couldn’t test the HDMI speakers.\u00a0Almost any modern TV should have this capability.\u00a0Also, some DACs have an HDMI (ARC) output.<\/p>\n
Speakers can work without problems with any device via USB Type B, I tried phone, tablet and computer – works great.\u00a0I’m lucky to have a lot of the most exotic cables in my collection, even USB Type B to Type C. It’s very difficult to find it on sale for some reason, but you can try using an adapter.<\/p>\n
The speakers have bluetooth and it works great.\u00a0Basic control takes place from the remote control: pause, next track, previous track.\u00a0Bluetooth operation will be described in more detail below.<\/p>\n
As for the remote control, it has everything you need: turning on\/off speakers, turning on Bluetooth mode, switching between digital inputs, volume and XBass mode.<\/p>\n
What is XBass and how does it work?\u00a0There is an XBass button on the remote, when it is active, the bass is amplified.\u00a0This is the only sound adjustment other than volume in this model.\u00a0It works like this, the XBass button is pressed for 2 seconds, after that the light on the speaker will flash once, it means XBass mode is on.\u00a0It has two modes, immediately upon activation there is an increase of plus 3.5dB at a frequency of 55Hz, if you press the XBass button one more time there is an increase of plus 7dB at the same frequency of 55Hz.\u00a0To turn off this mode, you need to press the XBass button again for 2 seconds, after which the light will flash twice – XBass mode is turned off.\u00a0For myself, I preferred the second amplification mode – by 7dB.<\/p>\n
Yes, the speakers have a built-in phono equalizer.\u00a0Today, this is the trend, many similar systems have such a thing.\u00a0Unfortunately, I couldn’t check, I don’t have a “turntable”.<\/p>\n
Now about what I personally consider a minus.\u00a0The speakers do not have the classic bass and treble control, all that is XBass, which is not enough for me, I’m sure it won’t be a problem for many.\u00a0There is no coaxial input here!\u00a0The use of any source that only has a coaxial output is not possible.\u00a0Bluetooth does not support anything but SBC and AptX.\u00a0No Wi-Fi and no Chromecast.\u00a0USB is the most primitive, does not support exclusive mode, there is no ASIO and similar things here.\u00a0In my opinion, yusb is here “for a tick”.\u00a0The remote control uses infrared connection technology, the remote control must always be pointed at the receiver (speaker).<\/p>\n
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I am very interested in design, for me the design of any acoustics is a very important parameter.\u00a0As for the Debut ConneX DCB41, I liked them right out of the box, they look cool.\u00a0Speakers come in four colors: orange, blue, black and walnut.\u00a0I really like the “walnut” option.<\/p>\n
Speakers look especially impressive without a grill.\u00a0The shelves are very small and light.\u00a0The build quality is good, I would rate it 8 out of 10 considering the cost.\u00a0There are some small bumps and traces of glue, but considering the price, this is completely normal.<\/p>\n
All inputs and outputs, volume control and phase inverter are located at the back.\u00a0One column is active, the other is passive.\u00a0They are connected to each other through an ordinary acoustic cable (included).<\/p>\n
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I’ll start by saying that the speakers use a class D amplifier, as do all such systems, but the question that bothers me is what makes manufacturers use amplifiers that still have background noise in 2023?\u00a0Any stationary Chinese Class D amplifier slightly more expensive than $150 has no noise at all.\u00a0ConneX DCB41, like all active speakers I’ve heard, even three times more expensive, have noticeable (for me) background noise.\u00a0We have what we have.\u00a0Personally, it affects me a little, probably not many.<\/p>\n
I haven’t compared the built-in electronics with the analog input, but I can say for sure that the speakers play very decently through the internal DAC.\u00a0The main listening took place using the Analog RCA input.\u00a0The source was the Marantz CD6007\u00a0player\u00a0, by the way, in my opinion, one of the best “seat players” under 700 dollars, although the model is not new.\u00a0The speakers have a balanced, almost neutral sound, which is about the same sound character as the classic Debut passive line.\u00a0In my opinion, the speakers have a real 100W and play relatively cleanly up to almost 100 percent volume.\u00a0The efficiency of the speakers is very high.\u00a0To my ears, the speakers play absolutely without problems up to 90% of their maximum power (volume).\u00a0Very small but very powerful.\u00a0Now in more detail.<\/p>\n
The ratings below are based on size and price!<\/p>\n
With a high probability, you will be surprised by how much bass there is, as well as its quality.\u00a0Bass starts from 50 Hz.\u00a0Despite the miniature size of the speakers, the bass is present and feels very good.\u00a0Personally, these speakers impressed me with the amount, speed and quality of the bass.\u00a0Not bad resolution, but very complex tracks lose some details, not critical.\u00a0When Xbass is turned off, the speakers play a little livelier and cleaner, when turned on, the bass slightly reduces its speed characteristics and gets a little greasy, but this difference is barely noticeable.\u00a0However, when the Xbass is turned off, the speakers play frankly boring and frivolous in my opinion.\u00a0When listening to music with Xbass +7dB – 6 out of 10 records did not require connecting a subwoofer at all, 3 out of 10 unobtrusively asked for help from a subwoofer, and only the last one I didn’t even listen to until I connected the subwoofer.\u00a0Keep in mind that it is very difficult to connect any subwoofer to the shelves so that they “stick together”.\u00a0The presence of a crossover in the subwoofer is mandatory.\u00a0If bass is extremely important to you, get ready to buy a subwoofer.\u00a0My bass rating is 9 out of 10.<\/p>\n
Midrange on ConneX DCB41 has a moderately open presentation with a pleasant, quite natural timbre.\u00a0Relatively even sounding with almost no coloring.\u00a0If I watch a movie, I like almost everything, but the voice lacks a little weight, and, how to say, presence.\u00a0The width and depth of the scene is at the average level or even slightly above, in this category and price.\u00a0Some tracks sound with good three-dimensionality.\u00a0The midrange has an average level of detail, small nuances and details are quite readable.\u00a0The overall rating of SC is 9 out of 10.<\/p>\n
The tweeter, as well as the digital HF tuning, are well made.\u00a0Almost complete lack of brightness.\u00a0But on some recordings, the HF has a little emphasis.\u00a0There is a small, hardly noticeable peak somewhere above 10kHz, sometimes it “whistles”.\u00a0Otherwise, the highs are relatively flat with good, but not exemplary, detail.\u00a0There is a slight “seam” feeling between the tweeter and the woofer.\u00a0In general, the tweeter reproduces the high frequency quite well, but sometimes it feels metallic.\u00a0I don’t think this is a problem, sometimes on the contrary it makes the sound a little brighter and more interesting.\u00a0Personally, I miss the HF control here.\u00a0My HF rating is 7 out of 10.<\/p>\n
We can draw a conclusion.\u00a0In my opinion, the woofer in the ConneX DCB41 is a little better than the tweeter.\u00a0In general, the DCB41 sounds almost universal.\u00a0The system is suitable for both movies and music.\u00a0Speakers easily sound a room up to 35 square meters.\u00a0There is a high probability that you will not need a subwoofer, the system has powerful bass.\u00a0After watching a few movies, I was completely satisfied with the sound, personally, I had enough volume, bass and attack speed in dynamic scenes.<\/p>\n
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To be honest, I wasn’t even going to check the functionality of the bluetooth.\u00a0I turned it on for the “tick” and didn’t think to write anything about it.\u00a0On any more or less decent speaker that has bluetooth, starting at $400, the difference between bluetooth and wired sound is more than noticeable.\u00a0As a rule, bluetooth on such equipment does not sound interesting.\u00a0Due to its frankly non-audiophile implementation, Bluetooth is best suited for such devices as\u00a0JBL Charge\u00a0, where it feels great.\u00a0But with ConneX DCB41, everything turned out to be not so clear.\u00a0Yes, it’s going to sound like cheap advertising, but I’m impressed with the sound of the Debut ConneX DCB41 over Bluetooth.\u00a0I don’t know what kind of electronics is inside, probably there is some new, not simple Bluetooth chip.\u00a0I remember on\u00a0the KEF LSX\u00a0of the first model, the bluetooth didn’t sound fabulous, for example, on the\u00a0iLoud Micro Monitor,\u00a0the bluetooth was literally for the tick.\u00a0Between the Marantz CD6007 and the bluetooth on the ConneX DCB41, I don’t hear the huge difference that I was prepared for!\u00a0From what I’ve heard so far, these are the best bluetooth speakers under $600.\u00a0I officially congratulate ELAC for achieving such a decent result.\u00a0They decided that if there is no Chromecast, then let there be good Bluetooth, a reasonable approach.<\/p>\n
I’ve had very few similar systems in the $500-$700 range, so the comparisons will mostly be of very different models, so it’s not fair.<\/p>\n
The French Triangle system has more functionality and is larger, but in general both systems are similar in purpose.\u00a0In terms of sound, the AIO TWIN has a much richer and nicer middle, but at the same time it is inferior in detail to the Elak.\u00a0The German system has a more conventional, versatile sound, while the French system has a more unusual signature with priority on the midrange and upper bass.\u00a0AIO TWIN is intended for “aesthetes” of instrumental minimalist music, while ConneX DCB41 is more universal.\u00a0Personally, my choice is ELAC.\u00a0(and almost twice as expensive)<\/p>\n
Unfortunately, I haven’t heard the second version of LSX, but I really liked the first version.\u00a0No doubt the KEF sounds better, I have a guess that the second version of the LSX is noticeably better than the first.\u00a0Both systems do not have their own special signature, but the ConneX DCB41 definitely loses both in detail and in three-dimensionality.\u00a0Kefas play noticeably more interesting.\u00a0Yes, the price difference is big.\u00a0To be honest, I’ve been thinking about buying the KEF LSX II for a year now, but I need to hear them first and make sure they’re worth the price.<\/p>\n
Not quite a correct comparison, iLoud are positioned as monitors, ELAC is home acoustics, but both systems have a similar price and the presence of bluetooth.\u00a0Sound-wise, iLoud is probably my choice, but I’m not sure.\u00a0If we talk about bluetooth, it is implemented incomparably better in ConneX DCB41, after all, there is a difference of more than 7 years between the systems.\u00a0Both systems are very cool and have almost the best bang for your buck.<\/p>\n
Both systems have almost the same price.\u00a0In my subjective opinion, the Edifier slightly wins over the ELAC system in terms of quality, despite the fact that I like the sound of the ELAC better.\u00a0Edifier has a big trump card – Wi-Fi and wider functionality.\u00a0The sound is better in ELAC, but Edifier has slightly deeper bass.\u00a0What to choose?\u00a0Personally, I would choose ELAC for better sound quality and a more concise design.\u00a0I want to say that the Edifier company has an excellent return for the price, this is expressed both in sound and in functionality.\u00a0My strict recommendation is to pay attention to the new models of shelves from Edifier.<\/p>\n
Now, for comparison, let’s take the classic passive system\u00a0Dali Oberon 1<\/strong>\u00a0+\u00a0Yamaha A-S501\u00a0.\u00a0ELAC and Dali are almost the same size, Dali is slightly larger.\u00a0Here I will say right away that ConneX DCB41 loses in all characteristics, personally in the mid-range.\u00a0I can’t say that the difference is very big.\u00a0ELAC sounds “simpler” in this comparison.\u00a0Yes, we must admit that there is a big difference in price between ELAC and this system, primarily because of the expensive amplifier.\u00a0I can say 100 percent that ELAC offers more, if not much more, for every dollar.<\/p>\n I would like to add my opinion regarding the comparison of component systems (passive acoustics plus an amplifier) \u200b\u200bwith All-in-One systems.\u00a0The more I listen and compare such systems, the more I am convinced that the return for every cent paid in such audio systems as the ConneX DCB41 is higher, often much higher.\u00a0Size!\u00a0Just look at how much space a classic stationary amplifier takes up alone…<\/p>\n Considering the functionality, build quality and sound, I would rate these shelves 6 out of 6. Still I would like to have full Wi-Fi and Chromecast in this system, unfortunately, they are not here. In my memory\u00a0 , this is one of the best audio systems under $600\u00a0<\/strong>\u00a0(in its category).\u00a0I do not see alternatives or competitors of this model.\u00a0To date, this is the best All-in-One system of its kind that I have held in my hands.\u00a0Maybe there is something better, but I don’t know it.\u00a0I consider ConneX DCB41 a very successful model.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Conclusion<\/h3>\n