ELAC Vela FS407 (FS 407)

The German brand ELAC with almost a century of history never ceases to amaze with the quality and beauty of its products. The Vela FS407 speaker system costs more than $6,000, but by buying it, you can be sure that you become the owner of a Maybach in the world of sound.

On all "sails"

The manufacturer called the Vela series for a reason. The word is translated from Spanish as a sail, and this is reflected in the design. The speaker cabinet is shaped like a trapezoid, tapering towards the rear wall and tilted back at a slight angle. This solution allows you to effectively deal with internal standing waves, as well as with the diffraction of external waves. Black, white or walnut glossy lacquer finishes match the glass top of the case perfectly, the spiked aluminium base provides solid stability, and two pairs of massive screw terminals provide ample connectivity.

Big sound in a small size

Three speakers are responsible for the sound of the FS407: a fifth-generation JET ribbon tweeter and two 150 mm mid/bass drivers with AS-XR aluminium embossed cones. The tweeter is installed in a waveguide, which improves the radiation pattern and increases the resolution. Bass depth is enhanced by two phase inverter ports, one of which is brought to the floor, and the second is back.

The result is a system that delivers a large, energetic, detailed and expressive sound. It perfectly reveals itself on almost any style, except, perhaps, hard rock ones. For such music, it is not decisive and aggressive enough. In addition, to unleash the full potential, you need a powerful enough amplifier that can function in class AB.

As a result, ELAC Vela FS407 can be safely recommended to those who want the sound source in the living room not to dominate, but to please the ear and the eye. And, of course, I'm willing to pay $6,000 for it.