ELAC's Navis ARB-51 are a knockout!

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Reviewed in this video:

ELAC ARB-51 standmount loudspeakers (US$2000/pair)
ELAC Discovery Connect DS-C101W-G streamers (US$399)

More info:

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Andrew Jones interview #1:

Andrew Jones interview #2:

Manufacturer’s website:

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Also featured in this review…

Atacama Nexus 6i:

KEF LS50 Wireless:

Dali Callisto 2C:

Mytek Brooklyn Bridge:

PS Audio DirectStream:

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Music playlists...

Spotify:

Tidal:

Qobuz:

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Darko.Audio is a web magazine covering new and exciting developments in the audio world and we aren’t afraid of indie rock or techno.

[MrLoridin]

This review actually tipped me over the edge, I've had my Elac Navis for a few months now and I couldn't be happier.

[Olli-SYF]

Excellent review. You mentioned the most important key features making the Navis unique:
1) design is good enough that no DSP is needed to "cover up"/correct short comings
2) analog direct, so if you have an excellent DAC then the analog signal does not get digitized again and future proof
3) easy subwoofer integration because of the high pass option

[amirjubran]

Heard the tower version of these at the Toronto audio fest. They were demoing it with Thanks to You by Boz Scaggs. The volume was kept very low but it sounded very impressive. A natural, balanced presentation that felt very easy to listen to

[JM-qngf]

John, you are so correct about how well the Navis scale. I recently read about audiophile fuses on an audio forum and tonight I just installed a $50 audiophile FUSE on my DDC that sits between my computer and DAC. The SQ coming out of the Navis noticeably kicked up another notch. I'm not joking. I never would have imagined a fuse would do this and that Navis would be able to communicate through it's speakers what seems like it would be such a subtle tweak is amazing.

[BassGoodCall]

KEF LS50W vs ELAC Navis ARB-51 - this is the comparison review I've been waiting for. Nicely done. Thank you.

[brunzmeflugen]

Its nice to hear perspective from someone who listens to electronic music as well. Many different textures than on synthetic sounds.

[petergil]

Thanks for the Navis review. I viewed/read it along with several others before finally deciding on a purchase. They are now paired with a JL Audio sub (using their high pass filter) and sound tremendous. All the best.

[pwhittak]

For the first time ever I loved the advertisement. Spread the word, Tidal has competition (and Roon is awesome too).

[mmdusa]

John, you are awesome! Love the way you explain whatever it is you are reviewing. No mumbo-jumbo or really meaningless specs. I can't tell you how refreshing it is to have a real lover of "hi-fidelity" music and equipment giving us thorough, no b.s. reaction to the pieces under review. Please keep doing what you do. Cheers!

[JurajHatina]

Best review for the evening! Thanks Darko! Good to hear that Elacs didn't disappoint.

[stephenscharf]

Excellent review. I've been following Andrew Jones' career closely since he left KEF and went to TAD/Pioneer and now ELAC. Andrew is a true genius, IMHO, when it comes to designing loudspeakers. His TAD CR-1 is one of the finest speakers I've heard at any price. I have his $99/pr Pioneer SP-BS22-LR for my bedroom sytem and they are pretty amazing, too. This was an excellent review, and I liked very much how you compared the ELACs to other comparably priced market offereings, something that the traditional "print media" mags never do (they actually have policies about not doing that). Your reviews have much more credibility for me in this regard. Great explanation of the system and its capabilities for expansion. Thanks again. Oh, and BTW, I love your Fujifilm X100T or F? (I three X-mount Fujis also: X-H1, GS X-T2 and X100F). Cheers, Stephen

[simonguilmain]

Great review. I meet Andrew Jones last weekend at the Audio Show in Montréal (QC, Canada) and he confirmed that the drivers of the Navis were anew and better design then the one in the Unifi B5.

[coguglielmi]

Can't agree more: being an audiophile is not about seeking the absolute sound - which IMHO doesn't even exist even for oneself - but it's about the journey not the destination, as you put it: its about 'playing around' with gear, incrementally. We're all grown-up kids playing with our expensive toys 😁!

[matthiasstuer]

Absolutely wonderful review. I have them myself and I agreed with every word. However I do think coupled with primo sources they leave the LS50W behind in most aspects (had them in my room as well). The mids are better and the bass is on another level. Imaging is the best I've ever heard on a speaker this size. I absolutely love them and I will try to scale them as good as I can in my acoustically treated room.

[markphilpot]

Excellent straightforward presentation without hype or pushy bias. You go Darko!

[christophschuermann]

Thanks for the review. I like to hear that the active speaker work fine with no dsp frontend inside. The analog concept is very cool, so everybody can improve the soundquality with
better external gear. Very nice!

[MrDeaweber]

Love this guy's aproach to reviewing .his style for me is what I have been looking for. Very exciting brand of speaker, very enjoyable review .

Edit - I just took a quick glance at a handful of the other comments below = Apparently I'm in good company and I'm still thinking normally after reading so many other similar comments - more important is that we apparently really do have a great reviewer here .

[fabferrari]

I am in the verge to replace my budget monitors and I am looking forward to passing the COVID-19 crisis to go to the newly appointed China ELAC distributor’s showroom to test those speakers. I have a quite strong personality and, in this infodemic world, I normally don’t listen too much about anyone’s comments about SQ but my ears; anyhow I must say that I do like your style very much and you are amongst the few reviewer that I follow. Thanks for your passionate dedication to this hobby (for me).

[DigitalPhilosophers]

Dear John, I love your approach on reviewing gear. As you are living in Germany please show us Nubert NuPro X and Elacs German Line up ➡️ Elac Vela. All of the well known reviewer only talk about Andrew Jones‘ speakers. But this is not Elacs Highend departure. Elacs HighEnd is Vela and Air-X 403 with their newest Jet 5 ♥️

[tee-jaythestereo-bargainph]

you crack me up John great job man and thank you for your hard work and dedication on audio reviews really appreciate the education you bring to audio it's all about having fun and enjoying our passion for music play back