I am not a big ELAC guy. I always found other brands to deliver sound that fit my needs better. I found enjoyment in other similarly priced speakers and felt that ELAC just needed more character.
They were typical speakers in this price range: warm, with lush sound and bigger upper bass and lower treble. Not something I could not find in other speakers, so they always flew under my radar. And as time went by, my interest in ELAC did not grow at all.
So, did it all change? Yes, with the arrival of these speakers at my home. My friend, who has these speakers, gave them to me to listen to while he was gone for an extended period out of the country. During that time, I listened to some other ELACs to gather lost knowledge, including other Debuts, Uni-Fis, and References. Finally, I was composed and ready to create this review.
If you enjoy this content, please like and subscribe. It is always easy to unlike and unsubscribe if you are not pleased with this review. But hopefully, I will explain everything about what this speaker offers and does not offer, so you will have a picture of this device before listening to it in-store.
Their biggest Achievement and their biggest Flaw
There was one realization which opened my eyes, and it happened while comparing these to other devices. They never became a leader in a certain sonic area, but they always delivered. The weaknesses are cut to a minimum, to be honest.
As I listened to these speakers, I thought, "Well, Focal has better soundstage and imaging, Kef has better resolving power and transparency, Sonus Fabers are more fun and have more detailed mids, Monitor Audio is equal or better on the lower end." But ELAC can give them all a punch in a fight, and it had parts of the sonic spectrum that all those other speakers don’t have.
It forced me to look at the bigger picture, not just the individual talent of a device. Not just to be a snob about not getting individual awards, but to get a device which can serve an undecisive listener or a listener who wants an all-around experience without sacrificing for something in this price range.
It is a great speaker that has you as a listener in mind first and foremost, not winning individual awards. They are worthy servants to your needs.
But there might be their biggest flaw. They might not be the first choice for more experienced listeners who are well aware of what they want from their speakers. I personally know what sonic qualities I pay most attention to and want to see them shine the most. We all have personal tastes that drive us towards one gear or another, and sometimes a balanced diet of sonic pleasers is not enough. I want the highest high or lowest low, that very unhealthy cake with an amazing specialized sweet taste, and I might look in a different direction when choosing speakers.
Sound Quality
These are really capable speakers, don’t get me wrong. They are a bit tweaked in design from the usual suspects in ELAC’s lineup. The sound it gives is more neutral and balanced compared to the warm speakers like the Debut series.
It is not that Reference is flat or very neutral, as real neutrality does not exist in the HiFi world. You can get your curves up and down, and the coloration can come from all different sources from cables to amps to sources. Some speakers have different characteristics that might give the precision of neutrality. I don’t know what kind of system can give you full balance, but even if that system exists, would you really like to listen to music like that?
The treble is a bit more heightened, providing details to that lower treble. This means that all the details and textures on the soundstage are going to give instruments a definition. It gives space and placement whenever that cymbal hits or percussion. You are able to hear and feel it on the soundstage, including the movement and speed of every instrument. The resolving power of this speaker was a surprise to me, as it truly delivers more detail and a more mature sound.
With all this being said, the soundstage is great. It opens both vertically and horizontally. It is important to understand that those more balanced and neutral presentations of speakers usually bring great details and soundstage. So the organization and weight of every element of the soundstage, from vocals to instruments, are going to be clearer. ELAC organizes them with a lot of grace and weight.
You will need to provide them a bit of space to breathe, but they are not very needy with placement. You can keep them close to the wall, and they will not be muddy, and the bass will not be bloated and bouncy. But, as always, I recommend a speaker distance of 30-60 cm from all the walls in the room. Good treatment of a room can clean and expand the soundstage dramatically. Even in not-so-well-treated rooms or with less-than-ideal placement, you can still achieve really good results with the soundstage. I was really happy with the dispersion.
The midrange was rich, but not something to write much about. It was more reserved rather than coming at you directly. Vocals have incredible weight and definition. I was satisfied with the imaging. It is one of those speakers that really cared for the presentation of the vocals in the center of your soundstage. The great thing was how the vocals had this weight to them, especially male vocals, which had this presence, to be more in command with great timing.
But to me, the greatest part of this sonic party is the lower end of the speakers. It made these speakers so fun to listen to. The rhythmic section was full of energy and presence. There was an attack to it, but not overly forward-sounding. The upper bass presence was amazing; it gave energy to every song I played.
I remember I played Led Zeppelin’s *Physical Graffiti*, and the moment that guitar was followed by that kick and drive, it created a musical experience that vibed so well with my preferences. It gave me the pleasure of a rhythmic presentation that opened all the serotonin in me, making me bop my head and tap my feet.
It gave all the instruments weight, but it was also precise and detailed. This is what I honestly liked about it the most, with how beautifully balanced it is. The bass had precision and complemented the midrange very well. It gave a great foundation for other instruments to build upon and was just such a treat to listen to.
Pairing Suggestions
A good thing about the sonic nature of these speakers is that you can easily give them a great edge by pairing them with lovely and punchy amps like the Rega Brio or Cambridge Audio CXA61. My combination with the CXA61 was great, as the treble got even punchier, and the bass remained full and commanding. You got this very beautiful combination of drive, punch, and details.
What I would not recommend are very balanced and neutral amps, as it might become too reserved and lean, which I don’t care too much about. I think the strengths and talents of these speakers need a helping persona, a dominant one in the relationship to push them to expose all their talents and strengths. A relationship where both components are very polite does not work for me, as they will be too shy. Even though technically you will have more transparency and separation this way.
Great Alternatives
All in all, telling you which part of the sound characteristics is good and which one is decent or bad does not do it justice. It will all depend on your preferences. One of the great ways to explain sound quality is to scale it in comparison to different devices. If you are already familiar with these devices, it will give you an even clearer picture.
Monitor Audio Silver 100
To me, the closest rival to this speaker is always going to be Monitor Audio, precisely the Monitor Audio Silver 100. I think they used to cost the same, but now the Silver is a much cheaper speaker. I listened extensively to the Silver 100, and I remember how happy I was with the upper bass and lower treble. I think a lot of the things that are good with ELACs are also good with Monitor Audio. It had a great soundstage and nice delivery of details in the treble. One thing I might say is that the bass was even better on Monitor Audio, and it was more fun, but the soundstage and details were a tad better in ELAC. They are super similar in sound and behavior, so if you are interested in ELACs, also listen to Monitor Audio. They are now cheaper and arrive in that insanely beautiful limited edition of green. Oh, how I wish I had them.
Focal Aria 906
Other speakers I would recommend are the Focal Aria 906. They are a bit more expensive than ELAC, but maybe can be found at the same price now. In terms of soundstage, imaging, and presentation, it kills ELAC. They are amazingly open and dynamically rich speakers. But ELAC is a more fun speaker with much better bass and a tad more details. They are different speakers completely, but if you desire more soundstage, imaging, presentation, and openness, go for Focal.
Sonus Faber Lumina II
Lastly, speakers I always return to, one of my favorites, are the Sonus Faber Lumina II. With the arrival of the new version of Lumina II Amator speakers, they are now on discount. They are a bit more expensive, but not something you cannot shell out a little bit more cash for. They are much warmer speakers than ELAC, but they are just so fun to listen to and musical. Even if they are warmer, they are also detailed, with great separation and texture. They offer so much more than ELAC, where ELAC is definitely better at soundstage, imaging, and separation, but Sonus is so dynamically rich, fun, and musical that I would always gravitate towards them. But if you are about more clarity, transparency and Soundstage. ELAC Is a Better Choice.
Conclusion
In the end, is ELAC for you? After watching this review, you understand all the pros and cons that come with this device. It is a great speaker, one that is there to please you and take your hand on a steady path to audiophile sound.
Its balanced sound brings heaps of audiophile goodies like good soundstage, imaging, details, and great bass. It is in the class of other similar speakers, a decent performer, not a wonderkid, not one that everyone is talking about as a savant in a certain area, but instead, a steady, hard-working student who is good at every area and has a great future, paved with a solid foundation.
That is the ELAC UBR62. Will that kind of speaker fit your needs? It's all about that date in the music store, where you can meet each other and be wowed by what it has to offer… or not. But there are always alternatives.
Hopefully, in the future, I will meet more ELACs, and one day, I hope to be blown away and in love with those speakers.
But until then, watch my reviews, and if you like them, please like, subscribe, and donate via Patreon to help me grow this passion of mine.
Bye!
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