Audio Advice Live

I love a great 2.1 system like this pair of Solano tower speaker and a Varro DS1000 12-inch dual-opposed subwoofer. Just a couple of good towers and a powerful, precise sub, along with transparent, competent electronics doing their job. And that's what I found in this all-ELAC rig at Audio Advice Live 2023.

This room had me thinking "what a fantastic time it is to be an audio enthusiast." We have this capacity to create true full-range audio with bass that's tuned to the room, delivering an audiophile listing experience with gear that looks great and fits comfortably in a living room environment.

The demo's highlight was turning the subwoofer on and off. Surprisingly, the difference was barely noticeable. I found myself wondering if the A-B comparison was meant to promote buying the subwoofer or discourage! Just kidding. There is an uncanny similarity in the sound with the sub in the mix and without. While the towers produce deep bass sounds, the real marvel in this all-ELAC system is the seamless integration of the subwoofer. It only stands out when handling sounds the speaker can't reproduce, which is rare with most music.

The subwoofer's transparent handling of the bass is an interesting contrast with letting the speakers manage it. Some audio enthusiasts criticize subwoofers for their distinct sound. However, my counter is that a subwoofer won't sound like one when perfectly integrated. This impeccable integration is evident in the ELAC system. This isn't by mere chance but a result of ELAC's precise calibration methodology, using its dedicated app.

Click here to see a full list of everything in this demo room.

While in the room I chatted briefly with Chris Walker of ELAC about the company and the system demo.

Chris: "Out of all the different series of products that ELAC manufactures in the speaker lineup, we have a variety of products from Carina and down that are manufactured in Asia to achieve aggressive target price points.

"Then we get to the Solano series, which are manufactured in Germany. They utilize our Jet 5 air motion transformer tweeter, which is the same tweeter you find in this line and everything going upwards. This tweeter is handmade in our facility in Kiel, Germany. We have four full-time employees that focus on the tweeter, which is astonishing, given that we produce the tweeter not just for our products but also for some OEM car applications for prominent German car manufacturers.

"The design includes the AMT tweeter for high-frequency duties, a six-inch bass driver for mid-range with some upper bass, and the bottom driver specifically for bass. When we revamped the German product line about two years ago, our objective was to ensure every floor-standing speaker would play up to 40 Hz at an acceptable output level.

"These speakers retail for $4,000 a pair. They're ported out of the bottom, and there's an additional port at the top rear of the cabinet, which makes them integrate seamlessly into a room. We also have one of our new subwoofers in the works.

Mark: "Let's check out the subs."

Chris: "The sub is off and auto EQ'd into the room. I'm going to play this Boss Scaggs track, which is mellow. After that, I'll play something to highlight the bass capabilities of the towers. Certain tracks play deep into the 20s Hz range, and without a good system, you won't catch the low-frequency growls.

"I believe that the best two-way speaker is a three-way speaker. Handling both vocals and heavy bass simultaneously is a challenge for a two-way speaker. I'm going to play a unique track called "Twerk it Like Miley." It has heavy bass and vocals, but initially, vocals are presented without the bass. It's an excellent track for showcasing capabilities.

"We once had another sub, and people often complained that adding a sub made it sound too distinct. With our product, the integration is so seamless that the subwoofer isn't apparent until required. Integrating bass into a room is a challenge, but our auto EQ feature on the sub makes it effortless. Once set up, a few minor adjustments are all that's needed for a seamless blending of mains to sub."