Audio Video News

Elac Navis ARB-51 Powered Speaker System: $2,000

The virtues of powered speakers come into sharp focus with Elac’s Navis ARB-51 — a serious alternative to today’s popular smart speakers, many of which gloss over sound quality in pursuit of glitzy features like voice control. Behind its elegant façade is a full-on three-way design featuring a soft-dome tweeter mounted concentrically in the top midrange driver, an electronic crossover, and a separate amplifier custom tailored for each driver. Praising the ARB-51 for all-around sonic excellence, reviewer Dan Kumin called it a “consistent source of wonder.”

AT A GLANCE
Plus
Top-tier tonal accuracy and dynamic ability
Amazingly compact for performance level
On-board EQ offers flexible placement options
Minus
Relatively tight sweet spot
No on-board streaming, digital inputs, or DSP

Full Review Here

Primare Prisma I15 Integrated Amplifier/DAC: $1,999

Sweden’s Primare has broadened its audiophile appeal with the Prisma I15, which provides a generous selection of wired and wireless connectivity options, streaming flexibility, and impeccable sound quality thanks to its use of top-performing components, including a Hypex Class-D amplifier and an AKM digital-to-analog converter (DAC) capable of conversion up to 24 bits/384 kHz. Dan Kumin cut to the chase in summarizing his impressions of the I15: “I was surprised by both the scope and excellence of its reproduction, which came shockingly close to good-as-it-gets levels.”

AT A GLANCE
Plus
Unimpeachable sound quality
Impressive power and dynamic ability
Chromecast built-in, AirPlay, and Spotify Connect support
Minus
No phono input or headphone output
No native streaming (requires smartphone, tablet or similar)

Full Review Here

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