ELAC CARINA BS 243.4 BOOKSHELF LOUDSPEAKERS REVIEW

ELAC CARINA BS 243.4 bookshelf speakers are a beer token less than a grand in the UK, but do they cut the sonic mustard? Michael Fairbairn finds out for HiFi PiG.

ELAC has been designing loudspeakers since the early 80s, though this German brand has existed for almost 100 years. To say the company is well established would be a gross understatement. Having been “…founded on a commitment to making the best sound in the world,” they continue that promise with new ‘Families of ELAC’ products.

The subject of this review, the Carina model, was released a few years ago, while ELAC’s ‘newly redesigned Debut 3.0 Series’ was released towards the end of 2024. Ordinarily, I would expect to be checking out that new, hot product from a manufacturer. Despite that, I was sufficiently curious to give the Carina a try. Especially as it would be my first time hearing what ELAC loudspeakers can do.

It was even more enticing that Andrew Jones, who is known for his work as an award-winning loudspeaker designer, is responsible for bringing the B2 243.4 to life. HiFi Pig announced in February, 2023 that production had started on a documentary film about the life of the ‘legendary’ Jones. “Andrew started his HiFi career at British loudspeaker brand KEF, then growing to be at the helm of the design process at Pioneer, TAD, and ELAC. Most recently, in 2022, Jones was invited to join MoFi Electronics to spearhead an innovative new line of loudspeakers.” I understand the film by Rose City Media Group is still in the works, but will no doubt be one for enthusiasts to look forward to.

In the meantime, I did a bit of swotting up on the partnership between the designer and ELAC. As VP of engineering, he took on the challenge of working with the ELAC folded-ribbon JET tweeter, having been much more used to being “…a dome tweeter guy.” He admits he had to learn to work with it and determine the sound he wanted to achieve. As this marked Andrew’s first foray into a design that incorporates this type of tweeter, which is said to be a key component that defines what ELAC is to those familiar with their characteristics, I was intrigued to check out the results.

BUILD QUALITY AND FEATURES OF THE ELAC CARINA BS 243.4 BOOKSHELF SPEAKER

The cabinets are finished with a black satin coating, which has an understated elegance about it. It’s not high gloss or a wood veneer, as you might expect to see. I wasn’t quite sure what it was at first, though it felt like a very sleek and rigid plastic. I have since been reliably informed that it’s a painted finish. It’s a bit different in an unusual and modern sort of way.  The other option is satin white and we’ve included images below by way of completeness.

The outer walls of the cabinets are made of sturdy MDF, while internal bracing also adds to the rigidity, giving them a reassuringly solid feel. They are light, though, weighing just 6.7kg. Dimensions are 319 x 216 × 245 mm (HxWxD).

To quote from the company’s website, “The ELAC JET tweeter is one of the most legendary tweeters in the industry and has won international praise with its transparent and effortless sound image.” It is an AMT tweeter, typically employed to be very effective for higher frequencies. They refer to their version as ‘iconic’ and ‘exceptional’. Considering ELAC has been utilising these for 40-odd years and across their ranges of loudspeakers, I guess it must be more than clever marketing hyperbole.  The proof, however, as they say, is in the pudding. More on that later.

This is a 2-way speaker that has been custom designed and constructed; ELAC manufacture their own drive units. The bass driver is a Compound Curvature aluminium model with an inverted dome shape and a softened curvature at the edges helps to control the resonant characteristics of the large cone. The pole piece aids cone break up in the frequency response, and this also helps to match the tweeter with crossover at 2.7khz.

The cast aluminium frame is said to be thicker than if using pressed steel, and both the frame and spider are vented, which is deemed to be “…getting into the realms of high-end engineering.”  The six-legged frame secures the top of the drive unit, with the venting in between these to allow free air flow. This, in turn, provides maximum ventilation. All in all, it’s a very solid and rigid solution. Crossover parts use mostly large Air Core inductors using polypropylene caps.

Andrew Jones specifically opted for a down-firing bass port to avoid direct noise coming towards you. This is also vented, and the bottom of the cabinet has an angle that goes upward from front to back, which makes for a slightly different look and finish. I particularly liked this feature. Supporting all of the above, the speaker sits atop a sturdy, cast aluminium base plate.

Finally, around the back, the binding posts are of top-notch quality and seem very generous, given the relatively affordable price tag.  To make the finish all the more attractive and appealing, the chrome trim around the drivers pops and makes for a slick, eye-catching touch.

SOUND QUALITY

Initially, my reference amp was a MastersounD Icona, which I love and previously reviewed.  This Class A tube amp has the power of 2x24w in Pentode mode (2x12w triode). The pairing of the valves with the Carina produced some great results in terms of musicality, most notably with subtle details and vocals, but I got the impression the speakers weren’t being given the opportunity to fully open up and dazzle me. It was a sound I felt I couldn’t live with for any extended period of time. A bit fatiguing, perhaps.

Fast forward to putting in place a pair of Merrill Audio Thor Monoblocks (Class D) and a Lab12 valve pre, and the results could not have been more night and day. Good things come to those who wait, and all that. I am so glad I didn’t write these speakers off, because the persistence proved to be more than worth it. I had the real benefit of being able to compare output from the two differing sources, and I have given a flavour of my findings between these. Suffice to say, some pairings definitely work better than others, and careful consideration often needs to be given when doing so.

At the time of starting the review, Aerosmith announced that they would be retiring from touring “…because singer Steven Tyler’s recovery from his vocal injury is not possible.” It seemed only fitting that I should fire up some of their classics. Their album Pump was produced by Bruce Fairbairn (no relation that I know of) and has a bombastic sound. Everything is big and slick. That down-firing bass port handled the Kramer/Hamilton rhythm section drive admirably, and the vocals were superb and rich with the valve-based Icona, but I would have liked to get a bit more excitement out of these tracks. The Thors and Lab12 combo did just that. Everything just came to life and fired on all cylinders. The same findings were absolutely true of Stevie Ray Vaughan’s Testify, which was just electric, pumping and downright enjoyable. There was a good balance via the Icona amp, but I could hear and was drawn to the actual drivers too much. Hotel Illness by The Black Crowes had some harshness in the upper mids via the MastersounD, but these quibbles were all resolved when switching to Class A and tube partnership of the LAB 12 and Merrill. Bluesy, Classic Rock was a winner on this setup.

Changing tack entirely, Hyperballad by Bjork and Angel by Massive Attack. Both had pretty decent bass from the MastersounD, but I only fully got the real impact and effect with that Class D power behind these tracks. Everything just came to life and fell perfectly into place.

After I returned the MastersounD, and focused on the sounds from the Thor/Pre 1 setup, I discovered the band Chalk. Their songs Afraid and Tell Me from their latest release, Conditions III were a superb workout for this cohesive group of components. I mean, their visceral, electronic sound just exploded from the Carinas. Fantastic stuff.

The Wildhearts recently returned with the blistering Failure Is The Mother Of Success and, oh my, that thunderous double kick work just thumped and kicked ass. The wall of guitars was dense, like a full-on panzer attack. The scope of the sound was amazing, huge and with excellent dynamics. It’s a “schizophonic” track that could easily fall apart with the wrong gear, but this is so well controlled and tight throughout. The bass guitar alone was so precise (most likely, a Precision…ahem) and full of warmth. Superb.

QUIBBLES

None, really, though every bit of kit has got them. While I really liked the slanted base frame, it did allow for dust to gather under there. A very minor quibble and really not a problem if you keep your space nice and clean.

I also think that these speakers do need to be partnered sympathetically, and for my taste and preferences, I felt that powerful Class D amps worked wonders, whilst my Class A tube amp didn’t quite deliver the grip these speakers need.

CONCLUSION

More than any other piece of equipment I’ve reviewed to date, I have to say that the speakers were the most surprising in terms of the importance when considering the partnering amplification. Fortunately, I got to hear what they are really capable of when allowed to open up with powerful, clean amplification. However, get the amps right, and I consider these something of a steal at their price point.

I’m giving these speakers a Five Hearts award with the caveat that they need careful partnering.

AT A GLANCE

Build Quality And Features:

The satin paint-finished coating is appealing

Some real consideration given to the pairing of the drivers, down to Andrew Jones designing a brand-new woofer to complement the much-loved JET tweeter, despite not having worked with these before

High-quality engineering, such as the cast aluminium baskets and binding posts.

Sound Quality:

Again, it is important to note the benefits of the right match with amplification to hear the best of these ELAC speakers

When partnered sympathetically, they can produce power and dynamics very well

Value For Money: 

Sub £1k (ok, it’s just a pound…but that’s still less than a grand, in anyone’s money) for an Andrew Jones-designed pair of loudspeakers seems like a bit of steal. I recommend these to both audiophiles and more casual music listeners alike – friends that aren’t quite such avid music fans/listeners but would benefit from a modestly priced product that sounds great and has an appealing aesthetic

We Loved:

The price

The night and day results when switching from a valve amp to transistor (Class D) monoblocks was a notable moment of realisation that the Carina speakers are significantly better than first impressions with the former pairing had suggested.

We Didn’t Love So Much:

These speakers require careful consideration in terms of matching with amplification

Elevator Pitch Review: A pair of £999 bookshelf/standmount speakers from the award-winning speaker designer Andrew Jones could be seen as a bit of a bargain. These speakers would be ideal for both audiophiles and more casual listeners alike, who are looking for better sound from their music without breaking the bank. Just make sure to pair these with an amplifier solution that can get the best out of them. Something with power and drive will ensure they come alive and sing, though I would highly recommend a demonstration with your own amplification.

Price: £999

Michael Fairbairn

SUPPLIED BY HiFi NETWORK

SUPPLIED SPECIFICATION

Type: 2-way Vented box

Woofer: 1 x Aluminum cone 5-1/4

Tweeter: JET folded ribbon

Crossover frequency: 2.7kHz

Frequency range (IEC 268-5): 46Hz – 30kHz

Sensitivity: 85dB/2.83V/1m

Recommended amplifier power: 30 to 150 wpc

Peak power handling: 100W

Nominal | Minimum impedance: 6 Ohm / 4.8 Ohm

Finishes: Satin Black, Satin White

Net Weight (each): 14.73 lbs / 6,7 kg

Dimensions (HxWxD): 08.52 × 08.06 x 12.54 (319 x 216 × 245 mm)