Short answer: the ELAC VELA BS 403 for better sound quality, the JBL HDI-1600 for the lower price. The ELAC VELA BS 403 ranks #29 of 100 bookshelf speakers at $2899. The JBL HDI-1600 ranks #35 at $1980, $919 cheaper.
On the ELAC VELA BS 403 side: JET 5 folded ribbon tweeter pairs with a 6” aluminum/paper sandwich woofer for extended, well-controlled bass - Erin measured usable in-room extension to about 50 Hz. Set against that: Deliberate dip-and-peak voicing in the crossover region around 2 kHz reduces attack and clarity in the mids and highs - intentional per ELAC’s design, but not to Erin’s personal preference.
What the JBL HDI-1600 offers: CEA2034 spinorama is very flat in the critical mid-to-upper frequencies, with a slight bass boost that should have a good subjective effect and very smooth early-window directivity. Watch for: A dip appears above 10kHz on-axis.
Buy the ELAC VELA BS 403 if sound quality matters more than the price. Buy the JBL HDI-1600 if the price matters more than sound quality.
Specifications Side By Side
| ELAC VELA BS 403 | JBL HDI-1600 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $2,899 | $1980 Discontinued |
| Ranked | #29 of 100 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers | #35 of 100 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Drivers | JET 5 folded ribbon tweeter, 6" aluminum/paper sandwich cone woofer | 1" tweeter + 6.5" woofer |
| Dimensions | 14-3/16"H x 7-1/2"W x 9-3/8"D | 14.6"H x 9.1"W x 11.4"D (370.0 x 230.0 x 288.9 mm) |
| Weight | 15.7 lbs each | 53.4 lbs / 24.2 kg |
| Impedance | 4 ohms nominal, 3.2 ohms minimum (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 4 ohms nominal (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Sensitivity | 84.3dB (measured average, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 85dB (2.83V/1m, measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Frequency Response | 41Hz - 50kHz (manufacturer specified) | - |
| Recommended Power | up to 100W RMS | - |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 59Hz (measured average, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 70Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 46Hz (measured average, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 55Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Crossover Frequency | 2.4kHz | - |
| Discontinued | - | Yes |
| Woofer Cabinet | - | ported, rear |
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More useful head-to-heads from the same speaker class:
- Revel M126Be vs ELAC DB63
- Revel M126Be vs Emotiva Airmotiv XB2
- KEF R3 Meta vs Philharmonic BMR (v1)
- ELAC VELA BS 403 vs JTR Noesis 210HT
- ELAC VELA BS 403 vs Philharmonic BMR (v1)
The Two Speakers In Full
ELAC VELA BS 403: $2,899 Amazon
Pros: JET 5 folded ribbon tweeter pairs with a 6” aluminum/paper sandwich woofer for extended, well-controlled bass - Erin measured usable in-room extension to about 50 Hz, deeper than JBL’s competing L52 Classic despite lacking that speaker’s mild upper-bass bump. Compression stays within about 1 dB above 100 Hz up to 102 dB, on the better side of normal for a bookshelf this size, indicating good dynamic and transient capability. Wide, spacious soundstage radiation. Overall neutral voicing that Erin called “a really good speaker,” from the looks to the sound.
Cons: Deliberate dip-and-peak voicing in the crossover region around 2 kHz reduces attack and clarity in the mids and highs - intentional per ELAC’s design, but not to Erin’s personal preference. Lower measured sensitivity (84.3 dB) means it wants more amplifier power than average to reach the same levels. Multitone distortion roughly triples, from about 1% to 3%, between 88 dB and 96 dB output, so it’s happiest at moderate listening levels. A minor distortion bump shows up around 800 Hz in the data, though Erin didn’t hear it.
Full ELAC VELA BS 403 review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 46Hz (measured average, Erin's Audio Corner) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 59Hz (measured average, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Crossover Frequency | 2.4kHz |
| Dimensions | 14-3/16"H x 7-1/2"W x 9-3/8"D |
| Drivers | JET 5 folded ribbon tweeter, 6" aluminum/paper sandwich cone woofer |
| Frequency Response | 41Hz - 50kHz (manufacturer specified) |
| Impedance | 4 ohms nominal, 3.2 ohms minimum (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Recommended Power | up to 100W RMS |
| Sensitivity | 84.3dB (measured average, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Weight | 15.7 lbs each |
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- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- ELAC VELA BS 403 vs Philharmonic BMR (v1)
- ELAC VELA BS 403 vs Revel M126Be
- ELAC VELA BS 403 vs Wharfedale Linton 85
- ELAC VELA BS 403 vs Emotiva Airmotiv XB2
- ELAC VELA BS 403 vs Selah Audio Purezza
- ELAC VELA BS 403 vs ELAC DB63
- ELAC VELA BS 403 vs Dynaudio Heritage Special
- ELAC VELA BS 403 vs Revel Concerta2 M16
- See all 10 comparisons
JBL HDI-1600: $1980 Discontinued Crutchfield
Pros: CEA2034 spinorama is very flat in the critical mid-to-upper frequencies, with a slight bass boost that should have a good subjective effect and very smooth early-window directivity. Predicted in-room response in a simulated average listening room closely tracks the reviewer’s own preferred target curve.
Cons: A dip appears above 10kHz on-axis. Cumulative spectral decay (waterfall) shows some messiness around the crossover along with a 700Hz resonance. Harmonic distortion rises to nearly 2% right at the 1.9kHz crossover point at 96dB SPL/1m. Discontinued.
Full JBL HDI-1600 review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 55Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 70Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Dimensions | 14.6"H x 9.1"W x 11.4"D (370.0 x 230.0 x 288.9 mm) |
| Discontinued | Yes |
| Drivers | 1" tweeter + 6.5" woofer |
| Impedance | 4 ohms nominal (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Sensitivity | 85dB (2.83V/1m, measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Weight | 53.4 lbs / 24.2 kg |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- JBL HDI-1600 vs Arendal 1723 Bookshelf S THX
- JBL HDI-1600 vs Revel Concerta2 M16
- JBL HDI-1600 vs ELAC DB63
- JBL HDI-1600 vs Emotiva Airmotiv XB2
- JBL HDI-1600 vs ELAC Uni-Fi Reference UBR62
- JBL HDI-1600 vs Revel M126Be
- JBL HDI-1600 vs ELAC DBR62
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