Short answer: the ELAC VELA BS 403 for better sound quality, the Revel Concerta2 M16 for the lower price. The ELAC VELA BS 403 ranks #29 of 100 bookshelf speakers at $2899. The Revel Concerta2 M16 ranks #37 at $600, $2299 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.
The case for the Revel Concerta2 M16: CEA2034 spinorama shows an on-axis response that’s essentially flat from 200Hz to 10kHz, with some bass boost around 100Hz. The tradeoff: Harmonic distortion shows a notable peak around 80Hz and a sharp spike around 350Hz, plus the woofer appears to get a bit unhappy right before handing off to the tweeter.
Buy the ELAC VELA BS 403 if sound quality matters more than the price. Buy the Revel Concerta2 M16 if the price matters more than sound quality.
Specifications Side By Side
| ELAC VELA BS 403 | Revel Concerta2 M16 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $2,899 | about $600 used |
| Ranked | #29 of 100 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers | #37 of 100 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Drivers | JET 5 folded ribbon tweeter, 6" aluminum/paper sandwich cone woofer | 25mm tweeter + 165mm woofer |
| Dimensions | 14-3/16"H x 7-1/2"W x 9-3/8"D | 14.8"H x 8.6"W x 10.8"D (374.7 x 218.4 x 273.3 mm) |
| Weight | 15.7 lbs each | 32 lbs / 14.5 kg |
| Impedance | 4 ohms nominal, 3.2 ohms minimum (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 6 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 84.3dB (measured average, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 86dB |
| Frequency Response | 41Hz - 50kHz (manufacturer specified) | - |
| Recommended Power | up to 100W RMS | - |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 59Hz (measured average, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 60.1Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 46Hz (measured average, Erin’s Audio Corner) | - |
| Crossover Frequency | 2.4kHz | - |
| Woofer Cabinet | - | ported, rear |
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More useful head-to-heads from the same speaker class:
- Philharmonic BMR (v1) vs Arendal 1723 Bookshelf S THX
- Selah Audio Purezza vs Philharmonic BMR (v1)
- Philharmonic BMR (v1) vs Buchardt S400 MKII
- ELAC VELA BS 403 vs Emotiva Airmotiv XB2
- ELAC VELA BS 403 vs ELAC DB63
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 JBL HDI-1600
- ELAC VELA BS 403 vs Dynaudio Heritage Special
- See all 10 comparisons
Revel Concerta2 M16: about $600 used
Pros: CEA2034 spinorama shows an on-axis response that’s essentially flat from 200Hz to 10kHz, with some bass boost around 100Hz. Predicted in-room response is very nice, with just extra bass and a bit of roll-off above 20kHz - the reviewer calls it “nice!” Distortion is well controlled through most of the range at both test levels.
Cons: Harmonic distortion shows a notable peak around 80Hz and a sharp spike around 350Hz, plus the woofer appears to get a bit unhappy right before handing off to the tweeter. Cumulative spectral decay (waterfall) shows some lingering resonances in the 300Hz-1kHz region. The reviewer cautions not to over-cover the cabinet/grille area with thin fabric, as it can audibly affect the top-end response.
Full Revel Concerta2 M16 review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 60.1Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 14.8"H x 8.6"W x 10.8"D (374.7 x 218.4 x 273.3 mm) |
| Drivers | 25mm tweeter + 165mm woofer |
| Impedance | 6 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 86dB |
| Weight | 32 lbs / 14.5 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
- Revel Concerta2 M16 vs JBL HDI-1600
- Revel Concerta2 M16 vs ELAC DB63
- Revel Concerta2 M16 vs ELAC Uni-Fi Reference UBR62
- Revel Concerta2 M16 vs Emotiva Airmotiv XB2
- Revel Concerta2 M16 vs ELAC DBR62
- Revel Concerta2 M16 vs Yamaha NS-800A
- Revel Concerta2 M16 vs Definitive Technology Demand D11
- Revel Concerta2 M16 vs Dynaudio Contour 20i
- See all 10 comparisons