Short answer: the ELAC Vela FS 409.2. It ranks #58 of 226 floorstanding speakers by sound quality, rated 4.4/5, at $4,199; the Arendal Sound 1723 Tower THX ranks #74, rated 4.3/5, and costs $4,200, which makes this an easy call rather than a real tradeoff.
Why pick the ELAC Vela FS 409.2: The flagship Vela with a dedicated 6” midrange, two 7” woofers and the JET 6 tweeter, rated from 28Hz at 89dB. The catch: No independent measurements yet, so its tonal balance and directivity can’t be compared with ranked speakers.
The case for the Arendal Sound 1723 Tower THX: The large tower of Arendal’s THX Ultra certified 1723 series, with a 28mm tweeter in a waveguide and four 8” woofers in a 2.5-way layout. The tradeoff: No independent measurements yet, so its tonal balance and directivity can’t be compared directly with measured speakers; the rating is estimated from the measured 1723 Monitor THX.
Buy the ELAC Vela FS 409.2. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Arendal Sound 1723 Tower THX and costs less, so it is the default pick unless a specific strength of the other one matters more to you.
About the ratings: neither speaker has been measured yet, so both ratings are estimated from measured siblings and predecessors (likely ranges: ELAC Vela FS 409.2 4.1 to 4.7; Arendal Sound 1723 Tower THX 4.0 to 4.5). Treat this verdict as provisional.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Passive Home rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| ELAC Vela FS 409.2 | Arendal Sound 1723 Tower THX | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $4199 per pair | $4,200 per pair |
| Ranked | #58 of 226 in Large Size Floorstanding Speakers Estimated | #74 of 226 in Large Size Floorstanding Speakers Estimated |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 28Hz (manufacturer specified) | 45Hz (manufacturer specified) |
| Drivers | 1x JET 6 folded ribbon tweeter, 1x 6” AS-XR cone midrange, 2x 7” AS-XR cone woofers | 28mm tweeter, 4 x 8” woofers |
| Sensitivity | 89dB (manufacturer specified) | 92dB (2.83V/1m, manufacturer specified) |
| Impedance | 4 ohms nominal (manufacturer specified) | 4 ohms nominal (manufacturer specified) |
| Frequency Response | 28Hz - 50kHz (±3dB, manufacturer specified) | 37Hz - 20kHz -6dB anechoic (manufacturer specified) |
| Dimensions | 51.5”H x 10.9”W x 13.1”D (1307 x 276 x 332 mm) | 45.3”H x 10.8”W x 15.7”D (1150 x 275 x 400 mm) |
| Weight | 70.8 lbs (32.1 kg) | 111.6 lbs (50.6 kg) each |
| Enclosure | Bass reflex, down-firing port | - |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 21Hz (manufacturer specified) |
| Crossover Frequency | - | 120Hz, 1.5kHz |
| Woofer Cabinet | - | ported (port plugs included) |
| DIY Kit | - | No |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More worthwhile head-to-heads for ELAC Vela FS 409.2:
- Revel F226Be vs ELAC Vela FS 409.2
- Perlisten R5t vs ELAC Vela FS 409.2
- Arendal Sound 1723 Tower THX vs Monitor Audio Silver 500 8G
- Arendal Sound 1723 Tower THX vs JBL HDI-3600
- Arendal Sound 1723 Tower THX vs ELAC Vela FS 408.2
Prices on this page were last checked October 11, 2026 at 4:59 PM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
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The Two Speakers In Full
ELAC Vela FS 409.2: $4199 per pair Estimated ELAC eBay
Same family: the ELAC Vela BS 403.2 (smaller bookshelf, estimated 4.4/5), the ELAC Vela BS 404.2 (larger bookshelf, estimated 4.3/5), the ELAC Vela FS 407.2 (smaller floorstanding, ranked lower, estimated 4.3/5), the ELAC Vela FS 408.2 (smaller floorstanding, ranked lower, estimated 4.3/5) and the ELAC Vela CC 401.2 (center, estimated 4.1/5). See every ELAC Vela generation.
Pros: The flagship Vela with a dedicated 6” midrange, two 7” woofers and the JET 6 tweeter, rated from 28Hz at 89dB.
Cons: No independent measurements yet, so its tonal balance and directivity can’t be compared with ranked speakers. At 32.1 kg each it suits larger rooms.
Full ELAC Vela FS 409.2 review and specifications →
| Released | May 2024 (2 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 28Hz (manufacturer specified) |
| Dimensions | 51.5”H x 10.9”W x 13.1”D (1307 x 276 x 332 mm) |
| Drivers | 1x JET 6 folded ribbon tweeter, 1x 6” AS-XR cone midrange, 2x 7” AS-XR cone woofers |
| Enclosure | Bass reflex, down-firing port |
| Frequency Response | 28Hz - 50kHz (±3dB, manufacturer specified) |
| Impedance | 4 ohms nominal (manufacturer specified) |
| Sensitivity | 89dB (manufacturer specified) |
| Weight | 70.8 lbs (32.1 kg) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Arendal Sound 1723 Tower THX: $4,200 per pair Estimated Arendal Sound eBay
Same family: the Arendal 1723 Bookshelf S THX (smallest bookshelf, rated 4.2/5), the Arendal Sound 1723 Monitor S THX (bookshelf, rated 4.1/5), the Arendal Sound 1723 Monitor THX (largest bookshelf, rated 4.2/5), the Arendal Sound 1723 Tower S THX (smaller floorstanding, ranked lower, estimated 4.2/5), the Arendal Sound 1723 Center S THX (smaller center, estimated 3.7/5) and the Arendal Sound 1723 Center THX (larger center, estimated 3.8/5).
Pros: The large tower of Arendal’s THX Ultra certified 1723 series, with a 28mm tweeter in a waveguide and four 8” woofers in a 2.5-way layout. The measured 1723 Monitor THX, which uses the same tweeter and waveguide, scored a 5.16 Spinorama preference score. Arendal rates it to 37Hz (-6dB) anechoic with 92dB sensitivity, and supplied port plugs let you seal it for use with subwoofers.
Cons: No independent measurements yet, so its tonal balance and directivity can’t be compared directly with measured speakers; the rating is estimated from the measured 1723 Monitor THX. It weighs 50.6kg each and is a 4 ohm load.
Full Arendal Sound 1723 Tower THX review and specifications →
| Released | 2017 (9 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 21Hz (manufacturer specified) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 45Hz (manufacturer specified) |
| Crossover Frequency | 120Hz, 1.5kHz |
| DIY Kit | No |
| Dimensions | 45.3”H x 10.8”W x 15.7”D (1150 x 275 x 400 mm) |
| Drivers | 28mm tweeter, 4 x 8” woofers |
| Frequency Response | 37Hz - 20kHz -6dB anechoic (manufacturer specified) |
| Impedance | 4 ohms nominal (manufacturer specified) |
| Sensitivity | 92dB (2.83V/1m, manufacturer specified) |
| Weight | 111.6 lbs (50.6 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported (port plugs included) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- No independent measurement review is linked for this model; it is ranked from hands-on listening and comparison against similarly priced speakers.
- Head-to-Head Comparisons