ELAC ARB51
Deliciously Crispy
Sound Quality
92/100
Build Quality
91/100
Value for Money
94/100
Compact yet commanding, the ARB51 pairs pinpoint imaging with a warm, natural midrange and unexpectedly weighty bass. Its 300-watt tri-amplified, all-analogue architecture delivers expressive dynamics and clean high-volume composure, while RCA and XLR inputs preserve system flexibility. SoundStage Solo and Hi-Fi Choice both highlight its spacious, musically involving performance from an elegant stand-mount.
Pros
Exceptionally precise, stable imaging with a spacious, holographic soundstage.
Warm, natural and articulate midrange that flatters vocals and acoustic instruments.
Impressively extended, punchy bass and high-volume composure for a compact stand-mount.
All-analogue active design with matched amplification, RCA/XLR connectivity and useful room-tuning controls.
Cons
Treble is clean and extended, but lacks the last degree of delicacy and silkiness of more upscale speakers.
Wireless pairing can be glitchy, and the companion app and setup guidance feel dated.
Near-wall placement can add midbass fullness, while the available low-frequency trim may be too coarse for fine adjustment.
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What Reviewers Are Saying
SOUND QUALITY PERFORMANCE 92/100
The Navis ARB-51 is widely praised for combining unusually substantial, controlled bass with a warm, expressive midrange, clean treble, and exceptionally stable imaging. Its active three-way design also brings strong composure and dynamic range, although a few listeners found the top end less silky than pricier designs and the presentation more relaxed than overtly exciting.
Bass
91/100
For a compact speaker with a 5.25-inch woofer, reviewers consistently found the bass remarkably extended, weighty, and capable of realistic levels. HomeTheaterHifi heard solid output to about 50Hz in a large room, while Hi-Fi Choice and SoundStage Solo praised its surprising reach and control; SoundStage Solo did note slight midbass fullness near a wall and some softness at the very lowest notes.
Mid
94/100
The midrange earns repeated praise for natural vocals, rich body, and strong instrumental timbre. HomeTheaterHifi found male and female voices clear and precise, The Absolute Sound highlighted a full-bodied presentation for piano and vocals, and SoundStage Solo praised the natural rendering of transient detail and acoustic textures.
Treble
89/100
Reviewers generally describe the treble as clear, extended, detailed, and free of harshness even at higher playback levels. SoundStage Solo found it articulate without sounding etched, but Hi-Fi Choice felt cymbals lacked the last degree of delicacy and silkiness available from more upscale speakers.
Soundstage Imaging
94/100
The concentric midrange/tweeter arrangement delivers a major strength: precise, focused imaging with convincing separation and a spacious presentation. Multiple reviewers describe sharply placed instruments, a stable image beyond the cabinets, and a notably holographic sense of depth, though one dissenting listener found the stage less exceptionally wide than the imaging itself.
Dynamics
93/100
The ARB-51 is repeatedly commended for playing loudly without strain while preserving fine dynamic gradations and expressive detail. SoundStage Solo particularly praised its rapid level changes and extraordinary microdynamics, while other reviewers found it composed at high volume; Audiophiliac considered its jump factor less immediate than more aggressively voiced alternatives.
Assessments of Build Quality, Usability, and Overall Propositions.
Build Quality
91/100
Reviews describe a compact but notably premium-feeling enclosure, with excellent gloss paint, clean screw-free front detailing, rounded edges, and a secure aluminium base. Alpha Audio called the finish sublime, and Hi-Fi Choice judged the speaker very well made for its price.
Value for Money
94/100
At roughly $2,000 per pair, the ARB-51 includes matched tri-amplification and a complete active three-way speaker system, which reviewers repeatedly regard as unusually compelling. SoundStage Solo called its value incredible, HomeTheaterHifi found the asking price reasonable, and several reviews stressed that its compact size does not require a scaled-back musical experience.
Reviews & Sources
Professional reviews and sources for this product's Watt'n Potatoes analysis.
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Specifications
- Speaker type
- 3-Way Powered
- Tweeter
- 1" Soft Dome Concentrically Mounted
- Midrange
- 4" Aluminum
- Woofer
- 5-1/4" Aluminum
- Frequency Response
- 44Hz - 28kHz
- Crossover Frequency
- 2.2kHz / 260Hz
- Total Amplifier Power
- 300 Watts Total
- Bass Amplifier
- 160 Watt Bash Amplifier
- Midrange Amplifier
- 100 Watt Bash Amplifier
- Tweeter Amplifier
- 40 Watt Class AB Amplifier
- Inputs
- RCA / XLR / AirX² Wireless
- Cabinet finishes
- Gloss Black, Gloss White
- Height
- 13.58"
- Width
- 7.44"
- Depth
- 9.45"
- Net weight (each)
- 17.85lbs
Manufacturer's Description — ELAC
Navis ARB51 Powered Bookshelf Loudspeakers
Navis Series Powered Speakers
Sublime sound served up with serious power.
ELAC’s new Navis Series answers every minimalist audiophile’s dream of a no-compromise powered speaker driven by best-in-class amplifiers that are truly deserving of the name “high end.” While most powered speakers rely on Class D digital designs, ELAC engineers build in 300 watts of pure analog amplification—for maximum power and exceptional sound. Add the Discovery Connect wireless transmitter to your system, and Navis becomes a wireless speaker that lets you enjoy streaming content without a cable in sight.
Tri-Amp Pure Analog Amplifier
A Powerful Trifecta.
Inside each Navis Bookshelf Loudspeaker is a Tri-Amp Pure Analog Amplifier, employing three separate amps for each transducer: a 160-watt BASH AB amplifier for the woofer, a 100-watt BASH AB amplifier for the midrange, and a 40-watt Class AB amplifier for the tweeter. A total amplifier power of 300 watts ensures that each transducer is optimally—and amply—powered, eliminating clipping and crossover distortion, and driving each transducer with authority. Specs like a 110 dBA signal-to-noise ratio and 100 uV noise floor could only come from such audiophile-quality amps!
Flexible Connections and EQ
Integrate Navis into your setup.
Local inputs include balanced XLR, RCA, and Wireless, when used with ELAC’s Discovery Connect wireless transmitter to stream Discovery, Spotify Connect, Bluetooth, AirPlay and Roon. Just switch Wireless “Off” for a no-compromise analog input and output.
Verified Dealers
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Authorized dealers for ELAC ARB51
- The Music Room — online and in-store — Erie, Colorado, United States (website)
- A Tube High Fidelity — online and in-store — Almere, Flevoland, Netherlands (website)
- ABSOLUTE ADOBE — in-store — Port Erin, Port Erin, United Kingdom (website)
- Accessories 4 less — online and in-store — Apopka, Florida, United States (website)
- Acoustic Sound Design — online and in-store — Las Vegas, Nevada, United States (website)
- Acoustic Sounds — online and in-store — Salina, Kansas, United States (website)
- Acoustica — online and in-store — Chester, England, United Kingdom (website)
- Addicted to Audio — online and in-store — Epping, Victoria, Australia (website)
- Adorama — in-store — New York, New York, United States (website)
- Alpha High End — online and in-store — Brasschaat, Vlaams Gewest, Belgium (website)
and 135 more verified dealers