https://www.elac.com/product/ub5/ SPECIFICATIONS
Speaker type: 3-way, bass reflex
Tweeter: 1 x 1-inch soft dome, concentrically mounted
Midrange: 1 x 4-inch aluminum cone
Woofer: 1 x 5.25-inch aluminum cone
Crossover frequency: 270 / 2,700 Hz
Frequency response: 46 to 25,000 Hz
Sensitivity: 85 dB at 2.83 v/1m
Recommended amplifier power: 40 to 140 wpc
Peak power handling: 140 wpc
Nominal impedance: 4 Ω; minimum 3.4 Ω
As compared to:
http://www.classicspeakerpages.net/library/acoustic_research/original_models_1954-1974/original_models_brochures/acoustic_research_loudspeak.pdf Minor rant warning here on speaker specifications:
a) Frequency range descriptives are worthless without further parameters. The AR4x as noted above, reaches down to 20 hz... at -20dB. At a much more reasonable -5 dB, it reaches to 50 hz. Not so much!
b) It would be good to see curves. They tell a story that mere numbers cannot convey. And, as manufacturers absolutely for-sure develop and have such curves, what are they hiding by not showing them? Sitting where I am, I would be willing to bet a dozen US $$ to a single Krispy Kreme that the given Elac spec is at -10 dB. Suggesting (at the typical 45-degree decay) that the actual Elac spec is closer to 62 hz at -5 dB. Not even good enough for 60-hz Hum.
c) On sensitivity - 85 dB at 1 watt at 1 meter is not very efficient. Not bad, but not very efficient. Against a 120, however, they should be fine.
Getting back to Physics - vibrating air is a matter of surface area, power available and room size, using very simple Newtonian Physics. The larger the woofers, the more surface-area in use (and how it is deployed), and the more power available, the wider the frequency range possible.
This leads back to two things, writing entirely for myself.
First, my fascination with legacy speakers. In terms of bang-for-the-buck, they are unequaled by modern offerings at any price.
But, if legacy speakers are not a possibility, chasing after anemic little speakers with anemic little woofers is not going to lead to a happy result, no matter the cost.
Tailing it out into a bit of philosophy, in bullet points:
- The weakest points in any system are the transducers. Speakers, cartridges and anything that changes electrical energy into vibrations, or the other way around.
- Those things that are well-and-truly established science are the electronics. There have been no quantum-changes in tube audio technology since about 1960, or so. Things have gotten better, and better made (in some cases), but not really different. And none in solid-state audio technology since about 1980, or so. Same reasons.
- Making the MAIN SPEAKERS in any system the be-all/end-all of choices. A bad choice here is quite literally a complete waste of time and money and to be avoided at all costs. I operate on the 5/8, 1/8, 1/4 level.
5/8 of any efforts, which include time, money, and trouble as equal values are to be spent on the speakers.
1/8 of same is to be spent on the core electronics - tuners are NOT part of core electronics, nor are CD players, cassette tape players, RtR players, or DACs.
1/4 of same is to be spent on means to reproduce vinyl, if so-desired, split between the TT and the Cartridge.
For my main system, I keep Magnepan Speakers that by the CPI are worth ~$10,000 today.
Driven by an am/pre system worth ~$2,000 (Revox - Citation)
From a TT/Cartridge combination worth ~$3,000 (Rabco - Ortophon)
CD/Cassette/RtR (which are all there) are not counted - nor would a DAC or similar.
Close enough.
I keep two (2) Dynaco tube systems elsewhere in the house - thereby justifying my otherwise dubious presence here.
Marry in haste, repent at leisure. Speakers are the single most important, least forgiving, most variable part of any audio system. DO NOT spend any kind of real money on something you cannot hear, and in your venue with your source and your electronics. And there is no 'fixing' a bad fit by adding a sub-woofer, or treating a room or adding a fancy crossover, or an equalizer. A bad fit will be and remain so forever and ever, AMEN!
Full Stop.
