ELAC FS 609 CE: The sum of all parts

Who says that the speaker stand living ambience ruin? The ELAC FS 609 CE meets with elegant design language and timeless noble character attractive counter-evidence to

Outstanding speakers do not live by the technology alone, they are distinguished primarily by their phonetic vote. The new ELAC FS 609 CE promises with lots of advanced technology to the limits of what is ahead. AV Magazine asked the Kiel-top model to a gig: Add the elements of the FS 609 CE for a sonically coherent whole?

It can logically be considered no more than the sum of all parts, but the nature is full of entity whose components generate a result, the great doubt on this statement leaves. Sometimes provoke even man-made works of art imagery from the larger whole, occasionally even able to inspire such HiFi: With an engine that completely under its spell and apparently more than the sum of mere technique.

Basically this is a good definition of high-end, if this predicate precisely those very special, hard, tangible quality of the components, the "music" instead of HiFi, should designate.

In the area of extraordinary transducer most often proprietary compact speaker with such a maximum tonal balance and finesse to convince. But with little love for all speakers must be an certainly admit: Really uncompromising sound converters require a certain size and complexity. Ironically, these two properties are, however, such a thing as a natural enemy of homogeneity, so sonically complex concepts to the point to reduced construction is the true art of loudspeaker development.

A modification of the existing signboards of the North German ELAC Edelproduzenten, the FS 609 X-Pi, alone makes such a curiosity. Now, ELAC already - among other things with just the FS 609 X-Pi - demonstrated with ambitious designs to reach the goal, but the FS 609 CE surpasses its conceptual effort all previously realized in Kiel. As the top model of the skills they whose promoter contains all the current key technologies and thus represents a remarkable multi-speaker design explained that at the same time, great expectations and a portion of skepticism whether this multitude of factors creates a dominant influence. Connoisseurs of the FS 609 X-Pi urges, however, especially the question of whether their extraordinary abilities again to beat might be.

The form

With a height of about one meter thirty and a width of only centimeters twenty-nine takes the FS 609 CE in its dimensions for a speaker of this qualitative dimension, but more modest, elegantly curved chassis side panels give shape to their lightness and grace. While the dull silver-colored and colored titanium housing design modern living harmoniously complements institutions, like the most noble-looking glossy black finish with timeless valid character.

The inner qualities of the housing will remain the eyes of the proud owners of course, usually hidden, but the optimization exhausted resonance effect even clearer from audible. To ensure that all their chassis performance under ideal conditions can be completely off, the housing of the FS 609 CE with the so-called cross-frame hybrid technology particularly burdensome stiffened: A combination of aluminum extruded profiles, aluminum die casting parts and MDF bracing provides one of unwavering strength of the body, the nature of each of two housing openings, and interior walls Zugstreben also ensures the optimal management of the radiated sound energy. In this design flow conditions, it is the right balance between support and pressure derivative of the moving air masses to.

The rear sound outlet of the X-JET III chassis can be made by rubber stoppers sealed. Thanks to the so-induced attenuation of the backward radiated sound energy can be high-coaxial midrange additionally to adjust the room

This is situated at the end of a sound guide tube for the one back Hochmitteltöner opening provided by a included the stopper also can be sealed. Without this ability to adapt specific acoustic characteristics, the housing behind the opening of a similar tube Mitteltonkammer mainly targeted the derivation of the barometric Mitteltonmembran produced. Compression effects, deformation of the membrane through to them zurückwirkende air flows, then, can be avoided. Position and shape of the Querverstrebungen vertical stabilizers and the channel together with the streamlined body plan of the rear chassis of all the sound energy in the direction of the rear opening, or the bass reflex opening. This center is located in the rugged bottom of the FS 609 CE appeared, the bass reflex system of the FS 609 CE is a Fire-Down construction.

The large bass reflex opening of the FS 609 CE is embedded in the base plate. The Fire Down principle favors a uniform, resonanzunkritische spread of the bass energy

The novelty

During this year, surprised the specialists in transducer technology with attractive solutions for mobile music enjoyment, but also in its core has remained the tradition-rich company is not idle. Who are items such as basic research in several areas will remain independent and can be temporarily in traditional fields of these investments will benefit. In addition to the steps in the direction of new product segments ELAC gradually implemented a new generation of aluminum-paper sandwich membrane in various models. It is a composite of a little more than a tenth of thick aluminum layer and a pulp-cone produced, for the novel shape of the membrane surface, however served as a model builder Nature: The aluminum layer is in the characteristic geometry of crystalline formations shaped.

This special surface structure improves the torsional kalottenförmigen sandwich membrane again significantly, which is a whole series of benefits in detail with it and the engineers also design a special procedure allows that the new drivers its technical abbreviation "XR" stands for "Extended Range" were: Traditionally, the drive coil at the neck membrane glued in the XR chassis is the coil but also on the membrane underside fixed, this is the transmission range of the chassis by about an octave expand. Thanks to the increased membrane rigidity could also partial further reduced and, consequently, discolorations are minimized.

Without front panel to emphasize the aluminum chassis from the FS 609 CE its elegant, attractive appearance

The new FS 609 CE is equipped with three of these also "Crystal Membrane" said driver equipped, which is why they are "CE" as an abbreviation of "Crystal Edition" in the name. ELAC generally uses this technology for both Central as well as for Tieftonchassis, in premium speakers, however, the distinctive membrane exclusively for playback use lower frequencies. In the case of the FS 609 CE, the three 180-millimeter diameter sandwich membrane in association with two other ELAC-specialties promising full bass Ensemble: on the one hand there is the so-called "Long Linear Drive" Drive with titanium voice coils institution with of a relatively short coil wound on a proportionally long air gap with a homogeneous magnetic field moves. It is a rigid displacement allowing controlled, by a broad, asymmetric double ideally shaped rib supports. As a result, the membrane of the woofer an exceptionally long stroke of each fifteen millimeters forward or backward from the resting position to perform without their movement precision playfulness.

The combination

With years of consistent development of the principle of a ribbon tweeter has ELAC the matter as a precise, finely dispersed Hochtonreproduktion made recently was the latest stage of evolution ELAC Jet III Ribbon again refined. The new X-JET III chassis, however, contains no further modifications of the ribbon, but a combination of JET III, with a mid-ring emitters dar.

Even a free view of the fully assembled and installed X-JET III chassis is the complexity of this elaborate design guess

Meanwhile, 105 millimeters in diameter, large flat membrane is made of very thin aluminum, the honeycomb embossing the surface contributes to the rigidity of the ring membrane with ultra-light, in whose center the ribbon is made. Such equally in development as in production very demanding Koaxialchassis reward the effort with far-reaching approach to the theoretical ideal of the point source; conventional configurations of two separate chassis can be optimized power dissipation schal never reach, which means they have in the transition frequency between high and a so-called midrange noise intrusion.

In addition, the Koaxialchassis the FS 609 CE by equal distribution of the radiated sound over all angles, a property which the importance of the sweet spot is reduced. Now you should think that such a chassis with a tweeter would be so powerful for all audiophile life more than adequate, but the FS has 609 CE, as well as the smaller FS 608 also has a new tweeter, the hemisphere, on the top plate of the corpus attached housing a striking feature of these two models represents.

In this so-called 4Pi II tweeter is also a ribbon, but has its own extremely thin aluminum membrane in contrast to the JET III mäanderförmig folded foil a cylindrical geometry. Thanks to this special design, the 4Pi II chassis, the excellent high-frequency a ribbon with the advantages of combining omnidirectional sound radiation. The upper cutoff frequency of both ribbon tweeter is almost identical, so they have a wide range of their transmission areas complement the use of point-Ring 4Pi II ribbon can be made by a rotary switch on rear six, nine, twelve or sixteen kilohertz set.

The addition

In addition, the 4Pi II ribbon tweeter with same controller also be switched off for the interaction with the X-JET III are a few variations. Apropos: The average frequency can be adapted to acoustic characteristics or simply the personal hearing to be adapted to do this is another knob below the Hochtoneinstellung a sensitive increase or reduction of one decibel at. Dreher, this factory as well as for the 4Pi II tweeter competent in the central position, radiating around the tweeter is in this case twelve kilohertz On. A lowering of this frequency leads to a more extensive spatial mapping, conversely affects the performance of the FS 609 CE at a selected narrowband overlapping of the two ribbon tweeter minimally focused.

The striking feature of the FS 609 CE, it 4Pi II-ribbon tweeter is a technical achievement: Its cylindrical-shaped diaphragm radiates sound equally in all directions from

Sonic benefits of this duo are set in two ways: First, can the double-ribbon concept by adding to its sound performance and his own exemplary homogeneous dispersion with almost unabashedly relaxed, even in the hour-long Hörsessions game totally stress free way to convince. On the other hand, pamper the two tweeters straight into the chocolate disciplines sophisticated ribbon, pulse fidelity and resolution, with phenomenal accuracy. Admittedly, they create the effortless alone, but together they detail the richness of the sound image in an astonishing degree increase and complained sleepwalking ride with safety a narrow line between good unimpeachable presentation and smooth flow. The latter is less a matter of tonal vote rather than simply extraordinary precision of the two chassis, which unlike these classic largely dissolve the interview.

The top knob can use the frequency of the 4Pi II-ribbon ring both 6-16 kilohertz varies as well as the chassis disabled. The bottom knob allows for the reduction and the increase of the midlevel by one decibel

Now, one might wonder why because on the 4Pi II Ribbon entirely from the signal may be, it nevertheless contributes significantly to the ease of the exemplary high-frequency and extremely generous space for picture and even sound distribution. Hearing FS 609 CE, the first without their 4Pi II tweeter, would not the slightest idea of any deficiencies arise, turn it on again later, but that suddenly is missing something. Without the players of the 4Pi II-tones, the directional characteristics of the FS 609 CE, to the extent that the term seems to fit, in return, flooding the FS 609 CE with 4Pi II chassis space not only with sounds impressive, even the Samaritans of information continues to.

However, the reverberant acoustics tended to sound more hard than usual spaces to loss of sharpness Ortungstechnik lead, the degree of Hochtonenergie can under such adverse conditions is also a bit too much of a good thing, at least for one or other Hörgeschmack. In accordance with the Firmencredo "Even high-end may be practicable" to appear so by ELAC provided Feinabstimmungsmöglichkeiten including deactivated the 4Pi II tweeter makes sense. In our acoustically optimized Redaktionshörraum widely liked the FS 609 CE, with its factory setting is best, what the golden mean between the focus and support of spatial Auffächerung elect.

The whole

A pianist, a Steinway and four microphones: This excellent recording captures less successful units have a space, when photographs of a Steinway usual. Uncompromisingly produced, the Re-Issue of First Impression Music (FIM DXD 038) a test of qually aural and musical enjoyment

What could be more appropriate to the skills of a FS 609 CE as an excellent place to explore classical music production? This just in audiophile label First Impression Music released album "Jun Fakamachi - At Steinway (Take 2)" is called as such. This is already a bit old recording, which nonetheless modern recordings in no way stands. For this Re-Issue is with Toshiba-EMI as a master storage Direct-to-disc LP has been used, with the very best analog equipment in the Digital Extreme-definition format with 24 Bit/352, 8 kilohertz resolution and converted to this level nachbearbeitet was. Typical of the original production is the very direct eingefangene instrument sound of the wing with two microphones and two microphone inside of the body above. Precisely because the spatial information in this position very cautiously dosed immortalises is perplexed by the relevant information presented ELAC wealth.

But properly proportioned, plastic space figure is certainly not the only remarkable quality, with the FS 609 CE Recommends. A FS 609 CE the Traditional feature is ultimately - as with all the most significant component - not a specific property, but rather the absolute balance of all the sonic parameters. This based on the highest level of music reproduction sovereignty can only really plausible effect and the impression of technical mediation striking far into the background.

In playfully artificial mixes such as the recent "Cafe del Mar Volume Cinco" rediscovered Kruder & Dorfmeister remix of Lamb originally derived from the Title "Transfatty Acid" collect revenue hypnotic collages floating, dancing sounds with the FS 609 CE heard so much that I once again for hours on 'high-end and electronic music in ruins and I will re-deliberate: The essence of such experiences can not really explain. The performance of the FS 609 CE is always a perfectly credible whole which metaphorically speaking clearly more than the sum of its parts is embodied. The ELAC FS 609 CE is a truly great speaker with a certain something - and new Reference AV magazine for 3-/4-Wege-Standlautsprecher.

Test result
Features	Floorstanding speaker, 4.5-way passive system, Koaxialchassis with ribbon tweeter and mid-ring reflector, additional 360-degree tweeter, bass reflex, mid - Possible by fine-tuning regulator.
Plaintext	The processing of the ELAC FS 609 CE is unable under any doubt about their tasteful, classy looking design cleverly balanced between striking Modern and timeless validity. The options for the midrange and the 4Pi II ribbon tweeters are usually not needed, they are a helpful option is to adapt to critical spatial relationships dar. Aurally excited with the large ELAC immense wealth of information, extremely vivid, spatially extensive illustration and exemplary neutrality. The performance of the FS 609 CE is always a perfectly credible whole which metaphorically speaking clearly more than the sum of its parts is embodied. The ELAC FS 609 CE that has hard tangible something that really makes outstanding speakers.

Original review page: http://www.av-magazin.de/Einleitung_Elac_FS_609_CE.2751.0.html .