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Alta Alec vs Legacy Signature SE vs Elac Vela 408.2

I'm thinking of purchasing new floor standing speakers and have narrowed the field to the three mentioned in the title. My focus is mainly on the first two. Reviews are consistently great. The Alecs appeal because of references to their somewhat unique - if that's the right word - sound. Natural, musical. Definitely want musical. Their size is also perhaps a better fit. But there are comments about their needing a low of power or current. I'd be willing to change my amplifier options to accommodate this if necessary (I have a Prima Luna tube power amp and an NAD C298 amp that I can try). I just want to "best" sound, which of course is somewhat subjective. The Legacy's seem to be unequivocally full range, and being an old guy, I like the 10" woofers. I like the two AMTs also. As a four-way speaker, do they lack coherence? They are big, but the sealed design can allow me to place them closer to the wall which mitigates this issue. Still not sure I want to have my ears below the tweeters though. I was told by the manufacturer that vertical dispersion is good. Where the Elacs fit in is I have a pair of Elac 407s (bookshelf) with the jet 5 tweeter (the new ones have the next evolution, the jet 6). They aren't available yet but are coming shortly. I love the HFs with the Elacs, and it's one reason I'm moving from my Revel Performa 226 BEs that have really good sound (supplemented with a REL sub) but sound a touch dry to me in the HF range. Why not just wait for the Elacs? Well, you know how it is, I'm wondering if I can do better and reviews suggest I probably can. I'm interested in any comments or experience with the Alecs and Signatures. I can have trials with both but I'll probably like them both so I may just end up with the first one ordered. So any input from the masses could help me decide.

gickcf

Showing 3 responses by gickcf

gickcf OP
13 posts
 

Thanks winoguy! Very helpful. Big is a relative term of course. My Revels are about 40 inches tall vs the Signature SEs that are 8 inches taller. Two things for me. One is handling them - I'll need help to get them in the house and, unlikely but not impossible, if I had to get them back in the box, then more handling issues. They are 150 lb in the box. Maybe more important is the tweeters on the Revels are at ear height in my usual sitting position whereas I'll probably be looking up at the tweeters on the Signatures. But I can place them further back so that mitigates the issue somewhat. The tweeters on the Alecs would also be at about ear height. I agree that the Legacy finishing options are great though. 

Thanks also to Dave and Troy. It's definitely down to the Signatures or the Alecs. Decisions decisions...

gickcf OP
13 posts
 

Great input from all. Every time I think I've decided, I'm pulled back onto the fence. lol

That said, I'm currently leaning toward the Alecs. Everything I read or hear suggests they are somewhat different, or maybe the better word is special, in some hard to articulate way. I think I have a better idea of what the Signatures will give me and if I buy them, they'll almost certainly stay. I'm more curious about the Alecs and if for whatever reason they don't work for me, I can send them back and get the Signatures. And I don't need the speakers to play really loudly. I tend to listen at modest volumes. 

Interesting that kmcong upgraded within the Legacy family, a strong endorsement. 

gickcf OP
13 posts
 

Thanks. One of my objectives is to get the HF clarity of my Elacs (I made a mistake above, they are 403s the bookshelf not 407s, that I play in my kitchen) or better in a tower speaker for my main listening room. Dave and Troy distinguished the Alecs and Elacs from the Legacys with the comments about clarity of both speakers. I also get a wow factor sometimes on female vocals with my Elacs that I don't get with the Revels, and drums sound more fully present. There always seems to be some compromise with speakers and I'm wondering if it's some aspect of HF extension with the Legacys. Thoughts? Note that I almost certainly will get a new amp regardless of where I land even though both companies have told me the Prima Luna will work well. The 100 amps peak current would make a Coda a contender for sure. Oh, one other consideration. I have cherry floors and the Legacy cherry finish option would work better...these things matter to some. lol

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