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A Beloved Loudspeaker Brand Just Took a Big Leap Into Modern Hi-Fi

The company says it “delivers the full depth of [its] 100-year acoustic heritage in a form made to move.” 

Close-up of a black speaker with a perforated grille and the brand name "ELAC" on the bottom front.Elac
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By Tucker Bowe

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Elac is well known in audiophile circles. The German loudspeaker manufacturer has been making loudspeakers primed for home theater and stereo hi-fi systems since 1926 — yes, for a literal century.

And now, for the first time in its 100-year history, Elac has introduced a portable speaker. Yes, it’s stepping into the modern age.

Elac Nava100

Black rectangular wireless speaker with perforated front grille and ELAC logo at the bottom center.
The Nava100 is Elac’s first portable Bluetooth speaker.
Elac

Elac’s first portable speaker

The Elac Nava100 is a portable Bluetooth speaker with a pretty unassuming design — it’s a small rectangular box that comes in two non-flashy black or white finishes.

But the Nava100 is being billed as a more premium portable speaker compared to the multitude of colorful options out there. Its exterior is crafted entirely from pressed aluminum — there’s no plastic.

Two rectangular wireless speakers, one black and one white, placed on a wooden dock near a body of water with people sitting nearby.
The speaker has a pretty minimal, box-y design and comes in either black or white finishes.
Elac

Of course, the real reason you’d get the Nava100 is for Elac’s signature sound. The speaker houses a 3-inch full-range driver and dual passive radiators, all powered by a 10-watt amplifier.

The brand claims it “delivers the full depth of [its] 100-year acoustic heritage in a form made to move.” 

Black cube-shaped speaker with perforated sides, a front-facing woofer, and ELAC logo on the bottom front panel.
The Nava100 houses one 3-inch full-range driver and dual passive radiators.
Elac

On its own, the Nava100 is a mono speaker. However, its one real trick is that it can be stereo-paired with another Nava100 speaker, with each speaker serving as the left and right channel. The brand calls this “Dual Play” mode.

Other than that, the Nava100 is a no-frills speaker that’s simple to use and ready to go right out of the box. There’s no app to download or any strange buttons. And yes, the speaker does have a dedicated power button for turning it on/off.

Close-up of two rectangular Bluetooth speakers, one white with black buttons and one black with bronze buttons, showing power, play, volume, and Bluetooth icons.
Elac says the speaker has an “up to 15 hour” battery life.
Elac

Price and availability

The Elac Nava100 is available now from the company’s website or from third-party retailers such as Crutchfield.

It costs $229 and comes in two finishes: black or white.

About the Author: Tucker Bowe has been on Gear Patrol’s editorial team since 2014. With a passion for consumer tech and hi-fi, he tracks everything from headphones and turntables to smartphones and wearables. If it lights up or makes noise, he probably covers it.

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