The best was not good enough for the ELAC developers. The new crystal membrane woofer technology by the loudspeaker specialists from Kiel in the north of Germany created a sensation worldwide. So it is clear that the top models are now equipped with the award-winning crystal membrane technology, as well as 4Pi tweeters, X-JET II coaxial drivers and other technological goodies.
ELAC's top model of the 600 CE series shines with new chassis technology and in a new design at the highest quality level.
The FS 609 CE offers both, perfect instrumental localization and superb stereophonic sound!
360 degree omnidirectional ribbon tweeter yields a resonance-free upper cut-off frequency of 53 kHz and makes this tweeter an ideal component for the reproduction of SACD and DVD-A. Its impressive and silky sound quality gives rise to airy sound that comes off easily.
The new X-JET II is a unique combination of a flat nomex honeycomb crystal membrane midrange ring radiator and a concentrically arranged JET III tweeter . By this the X-JET design realizes the vision of an acoustic point source!
This facilitates an optimized acoustic power response and results in a homogeneous and very wide sound dispersion angle (s.a. the graphics below) which provides for a new kind of relaxed but very precise reproduction.
The ultra lightweight honeycomb diaphragm provides a reduced stray magnetic field combined with a strong neodymium drive. The system is driven by a 78 mm moving coil. High efficiency is achieved using coppered aluminium flat wire, edgewise-wound, on a ventilated capton bobbin.
The new X-JET system yields a upper cut-off frequency of 50 kHz. This makes the loudspeaker an ideal component for the reproduction of DVD-A and SACD.
All woofers of the 600 CE series contain the new "Crystal Membrane" (patent pending) and their design is based on the well-known "Aluminium-Sandwich AS Technology" which was developed by ELAC a couple of years ago. The crystal-shaped inverse aluminium dome is joined to the paper cone in a special glueing process resulting the desired sandwich construction.
The stamping of the aluminium foil looks like the surface of a large crystal, this is where the term "Crystal Membrane" come from. This stamping stiffens the aluminium dome considerably which diminishes the membrane-internal resonances resulting in less sound coloration and additionally improves the large signal behaviour noticeably.
The voice coil is not only - like usually - joined to the neck of the paper cone (see position "1" in the picture) but also to the bottom of the aluminium dome (position "2"). This design results in the expansion of the transmission range of the respective woofers or midrange drivers by nearly an octave. Therefore the abbreviation "XR" (eXtended Range) has been introduced.
Due to the specially wide double asymmetrical ('DAS') rubber surround, ELAC's TT 180 LLD-woofer can handle up to ±16 mm long stroke. This provides maximum level supply and mellow low bass. For a driver this size, such a large displacement represent a unique engineering achievement.
The LLD driver technology (Long Linear Drive) is based on the movement of a short-wound coil (winding height: 6.5 mm) in a long air gap (height: 16 mm) with a homogeneous magnetic field. This design results in extremely linear (without distortions) movement within an amplitude of ±8 mm. The voice coil exactly mirrors the applied audio signal.
The maximum displacement is an impressive ±16 mm.
ELAC's new woofers use high-quality titanium bobbins for greater mechanical stability. This also reduces eddy-current losses and helps achieve deeper and more precise bass reproduction.
Neodymium magnets are used to increase magnetic flux density and to save space, providing optimum magnetic field geometry and greater efficiency.
Using several small magnetic plates reduces air noise and helps to keep the temperature low even under high load.
The aluminium sandwich woofers of the FS 607 CE, FS 609 CE, the ELAC 330 CE, and of the SUB 2060 D use this LLD driver technology.
The control panel of the FS 609 CE provides two step switches.
The upper switch enables optimum adjustment of the directional pattern of the loudspeaker. It adapts the X-JET II and the 4Pi tweeter transmission ranges to individual room conditions and listening preferences.
The other switch is used for controlling the levels (0 and ±1 dB) of the midrange and upper midrange. This way, the FS 609 CE can be adapted to individual room conditions.
Although the movements in a driver may appear negligible, the drivers are in fact exposed to substantial mechanical strain. To guarantee resonance-free performance and the best possible mechanical conditions, all ELAC driver baskets and mounting plates consist of a special high-tech polyamide, which is reinforced with fibre thus proving extremely torsion-resistant.
