Stratton Acoustics Ltd, the UK-based manufacturer of the acclaimed, high-end Elypsis 1512 loudspeaker, has launched its new Element 12, a smaller (and more affordable?) 2-way, reflex-loaded design with an integral stand.
The Element 12 was developed by the duo that created the Elypsis 1512 – David Fowler (founder, designer, and manufacturer) and Phil Ward (electro-acoustic engineer).
The goal of the Element 12 is to provide the same performance as the Elypsis 1512 in terms of dynamics, rhythm, and engagement, but housed within a smaller, more easily placeable cabinet.
The Element 12 cabinet is formed from 26mm/46mm bamboo ply panels and incorporates internal bracing. The cabinet houses a single, custom-made 12-inch paper bass/mid driver with dual voice coils and a NeFeB (neodymium-iron-boron) magnet motor system. Twin reflex ports located on the bottom of the speaker are tuned to deliver an in-room response down to 38Hz.
The Element 12 uses the same 29mm (1.2 inch) soft dome tweeter that the Elypsis 1512 does. The tweeter is housed in Stratton’s patented Mechanically Isolated Tweeter Assembly using a NeFeB magnet motor.
The speaker cabinet assembly has an integral stand, formed from 3mm thick, powder-coated, structural steel panels – based on Voronoi geometry – all underpinned by a high-gloss bamboo ply and natural cork base.
From David Fowler: “There are many, many forms of addiction,…Ours is simply the desire to continue creating beautifully crafted, artisan-built loudspeakers that nail you to your seat the instant you hear them playing the music you can’t get enough of. In short, we get our ‘fix’ by supplying customers with theirs…“
Comparison
| Element12 | Elypsis 1512 | |
| Speaker Type | Twin bass reflex-loaded, two-way, high-sensitivity passive loudspeaker | Quad bass reflex loaded 3-way passive speaker. |
| Enclosure | Fully braced bamboo ply with CNC-machined aluminum trims | Braced Birch Wood |
| Integrated Stand | Folded Voronoi geometry structural panels with a bamboo ply base | – |
| Bass Drivers | – | 2 x 380mm (15 inches) with paper diaphragm and ferrite motor system. |
| Ports | 2 | 4 |
| Bass/Mid Driver | 1 x 300mm (12 inches) with NeFeB motor, paper diaphragm, and twin voice coils | – |
| Midrange Drivers | – | 1 x 300mm (12-inch) with hand-doped paper diapraghm and NeFeB Motor system. |
| Tweeter | 29mm (1.2 inch) waveguide loaded NeFeB motor soft dome | 29mm (1.2 inches) with waveguide-loaded soft dome and NeFeB Motor system. |
| Crossover Frequency | 1.7kHz | 350Hz and 2.5kHz |
| Frequency Response | 50Hz to 18kHz ±2dB | 45hz to 18kHz (+/- 2dB) |
| Low Frequency Cut-off | -6dB @ 37Hz | -6dB @ 28Hz |
| Midband Sensitivity (2.83V @ 1m) | 94dB | 96dB |
| Nominal Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
| Electrical Phase | < ±45° between 100Hz and 10kHz | – |
| Group Delay | <10ms above 50Hz | <12ms above 40Hz |
| Amplifier Compatibility | Any amplifier will work according to Stratton Acoustics | Any amplifier will work according to Stratton Acoustics |
| EQ Options | – | MF and HF +/- 2dB |
| Connections | Bi-wire custom binding posts | Tri-wire/Tri Amp Neutrik Speakeron sockets |
| Dimensions (HWD) | 1214 x 500 x 596mm (48 in x 19.7 x 23.5 in) | 876 x 1001 x 515mm (34.5 x 39.4 x 20.3 inches) |
| Weight | 47.6kg (105 lbs) | 140kg (308.6 lbs) |
| Price | £32K, $42K, €38K | Starts at £69,000 |
Available Finishes
Similar to the Elypsis 1512, the Element 12 is available in four high gloss finishes: Piano white with silver, Piano black with Black and Gold, Maple with Silver, and Ziricote with Black and Gold.
Price & Availability
The Element 12 is priced at $42K (£32K or €38K) per pair and is available directly from Stratton Acoustics with shipping (charged at cost) to anywhere in the world.
Note: As of the published date of this article, the Element 12 is not showing on the Stratton Acoustics Website.
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