An iconic model from the French manufacturer, the Elipson Planet L Performance speaker marks the revival of a bestseller, while retaining its legendary spherical design. Behind this timeless silhouette lies an acoustic overhaul: an all-new 6.5″ coaxial driver and optimized crossover enhance the sound reproduction, promising an even more enthusiastic listening experience. Priced at €1,290 per pair, this latest-generation speaker appears to be an essential choice for sound and design enthusiasts.
The Planet L odyssey
Launched over ten years ago as a tribute to the iconic spherical speakers of the 1970s, the Elipson Planet L rapidly established itself as a must-have model from the French manufacturer. The big sister of the Elipson Planet M, it is appreciated by music lovers and movie buffs alike, with a remarkable average rating of 4.8/5 on Son-Vidéo.com and multiple prestigious distinctions, including the ON-Mag 5 star, Diapason and HiFi Choice Recommended awards.
In 2018, to celebrate its 80th anniversary, Elipson revisited this iconic model with the Planet L 80ᵉ Anniversaire, optimized thanks to an improved crossover. In late 2023, during the Paris Audio Video Show, the brand unveiled the Planet L Gold Edition, which featured the same technical evolution while offering three new exclusive finishes, enhanced by a gold base and grille. With the Planet L Performance, Elipson is taking another step forward by integrating a new driver, promising even greater refinement.
Presentation
Design
The Elipson Planet L Performance owes its name to its iconic spherical silhouette, a true signature of the French manufacturer. Introduced in the 1950s by Elipson founder Joseph Léon, this approach has become the brand’s DNA over the decades. Popular with discerning audiophiles and audio professionals alike, this unique architecture has given rise to iconic models that have marked the history of high-fidelity, such as the Elipson 402 Tribute, recently updated by the brand (Elipson 402 Tribute review).
Beyond its timeless elegance, this spherical shape offers remarkable acoustic properties. Unlike traditional speakers, where flat surfaces can concentrate waves in the angles of the cabinet and generate unwanted resonance or distortion, the absence of edges in a spherical speaker eliminates standing waves. This results in an incredibly pure sound reproduction, without coloration or interference, allowing the driver to express itself fully.
The Elipson Planet L Performance has the same dimensions as its predecessor, with a diameter of 29cm, slightly larger than a basketball. This identical format guarantees full compatibility with Elipson’s many accessories, from wall and ceiling mounts to stands. As standard, the speaker comes with a circular base, ensuring both optimum stability and the possibility of tilting it slightly for better sound diffusion when placed on a piece of furniture or a shelf. Available in more than 12 finishes, both matte and gloss, the Elipson Planet L Performance is perfect for all interiors.
New coaxial driver
The biggest change in this new generation is cleverly hidden behind the magnetically-attached metal grille on the front of the speaker. To perfect its flagship model, the manufacturer has developed a new coaxial driver. Its 6.5-inch cellulose pulp cone is now coated with a damping treatment and benefits from a DAR (Double Asymmetric Rubber) peripheral surround. This optimizes control of driver and reduces distortion, even at high volume, with almost double the power handling (100W RMS vs. 60W RMS on the previous model). At the center of the cone is a 1″ treated silk dome tweeter. The latter is mounted in a shallow horn and benefits from a neodymium magnet system to maximize responsiveness and precision.
Enhanced crossover
At the rear, the Elipson Planet L Performance is equipped with a pair of robust metal terminals, compatible with stripped cables, banana plugs and spade connectors. To guarantee optimum frequency separation, it inherits the high-precision crossover introduced with the Planet L Gold Edition. This crossover uses rigorously selected components, including MKP polypropylene film capacitors and MKT polyester film capacitors, as well as low-resistance inductors. 2.25mm² OFC internal wiring guarantees lossless, unaltered signal transfer. Thanks to this design, the manufacturer promises a more linear reproduction over an extended bandwidth from 46Hz to 20kHz.
Listening conditions
Once out of its packaging (one speaker per box), the Elipson Planet L Performance is easy to install. Simply place it on its metal stand, or combine it with one of Elipson’s accessories to suit your configuration, then connect it to your amplifier to immediately benefit from its acoustic potential. For this test, we paired the speakers with a wide range of amplifiers, including the Cayin CS-55A KT88 tube model, and the Marantz Model 60n and Yamaha R-N1000A transistor models. Thanks to its high sensitivity, this sphere comes into its own and ensures a balanced sound, even with moderate power. However, pairing with smooth, round amps proves the most musical.
Listening impressions
While Elipson Planet L were already highly appreciated for their musicality, the manufacturer has pushed the limits of its iconic speaker even further with this Performance version. On Anette Askvik’s Liberty, we perceived a noticeable improvement in terms of transparency and definition. The new coaxial driver delivered greater precision in the midrange and highs, making every detail finer and more chiseled, without ever falling into over-analysis. The vocals had greater presence, with a more natural texture and remarkable articulation, giving the impression of a closer, more lifelike soundstage. It was as if the Norwegian artist was performing right in front of us.
While the bass still didn’t plunge into the abyss, the lower register was still deeper and more controlled. Where the previous generation already offered great energy for a speaker of this format, the Planet L Performance pushed the limits even further, bringing more impact and firmness to the lower end of the spectrum. This improvement resulted in better power handling, with tight, nuanced and perfectly controlled bass, without lag or excess.
Brighter than their predecessors, the Elipson Planet L Performance speakers brough a fresh feel to the sound. However, to avoid harshness, they should not be paired with amplifiers known to be cold or dry. Together with the Cayin CS-55A KT88, they formed an optimal pairing, offering a wide, well-defined soundstage with a good sense of depth. The speaker achieved excellent instrument separation, allowing each element of the recording to express itself with great precision. Whether it was a symphony orchestra where each instrument naturally found its place, a jazz ensemble where the double bass breathed freely, or a multi-layered electronic production, the Planet L Performance managed to separate each timbre without ever breaking the musical coherence.
Elipson Planet L Performance vs KEF LS50 Meta
Priced at the same €1,290 per pair, both speakers feature an original design. The Elipson Planet L Performance retains its iconic spherical silhouette, while the KEF LS50 Meta adopts a more conventional but elegantly curved design. The acoustic architecture of these two speakers is also based on a coaxial driver, with a 6.5″ model for the Elipson versus 5″ for the KEFs. As a result, the Planet L Performance speakers are a little more generous in the bass. They also boast higher power handling and are easier to drive, thanks to their greater sensitivity. This makes them ideal for use with a wide range of hi-fi amps and AVRs.
Who are these speakers for?
The Elipson Planet L Performance are designed for music and movie lovers who want to combine sound quality with aesthetic appeal. Their iconic spherical design makes them a truly exceptional object, perfect for those who wish to enjoy high quality audio without sacrificing the elegance of their interior. Thanks to their many colors (over 12) and a vast range of mounting accessories, these speakers are very easy to install.
Versatile, they excel in both stereo and home theater systems. Their balanced, transparent reproduction delivers rich, detailed sound, whatever the musical style. In a multi-channel configuration, they can be used as front speakers, combined with Elipson Planet M surround speakers for a uniform, discreet system. For lovers of deep, physical bass, the addition of a subwoofer may be an appropriate option to reinforce the lows, particularly in large rooms or for high-volume listening.
Our verdict
With the Elipson Planet L Performance, the French manufacturer has succeeded in improving an already legendary and multi-award-winning speaker. This new version retains the timeless design and musical qualities that have made the range so successful, while offering an even more refined listening experience. Clarity and balance are enhanced, with better embodied mids and highs, bringing greater linearity to the reproduction. Voices, in particular, benefit from enhanced presence and come to life with greater realism. This increased transparency also benefits the highlighting of micro-details, accurately revealing the texture of instruments and the ambience of recordings.
However, this assertive transparency requires a well-considered association to avoid an overly cold or clinical reproduction. Although the speaker is versatile and easy to power thanks to its high sensitivity, it reveals its full potential with amplifiers that bring a touch of smoothness and harmonic richness, thus preserving a warm, natural listening experience, without over-analysis.
We liked:
- The iconic spherical design
- The many colors available
- The balanced, natural reproduction
- The great vocal presence
We would have liked:
- A slightly rounder sound, while retaining its beautiful presence
