Elipson Adds HDMI ARC and Bluetooth to Prestige Facet II Lineup

The Elipson Prestige Facet II speaker series was introduced last year, so this model represents a reworking of the French manufacturer’s long-running passive loudspeaker lineup for stereo and home cinema applications. Rather than replacing those passive models, the Active BT version extends the range into a more lifestyle-oriented category increasingly occupied by powered speaker systems and premium soundbar alternatives. That positioning becomes fairly obvious once you look at the connectivity.

Alongside Bluetooth aptX HD support, the new system incorporates HDMI ARC for TV integration, USB-C audio supporting up to 24-bit/192kHz playback, an MM phono stage for turntables, analogue RCA inputs, optical digital input, and a dedicated subwoofer output.

In many ways, it reflects something of a shift currently occurring across entry-level and mid-tier hi-fi, where traditional speaker manufacturers are increasingly combining multiple separates into a single compact stereo solution designed for apartments, living rooms, and TV-based entertainment systems.

Instead of asking buyers to piece together amplifiers, DACs and streamers, systems like the Prestige Facet II 6 Active BT aim to make hi-fi feel more approachable while still retaining the stereo imaging advantages separate left-and-right speakers offer over most soundbars.

Visually, the new model closely follows the design language established by the passive Prestige Facet II series, including Elipson’s distinctive faceted silicone rings surrounding each driver. The company says these structures help reduce diffraction and cabinet interaction while contributing to the range’s recognisable aesthetic identity.

Inside, the system pairs a 25mm tweeter with a 140mm bass/midrange driver in each cabinet, powered by a built-in 2 x 50W Class D amplifier platform.

Elipson says the speakers are tuned to deliver balanced, room-friendly performance suitable for both music listening and television use, though it is notable that this remains a Bluetooth-based system rather than a fully networked wireless audio platform. There is no onboard Wi-Fi streaming ecosystem such as AirPlay, Chromecast or HEOS-style multiroom support.

Some buyers may miss the absence of a fully integrated streaming platform, although that likely helps keep pricing more approachable than many of the increasingly feature-heavy wireless hi-fi systems now crowding the market.

While active stereo speakers are hardly new, manufacturers traditionally associated with passive hi-fi seem to be increasingly shifting toward all-in-one systems as younger buyers move away from conventional amplifier-and-speaker separates.

The Elipson Prestige Facet II 6 Active BT is priced at £699 | €699.

For more information visit Elipson