ELAC (Electroacustic GmbH) is a prestigious German loudspeaker manufacturer founded on September 1, 1926, in Kiel, Germany. Originally established to develop sonar technology and research signal and sound channels in air and water, the company transitioned to consumer audio after WWII. ELAC introduced its first consumer audio product, the PW1 record player, in 1948 and became a leader in turntable manufacturing by 1957, holding the patent for the first stereo moving-magnet cartridge. The company began designing loudspeakers in 1984, developing innovative technologies including the 4Pi omnidirectional tweeter (1985) and the JET folded-ribbon tweeter (1993). ELAC gained significant recognition in the US market through collaboration with renowned speaker designer Andrew Jones (2015-2021), who developed the popular Debut and Uni-Fi series. The company maintains R&D facilities in both Kiel, Germany, and Cypress, California, with high-end speakers manufactured in Germany and entry-level models produced in China.