ELAC Put HDMI ARC Into a Tube Amplifier and the Result Is Surprisingly Modern
ELAC has unveiled something that feels almost contradictory at first glance: a classic all-tube integrated amplifier with HDMI ARC. The new ELAC Tube 100 combines visible vacuum tubes and an analog amplifier design with the kind of connectivity normally associated with modern AV and digital audio equipment.
The German manufacturer is introducing the Tube 100 as part of its centenary celebrations, and the amplifier appears designed to appeal to listeners who want the character and visual appeal of tubes without giving up the convenience of modern sources. ELAC even claims the Tube 100 may be one of the first all-tube integrated amplifiers equipped with HDMI.
ELAC Put Eight Tubes Behind the Metal Cage
The Tube 100 uses eight vacuum tubes, with each one protected by its own metal-rod cage. Rather than hiding the tubes inside the chassis, ELAC has made them a central part of the amplifier’s appearance.
The tubes remain fully visible during operation and are subtly illuminated, giving the amplifier the familiar warm glow associated with traditional tube equipment. At the same time, ELAC has kept the rest of the design relatively restrained, with an aluminum chassis and a minimalist front panel.
That combination is interesting because the Tube 100 doesn’t look like an attempt to recreate a vintage amplifier in every detail. Instead, ELAC has taken the visual language of tube amplification and placed it inside a much more contemporary design.
The Most Interesting Feature Is Actually HDMI ARC
The biggest surprise is the HDMI ARC connection.
ELAC says the Tube 100 can be connected directly to a television using a single HDMI cable, allowing it to become the heart of a compact two-channel system. Once connected, the amplifier can be used for television programs and movies, while its volume can be controlled from the TV remote.
For anyone who prefers a proper pair of stereo speakers over a soundbar, this could make the Tube 100 particularly appealing. It also gives the amplifier a very different role from traditional tube integrated amplifiers, which are often built primarily around analog sources.
Bluetooth is included as well, providing a simple way to stream music wirelessly from a smartphone or another compatible device.
ELAC Says the Main Amplifier Path Is Completely Analog
Despite the modern connectivity, ELAC is emphasizing the amplifier’s traditional tube architecture.
When an analog source is connected, including a turntable, the manufacturer says the signal remains completely analog from the input through to the speakers. ELAC also specifically states that there are no semiconductor components in the main amplifier path.
The available analog connections include a phono input for a turntable, an RCA line-level input, and a 3.5mm AUX input. That gives the Tube 100 enough flexibility for a conventional stereo system while still leaving room for modern sources through HDMI ARC and Bluetooth.
Five Inputs and a Surprisingly Practical Front Panel
The front panel has a large volume control surrounded by an illuminated ring, along with a headphone output and touch-sensitive buttons for selecting the source.
There are five input options in total: Bluetooth, HDMI ARC, AUX, Line and Phono.
ELAC has also included a preamp output. That means the Tube 100 isn’t necessarily limited to being the final amplifier in a system; it can also be integrated with an additional power amplifier or other compatible equipment.
It is a useful addition, particularly for listeners who may eventually want to expand their system rather than replace the amplifier completely.
ELAC Hasn’t Revealed the Most Important Specifications Yet
There is still a significant amount we don’t know about the Tube 100.
ELAC has not yet announced the amplifier’s output power, frequency response or noise-level specifications. Those figures will be particularly important because the amplifier’s real-world capabilities will depend heavily on how much power its tube output stage can deliver and which speakers it can comfortably drive.
For now, the connectivity and design tell us more about ELAC’s intentions than its ultimate performance.
The Tube 100 is clearly intended to bridge two worlds: traditional tube hi-fi and the increasingly television-centered modern stereo system. The inclusion of HDMI ARC could make it considerably easier to live with than many conventional tube amplifiers, while the phono input and fully analog signal path preserve its appeal to vinyl and traditional hi-fi enthusiasts.
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The ELAC Tube 100 Isn’t Coming Until 2027
ELAC says the Tube 100 will have a recommended retail price of €2,499 in Europe, with shipments expected to begin in spring 2027.
That leaves plenty of time for ELAC to reveal the amplifier’s remaining specifications and, more importantly, for us to find out how the Tube 100 actually performs with real-world loudspeakers.
For now, though, the idea itself is hard to ignore. A visible eight-tube amplifier with a phono stage and analog signal path is familiar territory for traditional hi-fi, but adding HDMI ARC and Bluetooth makes the Tube 100 feel much more like an amplifier designed for the way people actually use stereo systems today.
