Block Éléments 2.1 black

Block Éléments 2.1

Digital radio, streaming, TV sound and CD playback brought together around a 25 cm-wide amplifier: Block, a German manufacturer based in Hude in Lower Saxony, packs the essentials of a hi-fi system into an aluminium enclosure with a diamond silver finish. Connect two speakers, a subwoofer and the TV, and music comes in over Wi-Fi, radio or your smartphone, with no extra box sitting alongside.

A compact aluminium enclosure

The Éléments 2.1 measures 250 mm wide, 80 mm high and 260.5 mm deep and weighs 3.5 kg, making it roughly half the width of a traditional hi-fi amplifier. The enclosure is entirely aluminium, here in the diamond silver finish, with the same electronics also available in sapphire black. The front panel consists of a colour screen flanked by two large rotary push-button controls: the left one selects the source and scrolls through stations, while the right one adjusts the volume and opens the menus. The screen displays the time in standby, then information about the current station or track, and its brightness is adjustable, with automatic dimming after a configurable delay. The Elements CD player from the same family shares this design and sits on top of the amplifier or alongside it to create a matching system. Block asks that you leave at least 10 cm between the unit and the wall, and keep the ventilation slots uncovered.

Two Class D channels and a subwoofer output

Amplification is handled by a Class D stage, a highly efficient technology that generates little heat and fits into a small space, explaining the unit’s compact dimensions. Block’s documentation specifies 2 × 50 W RMS into 4 ohms, with distortion of 0.007%, a signal-to-noise ratio above 80 dB and a frequency response of 20 Hz to 20 kHz. This power is sufficient for bookshelf speakers or efficient floorstanding speakers in an average-sized living room; speakers with low sensitivity and very high current demands require a more powerful amplifier.

The “.1” in the name refers to the subwoofer output, a first for a stereo amplifier from the brand. It makes particular sense with compact speakers placed on a TV unit or shelf: a small active subwoofer positioned in the room handles the deep bass that 13 or 15 cm drivers cannot reach. On the back, two pairs of gold-plated terminals accept banana plugs or bare wire, and the A/B button on the remote switches between speaker pairs or powers both at once.

The TV, CD player and other sources

The HDMI ARC socket (Audio Return Channel, HDMI’s audio return channel) receives sound from the TV through a single HDMI cable, version 1.4 or higher. The amplifier switches on and off with the TV, and the TV remote adjusts its volume. Two digital inputs complement this connection: an optical input, useful for an older TV or a games console, and a coaxial input for a CD player or satellite receiver. A line-level RCA analogue input (400 mV) accommodates an additional source, and a rear USB port reads a flash drive or hard drive.

With the Elements CD player, a short 3.5 mm jack cable links the two units through the CD-Control socket. The amplifier’s remote then also controls the player: the DISC button switches between units, and “AMP” on the player’s screen indicates that commands are being sent to the amplifier.

Radio and streaming without an extra device

The Éléments 2.1 connects to the home network over dual-band Wi-Fi (2.4 and 5 GHz, screw-on antenna supplied) or an Ethernet cable. Once online, it accesses a database of more than 40,000 Internet radio stations and 100,000 podcasts from around the world, with 40 presets, the first ten of which can be recalled directly from the remote’s numeric keypad. The tuner also receives DAB+, hiss-free digital terrestrial radio that displays the name of the programme or track being broadcast, and FM with RDS.

For online music, Spotify Connect is controlled from the Spotify app on a smartphone or computer (Premium subscription required), while Deezer is accessed by entering your account details directly on the amplifier’s screen. Bluetooth receives audio from a phone, tablet or computer, regardless of the app used. The free Oktiv app for iOS and Android replaces the remote: source selection, browsing radio stations and services, artwork for the current track and sound settings. The firmware updates over the Internet, with the amplifier automatically notifying you of new versions.

Sound settings and everyday convenience

The Tone button on the remote provides access to bass and treble, stored in a personal profile that remains active between listening sessions, as well as left-right balance. There are also eight sound presets (Live, Jazz, Rock, Hall, Classic, Pop, Stadium and Normal, the latter disabling all processing). A sleep timer switches the amplifier off after the selected time, handy for falling asleep to a programme. The clock synchronises automatically via the Internet, DAB+ or FM, depending on the source selected during setup, and a wizard guides you through the initial setup: language, time, then network connection, with support for the router’s WPS button.

Technical specifications

Overview

• Modern, minimalist design
• Compact enclosure: technology in minimal space

Amplification and audio performance

• Frequency response: 20 Hz – 20 kHz
• Signal-to-noise ratio (SNR): > 80 dB
• Channel separation: > 60 dB
• Output power: 2 × 80 W into 4 Ω, 2 channels

Radio and music streaming

• FM tuner
  • Frequency range: 87.5 – 108 MHz
• DAB tuner
  • Frequency range: 174.928 – 239.200 MHz
• Tuner antenna connection available
• Bluetooth music streaming
• Built-in Internet radio
• Compatibility: Spotify Connect, Dezeer

Network

• Wi-Fi: 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz
• 1 RJ-45 Ethernet LAN port

Audio inputs and outputs

• 2 speaker outputs
  • Selection: A, B, A and B
• 1 RCA stereo input: AUX, 400 mV
• 1 Toslink optical input
• 1 coaxial digital input
• 1 TV ARC input / output
• 1 RCA subwoofer output
• 1 USB port

Display and controls

• Large front display
• Two rotary knobs for intuitive operation

Power supply

• Operating voltage: 100–240 V ~ AC
• Supply frequency: 50 / 60 Hz
• Maximum power consumption: 110 W

Dimensions

• Dimensions (width × height × depth): 250 × 80 × 260.5 mm