In this review, we will be comparing Debut 2.0 SUB3030 and Debut 2.0 SUB3010, two Powered Subwoofer speakers by ELAC. Being Powered subwoofers, they both have built-in amplifiers so you don't need an external power amp or an integrated amp to power them. Let's have a brief look at the main features of ELAC Debut 2.0 SUB3030 and ELAC Debut 2.0 SUB3010 first before getting into our more detailed comparison.
The sections below take each area in turn: driver and amplifier, frequency response, physical size and connectivity.
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Drivers
The efficiency of a subwoofer is directly proportional to the total radiating are squared hence the woofer quantity and diameter.Both ELAC Debut 2.0 SUB3030and ELAC Debut 2.0 SUB3010 have a single woofer setup however the ELAC Debut 2.0 SUB3030's woofer is 12-inch whereas the ELAC Debut 2.0 SUB3010 features a 10-inch woofer.
Frequency Response
Debut 2.0 SUB3030 has a frequency range of 25-150 Hz whereas Debut 2.0 SUB3010 has a frequency range of 28-150 Hz. With a minimum frequency of 25Hz, the Debut 2.0 SUB3030 can go slightly deeper then the Debut 2.0 SUB3010's min frequency of 28Hz.
Below graphs depict how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average values of the Min and Max Frequencies of other speakers in the Subwoofer class in our database.
Low Frequency
Subwoofer Speakers
High Frequency
Subwoofer Speakers
Cabinet Type
Both ELAC Debut 2.0 SUB3030 and ELAC Debut 2.0 SUB3010 have Passive radiator type cabinets.
Physical Specs
The size of a speaker can sometimes be an important decision factor due to space constraints or in some cases purely for esthetic reasons. In this section, we are going to compare ELAC Debut 2.0 SUB3030's and ELAC Debut 2.0 SUB3010's external dimensions. ELAC Debut 2.0 SUB3030 has external dimensions of 462.0 x 451.0 x 464.0mm (18-3/16 x 17-3/4 x 18-1/4inch) whereas ELAC Debut 2.0 SUB3010 has external dimensions of 374.0 x 355.0 x 383.0mm (14-11/16 x 13-15/16 x 15-1/16inch).
ELAC Debut 2.0 SUB3030 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 96mm wider, 88mm taller and 81mm deeper than ELAC Debut 2.0 SUB3010.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of ELAC Debut 2.0 SUB3030 and ELAC Debut 2.0 SUB3010 in scale.
Comparison image of ELAC Debut 2.0 SUB3030 and ELAC Debut 2.0 SUB3010 Size and External Dimensions
Base Surface Area Comparison
Base surface area of a loudspeaker may become a determining factor when the space in your room or desk is limited.
The base surface area of the ELAC Debut 2.0 SUB3030 is approximately 2092.6cm2 / 324.4inch2 and base area of the ELAC Debut 2.0 SUB3010 is approximately 1359.7cm2 / 210.8inch2. The Debut 2.0 SUB3030 requires 54% more surface area than the Debut 2.0 SUB3010 which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.
Weight Comparison The weight of a subwoofer may become an important factor if you need to move and reposition the unit often to find the optimal positioning, also known as 'Subwoofer Crawling'. The ELAC Debut 2.0 SUB3030 weighs 22.80kg / 50.2lbs and the ELAC Debut 2.0 SUB3010 weighs 14.59kg / 32.1lbs. This makes the Debut 2.0 SUB3030 56% heavier than the Debut 2.0 SUB3010.
Here is a comparison of how Debut 2.0 SUB3030 and Debut 2.0 SUB3010's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Powered Subwoofer class.
Weight
All Subwoofer Speakers
What's in the Box of ELAC Debut 2.0 SUB3030?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Debut 2.0 SUB3030:
- Powered subwoofer
- 9-feet AC power cord
- 4 Spikes
- 4 Hex-nuts
- Operating Instructions
What's in the Box of ELAC Debut 2.0 SUB3010?
Here are the items that come with the Debut 2.0 SUB3010:
- Powered subwoofer
- 9-feet AC power cord
- 4 Spikes
- 4 Hex-nuts
- Operating Instructions
 Woofer Size |
12 inches
vs
10 inches
|
Larger woofer |
| Low Frequency Response |
25 Hz
vs
28 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 App-Based Control |
iOS,Android
vs
None
|
Control the speaker via an app |
 Height |
374mm
vs
462mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
1359cm2
vs
2092cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
650USD
vs
900USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
ELAC Debut 2.0 SUB3030 |
ELAC Debut 2.0 SUB3010 |
| Brand |
ELAC |
ELAC |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Subwoofer |
Powered Subwoofer |
| Max Amplifier Output |
500 watts |
200 watts |
| Frequency Response |
25-150 Hz |
28-150 Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
500-watt RMS |
200-watt RMS |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
12" |
10" |
| Woofer Composition |
Doped Paper |
Doped Paper |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
- |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
front |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
462.0mm (18.2") |
374.0mm (14.7") |
| Width |
451.0mm (17.8") |
355.0mm (14") |
| Depth |
464.0mm (18.3") |
383.0mm (15.1") |
| Weight |
22.80kg (50.2lbs) |
14.59kg (32.1lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Passive radiator |
Passive radiator |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
1 Year |
1 Year |
| Labor Warranty |
1 Year |
1 Year |
Siblings in ELAC's Debut 2.0 range - same design thinking, different size. It comes down to your room and your budget.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass depth | A | ELAC Debut 2.0 SUB3030 goes deeper - 25Hz against 28Hz. A real difference, though most music has little content below 28Hz. |
| Amplifier power | A | ELAC Debut 2.0 SUB3030 has the bigger amplifier - 500W against 200W RMS, about 4dB more on tap. In a large room that is headroom before the DSP starts limiting. |
| Driver area | A | ELAC Debut 2.0 SUB3030 moves more air: 12" against 10" is 1.44x the cone area, not the 1.2x the diameters suggest. More area means the same output with less excursion, and less distortion with it. |
| Enclosure | evenly matched | Both are passive radiator designs, so they roll off in much the same way. |
| Cabinet size | depends | ELAC Debut 2.0 SUB3010 is about 47% smaller by volume. In a subwoofer that is a real trade rather than a preference: box volume is how you get output low down without a bigger amplifier. |
| Price | B | ELAC Debut 2.0 SUB3010 costs less - $650 against $900, about 28% less. |
A ELAC Debut 2.0 SUB3030 B ELAC Debut 2.0 SUB3010
depends neither is better in the abstract - it turns on your room, your system or how you will use them. Only specs published for both subwoofers are judged; anything missing on either side is left out rather than guessed.
Which should you choose?
The usual trade-off: ELAC Debut 2.0 SUB3030 measures better, ELAC Debut 2.0 SUB3010 costs about 28% less. In a normal room, placement will make a bigger difference than the gap between these two. If placement is the constraint - a corner, behind a sofa, under a desk - ELAC Debut 2.0 SUB3010 is the one that will actually go there, and a well-placed small subwoofer beats a badly-placed big one every time.
One thing outweighs everything above: where the subwoofer stands. Room modes can add or remove 10dB or more at a given seat, which is far larger than any difference on this page. Before spending more, try the sub in two or three positions - the crawl test, where you put it in the listening seat and crawl the room to find where the bass sounds best, costs nothing and usually beats an upgrade.