In this review, we will be comparing Debut 2.0 B6.2 and Bronze 1, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from ELAC and Monitor Audio.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2 and Monitor Audio Bronze 1 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2 | Monitor Audio Bronze 1 |
|---|
| Brand | ELAC
Germany · founded 1926 | Monitor Audio
United Kingdom · founded 1972 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Soft-Dome | 1" Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 6.5" Woven Aramid-Fiber | 5.5" C-CAM |
|---|
| Frequency response | 44-35k Hz | 55-30k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 87 dB | 88 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 6 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | up to 120 watts | 20-70 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 7.40kg / 16.3lbs | 3.50kg / 7.7lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 14.8" x 7-3/4" x 10-9/16"
375.0 x 195.0 x 268.0mm | 10.2" x 6.4" x 8.0"
260.0 x 165.0 x 205.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2 and Monitor Audio Bronze 1 speakers good for?
The size of the room in which you are planning to use these loudspeakers is an important decision
factor. Here we have compared their suitability to various sizes of environments considering their size
and max power parameters:
| Listening Environment* |
ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2 |
Monitor Audio Bronze 1 |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Good |
| Small Room |
Average |
Good |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Average |
| Large Room |
Average |
Poor |
| Very Large Room |
Poor |
No way |
(* Approximate Room sizes: Small < 100sq. ft / 9 m2,
Mid-size: 100-220 sq. ft / 9-20 m2, Large 220-400 sq. ft / 20-36 m2, Very Large: >
400 sq. ft / 36 m2.
Average Floor Height: 9" / 2.7m. Typical room sizes differ from country to country, and the actual
listening experience changes depending on floor height, room shape, surface materials, listening
position, speaker locations, etc.)
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
Both Debut 2.0 B6.2 and Bronze 1 are 2-way speakers.
ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2Monitor Audio Bronze 1
TweeterWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2 |
Monitor Audio Bronze 1 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
1 x 5.5-inch
|
Debut 2.0 B6.2 features a 1" Cloth Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Woven Aramid-Fiber Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2200Hz. On the other hand, the Bronze 1 features a 1" Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5.5" C-CAM Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2700Hz.
Frequency Response
Debut 2.0 B6.2 has a frequency range of 44-35k Hz whereas Bronze 1 has a frequency range of 55-30k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 44Hz, the Debut 2.0 B6.2 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Bronze 1's min frequency of 55Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Bookshelf class in our database.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
Neither pair reaches down to 20Hz, the usual definition of full-range, which is normal for speakers of this size. If you want the bottom octave for movies or bass-heavy music, add a subwoofer to whichever you choose. Visit our Powered Subwoofers section to find out more about the available options.
Impedance and Sensitivity
Debut 2.0 B6.2 is a 6 ohms speaker compared to the Bronze 1 which has a nominal impedance of 8 ohms.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Debut 2.0 B6.2 sensitivity is rated at 87 dB and the Bronze 1's is rated at 88 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the Monitor Audio Bronze 1 a more sensitive speaker compared to ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Bookshelf Speakers
Power Range
Power
range is the range of input power in watts RMS that a loudspeaker is designed to handle. Staying
within that range gives nominal performance; driving the speaker beyond its maximum wattage can damage it.
Debut 2.0 B6.2 can handle a max power of 120 watts RMS, whereas Bronze 1 has a max power handling value of 70 watts RMS, 50 watts less than the Debut 2.0 B6.2.
Note that higher power handling does not make a speaker louder: that depends mainly on
sensitivity and impedance. The calculator below shows how loud each of these actually plays
on a real amplifier.
Which plays louder on your amplifier?
Starting with a popular amplifier - change it to the one you own, or any you are
considering, and watch both numbers move.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
Debut 2.0 B6.2 features Post type posts and Bronze 1 has a Post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2's 5-Way post terminals
Monitor Audio Bronze 1's Post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Debut 2.0 B6.2 has a front firing port whereas Bronze 1 has a rear firing ports. ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2's front-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to Monitor Audio Bronze 1 with its rear-firing port.
Monitor Audio Bronze 1 Port
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 B6.2's and Monitor Audio Bronze 1's external dimensions. ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2 has external dimensions of 375.0 x 195.0 x 268.0mm (14.7 x 7.6 x 10.5inch) whereas Monitor Audio Bronze 1 has external dimensions of 260.0 x 165.0 x 205.0mm (10.2 x 6.4 x 8.0inch).
ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 30mm wider, 115mm taller and 63mm deeper than Monitor Audio Bronze 1.
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 B6.2 is approximately 522.6cm2 / 81.0inch2 and base area of the Monitor Audio Bronze 1 is approximately 338.3cm2 / 52.4inch2. The Debut 2.0 B6.2 requires 54% more surface area than the Bronze 1 which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.
Weight Comparison The weight of a loudspeaker can become an important factor if you need to move and reposition the unit often. Weight of a speaker can also "sometimes" be an indicator of the rigidity of the enclosure and the quality of the internal components used. The ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2 weighs 7.40kg / 16.3lbs and the Monitor Audio Bronze 1 weighs 3.50kg / 7.7lbs. This makes the Debut 2.0 B6.2 111% heavier than the Bronze 1.
Here is a comparison of how Debut 2.0 B6.2 and Bronze 1's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
What's in the Box of ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Debut 2.0 B6.2:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Grilles
- Operating Instructions
What's in the Box of Monitor Audio Bronze 1?
Here are the items that come with the Bronze 1:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Grilles
- 2 Foam port plugs
- Hex-key
- Owner's Manual
- Important Safety Instructions
 Max Input Power |
120 watts
vs
70 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
5.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
44 Hz
vs
55 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
35k Hz
vs
30k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Port Position |
Front
vs
Rear
|
Gives more flexibility placing close to walls |
 Sensitivity |
88 dB
vs
87 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
6 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Height |
260mm
vs
375mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
338cm2
vs
522cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
299USD
vs
400USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2 |
Monitor Audio Bronze 1 |
| Brand |
ELAC |
Monitor Audio |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
up to 120 watts |
20-70 watts |
| Sensitivity |
87 dB |
88 dB |
| Impedance |
6 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
44-35k Hz |
55-30k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
5.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Woven Aramid-Fiber |
C-CAM |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Soft-Dome |
Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
2200Hz |
2700Hz |
| Firing Direction |
front |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
375.0mm (14.8") |
260.0mm (10.2") |
| Width |
195.0mm (7.7") |
165.0mm (6.5") |
| Depth |
268.0mm (10.6") |
205.0mm (8.1") |
| Weight |
7.40kg (16.3lbs) |
3.50kg (7.7lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Ported |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Vinyl |
MDF/Wood-grain vinyl |
| Available Colors |
Black |
Walnut, White, Rosemah, Black |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Recommended Stand Height |
24-28" |
30-31" |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
No |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
3 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
3 Years |
5 Years |
No single best speaker here - they are built to different priorities, and the right one depends on your room, your amplifier and what you listen to.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | A | ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2 digs deeper - 44Hz against 55Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (87dB vs 88dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Amplifier match | B | Monitor Audio Bronze 1 is the easier load at 8 ohms. |
| Headroom | A | ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2 takes more power (120W vs 70W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Monitor Audio Bronze 1 is easier to place; ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Price | B | Monitor Audio Bronze 1 is cheaper - $299 against $400, about 25% less. |
A ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2 B Monitor Audio Bronze 1
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 speakers are judged; anything missing on either side is left out rather than guessed.
Which should you choose?
ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2 is ahead, but only on 1 of the measured areas, and it costs about 34% more. That is a lot of money for a narrow margin on paper - Monitor Audio Bronze 1 looks like the sensible buy unless something else about the ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2 appeals to you. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 55Hz anyway, which makes the cheaper Monitor Audio Bronze 1 much easier to justify. Match it to your room: we rate ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2 the better fit for a mid-size room and a large room, and Monitor Audio Bronze 1 for near-field listening and a small room.
And remember what a spec sheet cannot show: how each looks in your room and whether the finish suits it, what dealer support and warranty are like where you live, and how they actually sound to you. If you can hear them first - ideally with your own music - that will tell you more than any number above.