In this review, we will be comparing Debut 2.0 B6.2 and Prime Bookshelf, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from ELAC and SVS.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2 and SVS Prime Bookshelf first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2 | SVS Prime Bookshelf |
|---|
| Brand | ELAC
Germany · founded 1926 | SVS
United States · founded 1998 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Soft-Dome | 1" Hard-Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 6.5" Woven Aramid-Fiber | 6.5" |
|---|
| Frequency response | 44-35k Hz | 48-25k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 87 dB | 87 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 6 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | up to 120 watts | 25-150 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 7.40kg / 16.3lbs | 7.03kg / 15.5lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 14.8" x 7-3/4" x 10-9/16"
375.0 x 195.0 x 268.0mm | 13.2" x 8.0" x 10.2"
337.8 x 203.2 x 261.6mm |
|---|
What size room are the ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2 and SVS Prime Bookshelf 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 |
SVS Prime Bookshelf |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Average |
Average |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Good |
| Large Room |
Average |
Average |
| Very Large Room |
Poor |
Poor |
(* 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 Prime Bookshelf are 2-way speakers.
ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2SVS Prime Bookshelf
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 |
SVS Prime Bookshelf |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
1 x 6.5-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 Prime Bookshelf features a 1" aluminum Hard-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2300Hz.
Frequency Response
Debut 2.0 B6.2 has a frequency range of 44-35k Hz whereas Prime Bookshelf has a frequency range of 48-25k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 44Hz, the Debut 2.0 B6.2 can go slightly deeper then the Prime Bookshelf's min frequency of 48Hz.
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 Prime Bookshelf which has a nominal impedance of 8 ohms.
On the other hand, they have the same sensitivity of 87 dBdB.
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.
Prime Bookshelf can handle a max power of 150 watts RMS, whereas Debut 2.0 B6.2 has a max power handling value of 120 watts RMS, 30 watts less than the Prime Bookshelf.
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 5-way post type posts and Prime Bookshelf has a 5-way post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2's 5-Way post terminals
SVS Prime Bookshelf's 5-way post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Debut 2.0 B6.2 has a front firing port whereas Prime Bookshelf 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 SVS Prime Bookshelf with its rear-firing 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 SVS Prime Bookshelf'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 SVS Prime Bookshelf has external dimensions of 337.8 x 203.2 x 261.6mm (13.2 x 8.0 x 10.2inch).
SVS Prime Bookshelf is 37.2mm shorter and 6.4mm less deeper than ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2 but it is also 8.2mm wider.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2 and SVS Prime Bookshelf in scale.
Comparison image of ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2 and SVS Prime Bookshelf 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 B6.2 is approximately 522.6cm2 / 81.0inch2 and base area of the SVS Prime Bookshelf is approximately 531.6cm2 / 82.4inch2. The Debut 2.0 B6.2 requires 2% less surface area than the Prime Bookshelf which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.
Here is another comparison that shows both speakers on a BDI Octave Media Cabinet, next to a standard size amplifier and turntable in scale:
Size Comparison image of ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2 and SVS Prime Bookshelf on a Media Console
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 SVS Prime Bookshelf weighs 7.03kg / 15.5lbs. This makes the Debut 2.0 B6.2 5% heavier than the Prime Bookshelf.
Here is a comparison of how Debut 2.0 B6.2 and Prime Bookshelf'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 SVS Prime Bookshelf?
Here are the items that come with the Prime Bookshelf:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Grilles (pre-installed)
- 8 Self-adhesive rubber bumpers
- Owners Manual SVS brochure
- Online Product Registration Card
 Low Frequency Response |
44 Hz
vs
48 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
35k Hz
vs
25k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Port Position |
Front
vs
Rear
|
Gives more flexibility placing close to walls |
 Base Surface Area |
522cm2
vs
531cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
400USD
vs
600USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Max Input Power |
150 watts
vs
120 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
6 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Height |
337mm
vs
375mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
| General |
ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2 |
SVS Prime Bookshelf |
| Brand |
ELAC |
SVS |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
up to 120 watts |
25-150 watts |
| Sensitivity |
87 dB |
87 dB |
| Impedance |
6 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
44-35k Hz |
48-25k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Woven Aramid-Fiber |
|
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Polypropylene |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Soft-Dome |
Hard-Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
2200Hz |
2300Hz |
| Firing Direction |
front |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
375.0mm (14.8") |
337.8mm (13.3") |
| Width |
195.0mm (7.7") |
203.2mm (8") |
| Depth |
268.0mm (10.6") |
261.6mm (10.3") |
| Weight |
7.40kg (16.3lbs) |
7.03kg (15.5lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Ported |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Vinyl |
MDF/Wood-grain vinyl |
| Available Colors |
Black |
Black Ash,Piano Gloss Black |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Recommended Stand Height |
24-28" |
24-28" |
| 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 48Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (87dB vs 87dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Amplifier match | B | SVS Prime Bookshelf is the easier load at 8 ohms. |
| Headroom | B | SVS Prime Bookshelf takes more power (150W vs 120W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Similar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit. |
| Expandability | depends | Neither adds bi-amping, a sub output or height drivers. ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2 sits in a wider range (11 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | A | ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2 is cheaper - $400 against $600, about 33% less. |
A ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2 B SVS Prime Bookshelf
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?
SVS Prime Bookshelf is ahead, but only on 1 of the measured areas, and it costs about 50% more. That is a lot of money for a narrow margin on paper - ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2 looks like the sensible buy unless something else about the SVS Prime Bookshelf appeals to you. Think about the whole system, not just the speakers: the roughly $200 saved by taking the cheaper pair would buy a subwoofer or a better amplifier, and either usually does more for the sound than the difference between these two.
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.