In this review, we will be comparing Debut 2.0 B6.2 and Diamond 11.2, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from ELAC and Wharfedale.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2 and Wharfedale 11.2 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2 | Wharfedale 11.2 |
|---|
| Brand | ELAC
Germany · founded 1926 | Wharfedale
United Kingdom · founded 1932 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Soft-Dome | 1" Soft-Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 6.5" Woven Aramid-Fiber | 6.5" Woven Kevlar |
|---|
| Frequency response | 44-35k Hz | 48-20k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 87 dB | 88 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 6 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | up to 120 watts | 25-125 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 7.40kg / 16.3lbs | 9.00kg / 19.8lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 14.8" x 7-3/4" x 10-9/16"
375.0 x 195.0 x 268.0mm | 14" x 8-3/4" x 12-5/8"
356.0 x 223.0 x 321.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2 and Wharfedale 11.2 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 |
Wharfedale 11.2 |
| 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 Diamond 11.2 are 2-way speakers.
ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2Wharfedale 11.2
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 |
Wharfedale 11.2 |
|
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 Diamond 11.2 features a 1" Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Woven Kevlar Woofer.
Frequency Response
Debut 2.0 B6.2 has a frequency range of 44-35k Hz whereas Diamond 11.2 has a frequency range of 48-20k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 44Hz, the Debut 2.0 B6.2 can go slightly deeper then the Diamond 11.2'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 Diamond 11.2 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 Diamond 11.2's is rated at 88 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the Wharfedale 11.2 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.
Diamond 11.2 can handle a max power of 125 watts RMS, whereas Debut 2.0 B6.2 has a max power handling value of 120 watts RMS, 5 watts less than the Diamond 11.2.
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 Diamond 11.2 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
Wharfedale 11.2's Post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Debut 2.0 B6.2 has a front firing port whereas Diamond 11.2 has a bottom 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 Wharfedale 11.2 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 Wharfedale 11.2'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 Wharfedale 11.2 has external dimensions of 356.0 x 223.0 x 321.0mm (14 x 8-3/4 x 12-5/8inch).
ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2 is 28mm narrower and 53mm less deeper than Wharfedale 11.2 but it is also 19mm taller.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2 and Wharfedale 11.2 in scale.
Comparison image of ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2 and Wharfedale 11.2 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 Wharfedale 11.2 is approximately 715.8cm2 / 110.9inch2. The Debut 2.0 B6.2 requires 27% less surface area than the Diamond 11.2 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 Wharfedale 11.2 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 Wharfedale 11.2 weighs 9.00kg / 19.8lbs. This makes the Diamond 11.2 22% heavier than the Debut 2.0 B6.2.
Here is a comparison of how Debut 2.0 B6.2 and Diamond 11.2'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 Wharfedale 11.2?
Here are the items that come with the Diamond 11.2:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Grilles (pre-installed)
- 8 Self-adhesive rubber feet
- User-feets Manual
- Installation Guide
 Low Frequency Response |
44 Hz
vs
48 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
35k Hz
vs
20k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Base Surface Area |
522cm2
vs
715cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
400USD
vs
499USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Max Input Power |
125 watts
vs
120 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 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 |
356mm
vs
375mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
| General |
ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2 |
Wharfedale Diamond 11.2 |
| Brand |
ELAC |
Wharfedale |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
up to 120 watts |
25-125 watts |
| Sensitivity |
87 dB |
88 dB |
| Impedance |
6 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
44-35k Hz |
48-20k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Woven Aramid-Fiber |
Woven Kevlar |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Foam |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Soft-Dome |
Soft-Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
2200Hz |
n/a |
| Firing Direction |
front |
bottom |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
375.0mm (14.8") |
356.0mm (14") |
| Width |
195.0mm (7.7") |
223.0mm (8.8") |
| Depth |
268.0mm (10.6") |
321.0mm (12.6") |
| Weight |
7.40kg (16.3lbs) |
9.00kg (19.8lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Ported |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Vinyl |
MDF/Wood veneer |
| Available Colors |
Black |
Rosewood, Black, White, Walnut |
| 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 88dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Amplifier match | B | Wharfedale 11.2 is the easier load at 8 ohms. |
| Headroom | evenly matched | Similar power handling (120W vs 125W). |
| Size | depends | ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2 is easier to place; Wharfedale 11.2 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| 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 $499, about 20% less. |
A ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2 B Wharfedale 11.2
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?
Neither runs away with it - they trade advantages. Let the "depends" rows and your own room settle it.
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.