In this review, we will be comparing Debut 2.0 B6.2 and Diamond 225, 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 225 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2 | Wharfedale 225 |
|---|
| Brand | ELAC
Germany · founded 1926 | Wharfedale
United Kingdom · founded 1932 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Soft-Dome | 1" Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 6.5" Woven Aramid-Fiber | 6.5" Woven Kevlar |
|---|
| Frequency response | 44-35k Hz | 45-20k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 87 dB | 87 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 6 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | up to 120 watts | 25-120 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 7.40kg / 16.3lbs | 6.55kg / 14.4lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 14.8" x 7-3/4" x 10-9/16"
375.0 x 195.0 x 268.0mm | 13.9" x 7.7" x 11.4"
355.0 x 196.0 x 290.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2 and Wharfedale 225 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 225 |
| 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 225 are 2-way speakers.
ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2Wharfedale 225
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 225 |
|
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 225 features a 1" Dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Woven Kevlar Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2300Hz.
Frequency Response
Debut 2.0 B6.2 has a frequency range of 44-35k Hz whereas Diamond 225 has a frequency range of 45-20k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 44Hz, the Debut 2.0 B6.2 can go slightly deeper then the Diamond 225's min frequency of 45Hz.
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 225 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.
Both handle the same maximum of 120 watts RMS, though Debut 2.0 B6.2 is rated up to 120 watts and Diamond 225 25-120 watts.
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
Diamond 225 features Post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. Debut 2.0 B6.2 has a 5-Way post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2's 5-Way post terminals
Wharfedale 225's Post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Debut 2.0 B6.2 has a front firing port whereas Diamond 225 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 225 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 225'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 225 has external dimensions of 355.0 x 196.0 x 290.0mm (13.9 x 7.7 x 11.4inch).
ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2 is 1mm narrower and 22mm less deeper than Wharfedale 225 but it is also 20mm taller.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2 and Wharfedale 225 in scale.
Comparison image of ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2 and Wharfedale 225 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 225 is approximately 568.4cm2 / 88.1inch2. The Debut 2.0 B6.2 requires 8% less surface area than the Diamond 225 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 225 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 225 weighs 6.55kg / 14.4lbs. This makes the Debut 2.0 B6.2 13% heavier than the Diamond 225.
Here is a comparison of how Debut 2.0 B6.2 and Diamond 225'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 225?
Here are the items that come with the Diamond 225:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Grilles (pre-installed)
- 8 Self-adhesive rubber feet
- User's Manual
- Installation Guide
 Low Frequency Response |
44 Hz
vs
45 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
35k Hz
vs
20k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Base Surface Area |
522cm2
vs
568cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
6 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
 Height |
355mm
vs
375mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Price per pair* |
349USD
vs
400USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2 |
Wharfedale Diamond 225 |
| Brand |
ELAC |
Wharfedale |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
up to 120 watts |
25-120 watts |
| Sensitivity |
87 dB |
87 dB |
| Impedance |
6 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
n/a |
4.2 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
44-35k Hz |
45-20k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Woven Aramid-Fiber |
Woven Kevlar |
| 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 |
2300Hz |
| Firing Direction |
front |
bottom |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
375.0mm (14.8") |
355.0mm (14") |
| Width |
195.0mm (7.7") |
196.0mm (7.7") |
| Depth |
268.0mm (10.6") |
290.0mm (11.4") |
| Weight |
7.40kg (16.3lbs) |
6.55kg (14.4lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Ported |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Vinyl |
MDF/Wood veneer |
| Available Colors |
Black |
Black, White, Walnut |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Recommended Stand Height |
24-28" |
24" |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
No |
Yes |
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 | evenly matched | Much the same reach (44Hz vs 45Hz). |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (87dB vs 87dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Amplifier match | B | Wharfedale 225 is the easier load at 8 ohms. |
| Headroom | evenly matched | Similar power handling (120W vs 120W). |
| Size | depends | Similar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit. |
| Expandability | depends | Wharfedale 225: bi-amping. ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2 sits in a wider range (11 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | B | Wharfedale 225 is cheaper - $349 against $400, about 13% less. |
A ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2 B Wharfedale 225
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?
Wharfedale 225 has the edge on paper, though the margin is not large. The rows marked "depends" may matter more to you than the score does.
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.