In this review, we will be comparing Debut 2.0 B6.2 and Reva 1, 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 Reva 1 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2 | Wharfedale Reva 1 |
|---|
| 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 | 4.5" Woven Glass Fiber |
|---|
| Frequency response | 44-35k Hz | 52-20k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 87 dB | 86 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 6 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | up to 120 watts | 20-60 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 7.40kg / 16.3lbs | 5.64kg / 12.4lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 14.8" x 7-3/4" x 10-9/16"
375.0 x 195.0 x 268.0mm | 12-1/2" x 6-13/16" x 11-3/16"
318.0 x 174.0 x 285.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2 and Wharfedale Reva 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 |
Wharfedale Reva 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 Reva 1 are 2-way speakers.
ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2Wharfedale Reva 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 |
Wharfedale Reva 1 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
1 x 4.5-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 Reva 1 features a 1" woven textile Dome Tweeter and 1 x 4.5" Woven Glass Fiber Woofer.
Frequency Response
Debut 2.0 B6.2 has a frequency range of 44-35k Hz whereas Reva 1 has a frequency range of 52-20k 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 Reva 1's min frequency of 52Hz.
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 Reva 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 Reva 1's is rated at 86 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2 a more sensitive speaker compared to Wharfedale Reva 1, 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 Reva 1 has a max power handling value of 60 watts RMS, 60 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
Reva 1 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 Reva 1'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 Reva 1 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 Reva 1 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 Reva 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 Wharfedale Reva 1 has external dimensions of 318.0 x 174.0 x 285.0mm (12-1/2 x 6-13/16 x 11-3/16inch).
Wharfedale Reva 1 is 21mm narrower and 57mm shorter than ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2 but it is also 17mm deeper.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2 and Wharfedale Reva 1 in scale.
Comparison image of ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2 and Wharfedale Reva 1 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 Reva 1 is approximately 495.9cm2 / 76.9inch2. The Debut 2.0 B6.2 requires 5% more surface area than the Reva 1 which gives it a small disadvantage 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 Reva 1 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 Reva 1 weighs 5.64kg / 12.4lbs. This makes the Debut 2.0 B6.2 31% heavier than the Reva 1.
Here is a comparison of how Debut 2.0 B6.2 and Reva 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 Wharfedale Reva 1?
Here are the items that come with the Reva 1:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Grilles (pre-installed)
- 8 Self-adhesive rubber feet
- 4 Jumper bars (pre-installed)
- Pair of white gloves
- User-feets Manual
 Max Input Power |
120 watts
vs
60 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Sensitivity |
87 dB
vs
86 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
4.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
44 Hz
vs
52 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
35k Hz
vs
20k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Price per pair* |
400USD
vs
799USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 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 |
318mm
vs
375mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
495cm2
vs
522cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
| General |
ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2 |
Wharfedale Reva 1 |
| Brand |
ELAC |
Wharfedale |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
up to 120 watts |
20-60 watts |
| Sensitivity |
87 dB |
86 dB |
| Impedance |
6 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
44-35k Hz |
52-20k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
4.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Woven Aramid-Fiber |
Woven Glass Fiber |
| 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 |
n/a |
| Firing Direction |
front |
bottom |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
375.0mm (14.8") |
318.0mm (12.5") |
| Width |
195.0mm (7.7") |
174.0mm (6.9") |
| Depth |
268.0mm (10.6") |
285.0mm (11.2") |
| Weight |
7.40kg (16.3lbs) |
5.64kg (12.4lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Ported |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Vinyl |
Wood composite laminate |
| Available Colors |
Black |
Walnut |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Recommended Stand Height |
24-28" |
28-30" |
| 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 |
These sit in different price classes - Wharfedale Reva 1 costs roughly 2x what ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2 does. Expect it to lead on paper; the question is whether the gap is audible enough in your room to be worth it.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | A | ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2 digs deeper - 44Hz against 52Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (87dB vs 86dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Amplifier match | B | Wharfedale Reva 1 is the easier load at 8 ohms. |
| Headroom | A | ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2 takes more power (120W vs 60W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Similar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit. |
| Expandability | depends | Wharfedale Reva 1: bi-amping. 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 $799, about 50% less; arguably a different class. |
A ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2 B Wharfedale Reva 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 has the edge on paper, though the margin is not large. The rows marked "depends" may matter more to you than the score does. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 52Hz anyway, so judge these on the other rows instead. 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 Wharfedale Reva 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.