In this review, we will be comparing Debut 3.0 DB53 and Diamond 12.1, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from ELAC and Wharfedale.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of ELAC Debut 3.0 DB53 and Wharfedale 12.1 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
ELAC Debut 3.0 DB53 Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1" Hard-Dome Tweeter
- 5.25" Aramid fiber Woofer
- 42 to 38K Hz Frequency Response
- 86.5 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 6ohms
- Power Range:20 - 120watts
- Weight:6.06kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 312.0" x 6-13/16" x 10-1/2"( 312.0 x 174.0 x 267.0mm )
Wharfedale 12.1 Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1" Soft-Dome Tweeter
- 5" Mica-infused polypropylene Woofer
- 65-20k Hz Frequency Response
- 88 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:20-100watts
- Weight:6.80kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 312.0" x 7.0" x 10.9"( 312.0 x 180.0 x 278.0mm )
What size room are the ELAC Debut 3.0 DB53 and Wharfedale 12.1 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 3.0 DB53 |
Wharfedale 12.1 |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Average |
| Small Room |
Average |
Good |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Average |
| Large Room |
Average |
Poor |
| Very Large Room |
Poor |
Bad |
(* 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.)
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the ELAC Debut 3.0 DB53 and Wharfedale 12.1 compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these loudspeakers is the better choice for you.
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Drivers
Both Debut 3.0 DB53 and Diamond 12.1 are 2-way speakers.
| Driver |
ELAC Debut 3.0 DB53 |
Wharfedale 12.1 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
1 x 5-inch
|
Debut 3.0 DB53 features a 1" Hard-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" Aramid fiber Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 1900Hz. On the other hand, the Diamond 12.1 features a 1" Textile Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5" Mica-infused polypropylene Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2600Hz.
Frequency Response
Debut 3.0 DB53 has a frequency range of 42 to 38K Hz whereas Diamond 12.1 has a frequency range of 65-20k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 42Hz, the Debut 3.0 DB53 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Diamond 12.1's min frequency of 65Hz.
Below graphs depict how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average values of the Min and Max Frequencies of other speakers in the Bookshelf class in our database.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
High Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
None of these speakers achieves full range experience which is commonly agreed as 20Hz-20kHz. In order to achieve lower lows / deeper bass, we recommend you pair these with a subwoofer. Visit our Powered Subwoofers section to find out more about the available options.
Impedance and Sensitivity
Debut 3.0 DB53 is a 6 ohms speaker compared to the Diamond 12.1 which has a nominal impedance of 8 ohms.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Debut 3.0 DB53 sensitivity is rated at 86.5 dB and the Diamond 12.1's is rated at 88 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the Wharfedale 12.1 a more sensitive speaker compared to ELAC Debut 3.0 DB53, 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. While using
an amplifier within this range ensures the nominal performance , inputting a power that is higher than the
max wattage can result in a damaged speaker.
Debut 3.0 DB53 can handle a max power of 120 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Diamond 12.1 has a max power handling value of 100 watts RMS, 20 watts less than the Debut 3.0 DB53.
Keep in mind that a higher max power handling value doesn't necessarily make that a louder speaker
compared to a lower max handling speaker. Loudness or the sound level is also impacted by parameters
such as Impedance, sensitivity and system efficiencies.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
Diamond 12.1 features 5-way post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. Debut 3.0 DB53 has a 5-Way post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
ELAC Debut 3.0 DB53's 5-Way post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both Debut 3.0 DB53 and Diamond 12.1 have rear firing ports. Rear ported speakers generally need more room between the backside of the speaker and the wall compared to sealed and front/bottom ported speakers. Placing the speakers too close to the walls may cause the bass to sound boomy.
If you are limited in space and can't get the speakers away from the backwall, check our Speakers with Front Firing Ports page.
Physical Specs
Size of a speaker can sometimes become 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 3.0 DB53's and Wharfedale 12.1's external dimensions. ELAC Debut 3.0 DB53 has external dimensions of 312.0 x 174.0 x 267.0mm ( 12-1/4-inch x 6-13/16-inch x 10-1/2-inch) whereas Wharfedale 12.1 has external dimensions of 312.0 x 180.0 x 278.0mm ( 12.2 x 7.0 x 10.9inch) .
ELAC Debut 3.0 DB53 is 6mm narrower and 11mm less deeper than ELAC Debut 3.0 DB53 but they have the same height of 312.0mm.
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 3.0 DB53 is approximately 464.6cm2 / 72.0inch2 and base area of the Wharfedale 12.1 is approximately 500.4cm2 / 77.6inch2. The Debut 3.0 DB53 requires 7% less surface area than the Diamond 12.1 which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.