In this review, we will be comparing Debut 3.0 DB63 and Airmotiv XB2, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from ELAC and Emotiva.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of ELAC Debut 3.0 DB63 and Emotiva Airmotiv XB2 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
ELAC Debut 3.0 DB63 Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1" Hard-Dome Tweeter
- 6.5" Aramid fiber Woofer
- 42 to 38K Hz Frequency Response
- 87 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 6ohms
- Power Range:20 - 140watts
- Weight:7.86kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 340.0" x 7-3/4" x 12-1/4"( 340.0 x 197.0 x 312.0mm )
Emotiva Airmotiv XB2 Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 25×32 mm" folded ribbon Tweeter
- 6" woven fiber cone Woofer
- 55 Hz – 27 kHz Frequency Response
- 86 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 4ohms
- Power Range:Up to 125watts
- Weight:8.16kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 325.0" x 8.5" x 11.5"( 325 x 216 x 292 mm )
What size room are the ELAC Debut 3.0 DB63 and Emotiva Airmotiv XB2 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 DB63 |
Emotiva Airmotiv XB2 |
| 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.)
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the ELAC Debut 3.0 DB63 and Emotiva Airmotiv XB2 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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through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Drivers
Both Debut 3.0 DB63 and Airmotiv XB2 are 2-way speakers.
| Driver |
ELAC Debut 3.0 DB63 |
Emotiva Airmotiv XB2 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
25×32 mm-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
1 x 6-inch
|
Debut 3.0 DB63 features a 1" Hard-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Aramid fiber Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2000Hz. On the other hand, the Airmotiv XB2 features a 25×32 mm" folded ribbon Tweeter and 1 x 6" woven fiber cone Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2600Hz.
Frequency Response
Debut 3.0 DB63 has a frequency range of 42 to 38K Hz whereas Airmotiv XB2 has a frequency range of 55 Hz – 27 kHz. With a minimum frequency of 42Hz, the Debut 3.0 DB63 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Airmotiv XB2's min frequency of 55Hz.
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 DB63 is a 6 ohms speaker compared to the Airmotiv XB2 which has a nominal impedance of 4 ohms. Lower impedance speakers, especially the ones that are rated at 4 ohms may put more pressure on the amplifier unit especially when played at high volume levels, so make sure the amp you pair with the Airmotiv XB2 can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Debut 3.0 DB63 sensitivity is rated at 87 dB and the Airmotiv XB2's is rated at 86 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the ELAC Debut 3.0 DB63 a more sensitive speaker compared to Emotiva Airmotiv XB2, 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 DB63 can handle a max power of 140 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Airmotiv XB2 has a max power handling value of 125 watts RMS, 15 watts less than the Debut 3.0 DB63.
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
Airmotiv XB2 features Binding post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. Debut 3.0 DB63 has a 5-Way post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
ELAC Debut 3.0 DB63's 5-Way post terminals
Emotiva Airmotiv XB2's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both Debut 3.0 DB63 and Airmotiv XB2 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 DB63's and Emotiva Airmotiv XB2's external dimensions. ELAC Debut 3.0 DB63 has external dimensions of 340.0 x 197.0 x 312.0mm ( 13-3/8-inch x 7-3/4-inch x 12-1/4-inch) whereas Emotiva Airmotiv XB2 has external dimensions of 325 x 216 x 292 mm ( 12.8” x 8.5” x 11.5”) .
Emotiva Airmotiv XB2 is 15mm shorter and 20mm less deeper than ELAC Debut 3.0 DB63 but it is also 19mm wider.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of ELAC Debut 3.0 DB63 and Emotiva Airmotiv XB2 in scale.
Comparison image of ELAC Debut 3.0 DB63 and Emotiva Airmotiv XB2 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 3.0 DB63 is approximately 614.6cm2 / 95.3inch2 and base area of the Emotiva Airmotiv XB2 is approximately 630.7cm2 / 97.8inch2. The Debut 3.0 DB63 requires 3% less surface area than the Airmotiv XB2 which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.
Here is an 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 3.0 DB63 and Emotiva Airmotiv XB2 on a Media Console