In this review, we will be comparing Debut 3.0 DB63 and Borea BR04, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from ELAC and Triangle.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of ELAC Debut 3.0 DB63 and Triangle Borea BR04 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | ELAC Debut 3.0 DB63 | Triangle Borea BR04 |
|---|
| Brand | ELAC
Germany · founded 1926 | Triangle
France · founded 1980 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Hard-Dome | 1" Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 6.5" Aramid fiber | 6" Paper Cone |
|---|
| Frequency response | 42 to 38K Hz | 44 - 22k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 87 dB | 90 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 6 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 20 - 140 watts | up to 110 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 7.86kg / 17.3lbs | 8.64kg / 19lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 13-3/8" x 7-3/4" x 12-1/4"
340.0 x 197.0 x 312.0mm | 16.7" x 8.7" x 12.3"
425.0 x 220.0 x 314.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the ELAC Debut 3.0 DB63 and Triangle Borea BR04 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 |
Triangle Borea BR04 |
| 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 3.0 DB63 and Borea BR04 are 2-way speakers.
ELAC Debut 3.0 DB63Triangle Borea BR04
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 3.0 DB63 |
Triangle Borea BR04 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-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 Borea BR04 features a 1" silk Dome Tweeter and 1 x 6" Paper Cone Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 3200Hz.
Frequency Response
Debut 3.0 DB63 has a frequency range of 42 to 38K Hz whereas Borea BR04 has a frequency range of 44 - 22k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 42Hz, the Debut 3.0 DB63 can go slightly deeper then the Borea BR04's min frequency of 44Hz.
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 3.0 DB63 is a 6 ohms speaker compared to the Borea BR04 which has a nominal impedance of 8 ohms.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Debut 3.0 DB63 sensitivity is rated at 87 dB and the Borea BR04's is rated at 90 dB. This 3 dB difference makes the Triangle Borea BR04 a more sensitive speaker compared to ELAC Debut 3.0 DB63, 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 3.0 DB63 can handle a max power of 140 watts RMS, whereas Borea BR04 has a max power handling value of 110 watts RMS, 30 watts less than the Debut 3.0 DB63.
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
Borea BR04 features Dual binding posts 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
Triangle Borea BR04's Dual binding posts terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Debut 3.0 DB63 has a rear firing port whereas Borea BR04 has a front firing ports. Triangle Borea BR04's front-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to ELAC Debut 3.0 DB63 with its rear-firing port.
Triangle Borea BR04 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 3.0 DB63's and Triangle Borea BR04'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 Triangle Borea BR04 has external dimensions of 425.0 x 220.0 x 314.0mm (16.7 x 8.7 x 12.3inch).
Triangle Borea BR04 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 23mm wider, 85mm taller and 2mm deeper than ELAC Debut 3.0 DB63.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of ELAC Debut 3.0 DB63 and Triangle Borea BR04 in scale.
Comparison image of ELAC Debut 3.0 DB63 and Triangle Borea BR04 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 Triangle Borea BR04 is approximately 690.8cm2 / 107.1inch2. The Debut 3.0 DB63 requires 11% less surface area than the Borea BR04 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 3.0 DB63 and Triangle Borea BR04 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 3.0 DB63 weighs 7.86kg / 17.3lbs and the Triangle Borea BR04 weighs 8.64kg / 19lbs. This makes the Borea BR04 10% heavier than the Debut 3.0 DB63.
Here is a comparison of how Debut 3.0 DB63 and Borea BR04's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
What's in the Box of Triangle Borea BR04?
Here are the items that come with the Borea BR04:
- 2 x Borea speakers
- 2 x protections grids
- 8 x adhesive rubber plots
- 1 x user manual
 Max Input Power |
140 watts
vs
110 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Minimum Impedance |
4.8 ohms
vs
4.6 ohms
|
Very low impedance levels puts more pressure on amplifier |
 Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
6 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
42 Hz
vs
44 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
38k Hz
vs
22k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
340mm
vs
425mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
614cm2
vs
690cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
449USD
vs
649USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Sensitivity |
90 dB
vs
87 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 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 |
 Port Position |
Front
vs
Rear
|
Gives more flexibility placing close to walls |
| General |
ELAC Debut 3.0 DB63 |
Triangle Borea BR04 |
| Brand |
ELAC |
Triangle |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
20 - 140 watts |
up to 110 watts |
| Sensitivity |
87 dB |
90 dB |
| Impedance |
6 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
4.8 ohms |
4.6 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
42 to 38K Hz |
44 - 22k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
6" |
| Woofer Composition |
Aramid fiber |
Paper Cone |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
n/a |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Hard-Dome |
Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
2000Hz |
3200Hz |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
340.0mm (13.4") |
425.0mm (16.7") |
| Width |
197.0mm (7.8") |
220.0mm (8.7") |
| Depth |
312.0mm (12.3") |
314.0mm (12.4") |
| Weight |
7.86kg (17.3lbs) |
8.64kg (19lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Wood-grain Vinyl |
n/a |
| Available Colors |
Black,Walnut |
Oak Green,Chestnut,Blue,Black Ash,White,Light Oak |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Recommended Stand Height |
26-28" |
n/a |
| 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 (42Hz vs 44Hz). |
| Amplifier needs | B | Triangle Borea BR04 is more sensitive (90dB vs 87dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Amplifier match | B | Triangle Borea BR04 is the easier load at 8 ohms. |
| Headroom | A | ELAC Debut 3.0 DB63 takes more power (140W vs 110W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | ELAC Debut 3.0 DB63 is easier to place; Triangle Borea BR04 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | B | Triangle Borea BR04: bi-amping. Triangle Borea BR04 sits in a wider range (11 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | A | ELAC Debut 3.0 DB63 is cheaper - $449 against $649, about 31% less. |
A ELAC Debut 3.0 DB63 B Triangle Borea BR04
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?
The usual trade-off: Triangle Borea BR04 measures better, ELAC Debut 3.0 DB63 costs about about 45% more% less. Whether that gap is worth the money is the call only you can make - and in a normal room it is often smaller than the numbers suggest. In a large or open-plan room, Triangle Borea BR04 has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, ELAC Debut 3.0 DB63 is the easier speaker to get right. If your amplifier is modest, vintage or valve-based, Triangle Borea BR04 is the safer partner - the other will want more current or more watts to sound its best.
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.