In this review, we will be comparing Debut 3.0 DC53 and S 83 CEN, two Passive Center Channel speakers from ELAC and Jamo.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of ELAC Debut 3.0 DC53 and Jamo S 83 CEN first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
ELAC Debut 3.0 DC53 Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1" Hard-Dome Tweeter
- 2 x 5.25" Aramid fiber Woofer
- 57 to 38K Hz Frequency Response
- 87.5 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 4ohms
- Power Range:30 - 120watts
- Weight:8.73kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 174.0" x 19-1/16" x 9-3/4"( 174.0 x 485.0 x 248.0mm )
Jamo S 83 CEN Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1" soft dome with an integrated waveguide Tweeter
- 2 x 5" polyfiber Woofer
- 65-26k Hz Frequency Response
- 87 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:up to 80watts
- Weight:6.80kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 216.0" x 19-5/8" x 9-11/16"( 216.0 x 499.0 x 247.0mm )
What size room are the ELAC Debut 3.0 DC53 and Jamo S 83 CEN 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 DC53 |
Jamo S 83 CEN |
| 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 DC53 and Jamo S 83 CEN 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 DC53 and S 83 CEN are 2-way speakers.
| Driver |
ELAC Debut 3.0 DC53 |
Jamo S 83 CEN |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 5.25-inch
|
2 x 5-inch
|
Debut 3.0 DC53 features a 1" Hard-Dome Tweeter and 2 x 5.25" Aramid fiber Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 1900Hz. On the other hand, the S 83 CEN features a 1" soft dome with an integrated waveguide Tweeter and 2 x 5" polyfiber Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2000Hz.
Frequency Response
Debut 3.0 DC53 has a frequency range of 57 to 38K Hz whereas S 83 CEN has a frequency range of 65-26k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 57Hz, the Debut 3.0 DC53 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the S 83 CEN'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 Center Channel class in our database.
Low Frequency
Center Channel Speakers
High Frequency
Center Channel 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 DC53 is a 4 ohms speaker compared to the S 83 CEN which has a nominal impedance of 8 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 Debut 3.0 DC53 can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Debut 3.0 DC53 sensitivity is rated at 87.5 dB and the S 83 CEN's is rated at 87 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the ELAC Debut 3.0 DC53 a more sensitive speaker compared to Jamo S 83 CEN, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Center Channel 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 DC53 can handle a max power of 120 watts RMS from the amp the whereas S 83 CEN has a max power handling value of 80 watts RMS, 40 watts less than the Debut 3.0 DC53.
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
Debut 3.0 DC53 features Binding post type posts and S 83 CEN has a Binding post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
ELAC Debut 3.0 DC53's 5-Way post terminals
Jamo S 83 CEN's Binding post terminals
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 DC53's and Jamo S 83 CEN's external dimensions. ELAC Debut 3.0 DC53 has external dimensions of 174.0 x 485.0 x 248.0mm ( 6-13/16-inch x 19-1/16-inch x 9-3/4-inch) whereas Jamo S 83 CEN has external dimensions of 216.0 x 499.0 x 247.0mm ( 8-1/2 x 19-5/8 x 9-11/16inch) .
ELAC Debut 3.0 DC53 is 14mm narrower and 42mm shorter than Jamo S 83 CEN but it is also 1mm deeper.
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 DC53 is approximately 1202.8cm2 / 186.4inch2 and base area of the Jamo S 83 CEN is approximately 1232.5cm2 / 191.0inch2. The Debut 3.0 DC53 requires 2% less surface area than the S 83 CEN which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.